India has reported 21 cases of the Covid-19 variant JN.1 till now, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul said on Wednesday, reported PTI.
While Goa has so far reported 19 cases of Covid sub-variant JN.1, one each has been detected in Kerala and Maharashtra.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday categorised the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a variant of interest. The global health body designates a variant as one of interest when it leads to increased infections, or when it changes characteristics such as transmissibility or severity of disease.
Amid a spike in Covid cases across the country, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul on Wednesday said that there was no need to panic.
Paul said that the scientific community in India was keeping a close eye on the new variant. VK Paul, however, emphasised the need for states to step up Covid preparedness, to ramp up testing and strengthen their surveillance systems.
India on Wednesday registered 614 new Covid-19 cases – the highest since May 21. The country presently has 2,311 active cases, according to the Union health ministry.
However, 92.8% of the patients are in home isolation, indicating that the sickness is minor, according to a briefing given by Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
