Experts attribute the surge in COVID-19 cases in South Asia to the JN.1 variant, a sub-variant of Omicron. The COVID-19 fear returns in India, with cases again returning in cities throughout the country. This has prompted states and Union Territories such as Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh to alert hospitals. Delhi has so far seen 23 cases, as per news agency PTI. The last case here was reported three years ago.
The majority of the cases are mild and there are no severe symptoms or death reported. Experts attribute the rise of COVID-19 cases in South Asia to the JN.1 variant, which is a sub-variant of Omicron. Despite being active, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not designated it as a “variant of concern.”
The symptoms are typically mild and individuals recover within four days. Symptoms include fever, running nose, sore throat, headaches, tiredness, and fatigue. Delhi has registered 23 cases, prompting the government to order hospitals to keep beds, oxygen cylinders, testing kits, and vaccines in stock.
Health Minister Pankaj Singh informed that there is no cause to panic as the new variant is just like the usual flu. Delhi has also requested hospitals to post Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases daily data.
Noida and Ghaziabad in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) too have reported cases. Noida saw its first Covid patient (55) in this round on Saturday (May 24), and Ghaziabad has reported four cases to date.
Kerala, with 273 Covid cases in May, has the largest number of cases. All districts have been ordered by the state health minister to enhance surveillance and masks are compulsory in hospitals. Individuals with cough symptoms should wear face masks.
Karnataka has registered a marginal rise with 35 cases, including a nine-month-old baby from Hoskote. Individuals with symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) should undergo tests.
Mumbai has recorded 95 cases in May, accounting for the majority of Maharashtra’s overall infections. Hospitalization, however, is minimal, with only 16 patients admitted. Testing for all patients presenting SARI symptoms has been recommended by the BMC.
