Health ministry urges public to wear masks amid rising Covid-19 infections
In a statement today (6 June), the ministry especially advised elderly individuals and those with underlying health conditions to avoid crowded places as a precautionary measure
In light of the recent surge in Covid-19 infection rates, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged the public to wear masks in crowded areas.
In a statement today (6 June), the ministry especially advised elderly individuals and those with underlying health conditions to avoid crowded places as a precautionary measure.
The statement comes as cases of a new Covid-19 variant known as NB.1.8.1 have been detected in many countries in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this new variant may be driving up cases in countries.
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Since first being recognised in January 2025, the variant has spread to the US, the UK, Australia, Thailand and is the most dominant variant in China and Hong Kong, according to The Independent.
Common symptoms align with typical Omicron subvariants and include fatigue, fever, muscle aches and a sore throat, according to the WHO.
The WHO has designated the NB.1.8.1 as a "variant under monitoring", as it comprises around 10.7% of all submitted sequences worldwide.
While it first appeared in samples at the beginning of this year, data from GISAID, a global data of genetic sequences of major disease-causing viruses, show that the first known cases were registered at the end of April.
