New Variant Mild’ Top Docs reassure Public as Covid figures see uptick

The number of active cases has seen a significant spike, reaching 4,054 patients, with the state of Kerala reporting the highest number of cases. The situation has prompted states to intensify their precautionary measures. The rise in cases is attributed to the emergence of a new sub-variant, JN.1, which has led to an increased focus on preventive actions.

Former AIIMS director, Dr. Randeep Guleria, assured the public that although the JN.1 sub-variant is becoming dominant, it is not causing severe infections or hospitalizations. Dr. NK Arora, chief of the India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, stated that, currently, an additional dose of vaccine is not deemed necessary against the JN.1 sub-variant.

In response to the growing concern, the World Health Organization has called upon Southeast Asian countries to enhance surveillance and implement protective measures. While WHO has classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, they emphasize that the overall risk remains low based on current evidence