India Records 162 Cases of Covid-19 Subvariant JN.1, Kerala Reports Highest Incidence: Latest Updates
Updated: Dec 30, 2023
In India, there have been a total of 162 cases of the Covid-19 subvariant JN.1, and Kerala has reported the highest number of infections.
According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) on Friday, India has documented a total of 162 cases of the Covid-19 subvariant JN.1. The state with the highest number of infections is Kerala, reporting 83 cases. Other states with recorded cases include Gujarat (34), Goa (18), Karnataka (8), Maharashtra (7), Rajasthan (5), Tamil Nadu (4), and Telangana and Delhi, each reporting two and one case, respectively.
Top News Highlights:
In recent weeks, several states in India have observed an increase in Covid-19 cases.
Nine states and union territories have identified the presence of the JN.1 subvariant of the virus in the country.
Data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) reveals that 145 cases of JN.1 were recorded in December, with 17 cases detected in November.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a 'variant of interest' due to its rapid spread, though it poses a "low" global public health risk. Globally, WHO reported 7,344 cases of the Covid-19 JN.1 subvariant from 41 countries as of December 16.
Ahead of New Year's celebrations, the central government has urged states and Union territories to closely monitor the rising cases of JN.1.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi issued guidelines for Covid-19 suspected or positive cases in hospitals earlier this week.
According to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, the JN.1 variant is more transmissible and infectious, but the overall public health risk remains low. Immunity from vaccinations and past infections seems to be effective in preventing severe illness.
India reported 797 new infections in 24 hours, the highest in 225 days. Active cases stand at 4,091, with five new deaths recorded, including two from Kerala and one each from Maharashtra, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu.
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