KARACHI – On Tuesday, the Sindh health department disclosed the identification of two additional cases involving the novel coronavirus variant JN.1.

Both patients have been instructed to self-quarantine at home until their recovery, following the advice of health authorities.

Earlier in the week, Pakistan’s health ministry had already reported four cases of the JN.1 variant, emphasizing that none of the individuals exhibited severe symptoms of the disease. With the recent identification of two more patients, the total number of confirmed JN.1 cases in the country has now reached six.

Read more : No Cases Of New Coronavirus Variant Reported In Pakistan

An official statement from the Sindh Health Department noted, “The Sindh Health Department has received reports of six suspected COVID variant passengers arriving at Karachi Airport from abroad.” It further explained that out of the six samples subjected to testing for the new COVID variant JN.1, two have tested positive. Specifically, one infected passenger arrived in Karachi from Bangkok, while the other came from Abu Dhabi.

The statement provided details about the two JN.1 patients, revealing that one is a 26-year-old from the Kech area in Balochistan, while the other, aged 53, hails from Sanghar in Sindh and currently resides in Hyderabad. Both individuals have been strictly advised to adhere to home quarantine measures.

Pakistan’s journey through the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by various challenges and phases. Initially, the nation grappled with the rapid spread of the virus, prompting the implementation of stringent lockdowns and placing significant pressure on its healthcare system. Despite resource limitations, Pakistan successfully implemented measures such as targeted lockdowns, extensive testing, and public awareness campaigns. These efforts led to an improvement in the situation, marked by a decline in infection rates and the initiation of vaccination programs.

JN.1, identified as a subvariant of the omicron strain, was first detected in the United States in September before its subsequent emergence in other regions. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is currently no evidence indicating that this new variant results in more severe cases of COVID-19 or poses a greater risk to public health compared to other circulating coronaviruses.