They said 199 cases have been reported from Karnataka, 148 from Kerala, 110 from Maharashtra, 47 from Goa, 36 from Gujarat, 30 from Andhra Pradesh, 26 from Tamil Nadu, 15 from Delhi, 4 from Rajasthan 2 from Telangana and one each from Odisha and Haryana.
New Delhi:
The number of cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 reported from 12 states till January 4 rose to 619, official sources said on Friday.
They said 199 cases have been reported from Karnataka, 148 from Kerala, 110 from Maharashtra, 47 from Goa, 36 from Gujarat, 30 from Andhra Pradesh, 26 from Tamil Nadu, 15 from Delhi, 4 from Rajasthan 2 from Telangana and one each from Odisha and Haryana.
Even though the number of cases is rising and the JN.1 sub-variant has been detected in the country, there is no cause of immediate concern as the majority of those infected are opting for home-based treatment, indicating mild illness, officials said.
The Centre has already asked states and Union territories to maintain a constant vigil amid an uptick in the number of Covid cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant in the country.
States have been told to ensure effective compliance of the detailed operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy for COVID-19 shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
They have asked to monitor and report district-wise cases of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness in all health facilities regularly for early detection of rising trend of cases.
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday said he has directed health officials to make Covid test mandatory for those with Influenza Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).
The minister also said that a Covid helpline will be launched tomorrow.
“More than 7,000 tests are being done everyday and the COVID Positivity Rate is 3.82 per cent. The positivity rate in the state has not come down yet,” the minister said in a statement after a meeting with health department officials here.
Stating that neighbouring Kerala has started seeing a downward trend in Covid cases, he said he has asked officials to keep a close watch on those who are Covid positive.
Rao said he has asked officials to compulsorily carry out Covid screening among those adults showing symptoms of ILI and SARI.
Earlier only one in 20 of these cases were subjected to Covid testing but henceforth private and government hospitals have been instructed to conduct the test on all ILI/SARI patients.
“Those with symptoms are being monitored and tested. Those who are in isolation at home have been told to take extra care. It is expected that the trend of decreasing Covid cases may start next week in Karnataka. Technical Advisory Committee met yesterday (Thursday) and gave some guidance. I have instructed the authorities to adopt them (the guidelines),” Rao said.
The WHO has classified JN.1 as a separate ”variant of interest” given its rapidly-increasing spread, but said it poses a ”low” global public health risk.
The JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus was previously classified as a variant of interest (VOI) as part of the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, the parent lineage that is classified as a VOI, the world body said.