India reports 69 cases of JN.1 COVID sub-variant with no rise in hospitalisation rates

New Delhi: The latest COVID-19 update from official sources has revealed a rise in cases of the JN.1 sub-variant, totaling 69 infections in the country. However, reports state that despite this increase, the majority of patients continue to manage their condition at home, showing mild symptoms, and there hasn't been a surge in hospitalisations, assuring no immediate cause for alarm.

Dr. V K Paul, a member of NITI Aayog overseeing Health, said that the new variant of COVID is being closely investigated but also stressed the importance of states scaling up testing capabilities and reinforcing surveillance systems to effectively track and manage the spread.

Officials highlighted that 92 percent of those infected with the JN.1 sub-variant are opting for home-based treatment, which indicates the relatively mild nature of the illness. Furthermore, they underlined that COVID-19 is incidentally discovered among patients hospitalised for other medical conditions, with no noteworthy rise in hospitalisation rates till now.

Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant also underlined the importance of implementing stronger COVID-19 control and management strategies, particularly in anticipation of the forthcoming festive season. He urged states to enact necessary public health measures to mitigate transmission risks.

States have received directives to monitor and report cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) district-wise from all health facilities. According to reports, such monitoring aims to identify any upsurge in cases.

As per the Union Health Ministry's latest update, India witnessed an increase of 628 new coronavirus infections in a single day, resulting in a total of 4,054 active cases. The death toll stands at 5,33,334, with one new death reported from Kerala within the last 24 hours.

The JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1), originating in Luxembourg in August 2023, belongs to the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of SARS COV2. The situation as of now continues to be monitored closely by health authorities.