JN.1 Covid-19 update: 83 cases detected in India so far, says INSACOG
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India has recorded at least 83 cases of the new JN.1 Covid-19 variant so far, The Indian Express (IE) reported on Wednesday. According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) genome sequencing panel, 34 sequences were detected in Gujarat, followed by 18 from Goa, eight from Karnataka, seven from Maharashtra, five each from Kerala and Rajasthan, four from Tamil Nadu, and two from Telangana.
INSACOG is a forum established by the central government to monitor the genome sequencing and virus variation of circulating strains of Covid-19 in India.
At least 409 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, data from mygov.in showed. Kerala had 3,096 active cases, the highest in the country. Karnataka reported 433 new cases of Covid-19.
JN.1 Covid-19 variant update: 34 cases of new variant detected in Karnataka
Amid reports of 34 cases of the JN.1 variant of Covid-19 in Karnataka, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the government is well prepared and nothing is 'alarming'. Karnataka also brought back the seven-day isolation for those who tested positive for Covid-19, Mint reported today.
Speaking to news agency ANI, the minister said: “There are 430 active cases, of which 400 are in home isolation and the rest are in hospital. 7-8 patients are in intensive care units (ICUs). From now on, things are OK. We did genome sequencing. There have been 34 cases of the JN.1 variant of Covid-19. We are well prepared. Nothing is alarming. The majority of the cases are in Bengaluru.”
“Old people will get the booster vaccine. If they want, they can take it. We purchase approximately 30,000 vaccines. We will give the anti-flu vaccine to our health workers. The new year is coming; we advise people to maintain physical distancing,” he added.
JN.1 Covid-19 variant update: Delhi's Covid-19 positivity rate is around 1 per cent, says health minister
On December 27, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the Covid-19 positivity rate in the national capital is around 1 percent and emphasized that people should be cautious during the winter holidays, instead of panicking.
Bharadwaj added that genome sequencing of samples testing positive for Covid-19 has been ramped up and the results of the sequencing are awaited.
“The new variants are not dangerous, but people should not become lax and (they should) follow the precautionary measures. People should not panic and think that the virus is spreading and people are dying,” the minister said.
JN.1 Covid-19 variant update: Himachal health department issues advisory to district units
The Himachal Pradesh Health Department has directed Chief Medical Officers (CMO) in the state to test patients with Covid-19 like symptoms and exercise due caution, officials said.
Una CMO Dr. Sanjeev Kumar stated that people with symptoms of cold, fever or cough should take a Covid-19 detection test.
All patients should immediately get a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test done in cases of respiratory diseases such as flu, cough, cold, sore throat, runny nose, headache and fever, doctors said.
First print: December 27, 2023 | 12:15 pm IST