New Delhi, July 22 -- The Centre is treating covid-19 as a seasonal respiratory illness similar to influenza and is closely monitoring a recent uptick in cases in a few southern states, with health officials stressing that there is no evidence of a more dangerous variant or a wider public health threat.

Though state-wise data is not readily available as the government's covid-19 dashboard is no longer operational, reports said Andhra Pradesh recorded 26 cases with four deaths, while Kerala reported 19 covid cases in July.

Senior health ministry officials said the current trend is consistent with seasonal fluctuations that typically coincide with the monsoon and stressed that laboratory surveillance has found no new variants or concernin...