STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Jammu has recorded its first COVID-19 case in a “long time” and the patient, who has mild symptoms, has been kept in home isolation, a senior doctor in Jammu and Kashmir said on Thursday.
However, he asserted that there is no need to panic as measures are in place to meet any challenge.
157 cases of Covid sub-variant JN.1 detected in India: INSACOG
New Delhi: A total of 157 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been detected in the country, with Kerala reporting the highest number of 78, followed by Gujarat at 34, according to the INSACOG’s data updated on Thursday.
Several states have been reporting an uptick in the number of Covid cases over the last few weeks and nine states and Union territories have so far detected the presence of the JN.1 sub-variant of the virus.
These states are — Kerala (78), Gujarat (34), Goa (18), Karnataka (eight), Maharashtra (seven), Rajasthan (five), Tamil Nadu (four), Telangana (two) and Delhi (one), according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
The INSACOG’s data showed 141 Covid cases recorded in the country in December had the presence of JN.1, while 16 such cases were detected in November.
The World Health Organisation (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.
However, in recent weeks, JN.1 cases continued to be reported from multiple countries and its prevalence has rapidly increased globally.
The Centre has asked the 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.
Government Medical College Hospital (Jammu) Principal Ashutosh Gupta said this was the first case detected in the city after a “long time” and the patient’s sample has been sent for genome sequencing to determine if it was caused by the new JN.1 sub-variant. He said the patient has no history of travel but came in contact with someone who had returned from abroad a few days ago.
“He is being kept in home isolation and is doing fine. There is no need to panic as adequate measures are already in place to meet any challenge,” Gupta said.
Officials said the Health Department has already begun a drive to trace the patient’s contacts.
On December 20, Health and Medical Education Secretary Bhupinder Kumar reviewed the COVID-19 situation and preparedness of the public health system across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in light of the advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry following the JN.1 sub-variant’s emergence.
Kumar directed all stakeholders to take proactive measures to ensure full preparedness to handle any potential scenarios.
He also asked all the heads of departments and chief medical officers to activate COVID-19 testing facilities, conduct ample testing following the revised surveillance strategy, and meticulously report ILI (Influenza-like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) cases while adhering to recommended testing protocols.
