• COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1: India records 109 cases; Check states recording maximum infections

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    COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1: India records 109 cases; Check states recording maximum infections
    India reported a daily increase of 529 COVID-19 cases, with the total number of active cases standing at 4,093...

    Digital Desk: Official sources reported on Wednesday that India documented 40 new cases of the JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19 until December 26, bringing the overall number of cases of the variation to 109.

    Notably, the JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) variety, which first appeared in Luxembourg in August 2023, is a descendent of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of SARS-CoV2.

    According to the health ministry, India reported a daily increase of 529 COVID-19 cases, with the total number of active cases standing at 4,093.

    According to the news agency PTI, below are the states which recorded the maximum number of infections-

    36 cases were found in Gujarat 
    34  Cases in Karnataka
    Goa reported 14 cases 
    Maharashtra reported 9 cases 
    Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu reported 4 cases each
    Telangana recorded 2 infection cases.

    Dr V K Paul, an NITI Aayog member (Health), stated last week that officials were investigating the new variety closely. He did, however, emphasise that states needed to ramp up testing and tighten the surveillance system.

    Despite an increase in JN.1 sub-variant cases and observations in the country, officials warn that there is no immediate cause for concern. 

    According to official assertions, 92% of those affected choose home-based therapy, indicating a minor sickness.

    Officials have not noticed an increase in hospitalisation rates, and identifying COVID-19 in those hospitalised for other medical reasons is purely accidental.

    Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant wrote to states and union territories, urging them to implement critical public health measures, particularly COVID-19 control and management procedures.

    The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged states to ensure the proper execution of operational guidelines for the amended COVID-19 surveillance strategy.

    The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged states to ensure the proper execution of operational guidelines for the amended COVID-19 surveillance strategy.

    Authorities have mandated that all health facilities conduct continuous monitoring and reporting of district-level instances of Influenza-like illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) to aid in the early detection of any emerging trends in cases.