With Covid-19 circumstances spiking once more throughout components of Asia, considerations a few doable new wave are rising. To assist clear the air, high docs reply 15 of the commonest questions individuals have in regards to the virus.
With a current rise in Covid-19 circumstances throughout components of Asia, India is seeing a recent uptick as effectively. In accordance with the Covid-19 dashboard by the Ministry of Well being and Household Welfare, India at the moment has 257 energetic circumstances. States like Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat have reported new circumstances, primarily because of the Omicron variant JN.1 and its associated strains. Lately, identified personalities like cricketer Travis Head and actress Shilpa Shirodkar additionally examined constructive. This has led to rising considerations and questions amongst individuals about whether or not this might result in one other wave.
Covid-19 circumstances in Asia
International locations corresponding to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and China have seen a noticeable enhance in Covid-19 circumstances over the previous few weeks. In Singapore, weekly circumstances jumped from 11,100 to 14,200 between April 27 and Might 3, 2025, as per the Ministry Of Well being Singapore. Thailand reported 33,030 circumstances between Might 11 and 17, with Bangkok alone accounting for round 6,000 circumstances. In Hong Kong, the share of circumstances doubled from 6.21 % to 13.66 % in simply 4 weeks. China additionally noticed circumstances greater than double by early Might. Specialists consider this rise is because of the unfold of Omicron sub-variants, particularly JN.1 and its newer variations like LF.7 and NB.1.8.
Because the numbers go up, many individuals are anxious—may this be one other pandemic? To clear the confusion and fears, Well being Pictures interviewed a couple of docs—Dr Harish Chafle (a number one pulmonologist with 23 years of expertise), Dr Urman Dhruv (Sr. Guide Inside Drugs with 30 years of expertise), Dr Amit Nabar (famend emergency drugs physician with 20 years of expertise) and Dr Anita Mathew (Director-Inside Drugs with 17 years of expertise)—to reply a number of the most typical questions on Covid-19.
1: What’s the new Covid-19 variant (JN.1) and what are its signs?
Dr Harish Chafle: The JN.1 variant is a sublineage of Omicron BA.2.86, is thought to have roughly 30 mutations, and is spreading rapidly. JN.1 has been related to a current rise in Covid-19 circumstances throughout India, notably in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, and in Asia. The signs that one can expertise are dry cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, runny or congested nostril, fever, and notably, diarrhea. Most circumstances are delicate, however the weak inhabitants (these with comorbidities and most cancers sufferers, senior residents, pregnant ladies, and kids) needs to be extra cautious. Seek the advice of an professional as soon as the signs seem.
2: Is the JN.1 variant harmful?
Dr Harish Chafle: Although the circumstances are rising, this variant has not led to any extreme issues corresponding to breathlessness, dying, or hospital admissions. The circumstances are delicate, and one can get well with supportive care. The remedy can be resting, ingesting sufficient fluids, and checking the SPO2 ranges every so often. Nevertheless, watch out and take the mandatory precautions.
3: Do the Covid-19 vaccines defend towards new variants?
Dr Urman Dhruv: Sure, it provides safety however at current, there is no such thing as a suggestion for booster doses in India.
4: How does Covid-19 unfold?
Dr Amit Nabar: Coronavirus spreads when an contaminated particular person breathes out droplets and really small particles that include the virus. Different individuals can breathe in these droplets and particles, or these droplets and particles can land on somebody’s eyes, nostril, or mouth. In some circumstances, these droplets might contaminate the surfaces they contact. Anybody contaminated with the virus can unfold it, even when they don’t have any signs. Covid-19 may even unfold from individuals to animals in some conditions, although it’s uncommon.
5: Do I nonetheless must get examined for Covid-19 if I’m vaccinated?
Dr Urman Dhruv: Sure, you must nonetheless get examined. Even if you’re vaccinated, it’s doable to catch the virus, although signs are often milder. Vaccines assist scale back the severity, however they don’t provide full immunity. So, in the event you develop flu-like signs, it’s safer to get examined.
6: What’s ‘lengthy Covid-19’? Can youngsters be affected?
Dr Urman Dhruv: Lengthy Covid is a situation the place some signs proceed even weeks after recovering from Covid. These can embrace tiredness, shortness of breath, low power whereas strolling, and blood clotting points. It often lasts for six to 12 weeks. Kids underneath 12 are much less prone to get it, whereas adults with respiration issues and people who smoke are at greater danger.
7: How can I defend myself and others from Covid-19?
