New Delhi: India on Friday (January 5) recorded 761 fresh COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths due to the viral disease, according to Union Health Ministry data, bringing down the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country from 4,423 on Thursday to 4,334 on Friday, the data updated at 8 am showed. Kerala has the highest number of active cases at 1,249, followed by Karnataka at 1,240, Maharashtra at 914, Tamil Nadu at 190, and Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh at 128 each. Of the 12 fresh deaths, five were reported from Kerala, four from Karnataka, two from Maharashtra, and one from Uttar Pradesh, the data stated.
The number of cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 reported from 12 states till January 4 rose to 619, official sources said on Friday (January 5). They said 199 cases have been reported from Karnataka, 148 from Kerala, 110 from Maharashtra, 47 from Goa, 36 from Gujarat, 30 from Andhra Pradesh, 26 from Tamil Nadu, 15 from Delhi, 4 from Rajasthan 2 from Telangana and one each from Odisha and Haryana.
Even though the number of cases is rising and the JN.1 sub-variant has been detected in the country, there is no cause of immediate concern as the majority of those infected are opting for home-based treatment, indicating mild illness, officials said.
The Centre has already asked states and Union territories to maintain a constant vigil amid an uptick in the number of Covid cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant in the country.
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Maharashtra on Thursday (January 4) recorded 171 coronavirus cases and two deaths – one each in Solapur and Kolhapur. Mumbai logged 32 cases, followed by 16 each in Thane city and Navi Mumbai, the health department’s bulletin said. While Mumbai reported 32 cases, followed by 16 each in Thane city and Navi Mumbai, the health department’s bulletin informed.
There are 914 active cases in the state, while the tally of those caused by the JN.1 variant stands at 110, it said. Maharashtra’s recovery rate is 98.17 per cent.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday (January 5) said the state government was keeping a close watch on the COVID-19 situation, and the health department has been asked to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Sassoon General Hospital here, Mr Pawar said that though the JN.1 variant of coronavirus is not very serious, people are advised to use masks. The deputy chief minister said,
The health department on Thursday apprised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of the (COVID-19) situation. We are taking reports about the cases every day. Civil surgeons and health departments in the state have been issued instructions to undertake precautionary measures to ensure that the number of positive cases does not rise.
He also urged people to cooperate by following COVID-appropriate behaviour. Mr Pawar said,
Though the present variant of COVID-19 is not very serious, and one can recover by being in isolation, people are requested to use masks. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and we all are taking stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday (January 5) said he had directed health officials to make Covid test mandatory for those with Influenza Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). The minister also said that a Covid helpline will be launched tomorrow. The minister in a statement after a meeting with health department officials here, said,
More than 7,000 tests are being done everyday and the COVID Positivity Rate is 3.82 per cent. The positivity rate in the state has not come down yet.
Stating that neighbouring Kerala has started seeing a downward trend in Covid cases, he said he has asked officials to keep a close watch on those who are Covid-positive.
Mr Rao said he has asked officials to compulsorily carry out Covid screening among those adults showing symptoms of ILI and SARI.
Earlier only one in 20 of these cases were subjected to Covid testing but henceforth private and government hospitals have been instructed to conduct the test on all ILI/SARI patients. Mr Rao said,
Those with symptoms are being monitored and tested. Those who are in isolation at home have been told to take extra care. It is expected that the trend of decreasing Covid cases may start next week in Karnataka. Technical Advisory Committee met yesterday (Thursday) and gave some guidance. I have instructed the authorities to adopt them (the guidelines).
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
