India has warned that a breach of guidelines on testing and other measures to contain the coronavirus could worsen a recent spurt in infections in many states, particularly after it detected several variants.

Nearly a month after the health minister declared that Covid-19 had been contained, states such as Maharashtra in the west and Kerala in the south have reported a surge in cases, as reluctance grows over mask-wearing and social distancing norms, according to Reuters.

“Any laxity in implementing stringent measures to curb the spread, especially in view of new strain of virus [...] could compound the situation,” the health ministry said in a statement that singled out nine states and a federal territory.