As Covid-19 cases rise in India, Nepali authorities said they have stepped up surveillance and preparedness to prevent a potential outbreak within the country.

Active cases have climbed to nearly 4,000 as of Saturday, May 31, according to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The southern state of Kerala is currently the worst hit, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi. 

According to Indian media reports, two recent Covid-related deaths in the country took the toll in 2025 to 28. 

Dr. Chandra Bhal Jha, Director of Nepal’s Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), told New Business Age that while no active Covid cases have been detected in Nepal at present, the EDCD is on “high alert.”

“We are closely monitoring developments in India,” said Dr. Jha.

So far in 2025, Nepal has reported seven confirmed cases—six detected at Dhulikhel Hospital in Kavre and one confirmed at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu.

To strengthen the country’s readiness, Dr. Jha said that the EDCD is conducting regular coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO). “We will soon brief the Health Minister again on the evolving situation,” he added.

As a precautionary measure, health desks at major border crossings and international airports have been reactivated. Surveillance mechanisms have also been reinforced across points of entry.

Dr. Jha has urged the public to remain vigilant and adhere to basic preventive measures such as hand hygiene and wearing masks in crowded places. 
The recent surge in India is attributed to the emergence of several Omicron sub-variants, including LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, which have been identified through genome sequencing in southern and western India, The Economic Times reported.

Despite the increase in cases, health authorities in India continue to emphasize that most infections remain mild and manageable at home. So far, the sub-variants have been classified by the WHO as “Variants Under Monitoring,” not “Variants of Concern.”