India Faces Threat as JN.1 COVID Variant Emerges: 5 Deaths, 335 New Cases in a Day; Karnataka Issues Alert, Mandates Masks for Elders

India is experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, with a new variant named COVID JN.1 detected in Kerala. This variant has resulted in the death of four individuals in Kerala within a single day, while one person in Uttar Pradesh has also succumbed to the virus. The individual in Uttar Pradesh had lost their life after testing positive for COVID-19.

Increase in COVID-19 Cases in India, Active Cases Rise

As per the announcement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has recorded 335 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, causing the total number of active cases to rise to 1,701.

Karnataka Issues Alert for Variant JN.1, Emphasizes Mask Usage

The Karnataka government has issued an alert regarding variant JN.1, urging elderly individuals to wear masks specifically. Health Minister Veen George in Kerala reassured the public, stating that there is no need to panic, and they are closely monitoring the situation.

New Variant Detected in India – Originating in Kerala

According to Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the Director-General of ICMR, the new variant, JN.1, was identified in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on December 8. A 79-year-old woman with symptoms resembling influenza initially tested positive and later recovered from COVID-19.

India’s COVID-19 Situation and Recovery Rate

India has reported a total of 4.50 crore COVID-19 cases, with 4.46 crore individuals recovering from the virus. The recovery rate in the country stands at 98.81%. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in India has reached 5,33,316.

Singapore Records Over 56,000 New COVID-19 Cases in a Week

Singapore has recorded over 56,000 new COVID-19 cases in the last week, prompting the Ministry of Health to issue travel advisories for all citizens. Between December 3 and December 9, 56,043 new cases were reported, compared to 32,035 cases in the week preceding it.

Global Mortality Rates Increasing due to COVID-19: WHO Demands Data from Countries

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that data on COVID-19-related mortality has been shared by only 43 countries out of 195. Additionally, only 20 countries have provided information about the impact on patients. WHO emphasizes that there is no single variant currently dominating globally, with EG.5 Omicron variant on the rise and BA.2.86 cases observed in 11 countries. The JN.1 variant is having the most significant impact in Singapore.