From Wuhan Strain to JN.1 Variant: As India sees fresh COVID spike, a brief timeline of all strains nation has faced since 2020

With a fresh rise in COVID-19 cases reported from states like Odisha, Kerala, and Maharashtra, health experts are once again urging caution especially as the country now grapples with new subvariants like JN.1, which is currently the dominant strain in India. 

On Thursday, after a gap of over two-and-a-half years, a fresh COVID-19 case was reported in Odisha. Health and Family Welfare Secretary S Aswathy confirmed the patient is currently stable but flagged concerns over the individual’s multiple comorbidities, PTI reported.

Kerala has reported 182 fresh COVID-19 cases in May so far, state Health Minister Veena George said on Wednesday. Kottayam district accounted for the highest number of cases (57), followed by Ernakulam (34) and Thiruvananthapuram (30). The data was shared after a meeting of the state-level Rapid Response Team (RRT).

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has recorded two COVID-related deaths since January. Both cases were reported from Mumbai and involved individuals with underlying health conditions, including nephrotic syndrome with hypocalcemia seizure and cancer, the state health department said, PTI reported.

Out of the 6,066 swab samples tested in the state this year, 106 returned positive with 101 cases from Mumbai and a few others from Pune, Thane, and Kolhapur. At present, 52 patients are under home care for mild symptoms, while 16 are hospitalised.

On the national front, concerns over rising cases in regions like Singapore and Hong Kong prompted the Union Health Ministry to convene a high-level review meeting earlier this week. Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), ICMR, and central hospitals participated in the deliberations. They noted that most cases in those countries are mild and not linked to any unusual severity or fatalities.

According to ANI report, as of May 19, 2025, India has just 257 active COVID-19 cases, almost all of which are mild with no hospitalisation required. Officials emphasised that the country has a robust surveillance mechanism through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The Health Ministry has assured that it remains vigilant and proactive, with measures in place to monitor any potential spread of the virus and protect public health. But this isn’t new territory for India. Since the outbreak began in early 2020, the country has seen more than a dozen major COVID-19 strains, driven by the virus’s natural tendency to mutate.

How many COVID strains has India seen so far? Here’s a quick look

Since the pandemic began in January 2020, India has seen more than a dozen significant COVID-19 strains and subvariants. Each wave brought a new variant or a mutation of an older one. Here’s a simple breakdown of the key ones over the years:

Early Waves (2020–2021)

Original Wuhan strain (Clade S): This was the first strain reported in India, with the country’s first confirmed case in Kerala on January 30, 2020.

Alpha (B.1.1.7): First spotted in the UK, this variant made its way to India by late 2020.

Delta (B.1.617.2): This highly infectious variant emerged from India and caused the devastating second wave in mid-2021.

Kappa (B.1.617.1) & B.1.618: These were also among the early variants seen in India during the second wave period.

Omicron Era (2022–2024)

Omicron (B.1.1.529): Detected globally in late 2021, it spread quickly in India by early 2022, replacing Delta as the dominant strain.

Subvariants like BA.1, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5: These triggered smaller, localised waves across the country.

XBB and XBB.1.5: Recombinant versions of Omicron that sparked short-lived spikes in some regions.

Recent developments (2024–2025)

JN.1: A subvariant of BA.2.86, this is currently the most dominant strain in India.

LF.7 and NB.1.8: These newer variants have been detected in India but are more common in other parts of Asia for now.

Health experts say that while newer variants like JN.1 have higher transmissibility, they have not shown increased severity. The country’s robust surveillance system through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR labs has helped in early detection and response. In response to rising cases in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, the Centre has held review meetings with top experts from ICMR, NCDC, and other health agencies. 

(With inputs from agencies)