Subscribe Now! Get features like
Covid in India Highlights: India logged a total of 656 fresh cases of Covid-19 infections on December 24. The recent firgure shows a slight decline in single-day trend of cases from earlier 752 which was the highest since May 21. Kerala continues to reamain a major contributor to the multifold spurt of cases in the country.
The number of fatalities reported at four till December 23. Today it came down to one. Meanwhile, states are on alert since the outbreak of the JN.1 sub-variant of SARS-COV2 has triggered concerns in the country.
The Union government has directed the states to send samples of all Covid-19 test swabs for whole genome sequencing in an attempt to step up a vigil for any concerning variant of the virus.
Meanwhile, experts said there is no need for panic amid the growing number of Covid-positive cases, however, the situation needs to be kept under vigilance. Former AIIMS, Delhi, director Randeep Guleria said the sub-variant JN.1 is “gradually becoming dominant” but observed that it is not causing severe infections or hospitalisations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also classified JN.1 into the Variant of Interest (VOI) category, however, said there is no evidence that the Covid sub-variant presents an increased risk to public health relative to other currently circulating variants. The UN health body also said that the evidence at hand suggests current vaccines are capable of preventing severe disease and death.
Follow all the updates here:
Covid in India Live Updates: Maharashtra reports nine JN.1 infections
Covid in India Live Updates: On Sunday, Maharashtra reported 50 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the total infections in the state to 81,72,135 since the onset of the novel coronavirus nearly three years ago, as per the health department’s daily update.
Out of these recent cases, nine were linked to JN.1, elevating the tally of infections associated with this new sub-variant to 10 within the state.
The individuals affected by JN.1 comprise five from Thane city, two from Pune city, and one each from a rural area of Pune district, Akola city, and Sindhudurg district. The bulletin highlighted that one patient from Pune had traveled to the US.
All JN.1 patients have now recovered, as stated in the update.
(PTI)
Covid in India Live: Surge in Covid-19 cases prompts increased testing, says expert
Covid in India Live: As Covid-19 cases rise across various states, with 3742 active patients noted on Sunday, apprehensions grow, particularly as Kerala reports the highest case count and the emergence of a new variant, JN.1.
In the continuous fight against the adapting coronavirus, insights are provided by Sameer Bhati, a public health expert regarding its evolving nature.
Bhati explains that while the RTPCR test is employed for COVID detection, genome sequencing is done to identify new variants.
Despite a comparatively lower number of tests conducted in Delhi, close surveillance of cases persists, with genome sequencing employed to detect any emerging variants.
(ANI)
Covid in India Live: Amid rise in cases, WHO asks countries to strengthen surveillance
Covid in India Live: The World Health Organization (WHO) has called upon South-East Asian countries to enhance their surveillance efforts due to the rising instances of respiratory illnesses, including those related to COVID-19 and its newly identified sub-variant JN.1, as well as influenza, PTI reported.
Additionally, the WHO emphasised the importance of individuals adopting protective measures.
The COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, change, and circulate in all countries globally. While current evidence suggests the additional public health risk posed by JN.1 is low, we must continue to track the evolution of these viruses to tailor our response, WHO said.
“For this, countries must strengthen surveillance and sequencing, and ensure sharing of data,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia.
Covid in India Live: Mahashtra health officials asked to ensure availability of ventilators, oxygen cylinders
Covid in India Live: Following the emergence of the JN.1 Covid variant, Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Bansode directed health officials to ensure government hospitals have ventilators, oxygen cylinders, and essential equipment available, PTI reported. In a meeting held in Latur on Saturday, the minister emphasised the importance of precautionary measures and the availability of necessary supplies and medications across all state-run facilities.
Attending the meeting were Collector Varsha Thakur-Ghuge, chief executive officer Anmol Sagar, superintendent of police Somay Munde, municipal commissioner Babasaheb Manohare, and other senior officials.
As of Thursday, India has reported twenty-two cases of the JN.1 variant. This variant, JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1), originated in Luxembourg in August and is a descendant of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Covid in India Live: Odisha records second case
Covid in India Live: Odisha recorded second Covid-19 case on Sunday, as per a health department representative. On Saturday, the state health department recommended that older individuals and those with underlying health conditions wear masks when outdoors and steer clear of crowded areas.
