While Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and across the country have dipped, a sudden surge in cases has been reported from across the world. Health experts have raised concerns as they suspect a new variant is fuelling infections. Dr Wiqar Shaikh, Professor of Medicine, Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, said that a recent letter by state health officials regarding the possibility of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks is a matter of concern. 

Dr Shaikh said that as per the WHO, there were approximately 1.1 crore new Covid-19 cases worldwide reported during the past week. The worst-hit countries have been South Korea (more than 6 lakh new cases per day), Germany (1.25 lakh), the UK (90,000), Italy (74,000), Japan (49,000), Australia (46,000), Austria (42,000) and the Netherlands (41,000). Besides, cases continue to surge in the USA, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and several other countries around the world.