India reported 702 new Covid-19 cases and 6 fatalities on Thursday, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
New Delhi: The recent surge in Covid-19 cases continued on Thursday, with 702 new infections reported across the country, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With this, the country’s active caseload stands at 4,097.
Six Covid-related deaths were also reported, with two deaths reported in Maharashtra and one each in Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Delhi within the last 24 hours. This comes amidst growing concerns about the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, Delhi reported its first case of JN.1 coronavirus sub-variant, city Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said.
The resurgence of cases is being closely monitored, particularly due to concerns surrounding the JN.1 variant. Classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO), JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and has been identified as the most prevalent strain in the United States, accounting for over 44 per cent of cases there.
In India, the JN.1 variant has been detected across several states, with health ministry sources reporting a total of 109 cases as of December 26. Gujarat and Karnataka have reported the highest numbers, with 36 and 34 cases respectively, followed by Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
Experts warn that while JN.1 is highly transmissible, it primarily causes mild symptoms similar to a common cold, affecting the upper respiratory tract.
