Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 cases shot past the 100 mark as the tally touched 109 on Wednesday in the country which at the same time recorded 529 fresh COVID-19 cases and three deaths in a single day
Thirty-six JN.1 variant cases were detected from Gujarat, 34 from Karnataka, 14 from Goa, nine from Maharashtra, six from Kerala, four each from Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and two from Telangana. Most of the patients are currently in home isolation.
The country’s Covid-19 active infection count stood at 4,093, the health ministry said on Wednesday with five states – Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa – contributing to over 90 per cent of the infections.
Three new fatalities -- two from Karnataka and one from Gujarat -- were reported in a span of 24 hours. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but infections have again gone up after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.
The daily numbers were in lakhs at the peak of the pandemic, which began in early 2020 and has seen more than 4.5 crore people getting infected and over 5.3 lakh deaths in about four years since then across the country.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease stands at more than 4.4 crore with a national recovery rate of 98.81 per cent, according to the ministry’s website. The case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent.
The Union Health Ministry has urged the States to ensure effective compliance with operational guidelines for the revised surveillance strategy for Covid-19 shared by the union ministry of health and family welfare. They have asked to monitor and report district-wise cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in all health facilities regularly for early detection of rising trend of cases.
Regarding the JN.1 Sub variant, the Ministry officials said though the number of cases is rising and the JN.1 sub-variant has been detected in the country, there is no cause of immediate concern as 92 per cent of those infected are opting for home-based treatment, indicating a mild illness.
Meanwhile, amid rise in the JN.1 Covid-19 sub variant cases, Pune-based Serum Institute of India is said to be in the process of seeking a license for a vaccine targeting the new sub variant doing the rounds in various States. Sources say that it is poised to potentially distribute vaccines to check the spread of the new sub-variant.