“So far two Covid-19 cases have been reported in the state. Both the patients are under home isolation and their health parameters are normal,” director of public health Niranjan Mishra was quoted as saying by PTI.
Covid in India Live: Country logs 656 new cases
A total of 656 new cases of Covid-19 has been reported in the country in last 24 hours, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll was recorded at 5,33,333 with one new death reported from Kerala in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The country’s Covid case tally is 4.50 crore (4,50,08,620).
Covid in India: Not variant-specific, need vaccines for broader type, says ex-AIIMS director
“We need a vaccine which covers a broader type of the virus. We have had multiple mutations. Jn.1 is sub lineage of Omicron. So a vaccine which is made against Omicron will be effective against this variant also. We need more data first to show what is the current immunity in the population, and the protection that have based on the previous vaccination that we’ve got, based on that, only can we decide that do we need a new vaccine, which covers the current circulating strain, and that is something that has to be done regularly because variants will keep changing,” former AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said.
Covid in India Live: Bihar govt to publish all influenza-like cases in one platform
The Bihar government has directed the officials to upload all cases of influenza-like illness on one platform.
“The trends of ILI and SARI cases must be closely monitored by the authorities concerned in the state and all cases must be uploaded on the IHIP website. The health department must ramp up the testing rate and adequate availability of drugs, equipment, oxygen cylinders and manpower be ensured at all hospitals,” state health department’s additional chief secretary Pratayay Amrit said in a letter to all district magistrates and other officials.
Covid in India Live: JN.1 or not? Telangana hospital to verify type of variant of a Covid patient
After a 62-year-old woman was admitted to MGM Hospital in Telangana following developing symptoms of Covid-19, the health officials are now ascertaining the variant of the virus.
“The news going around is that cases of Covid-19 new variant JN.1 are admitted in MGM Hospital, Warangal so I want to clarify certain things because one 62-year-old woman got admitted to MGM Hospital. Incidentally, a private lab has declared her COVID-19 positive, we have isolated that patient and that is the first suspected case that came to the MGM hospital. We have taken a CT scan, so incidentally she has developed a COVID-19 positive and we are not sure that this COVID-19 positive is of the current variant JN.1 because it needs to be confirmed by genome sequencing,” a senior health official of the hospital said.
Covid in India Live: Odisha govt issues guidelines
The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department on Saturday issued a set of guidelines amid the surge of Covid-19 cases and the emergence of the JN.1 sub-variant. “With the emergence of the JN1 COVID variant, the Odisha government has advised the elderly and those with co-morbidities to wear facemasks while going out and avoid visiting crowded places,” the department wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Covid in India Live: Mizoram govt urges adhering to Covid norms
Ahead of the upcoming festive season, the Mizoram government on Saturday urged the people to adhere to Covid-appropriate norms during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Covid in India Live: Do you need extra dosage amid surge in cases? what expert says
India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) chief Dr NK Arora said there is no need for an additional dose of vaccine against Covid-19 amid the surge in cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant. “I would say prevention is required for all those who are 60 years of age or older, who are likely to have comorbidities and those who are on drugs that suppress our immunity, like cancer patients. If they have not taken precaution so far, then they are advised to take precaution; otherwise, there is no need for any additional doses,” he said while speaking to ANI.
Covid in India Live: 12 new cases reported in Telangana
12 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Telangana with Hyderabad logging highest at nine. The remaining three cases were reported from Rangareddy, Sangareddy and Warangal districts. No fresh fatalities were reported in the state, according to an official.
Covid in India Live: JN.1 not causing severe infections, says ex-AIIMS director
“It is more transmissible, it is spreading more rapidly, and it is gradually becoming a dominant variant. It is causing more infections but the data also suggests that it is not causing severe infections or hospitalisations. Most of the symptoms are predominantly in the upper airways, like fever, cough, cold, sore throat, running nose and body aches,” former AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said.
Covid in India Highlights: Maharashtra reports nine JN.1 infections – Hindustan Times
Leave a comment