Ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations next week, India on Thursday recorded 594 new Covid cases. Six more people succumbed to the virus – three from Kerala, two from Karnataka and one from Punjab.
Health ministry data updated at 8 am showed that the number of active cases increased to 2,669 from 2,311 in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases now stands at 4.50 crore.
With the new JN.1 subvariant in circulation in India and amid a surge in infections in the US and China, there is no plan to make Covid testing mandatory at airports as of now. The country has now reported at least 25 cases of the Covid variant, as the Rajasthan government confirmed four cases and issued a health advisory.
In the last two weeks, India has recorded 22 Covid-related deaths. But, there is no increase in hospitalisation rates and Covid-19 is an incidental finding in people hospitalised due to other medical conditions. On Wednesday (December 20), at 614, India recorded the highest number of daily cases since May 21.
Rajasthan confirms 4 JN.1 cases, 25 Cases of New Subvariant in India
India has detected 25 cases of the JN.1 subvariant, which has been classified as a separate ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organization. According to official sources, 19 cases of JN.1 have been traced in Goa, four in Rajasthan, as well as one each in Kerala and Maharashtra.
In Rajasthan, two cases of the new subvariant were reported on Thursday from Jaipur while two other cases were recorded in Jaisalmer on Wednesday (December 20).
Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (health), said the scientific community in India is closely investigating the new variant. He, however, stressed the need for states to ramp up testing and strengthen surveillance systems.
The ministry of health and family welfare said it is not yet known if the JN.1 infection produces symptoms different from other variants. There is also no indication of increased severity and, at this time, no evidence that it presents an increased risk to public health as compared to other circulating variants.
The existing treatment line for Covid-19 is expected to be effective against JN.1 infection and updated vaccines are expected to increase protection against the variant, the ministry said.
Scientists, however, said the emergence of the variant and the 21 cases in India is neither surprising nor particularly worrying. Experts said there is no need to panic as available treatments are effective and the infection is mild.
“As it happens with most respiratory viruses, including the influenza viruses, the circulating viruses keep changing. Therefore, a sub-variant of SARS CoV-2 is not a surprise at all,” Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, a senior consultant physician and public health expert, told PTI.
The WHO has also said the global public health risk posed by JN.1, based on the available evidence, is currently evaluated as low. “In India, people have already been exposed to various sub-variants, including Omicron variants, and received at least two shots of Covid-19 vaccines. There is no renewed risk of SARS-CoV-2 variant or subvariant causing severe illness,” Dr Lahariya said.
In India, the first case of this variant was found in Kerala on December 8. After this, the Centre urged states and union territories to maintain constant vigil, including monitoring and reporting district-wise cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in all health facilities regularly for early detection.
JN.1 was first detected in Denmark and Israel in late July. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said earlier this month that JN.1 makes up about an estimated 15 to 29 percent of cases in the US as of December 8. Last week, China detected seven infections of the new subvariant.
No plan for mandatory Covid testing at airports
Health ministry sources said there is no plan to introduce mandatory RT-PCR testing for Covid-19 at airports amid an uptick in fresh infections. In July, India had issued revised guidelines, dropping the requirement for RT-PCR testing of a random 2 percent travellers entering the country.
But, the central government has urged states and union territories to maintain constant vigil. In a letter to all, union health secretary Sudhansh Pant underlined the critical Covid-19 control and management strategies considering the upcoming festive season and advised that requisite public health measures should be put in place to minimise the risk of increase in transmission.
Here are some updates from across India:
KARNATAKA
Karnataka, which recorded two Covid-related deaths the day before, reported 24 new infections on Thursday. Out of these, 23 were reported in Bengaluru urban district alone while the city accounts for 93 active cases.
In all, the state reported three deaths in the last one week. At present, however, 20 patients have been hospitalised of whom nine are in the intensive care unit.
The state government has intensified testing while the chief minister Siddaramaiah said a cabinet subcommittee will be formed for proper coordination with experts. This is to take necessary decisions aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19, including precautions to be taken and treatment provided.
“A cabinet subcommittee will be constituted. Who will head it and who will be its members will be decided at the cabinet meeting. The cabinet sub-committee will meet frequently, and will also meet the technical advisory committee (TAC consisting of experts). There must be proper coordination between the cabinet sub-committee and the TAC,” Siddaramaiah said.
