India on alert as JN.1 Covid variant emerges, active cases surge to 1,828

MoH issues advisories to states. Karnataka brings back mask rule for senior citizens after Kerala sees spike in cases

The Union Ministry of Health has asked states to maintain constant vigil, as Covid-19 cases report a spike this winter, especially in the southern region. Earlier this month, the first case in India of the new Covid variant called JN.1 was reported in Kerala.

India has recorded 260 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have increased to 1,828, according to health ministry data updated on Monday. A majority of the cases have been reported in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant sent letters to states and Union Territories on Monday underlining control and management strategies. Pant noted that “due to consistent and collaborative actions between Centre and state governments, we have been able to sustain the trajectory at sustainable low rates”. However, as the Covid-19 virus continues to circulate and its epidemiological behaviour gets settled with the Indian weather conditions and circulation of other pathogens, it is important to sustain a momentum to effectively deal with public health challenges, he added.

The letter urged states to take public health measures and reduce transmission risks. States have been asked to regularly monitor and report district-wise influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness cases in all health facilities, including in the Integrated Health Information Platform portal, for early detection of any spike in cases. States were also advised adequate testing, encouraged to increase the RT-PCR tests, and send positive samples for genome sequencing to Indian SARS COV-2 Genomics Consortium laboratories to enable timely detection of any new variant.

The health ministry is undertaking mock drills at public and private health facilities to assess preparedness.

After four deaths were reported in Kerala during the weekend, neighbouring Karnataka on Monday asked people aged above 60 years, those with co-morbidities and symptoms of cough, phlegm and fever to wear face masks.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told the media that officials were instructed to increase tests of those with symptoms and suspected cases, and carry out heightened surveillance in border districts. “There is no need for anyone to worry. We held a meeting the day before yesterday. Our technical advisory committee headed by Dr (K) Ravi met yesterday and there was discussion between our officials and experts on the measures to be taken,” Rao said.

He stressed that there should be greater surveillance in districts such as Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and Chamarajanagar that share a border with Kerala. The minister added that the authorities had assessed the number of beds, ventilators, oxygen supply, masks, testing and PPE kits that are required in an emergency.

(With inputs from PTI)

Fresh scare

• JN.1 is a descendant of BA.2.86 (Pirola variant)
• First identified in Aug 2023
• Carries 30 mutations of the spike protein making it immune-evasive
• Reported in the US, China, Singapore and India
• So far no indication of increased severity from JN.1