Concerns surrounding COVID-19 resurfaced on Monday after Indian actress Shilpa Shirodkar announced via her official Instagram account that she had tested positive for the virus. Shirodkar, who has also appeared on the reality show Bigg Boss, reportedly experienced a high fever for several days before receiving her diagnosis. In her post, she wrote: “Hello people! I have tested positive for COVID. Stay safe and wear your mask!”
A fresh wave of COVID-19 infections has emerged across several parts of Asia—including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand—prompting renewed global concern. This surge is largely attributed to the spread of new Omicron sub-variants, such as JN.1 and its related strains, leading to heightened vigilance among public health authorities.
In Singapore, the number of infections rose to over 14,000 in early May 2025, up from 11,100 reported cases in the final week of April. According to a report by News18, officials have stated that there is currently no evidence indicating that these newer variants are more transmissible or cause more severe illness compared to previous strains.
A Word of Caution
The sub-variants LF.7 and NB.1.8—both derivatives of JN.1—now account for more than two-thirds of all sequenced COVID-19 cases. As of May 19, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported 93 active cases in India.
Leading medical experts have cautioned that India could face a similar resurgence due to declining immunity levels among the population. “The recent spikes in places like Hong Kong and China have been linked to waning antibodies, and the same may apply to India,” noted Dr. Vikas Maurya, Senior Director and Head of Pulmonology at Fortis Shalimar Bagh, in an interview with ET HealthWorld.
“There is a possibility that India could witness a comparable increase in cases. In China, the surge is believed to be driven by diminished immunity over time. The situation in India could mirror this trend, particularly since a significant portion of the population received vaccinations a considerable time ago. If immunity has declined, more people may be susceptible to infection and transmission,” he added.
JN.1 Variant
The JN.1 variant, a sub-lineage of Omicron BA.2.86, was first identified in August 2023 and was classified as a Variant of Interest by the World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2023. This variant carries approximately 30 mutations designed to evade immune responses—more than any other known variant at the time. Despite this, BA.2.86 did not become the predominant strain among the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants during the late summer and early autumn of 2023.
