No need for panic: Members of Maharashtra’s new Covid task force advise caution

The expert body was set up following a nationwide upsurge in Covid cases and the emergence of the JN.1 variant. At least 10 of the over 100 JN.1 cases have been detected in the state.

The test positivity rate — percentage of positive Covid-19 cases among total tests conducted — stood at one per cent on Tuesday, but dropped to 0.80 per cent on Wednesday. (File)

Maharashtra’s newly formed Covid task force aims to chalk out measures to contain the spread of infections and prepare a protocol for treating critically ill patients. It was set up following a nationwide upsurge in Covid cases and the emergence of the coronavirus’s JN.1 variant. At least 10 of the over 100 JN.1 cases in India have been reported from the state.

Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, chairperson of the Covid task force, said on Wednesday that the expert body would discuss multiple issues including vaccinations.

“There is no reason to panic but with the festive season and people making travel plans, we are advising caution, especially for people with comorbidities, so they can decide whether to visit crowded locations or not and why the use of masks would be important,” Dr Gangakhedkar said.

The public health expert had become the face of the Indian Council of Medical Research during the government briefings during the pandemic. He has since retired as the ICMR’s epidemiology and communicable diseases chief.

Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar (retd), Vice-Chancellor, of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, who is also a member of the task force, told The Indian Express that the coronavirus was getting into an endemic phase and there could be a possible increase in numbers.

“We have done modelling studies previously and will assess the situation accordingly during this phase. So far there is no increase in the requirement of oxygen and rise in hospitalisations,” Kanitkar said.

Another member of the task force, Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, genome sequencing coordinator for Maharashtra and head of the microbiology department at BJ Government Medical College, said clinical studies related to the JN.1 variant could help give a better insight into preventive measures.

Story continues below this ad

The other members include Dr DB Kadam, internal medicine specialist and former head of general medicine at BJ Government Medical College, and Dr Varsha Potdar, who heads the influenza group at the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Virology in Pune.

The commissioner (health) is the member secretary of the task force.

State reports 87 new cases, two deaths in 24 hours

Pune reported a Covid-19 death today. An 81-year-old man who had comorbidities, including acute kidney disease, passed away on December 24. When contacted, Pune Municipal Corporation officials said that they have stepped up testing and more than 4,000 tests have been conducted since December 18. So far, there are 36 persons with Covid-19 in Pune city with mild symptoms in home isolation.

Another death was registered in Sangli district of Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, 87 new Covid cases were reported in the state today and two deaths, according to the health department bulletin issued on Wednesday. As many as 10,864 tests were conducted today across the state and at present, the dominant Covid variant is Omicron XBB.1.16. Till today, there were 10 patients detected with JN.1 variant in the state. Mumbai has 103 active Covid cases, followed by 43 in Thane, 53 in Pune district, and 19 in Raigad.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories