Covid Updates: 22 Cases of JN.1 Variant Detected So Far, Kerala Health Min 'Expects More Infections'

As the emergence of the new JN.1 variant of the coronavirus has caused a recent spike in Covid-19 cases across the world, including India, a total of 22 cases of the sub-variant have been detected in the country till December 21 (Thursday), official sources said.

India on Friday lodged 640 new Covid infections as of 12 noon. The source also informed that so far there is no clustering of Covid-19 cases in the country and all the cases have mild symptoms.

Delhi, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra already ordered authorities to send an “adequate” number of Covid samples for RT-PCR and conduct the genome sequencing of all the samples.

Meanwhile, IMA Covid Task Force Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said that the JN.1 strain of the virus can be problematic for people of old age and those with multiple comorbidities.

No Plans to Make Covid Test Mandatory in Airports: Health Ministry

Amid a sudden uptick in Covid cases, people, especially travellers are worried that various travel restrictions regarding mandatory Covid tests will make a comeback. As per the health ministry sources, there is no plan so far to make RT-PCR testing for Covid-19 mandatory at airports for travellers.

The reports suggested that while there is indeed a surge in the number of cases and the JN.1 sub-variant has been detected in the country, there is no cause for immediate concern as most patients have mild symptoms.

Kerala Reports 265 Fresh Covid Infections with One Death

Kerala health minister Veena George said that the state is witnessing slight increase in the infection since November owing to its higher sample tests than compared to other states. “Situation is under control,” said the minister adding there is no increase in ICU occupancy, ventilator occupancy or isolation bed occupancy in the state.

He also alerted the reporters that the state can witness an uptick in cases as airport surveillance done in Singapore Airport reveals that 19 passengers from India were infected with JN.1.

“We have plan A, B, C ready. There is nothing to worry about. The transmissibility of this variant is more but the severity is less,” Veena George said.

Urgent Covid Review Meet In Maharashtra

Maharashtra Health minister had called an urgent review meeting to discuss the rising cases of the new variant of the Covid-19 virus.

The meeting was attended by the health secretary, officials of the health department, all divisional commissioners, all collectors and all Municipal Corporation commissioners.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday held a meeting to review the Covid preparedness given the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant in some parts of the country. The government said it was fully prepared to tackle the situation and urged people not to panic and take necessary precautions due to the upcoming festive season.

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported its first case of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 in Sindhudurg.

India Reports Over 640 Covid Cases in Last 24 Hours

India on Friday lodged 640 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours amid a spike in coronavirus infection. Kerala, where the first JN.1 variant was detected, reported 265 new active cases of Covid-19 and one death in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed.

JN.1 Trouble for Older People With Multiple Comorbidities: Health expert

Amid the rise in coronavirus cases triggered by subvariant JN.1, Co-Chair, IMA Covid Task Force Dr Rajeev Jayadevan on Thursday said that the new strain can be problematic for people of old age and those with multiple comorbidities.

“JN.1 is a fast-spreading variant, it could go into the next tier of the population, which is the vulnerable age group, older people and also people with multiple comorbidities. In such individuals, their underlying conditions can destabilise and could result in their hospitalisation and complications after that,” the TOI-quoted health expert said.

Noida Reports First Covid Case in Several Months

A Noida resident has tested positive for Covid, in the first case of the infection in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar after several months, officials said on Thursday.

The patient is a 54-year-old male who lives in Noida but works at a multinational company in Gurugram, Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Dr Sunil Sharma said.

Gurugram Reports Second Case of Covid Infection

The Gurugram health department has swung into action after a second case of Covid was confirmed here on Friday, officials said. All adequate arrangements have been made by the health department to check the spread of the disease, they said.

Four Cases of JN.1 Variant in Rajasthan, Advisory Issued

Six new cases of Covid infection and one related death were reported in Rajasthan on Friday, the state medical and health department said.

According to the department, the fresh six cases took the active Covid caseload in the state to 10. Three of these new cases were reported in Jaipur, and one each in Alwar, Dholpur and Jodhpur, it said.

No Need to Panic Over New Coronavirus Strain: Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has stated that there is no need to panic about the JN.1 strain of coronavirus, which is believed to be responsible for the surge in cases across India.

“Alert the village and ward secretariat system, and the village clinic system for preventive steps. Village clinic staff should be made aware of the steps that need to be taken against the new variant,” Reddy said in an official press release.

Officials have stated that there is no need to panic about the new Covid variant as infected individuals are recuperating without any complications. They have informed the Chief Minister that the patients are recovering without requiring hospitalization.

Nitish Chairs High-level Meeting to Review Covid Situation

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday chaired a high-level meeting here in view of the recent spurt in Covid-19 cases in several parts of the country. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, who holds the health portfolio, and top government officials.

Kumar said while there was no need for panic, the department must ramp up the testing rate and adequate availability of drugs, equipment, oxygen cylinders and manpower be ensured at all hospitals.

Telangana Records Nine New Covid-19 Cases

Telangana reported nine new Covid-19 cases on Friday with Hyderabad accounting for eight of them while one was reported from Rangareddy. The total number of cases under treatment/ isolation stood at 27, a Health department bulletin said.

India Reports 6 Covid Death in A Day

India on Thursday reported six Covid deaths and 594 new cases of the coronavirus infection. Out of these, three deaths were lodged from Kerala, two from Karnataka and one from Punjab. Top officials in the health ministry said the Covid deaths are being reported mostly among people suffering from serious illness.

1 in 24 People in UK, Scotland Are Covid Positive: Report

About 1 in every 24 people in England and Scotland has Covid-19, with London the worst-affected area as the highly infectious JN.1 variant spreads rapidly, reported Bloomberg. Across England and Scotland, the overall Covid prevalence rate is 4.2%, with London being the worst-affected area at 6.1%.

(with PTI inputs)