COVID-19 Tracker Highlights: States up vigilance as JN.1 cases rise, Wednesday tally at 7-month high

Cases Across States 

Kerala’s surge was followed by Tamil Nadu, which recorded 13 new cases, while other states like Maharashtra had 11 new cases, Telangana and Puducherry (4 each), Delhi and Gujarat (3 each), Punjab and Goa (1 each) in the last 24 hours. One patient in Maharashtra has been infected with the new COVID sub-strain, according to reports. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde chaired a COVID-19 review meeting later this evening and said his government is fully prepared to tackle the situation and asked people not to panic but take adequate preventive measures.

A Noida resident has tested positive for COVID-19, in a first case of the infection in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar after several months. The patient is a 54-year-old male who lives in Noida but works at a multinational company in Gurugram, Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Dr Sunil Sharma said. "His test sample has been sent to Delhi for genome sequencing. The result is awaited," he added. Meanwhile, the Delhi health department has ordered authorities to send an "adequate" number of COVID-19 samples for RT-PCR test amid an uptick in coronavirus cases. The department has also ordered them to conduct the genome sequencing of Covid-positive RT-PCR samples.

Rajasthan recorded two additional cases of COVID-19, as per an official announcement from the Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) of Jaisalmer. The cases originated from Babar Magra and Mazdoor Pada areas in Jaisalmer. Both individuals have been placed under home quarantine and their samples have been sent for testing to determine the specific variant of COVID-19 with which they are infected, stated the release. Watch video here.

Karnataka reported two Covid-19-related deaths in the past 24 hours. Both of the deceased were male, aged 44 and 76, according to PTI. One of them had shown no symptoms, while the other was suffering from difficulty in breathing, the agency said. Private schools in the state have been asked to reintroduce health guidelines and SOPs to contain the spread of the infection. The state government has also decided to constitute a cabinet sub-committee for proper coordination with experts to take necessary decisions aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19, including precautions to be taken, and treatment provided.

Centre asks states to report and monitor district-wise cases on a regular basis.

Advisory By Health Ministry

Union Health Minister Mansukh L Mandaviya held a review meeting on December 20. “It is time to work together in a Whole of Government approach, through closely working with each other. We need to be on the alert, but there is no need to panic,” he said. Mandaviya said it was important to be prepared with mock drills of hospital preparedness, increased surveillance, and effective communication with people.

Also read: Know everything about the virus, symptoms, and more

"The new variant JN1 is known to be more transmissible. But at the same time, the virulence pattern is much lower than the earlier variants. With Omicron, the variants of post-Omicron, all the variants have lesser severity. With New Year gatherings and festivals, transmission is going to increase. The cases can definitely increase and especially winter season is very conducive for viral spread. We must mask up and increase testing to keep things in control," said Jeenam Shah, consultant of respiratory medicine, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai

Elaborating on the JN.1 COVID variant, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Former DG, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, “We need to be cautious, but we don't need to worry because we don't have any data to suggest that this variant JN.1 is more severe or it's going to cause more pneumonia, more death, so I think what we need to do is try to take the normal preventive measures that we are all now familiar with...We're all now very familiar with Omicron; it's the same family. So not much has changed, but 1 or 2 new mutations have come up. And that's why I think WHO has said let's keep a watch on it. It's a variant of interest. It's not a variant of concern..."

What WHO Has to Say

The World Health Organization (WHO) on December 19 declared JN.1 a variant of interest due to its "rapidly increasing spread”. But it did not label JN.1 a variant of concern yet. Earlier, it was included as VoI under the A.2.86 sublineages. Notably, the global health body categorises those COVID-19 variants as VoI which can increase their pace of transmission through genetic changes and could also potentially evade vaccines. "Based on the available evidence, the additional global public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low," WHO said. Watch video here.

Also read: COVID-19 Sub Variant JN.1 LIVE Updates

India Inc on Likely Impact 

In general, the asthmatic segment is a growing segment in India. We don’t think this panic will lead to a large surge in demand for these products. We have been through enough cycles of Covid, that the industry has a fair estimation of the demand. We think the demand would be stable, said Saloni Wagh, Whole Time Director, Supriya Lifesciences.

According to Saransh Chaudhary, CEO of Venus Medicine Research Centre, the R&D division of Venus Remedies, the pharma sector's response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been one of close collaboration with healthcare sectors and government agencies.

“Our industry's preparation goes beyond just manufacturing and supply; it involves a proactive and coordinated approach to address the potential health crisis. The sector's readiness is not just in terms of production and distribution but also in monitoring and adapting strategies in response to the new variant's characteristics and impacts. The emergence of JN.1 underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and innovation within the pharmaceutical sector,” he said.

Commenting on how the pharma industry is preparing to tackle the surge in Covid cases, Nikkhil K Masurkar, CEO, Entod Pharmaceuticals, said: “In response to the emergence of the new Covid variant in India, the pharmaceutical industry is actively collaborating with government initiatives to address the potential surge in cases. As the government monitors transmission rates and assesses the variant's potential impact on transmissibility, the pharmaceutical industry is gearing up to contribute to the country's preparedness.”

“The industry recognizes the significance of evaluating the severity of the sickness caused by the variant to make informed decisions regarding public health systems. It underscores the importance of adhering to established public health protocols, staying informed through reliable sources, and implementing necessary preventive measures to ensure safety.”

Masurkar further said, “The pharmaceutical sector has learned valuable lessons from previous waves, enhancing preparedness through increased vaccine production, stockpiling essential medicines, and optimizing supply chain logistics. Continuous research and development efforts ensure readiness to adapt to emerging variants. Collaborative initiatives with government agencies, healthcare institutions, and global organizations bolster the industry's collective response. Proactive engagement and ongoing innovation remain paramount as the sector remains steadfast in its commitment to navigating and mitigating the impact of any future waves of the pandemic.”

When asked if there’s a reason for panic since the new variant is spreading amid festivities, Dr Anita Mathew, Director- Infectious Diseases, Fortis Hospital Mulund, said, “There is no reason to panic because even though cases might be infective in nature and transmissible, they will not be too severe for many people. However, caution in masking and avoiding crowded places would be recommended. It is also important to avoid crowds if you're unwell, stay home, and seek medical attention. It would be good to remember that people with comorbidities and low immunity still have a higher risk of getting infected and getting a severe infection.”

According to Dr Mathew, most of those who have had COVID-19 in the past and have been vaccinated would have less chance of severe infection. However, some may develop severe illnesses due to comorbidities and low immune status.

All About The JN.1 Covid Variant

The new strain  JN.1 is a descendant of Pirola, which has now been identified in the US, China, and India. The JN.1 variant differs from Pirola or BA. 2.86 by only a single mutation in its spike protein.

While it shares similarities with previous Omicron strains in terms of high transmissibility and mild symptoms, there are some symptoms that individuals should be aware of, as they may not be as mild as other Omicron variants. According to experts, initial symptoms of the JN.1 COVID variant include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and, in some cases, moderate gastrointestinal problems. Breathing difficulties may also be experienced by certain patients. However,  currently, there is no evidence suggesting that this variant is more severe or has higher fatality rates compared to other variants.