India Reports 511 Instances of Fresh JN.1 Sub-Variant Amidst Five Deaths in 24 Hours

India grapples with 511 cases of the JN.1 COVID-19 variant, recording five deaths in 24 hours. Karnataka leads in reported cases. The Health Ministry tallies 602 new cases, maintaining a caseload of 4,50,15,136. WHO designates JN.1 a "variant of interest," citing increased spread but low global risk.

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In India's ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of the JN.1 variant has raised concerns. As of the latest update, the country has encountered 511 instances of this new sub-variant, accompanied by five fatalities within a 24-hour period. These figures highlight the gravity of the situation amid rising health worries across the nation.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) operating under the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the presence of 511 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant across 11 states by January 2, 2024. Karnataka has reported the highest number of cases, totaling 199, followed by Kerala with 148 cases. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare disclosed additional figures, including 47 cases in Goa, 36 in Gujarat, and 32 in Maharashtra. Tamil Nadu reported 26 cases, Delhi 15, and 4 in Rajasthan, while Telangana, Odisha, and Haryana each reported one or two cases.

India's COVID-19 tally stands at a staggering 4,50,15,136 cases, with 602 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. Despite this, there's a marginal decrease in the active caseload, which currently rests at 4,440. Encouragingly, 722 individuals have recuperated, pushing the total recovered cases to 4,44,77,272.

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Tragically, amidst these statistics, specific demises have been identified. In Kerala, a 66-year-old male with Chronic Liver Disease and MODS, along with a 79-year-old female with coronary artery disease, succumbed to the virus. Additionally, Karnataka mourns the loss of a 45-year-old male with hypertension, while Punjab recorded the death of a 62-year-old male with Pulmonary Kochs and Lung injury.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the JN.1 variant as a "variant of interest." Despite acknowledging its rapid spread, the global health body has deemed it to pose a "low" global public health risk. This variant was previously part of the BA.2.86 sublineages, categorized as a VOI. The WHO anticipates potential increased SARS-CoV-2 cases, especially during countries' winter seasons, further complicating ongoing infections.