Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) addressed concerns regarding a surge in COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong, prompted by a WHO report on May 28, 2025, indicating increased global SARS-CoV-2 activity. The Ministry reviewed the COVID-19 situation and public health preparedness with States/UTs, emphasizing continued surveillance, prioritized testing, and timely reporting. The Ministry also outlined precautionary measures and long-term strategies to enhance healthcare infrastructure.
Key Points / Main Content:
COVID-19 Situation Review:
* MoHFW reviewed the COVID-19 situation across the country with States/UTs.
* Assessment included public health preparedness.
Directives to States/UTs:
* Continue enhanced disease surveillance and preparedness activities.
* Prioritize testing for severe cases.
* Ensure timely reporting of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
* Issue advisories to districts based on trend analysis, as required.
* Health is a State subject; COVID-19 status is reported by States/UTs and available at https:covid19dashboard.mohfw.gov.in.
Surveillance and Monitoring:
* Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) monitors trends of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI), including COVID-19 cases.
* Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) conduct laboratory-based surveillance for major respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2.
Hospital Preparedness:
* Joint advisories issued to States/UTs to review hospital preparedness.
* Focus areas include availability of diagnostics, COVID-19 testing, essential drugs, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), isolation beds, medical oxygen, ICU, and ventilator-supported beds.
* States/UTs urged to undertake mock drills to assess preparedness and operational readiness of health facilities.
Long-Term Preparedness:
* Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) launched.
* Intent is to enhance capacity of primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities/systems/institutes.
* Goal is to improve identification and management of new and emerging diseases.
Impact Analysis:
States/Union Territories:
* Impact: Required to enhance disease surveillance, prioritize testing, ensure timely reporting of COVID-19 cases, and review hospital preparedness.
* Action Required: Implement enhanced surveillance and preparedness activities, prioritize testing for severe cases, ensure timely reporting of COVID-19 cases, issue advisories to districts, and undertake mock drills to assess hospital preparedness.
Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities:
* Impact: Need to ensure availability of diagnostics, COVID-19 testing, essential drugs, PPEs, isolation beds, medical oxygen, ICU, and ventilator-supported beds.
* Action Required: Review and enhance hospital preparedness, ensure adequate resources, and participate in mock drills to assess operational readiness.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring trends, providing guidance, and supporting long-term healthcare infrastructure development.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring disease trends, issuing advisories, and supporting States/UTs in enhancing healthcare infrastructure through programs like PMABHIM.
Key Entities Referenced
COVID19: A viral disease, the focus of surveillance and control measures discussed in the document.
Singapore: A country in Southeast Asia where a surge in COVID19 cases was reported.
Hong Kong: A region in Eastern Asia where a surge in COVID19 cases was reported.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): The Indian government ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): An Indian institution involved in disease control and surveillance.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): The apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
World Health Organization (WHO): An international organization that issued a Disease Outbreak News (DON) highlighting increased global SARSCoV2 activity.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM): An Indian government initiative to enhance healthcare infrastructure.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2218
TO BE ANSWERED ON01.08.2025
CASES OFCOVID-19 IN SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG
2218 THIRU THANGATAMILSELVAN:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH & FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is true that as per the recent media reports of there is a surge in Covid-19 cases in
SingaporeandHong Kong andif so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is also true that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) convened a
review meeting recently with experts from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),
Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR) and central government hospitals and if so, the details thereof
alongwiththe outcome of the above meeting;
(c) the total number of Covid-19 cases that has been reported, registered and being given
treatmentinvariousStates till date,State/UT-wise; and
(d) the precautionary measures being taken by the Union Government to control and to stop
spread across the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c) World Health Organization (WHO) on 28 May 2025, issued a Disease Outbreak News
(DON) wherein it highlighted that since mid-February 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 activity
increased, particularly from countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and
WesternPacific regions, includingHong Kong andSingapore.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reviewed COVID-19 situation across the country with
States/UTs and assessed the public health preparedness for the same. All States/UTs were
requested to continue enhanceddisease surveillance andpreparedness activities, prioritize testing
for severe cases, ensure timely reporting of COVID-19 hospitalizations cases, issue advisories to
districts as and when required based on trend analysis etc. ‘Health’ is a State subject. The status
Page1of2of COVID-19 as reported by the States/UTs can be seen at
https://covid19dashboard.mohfw.gov.in/.
(d) This Ministry under its Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) monitors trends
of Influenza Like Illness/ Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (ILI/SARI), including cases of
COVID-19 in the country. In addition, the network of Virus Research and Diagnostic
Laboratories (VRDLs) under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) undertakes a
laboratorybased surveillance for majorrespiratory pathogens, includingSARS-CoV-2.
Joint advisories were issued to all States/UTs to undertake review of hospital preparedness with
special focus on the availability of diagnostics, COVID-19 testing, essential drugs, Personal
ProtectiveEquipment (PPEs),isolation beds, medicaloxygen,ICU andventilator supported beds.
The Ministry urged all States/UTs to undertake mock drills to assess preparedness and
operational readiness of all health facilities in the country including requisite infrastructure,
logistics (includingdrugs andequipment) aswell ashealthcareworkforce inthe country.
With the long-term goal to betterprepare our countryagainst public health emergencies, Pradhan
Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched with
the intentto enhancethe capacityof primary, secondary andtertiaryhealthcare facilities/systems
andinstitutes for identifying andmanaginganynewandemergingdiseases.
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