Mumbai: The State of Maharashtra reported 66 new COVID-19 cases on May 27, with nearly half originating from Mumbai, recording 31 cases in past 24 hours. Other districts saw fewer cases, with Pune reporting 18, Thane at 7, Navi Mumbai at 4, Pimpri Chinchwad at 3, Nagpur at 2, and Sangli at 1. As of May 26, the total active cases in Maharashtra stood at 210, reflecting an addition of 154 new cases since May 19, 2025. Nationwide, India had 1,010 active cases, with Kerala leading at 430.
Reports from the Union Health Ministry indicate that current COVID-19 infections are mostly mild, with no significant severity or death rates. However, a 47-year-old woman from Kalyan tested positive posthumously, representing the fifth COVID-related death in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) within a week.
She was treated for typhoid but deteriorated rapidly, leading to her hospitalization where she died before her COVID-19 diagnosis. KDMC officials noted three other COVID patients, with one recovering and two receiving treatment. In response, KDMC has set up isolation wards and an RTPCR lab, assuring the public that most cases are mild and do not require alarm.
In light of rising COVID-19 cases noted in Singapore and Hong Kong, India has ramped up monitoring efforts. Experts attribute the recent surge to the JN.1 variant, part of the Omicron family. The Health Ministry has stated that they are carefully reviewing the situation to mitigate risks while remaining proactive in safeguarding public health.
Meanwhile, the state's daily COVID-19 case count rose from 43 on Sunday to 69 on Monday, as reported by the state health department. Out of these cases, 37 were identified in Mumbai, 19 in Thane, and seven in Navi Mumbai, with Pune recording two cases and one case each in Pimpri Chinchwad, Kolhapur, Raigad, and Latur.
The recent uptick in COVID-19 cases has been evident over the past few weeks, with May alone accounting for 269 of the 285 cases recorded since January. Additionally, four patients with COVID-19 have died since May 18, which included a 14-year-old girl with kidney issues, a 59-year-old cancer patient, a 70-year-old with heart complications, and a 21-year-old suffering from diabetes-related ketoacidosis.
