COVID-19 Updates: India Reports 605 New Cases, Four Deaths In The Last 24 Hours

New Delhi: The number of cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 reported from 12 states till January 7 rose to 682, official sources said on Monday (January 8). They said 199 cases have been reported from Karnataka, 148 from Kerala, 139 from Maharashtra, 47 from Goa, 36 from Gujarat, 30 from Andhra Pradesh, 30 from Rajasthan, 26 from Tamil Nadu, 21 from Delhi, three from Odisha, two from Telangana and one from Haryana.

India on Monday (January 8) recorded 605 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the official data. The active cases have increased to 4,002, while the country’s overall COVID case tally stands at over 4.5 crore (4,50,18,792). Of the total active cases, a large majority of these (around 92 per cent) are recovering under home isolation. Sources said,

The currently available data suggests that the JN.1 variant is neither leading to an exponential rise in the new cases nor a surge in hospitalisation and mortality.

The death toll was recorded over 5.33 lakh (5,33,396) with four new deaths — two from Kerala and one each in Karnataka and Tripura — reported in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated. The number of people who have recovered from the disease has gone up to 4,44,81,341, an increase of 648 since Sunday (January 7) morning.

In Kerala, a 70-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an 81-year-old male with T2DM and HTN, and in Karnataka, a 48-year-old male with CA and TB died, while one person in Tripura succumbed to COVID.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reported that 11,838 doses of the vaccine had been administered in the country till January 7. The data is a compilation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (National Centre for Disease Control), media bulletins and websites of various States at 8 am on January 4.

On Sunday (January 7), India recorded 756 new cases of COVID-19, while the number of active cases of the infection stood at 4,049, the health ministry said. Five deaths — two each from Kerala and Maharashtra and one from Jammu and Kashmir — have been reported in the last 24 hours, according to the ministry’s data updated at 8 am.

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.

Also Read: Surge In COVID Cases Prompts Increased Testing And Genome Sequencing

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 in the country.

States have been urged to ensure effective compliance with the detailed operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy for COVID-19 shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They have asked to monitor and report district-wise cases of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness in all health facilities regularly for early detection of rising trend of cases.

Delhi has so far reported 24 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1, including three patients who were from outside Delhi, with all of them recovering from the infection, officials said on Monday (January 8). There is nothing to worry about as the patients had mild symptoms, they said. An official said,

The first patient of JN.1 sub-variant had got admitted to a hospital since she was stressed but recovered within a few days. The remaining patients have also recovered. Three of the patients who are from outside Delhi were detected with Covid during pre-operative screening. What we have learnt so far is that majority of the patients have recovered in home isolation.

The national capital had reported its first case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 in December last year. The official asserted that there are hardly any symptoms and the patients are recovering within two to three days. Till last week, there were 16 cases of JN.1 variant in Delhi.

According to the recent reports of genome sequencing received, out of 29 samples that were sequenced, six had low genome coverage, the officials said.

Out of the 23 samples that passed the genome sequencing tests, eight were detected with the JN.1 variant, 11 were found with BA.2 while one sample each was found with the XBB.2.3 and HV.1 variant and two with HK.3.

According to the officials, there are currently 35 active cases in Delhi.

As winter sets in, health experts are highlighting a sudden surge in viral infections, influenza, and COVID-19 cases.

Dr Nikhil Modi, a senior pulmonologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, pointed out that the declining temperature leads to increased moisture in the air, low wind speed, and a rise in pollution, contributing to various infections. Earlier in the month, Dr Modi said,

Due to the falling temperature, there is fog, which, along with pollution, forms smog. This atmospheric condition can result in different types of infections, and many people are experiencing difficulty in breathing.

Meanwhile, both the central and state governments are keeping a close watch on the new Omicron Subvariant JN.1. JN.1 is a Variant of Interest (VOI) which is under intense scientific scrutiny.

Also Read: “People With Comorbidities Should Get COVID Test Done,” Says Dr Rajesh Chawla From Apollo Hospital

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86.However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.

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.