COVID-19 Sub Variant JN.1: Covid-19 cases started increasing across the country, 3 patients died in Kerala in 24 hours; Total of 2669 active cases

Corona cases have once again gained momentum in the country. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 300 new active cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Kerala on December 20. In which there is news of death of 3 infected patients. The total number of active cases of Covid-19 in the country is 2669.

According to the ministry's website, of the 358 COVID-19 infections recorded across the country as of 8 am on Thursday, 300 were from Kerala, taking the active cases in the state to 2,341. With three deaths reported in the state, the total death toll in Kerala since the outbreak three years ago has reached 72,059.

According to the Union Health Ministry, a rapid increase in the cases of COVID-19 is being recorded in many states of the country including Kerala. According to the data, 614 new Covid cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours, while the total number of active cases in India is 2669.

2 cases of new strain of Covid-19 JN.1 reported in Rajasthan

According to Rajasthan Additional Health Director Ravi Prakash Sharma, 2 cases of the new strain JN.1 have been reported in the state. Two patients have been found COVID-19 positive in Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital and JK Lone Hospital respectively. Both the patients had come to Jaipur from other districts for treatment. Additional Health Director confirmed that one patient is said to be from Bharatpur and the other from Jhunjhunu.

Currently no Covid cases in West Bengal

Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, the West Bengal Health Department has said that it will continue to monitor influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases as per central guidelines.

"We will continue our surveillance activity as per the guidelines of the health ministry. Currently, there is not a single COVID-19 case in our state. However, we are prepared with the infrastructure," the official told PTI on Wednesday.

1 case of new strain JN.1 also reported in Maharashtra

With the increase in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the new strain JN.1, Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant has advised people not to panic. He said that the state's healthcare system is fully prepared to deal with any possible situation. However, they have confirmed that the new strain JN.1 has been detected in a patient in the state.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sawant said, "The state's healthcare system is fully prepared to deal with the new Covid variant JN.1. There is no need to panic. If people develop any symptoms, They should consult a doctor and take necessary medicines." He said people should also follow Covid protocols in the interest of public safety.

Meanwhile, the state health department informed that regular genome sequencing is being conducted after the detection of the new sub-variant JN.1 in the state. The state health department said, "Genetic sequencing (WGS) is being done regularly in the state. So far, only one patient with the JN.1 variant has been found in the state. The patient is a 41-year-old man from Sindhudurg. All people are required to wear masks." ", wash hands frequently where necessary and adopt COVID-appropriate behavior."

The department further informed that as per the instructions of the Central Government, a mock drill was conducted from December 15 to 17 in all secondary and tertiary level health institutions in the state to assess their preparedness for the Covid wave.

"All districts, municipal corporations, and government medical colleges of the state participated in this important mock drill," the health department said in a release. The review was conducted to review beds, ICUs, facilities, equipment, oxygen facilities, medicine stocks, manpower, manpower training, and telemedicine. This was done concerning the facilities which are available in the hospitals of the State."

It said, "As of December 17, 1264 institutions in the state have completed this mock drill and submitted their information. 655 government hospitals, 575 private hospitals, 3 government medical colleges, 14 private medical colleges, and 5 others “Hospitals have participated in this.”

Earlier, on Wednesday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting amid rising Covid cases in some states. In this meeting, he appealed to the people not to panic.

Subvariant JN.1 spread in 40 countries, with 16 deaths due to infection so far

Let us tell you that the recent surge in Covid cases has been attributed to the sub-variant JN.1, in which mild fever and cough are among its most common symptoms. According to officials, cases of the sub-variant JN.1 are currently reported in 36-40 countries, causing 16 deaths in the last few weeks.

Officials said most of the deceased were suffering from other diseases but about 92 percent of the patients found infected with the new strain were recovering at home. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of active Covid cases in the country as of Wednesday stood at 2,311, while the total number of deaths since the arrival of the pandemic in India stood at 5,33,321.

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