COVID-19 News Updates

According to experts, JN.1 (from the lineage of the Omicron variant) is more transmissible and spreads more rapidly, causing symptoms like fever, cough, cold, sore throat, and body aches -- similar to what we have seen in the past.

In the latest epidemiological update on Friday, the UN health body reported over 850,000 new cases worldwide in the 28-day period from November 20 to December 17.

As per official data, the Covid-19 positive case has been detected after a brief gap of 20 days. The last positive case of Covid-19 infection in the state was reported on December 3, 2023.

The death toll was recorded at 5,33,332 with four new deaths -- two from Kerala, one each in Rajasthan and Karnataka -- reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

India recorded 640 fresh Covid-19 infections in 24 hours taking the number of active cases to 2,997 from 2,669 the day before, according to the Union Health Ministry data on Friday.

WHO's decision was prompted by the variant's ability to spread fast among the community. It said the decision was due to the strain's 'rapidly increasing spread'.

Globally, US, Singapore and Malaysia have also witnessed a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases, prompting the World Health Organization to classify JN.1 as a "variant of interest."

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya today virtually chaired a high-level meeting with health ministers of all states to access the current status and preparedness on COVID 19.

Till now, the variant has killed one person in Kerala while taking India’s active COVID-19 cases to 1828.

The Health Ministry on Monday issued an advisory in the wake of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in some States/UTs and detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant. Highlighting the need for maintaining constant vigil over the COVID situation in the country, Union Health Secretary, Sudhansh Pant shot off a letter to States/UTs.

The fears of the Covid-19 pandemic have resurfaced across the country after several people in Kerala have been infected by the new JN.1 variant. India reported 335 fresh COVID19 cases and five deaths in the last 24 hours.

Considering the upcoming festive season, States were advised to put in place requisite public health measures and other arrangements to minimize risk of increase in transmission of the disease by adherence to maintenance of respiratory hygiene

The case was detected in an RT-PCR positive sample from Karakulam in Thiruvananthapuram district of the southern state on December 8, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the ICMR, said.

The country's COVID-19 case tally stands at 4,50,03,055 (4.50 crore) and the death toll at 5,33,306 (5.33 lakh), the data updated at 8 am showed.

In a recent respiratory virus update, the CDC said that JN.1, is part of the same lineage of BA.2.86 and contains an extra spike mutation -- L455S mutation, which has immune-evasion properties.