Covid News: JN.1 tops in Gujarat on debut as first case appears in Rajasthan; pan-India load jumps almost 60% in 24 hrs

India has witnessed 58 per cent surge in JN.1 COVID-19 sub-variant cases in mere 24 hours with the country reporting 40 fresh infections. The tally of infections of the new variant has now risen to 109.

There were 69 cases of JN.1 variant across the country till Tuesday.

Which Indian states have reported JN.1 COVID-19 cases?

Gujarat which did not report any case of JN.1 variant has now logged 36 infections, maximum in the country. Karnataka followed with 34 cases.

As many as 14 cases of JN.1 COVID sub-variant have been reported from Goa.

Maharashtra has so far reported nine cases of COVID-19 sub-variant, Kerala logged six cases, while Tamil Nadu and Telangana have registered four and two cases of JN.1 variant respectively.

Rajasthan which had also had not reported any case of JN.1 so far, has now reported four cases of the COVID-19 variant.

The rise in JN.1 cases were due to infections reported in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

JN.1 spreading rapidly, is it worrisome?

Due to the JN.1 sub-variant, India has been witnessing surge in new COVID-19 cases. Amid this, former AIIMS director and senior pulmonologist, Dr Randeep Guleria, earlier this week said the new variant is spreading rapidly, it is not causing severe infections and hospitalisation.

On the vaccine situation, Dr Guleria since the virus is changing, we need a new jab that ‘covers a broader type of the virus’.

“It is more transmissible, it is spreading more rapidly, and it is gradually becoming a dominant variant. It is causing more infections but the data also suggests that it is not causing severe infections or hospitalisations,” Dr Guleria said.

Talking about JN.1 symptoms, Dr Guleria said most the symptoms are predominantly in the upper airways, like fever, cough, cold, sore throat, running nose and body aches.

“…We need a vaccine which covers a broader type of the virus. We have had multiple mutations. JN.1 is sub lineage of Omicron. So a vaccine that is made against Omicron will be effective against this variant also,” the doctor said.

He further said more is required to show what the current immunity in the population, and the protection that have based on the previous vaccination that we have got. “Based on that, only can we decide we need a new vaccine, that covers the current circulating strain, and that is something that has to be done regularly because variants will keep changing,” Dr Guleria said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Covid-19 new variant Jn.1, former AIIMS Director and Senior Pulmonologist Dr Randeep Guleria says, “…We need a vaccine which covers a broader type of the virus. We have had multiple mutations. Jn.1 is sub lineage of Omicron. So a vaccine which is made against… pic.twitter.com/bfbfnWqdX0

— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2023

Last week, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul had said the new variant was being closely investigated but he stressed on the need for states to ramp up testing and strengthen their surveillance systems.

India COVID-19 update