By The Sampadak Express
A 55-year-old woman from Sector 110 in Noida has tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first confirmed case in the National Capital Region amid a recent national uptick in infections, according to Gautam Buddha Nagar’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narendra Kumar.
The patient, who recently travelled by train, is currently in home isolation. Her husband and domestic help have both tested negative for the virus.
The detection in Noida follows three confirmed cases at AIIMS Rishikesh. Dr. Meenu Singh, Director of AIIMS Rishikesh, reported that one patient has already been discharged, while another an institute resident is under isolation. The third patient had arrived from Gujarat for the Badrinath Yatra.
Dr. Singh emphasized that the currently circulating variant appears to be mild in nature. “This variant is not very harmful, but those with comorbidities should remain vigilant and get tested if symptomatic,” she said. The institute has also reinstated COVID appropriate measures as a precaution.
In response to the rising numbers in select areas, the Delhi government has issued an advisory to hospitals, urging readiness in terms of bed capacity, oxygen supply, essential medicines, and vaccines.
Despite the recent cases, health experts maintain there is no cause for alarm. Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said the situation remains well under control. “These are sporadic and mild cases. There’s no need for panic. Patients are recovering without hospitalisation,” he stated.
He added that COVID-19 is increasingly behaving like a seasonal flu, with most infections being managed easily at home.
As of May 19, India has 257 active COVID-19 cases an extremely low number given its population size. The majority are mild, and hospital admissions remain negligible. The government continues to monitor respiratory infections, including COVID-19, through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
