India logs 288 Covid cases: JN.1 variant, 1 death in Kerala, masks mandatory in Karnataka. 10 points

COVID cases that have been surging in countries such as the US, China, and Singapore, have also seen an uptick in India. The country recorded 288 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have increased to 1,970, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

With the new Covid sub-variant JN.1 also being detected in Kerala, neighbouring Karnataka has issued a health advisory to spread awareness about the viral infection.

Here are the developments explained in 10 points:

1.) The active COVID-19 cases in Kerala on Monday rose by 111 to 1,634, according to data on the Union Health Ministry's website. The 111 fresh cases in Kerala are out of the 127 reported from across the country, according to the data.

2.) Kerala also reported one death due to COVID-19, bringing the total number of people who died in the state since the virus outbreak three years ago to 72,053.

3.) The Centre on Monday asked states and union territories to maintain constant vigil amid an uptick in COVID cases and the detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant in the country.

4.) The first case of Covid JN.1 variant was detected in the US in September. Seven cases of the specific subvariant were found in China on December 15, according to Reuters news agency. "Even though BA.2.86 and JN.1 sound very different because of the way Covid variants are named, there is only a single change between JN.1 and BA.2.86 in the spike protein," US' Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated. The spike protein, which resembles small spikes on the virus's surface, plays an important role in the Covid virus' ability to infect humans.

5.) In a letter to states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant underlined that "due to consistent and collaborative actions between the Centre and state governments, we have been able to sustain the (Covid) trajectory at sustainable low rates".

"However, as the Covid virus continues to circulate and its epidemiology behaviour gets settled with Indian weather conditions and circulation of other usual pathogens, it is important to keep the momentum going to effectively deal with the challenges in public health," he said.

6.) Meanwhile, Karnataka has made it mandatory for those above 60 years, with comorbidities, and symptoms of cough, phlegm and fever to mandatorily wear face masks, in the wake detection of a case of Covid subvariant JN.1 in neighbouring Kerala.

7.) Increased tests among those with such symptoms and suspected cases, and heightened surveillance in border districts are among the measures that the officials have been instructed to take up, Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said. "We have asked our hospitals and health centres to be prepared. There should be more surveillance in border districts like -- Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Chamarajanagara -- which share a border with Kerala," he added.

8.) Amid a recent uptick in Covid cases in the country ahead of the festive season, doctors in Delhi have advised people to wear masks, avoid gatherings and maintain a healthy diet. With Christmas and the New Year approaching, doctors at some hospitals in the city also referred to the detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant of the coronavirus in the country and asked people to exercise extra caution.

9.) Experts also allayed fears of another wave of Covid outbreak. "I don't think I would be wise enough to say that the new wave of Covid is coming," Dr Prakash told ANI. "It may just pass away like any other viral infection. Let's keep a watch and keep our fingers crossed."

10.) Experts added that immunity from previous infections and immunisation with vaccines are likely to protect against newer variants as well.

Read more: COVID-19 sub-strain JN.1 detected in Kerala woman