Dr Amit Nabar: To guard your self and others from the virus and different respiratory viruses, it is very important comply with these confirmed prevention steps:
- Get vaccinated: Keep updated with Covid-19 vaccines and boosters to cut back the chance of extreme sickness.
- Apply hand hygiene: Wash your fingers steadily with cleaning soap and water for not less than 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when cleaning soap just isn’t obtainable. Keep away from touching your face with unwashed fingers.
- Enhance indoor air high quality: Guarantee correct air flow by opening home windows or utilizing air purifiers.
- Keep residence when sick: In case you are experiencing respiratory signs, keep residence and relaxation to forestall spreading sickness to others.
- Put on a masks: Put on a well-fitted masks, particularly in crowded or indoor public settings
- Search remedy early: In the event you check constructive for Covid-19 and are at excessive danger for issues, seek the advice of a healthcare supplier promptly about antiviral therapies.
- Keep bodily distance: Preserve a protected distance from others in public, significantly if they’re coughing or sneezing.
8: Ought to I put on a masks to guard towards Covid-19?
Dr Urman Dhruv: Sure, at any stage of illness transmission, right this moment or after a couple of months or years, a masks stays the only safety to forestall Covid an infection. Additionally, hold a protected distance, particularly from those that are symptomatic, and keep away from crowded locations.
9: Is it protected for a mom to breastfeed if she is contaminated with Covid-19?
Dr Anita Mathew: Sure, breastfeeding throughout Covid-19 is protected as a result of the virus has not been present in breast milk, so it is vitally unlikely to unfold by breastfeeding. Nevertheless, moms ought to take precautions like sporting a masks and washing their fingers earlier than feeding to keep away from passing the virus by droplets.
10: What ought to individuals with HIV learn about Covid-19?
Dr Anita Mathew: Sufferers with HIV should not have the next danger of contracting coronavirus in comparison with these with out HIV. Nevertheless, in the event that they get contaminated with Covid-19, then the probabilities of illness or an infection development and protracted illness or extreme sickness enhance by 30-35 %. Sufferers with HIV who’ve been vaccinated have a decrease danger of creating extreme sicknesses. People with a low CD4 T lymphocyte depend have to be extra cautious as they’re extra weak to critical issues attributable to diminished ranges of immunity within the physique.
11: How does Covid-19 have an effect on the sense of style and scent?
Dr Harish Chafle: Covid-19 is thought to break the cells supporting olfactory neurons, resulting in a sudden lack of scent (anosmia) and style (ageusia). The virus inflames nasal tissues, disrupting alerts to the mind, and one may have a lack of scent and style. These signs could also be current for not less than 7-10 days and should go away on their very own when one recovers.
12: Can I catch Covid-19 from my pet?
Dr Amit Nabar: There is no such thing as a proof that may show animals unfold SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, to individuals. There have been a couple of uncommon stories of contaminated mammalian animals spreading the virus to individuals throughout shut contact. These circumstances embrace farmed mink in Europe and the US, white-tailed deer in Canada, pet hamsters in Hong Kong, and a cat in Thailand. In most of those circumstances, the animals have been believed to have been contaminated first by an individual who had a virus.
13: Is there something I ought to keep away from to remain protected from Covid-19?
Dr Amit Nabar: To remain protected from Covid-19, keep away from crowded or poorly ventilated locations, shut contact with people who find themselves sick, and touching your face with unwashed fingers. Restrict pointless journey throughout spikes. Keep away from ignoring signs like cough, fever, or fatigue—get examined in the event you really feel unwell. Additionally, don’t skip security measures like sporting a masks in public, sustaining distance, and conserving your fingers clear with cleaning soap or sanitizer.
14: How can I inform whether it is Covid-19 or only a chilly?
Dr Harish Chafle: Covid-19 and customary chilly share signs like runny nostril and cough, however coronavirus usually consists of fever, lack of style or scent, physique aches, diarrhoea, muscle ache, and fatigue. Testing is probably the most dependable solution to distinguish between them. Do the check as advisable by the professional to verify the analysis.
15: Does smoking make Covid-19 worse?
Dr Harish Chafle: In accordance with numerous research, smoking worsens the coronavirus by damaging the lungs and weakening the immune system. People who smoke usually tend to expertise extreme coronavirus signs, want hospitalization, and face issues like pneumonia that may flip life-threatening. Quitting smoking can enhance lung well being and scale back the issues of Covid-19.
