New Delhi: India has logged 475 new cases of Covid in the last 24 hours, while the number of active cases of the infection stood at 3,919, the health ministry said on Tuesday (January 9). Nearly six deaths – three from Karnataka, two from Chhattisgarh and one from Assam have been reported in a span of 24 hours. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, 2023 but cases began to increase after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.
A total of 819 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 were reported from 12 states till Monday, including 250 cases from Maharashtra, 199 from Karnataka, 148 from Kerala, 49 from Goa, 36 from Gujarat, 30 each from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, 26 each from Tamil Nadu and Telangana, 21 from Delhi, three from Odisha and one from Haryana.
Also Read: COVID-19 Updates: India Reports 605 New Cases, Four Deaths In The Last 24 Hours
The Centre has asked the 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 of the virus in the country.
Among the states, Maharashtra recorded sixty-one new cases in the last 24 hours, as per an official update on COVID-19 from the state Public Health Department. The department also reported that 70 patients were discharged on the same day. The recovery rate in the state was recorded at 98.17 per cent while the case fatality rate stood at 1.81 per cent.
In Mumbai, nineteen persons have tested positive for JN.1 sub-variant of coronavirus in, an official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed. Out of 22 samples found positive for JN.1 subvariant in Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis, 19 were from Mumbai, Daksha Shah, executive health officer of the BMC told the Press Trust of India.
In Karnataka, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has tested positive for Covid-19 and is under home quarantine, the Special Secretary to the Governor, R Prabhu Shankar, said on Tuesday (January 9). The official said in a statement,
The governor has tested positive for Covid-19. He is being continuously monitored and his health is stable. Presently, he is quarantined at his residence. His scheduled programmes and appointments stand cancelled till further intimation.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wished Governor Gehlor a speedy recovery.
In a statement on social media platform X, Siddaramaiah said,
I wish the Honorable Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is infected with Novel Corona, a speedy recovery.
Also Read: COVID-19 Updates: India Logs 761 Cases, 12 Deaths In The Past 24 Hours
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.
