India is facing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, with a recent report citing 702 new infections and six fatalities nationwide as of Thursday, according to the Indian health ministry’s latest data.
Key Points:
- Current Active Caseload: The country’s active caseload stands at 4,097, triggering concerns about the emergence of the new JN.1 Covid variant. New Delhi’s Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj underscored the variant’s presence, initially detected in the capital on Wednesday.
- Deaths in 24 Hours: Among the six deaths reported in the last 24 hours, two occurred in Maharashtra, and one each in Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and New Delhi.
- JN.1 Variant: Designated as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO), JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant. It has emerged as the dominant strain in the United States, constituting over 44% of cases there.
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- Cases and Spread: India’s health ministry reported a total of 109 cases of the JN.1 variant as of December 26. Gujarat and Karnataka lead the count with 36 and 34 cases, respectively. Other affected states include Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
- Expert Warnings: Experts caution that although the JN.1 variant is highly transmissible, it primarily causes mild symptoms similar to a common cold, affecting the upper respiratory tract.
India continues to grapple with the rising Covid-19 cases amidst concerns about the spread of the JN.1 variant. Authorities and health experts remain vigilant, monitoring the situation and advising precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus.
