A 41-year-old has tested positive for new Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. The Karnataka government has issued an advisory asking people above 60 years to wear masks
On Thursday, 2669 new cases of the JN.1 Covid variant were reported in less than a day due to reports of its arrival in India. The Union Health Ministry reports that Kerala, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Karnataka have seen an increase in Covid cases. Dr. V K Paul, a member of NITI Aayog’s health committee, stated on Wednesday that India has so far recorded 21 cases of the Covid-19 subvariant JN.1.
The JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) variant, which is a descendant of the coronavirus BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola), first appeared in late 2023.
These ten updates pertain to the Covid variant JN.1:
- On Wednesday, there were two deaths in Karnataka linked to COVID-19. It’s not clear if the new subvariant JN.1 caused the death.
- Yesterday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called a meeting with department representatives to reiterate that the COVID pandemic was still ongoing. He also urged the states to continue monitoring new cases, symptoms, and case severity in order to prepare for the necessary public health response.
- The rising trend of Covid cases in the nation has hospitals all over the nation on high alert. The chief of pulmonary medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Rohit Kumar, declared, “We are on high alert, sending samples for genome sequencing, and conducting COVID tests.”
- In the Maharashtra district of Sindhudurg, a 41-year-old has tested positive for the new Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1. There were no more specifics about the patient available.
- Kerala’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported three deaths and 300 new active cases of COVID-19 on December 20.
- Following central guidelines, the West Bengal Health Department will persist in monitoring cases of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI).
- The government of Haryana announced that RT-PCR tests for severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illnesses will be carried out.
- The government of Delhi is also on guard due to the introduction of a new Covid variant into the nation. According to Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, requirements for ventilator beds, oxygen cylinders, and other equipment are “reviewed again.”
- In addition to advising those over 60, those with comorbidities, expectant mothers, and nursing mothers to wear face masks outside, the Karnataka government has issued an advisory advising people to stay away from crowded, closed spaces with poor ventilation.
- Thirteen coronavirus cases are active at the moment in Gujarat; however, all of the patients are being isolated at home. The government of Gujarat has urged citizens not to panic but to exercise caution. In light of the JN.1 subvariant, Gujarati government authorities conducted a simulated drill at over 5,700 hospitals to evaluate their readiness to handle any medical emergency.
- Goa has reported 19 active cases of COVID-19, however all patients have only mild symptoms.
- For the past week, there have been no reported cases of COVID in Odisha. Seniors are advised to exercise caution by the state government, though.
- Yesterday, two new coronavirus cases were reported in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- Despite its fast spreading nature, the World Health Organization has designated JN.1 as a distinct “variant of interest” and stated that it presents a “low” risk to global public health.
- The genome sequencing of the novel JN.1 variant is being conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
About JN.1 Covid variant:
The JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) variant, which is a derivative of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola), first appeared in late 2023.
The August 2023-discovered BA.2.86 lineage differs phylogenetically from the circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineages, such as EG.5.1 and HK.3.
The spike (5) protein has over 30 mutations in BA.2.86, suggesting a high potential for immune evasion. In late July 2023, JN.1 was first discovered in Denmark and Israel.
