NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said on Wednesday that so far 21 new cases of COVID-19 sub-form JN.1 have been reported across the country, but there is no need to panic. Paul said that the scientific community in India is closely examining the new variant. Along with this, he stressed the need for states to increase testing and strengthen their surveillance systems. Paul said that about 91 to 92 percent of the people infected with the infection are choosing treatment at home.
According to official sources, out of the new cases of sub-form JN.1, 19 cases were registered in Goa while one case each was reported in Kerala and Maharashtra. In the last two weeks, 16 patients related to Covid-19 have been reported. Death occurred. Although these patients already had many diseases. The central government has asked states and union territories to maintain surveillance amid the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country and the emergence of the new JN.1 variant.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness of health facilities across the country and stressed on being alert about the emerging forms of corona virus. Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant said that even though the cases are increasing, 92.8 percent of the cases are being treated at home, which indicates mild disease. He said, “There has been no increase in the rate of hospitalization due to Covid-19. The patients who have been admitted to the hospital had other diseases and Covid was suddenly detected in them.
An increase in the daily infection rate was seen in some states in the country like Kerala, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Karnataka. According to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday, 614 new cases of corona virus infection were registered in India in a single day, the highest since May 21. With this, the number of cases under treatment in the country has increased to 2,311. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a variant of interest amid the rapidly increasing cases of JN.1 form of corona virus.
WHO also said that this does not pose much threat to global public health. According to WHO, it now belongs to the BA.2.86 lineage associated with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). However, in recent weeks, cases of JN.1 have been reported in several countries and globally. Its spread has increased rapidly.