India Records 841 New Covid Cases, Highest in Over 7 Months; JN.1 Variant Raises Concerns

New Delhi: India witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases on Sunday, recording 841 new infections, marking the highest daily increase in over seven months, as reported by the Union Health Ministry. The active caseload rose to 4,309 from the previous day’s 3,997. Three new deaths were reported, with one each in Kerala, Karnataka, and Bihar.

Saturday had seen 743 fresh cases and seven deaths. This uptick follows a period of low infection rates, with daily cases in double digits until December 5. Factors contributing to the recent spike include the emergence of the coronavirus JN.1 sub-variant and colder weather conditions.

Since January 2020, India has reported 4.50 crore cases and 5,33,361 deaths. Despite the recent increase, the country’s recovery rate remains high at 98.81%, with 4.44 crore people having recovered. The health ministry indicates that over 220.67 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered as part of the nationwide vaccination campaign.

As the new year approaches, health authorities are vigilant, urging citizens to adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols. Experts recommend that individuals with comorbidities and the elderly avoid crowded places and wear face masks. Currently, there is no perceived need for additional public health measures.

As of Friday, 178 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant have been reported from nine states, with Goa having the highest count at 47, followed by 41 in Kerala. Other states with reported JN.1 cases include Gujarat (36), Karnataka (34), Maharashtra (9), Rajasthan (4), Tamil Nadu (4), Telangana (2), and Delhi (1).