Urging people not to panic or worry but to be cautious and follow precautionary measures, the chief minister noted that the new ‘JN.1’ subvariant, is a subvariant of Omicron, which was prevalent in the past.
KERALA
Kerala has recorded three deaths in the last 24 hours and 300 fresh infections. Out of 358 new cases nationwide, 300 are from the state.
State health minister Veena George said despite the surge in cases, there was nothing to be concerned about as the hospitals were well-prepared to handle the viral infection.
MAHARASHTRA
Maharashtra detected at least 11 new positive cases, taking the tally of active patients in the state to 53. At present, the dominant variant of Covid is Omicron XBB.1.16 that has been found in a total of 1,972 cases so far. At least 19 deaths were reported. On Wednesday (December 20), a 41-year-old man tested positive for the JN.1 subvariant in Sindhudurg district.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde held a review meeting related to the Covid situation. He said the state is fully prepared to tackle the situation and people must not panic but take precautions, especially due to the upcoming festival and new year season. The meeting especially focused on the new JN.1 subvariant and its effects.
Shinde said the symptoms of the new subvariant were mild but it seems to spread faster. During the meeting, he was informed that Maharashtra has 63,000 isolation beds to tackle the ailment. He directed officials to ensure hospitals are fully equipped with oxygen plants, ventilators, beds and also took stock of the availability of medicines and vaccines, stated a press release.
“Due to the upcoming (Christmas) festival season and new year, people should take utmost precaution. They should take medical help if they show any symptom,” the CM said, asking officials to conduct structural, electrical and fire audits of all health facilities in the state.
RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan detected four cases of the Covid subvariant JN.1 following which the state health department issued an advisory. Two more cases were reported from Jaipur on Thursday while two were recorded in Jaisalmer the day before.
The state health and medical department advised people to seek timely medical advice in case of mild cold, cough, fever, or sore throat. In case of symptoms of common cold, cough, fever, and sore throat, home isolation is advised and in case of severe or prolonged duration of the above symptoms and in case of severe infection, hospitalisation is advised, the advisory stated.
GOA
In Goa, the JN.1 subvariant was found in 19 samples tested over a period of time but these are old cases and no longer active, said a top health official. “All the 19 cases of JN.1 subvariant traced in Goa are not active. They are old cases and have crossed the window period. This variant was found during genome sequencing of samples collected from patients,” state epidemiologist Dr Prashant Suryavanshi told PTI.
“All those with this variant had mild symptoms. They have recovered now. These samples were collected over a period of time,” he added.
Goa now has 16 active cases, including four detected on Thursday. A total of 193 samples were tested for the virus on the day, as per a bulletin issued by the state’s directorate of health services.
DELHI
The Delhi health department has ordered authorities to send an “adequate” number of Covid samples for RT-PCR testing. The department has also ordered them to conduct the genome sequencing of Covid-positive RT-PCR samples.
A meeting was convened by the Delhi health minister to review the preparedness of health facilities to tackle ILI/SARI (influenza-like illness/severe acute respiratory infections) on Wednesday (December 20), officials said.
“Adequate number of Covid samples are to be sent for RT-PCR testing, as per guidelines. Genome sequencing of positive RT-PCR samples is to be performed, as per guidelines. And, measures are to be taken for raising community awareness for avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, and wearing masks in crowded and close settings and in hospital premises,” an official said.
The data on Covid-19 testing is presently being maintained by the Indian Council of Medical Research, which has been requested by the Delhi government to share it.
UTTARAKHAND
Genome sequencing of all Covid positive samples will be done in Uttarakhand, said health secretary R Rajesh Kumar. Though there is no case of the new Covid sub variant JN.1 in the state, a detailed guideline has been issued while hospitals and health centres have been asked to remain alert.
Kumar said daily monitoring has begun and officials have been asked to start campaigns to create awareness about the new Covid subvariant. The state health secretary held a meeting with all DMs and CMOs via videoconferencing and said: “The health department is ready to deal with any situation. We appeal to people in general to follow the Covid guidelines. Sampling is being done at all hospitals and suspected patients are being monitored,” he said.
WEST BENGAL
West Bengal will continue its surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases, in accordance with central guidelines, a senior official from the state health department said.
“We will continue our surveillance activity as per the guidelines of the health ministry. At present, there is not a single Covid-19 case in our state. However, we are ready with the infrastructure,” the official said.
(With PTI inputs)
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