COVID-19 scare: 1,200 JN.1 cases recorded in 17 states, UTs so far
As many as 1,200 cases of COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 have been detected in 17 states and Union Territories across India, with Nagaland becoming the latest state to join the fray.
COVID-19 update: India has so far recorded a total of 1,200 cases of COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 across 17 states and Union Territories, with Nagaland becoming the latest state to report a JN.1 infection, the INSACOG said on Saturday.
According to data collected by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), Karnataka tops the list for the highest number of JN.1 cases at 215, followed by Andhra Pradesh (189), Maharashtra (170), Kerala (154) . ), West Bengal (96), Goa (90), Tamil Nadu (88) and Gujarat (76).
Telangana and Rajasthan have recorded 32 JN.1 cases each, Chhattisgarh has recorded 25, Delhi 16, Uttar Pradesh 7, Haryana five, Odisha three and Uttarakhand and Nagaland one each, according to the data accessed by news agency PTI.
No reason to panic, officials say
While the number of JN.1 cases has risen in the country, officials and experts have maintained that the new variant does not pose a serious health risk and urged the public not to panic.
“Although the number of cases is rising and the JN.1 subvariant has been detected in the country, there is no need for immediate concern as the majority of those infected opt for home treatment, indicating mild disease,” officials said.
States have been urged to effectively adhere to the detailed operational guidelines for the revised COVID-19 surveillance strategy shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
“Currently available data suggest that the JN.1 subvariant does not lead to an exponential increase in the number of new cases, nor does it lead to an increase in hospitalizations and mortality rates,” the official said.
The Center has asked states and Union Territories to maintain constant vigil amid rise in Covid cases and detection of JN.1 subvariant in the country.
States have been urged to effectively comply with the detailed operational guidelines for the revised COVID-19 surveillance strategy shared with them by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
States have also been asked to regularly monitor and report district-wise cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) from all health facilities for early detection of rising trend of Covid cases.
JN.1 subvariant
The World Health Organization has classified JN.1 as a separate “major variant” given its rapidly increasing spread, but said it poses a “low” global public health risk.
The JN.1 subvariant of the coronavirus was previously classified as a variant of interest (VOI) as part of the BA.2.86 sublineages, the parent lineage that is classified as a VOI, the world body said.
Several countries, including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, have reported a rise in new coronavirus cases. The JN.1 strain, first detected in September in the United States, is a descendant of BA.2.86, a highly mutated variant of the Omicron strain of COVID-19.
(With input from agencies)