Centre issues advisory to states after first case of new Covid variant

• Image Credit: Google

• Dec 18, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The Centre on Monday issued advisory to States in view of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and detection of first case of JN.1 variant in India...

Digital Desk: In response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in certain states and union territories in India, coupled with the identification of the first case of the new JN.1 variant of COVID-19, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant has issued a crucial directive to all states and union territories. Emphasizing the need for continued vigilance in the fight against the pandemic, Pant acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the central and state governments that have contributed to a consistent decline in infection rates.

The Union Health Ministry released a statement underlining the importance of sustained efforts given the virus's adaptability to Indian weather conditions and the presence of other common pathogens.

According to the latest data from the Union Health Ministry, India recorded 260 new coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total number of active cases to 1,828. Unfortunately, one death was reported in Kerala, where the JN.1 subvariant of the coronavirus was recently detected.

In light of the evolving situation, the Union Health Secretary outlined critical strategies for COVID-19 control and management. States are advised to implement necessary public health measures to minimize the risk of increased transmission. Monitoring and reporting cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) on a district-wise basis are also crucial, with data regularly updated in the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal to detect early rising trends.

Furthermore, the Centre urged states to ensure adequate testing according to COVID-19 testing guidelines, maintaining the recommended proportion of RT-PCR and Antigen tests. States are encouraged to increase the number of RT-PCR tests and send positive samples for genome sequencing to the Indian SARS COV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) laboratories to detect any emerging variants promptly.

The Union Health Ministry emphasized the active involvement of public and private healthcare facilities in the preparedness and response drills organized by the ministry. These measures aim to strengthen the country's ability to respond effectively to the evolving challenges posed by the COVID-19 virus and its variants.