The Centre has asked states and union territories to maintain a constant vigil amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases and the detection of the new JN.1 variant in the country
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reiterated that Covid was not over yet and requested the states to monitor emerging COVID-19 cases, symptoms and case severity to plan appropriate public health response
The first recorded instance of the JN.1 variant was found on December 8 in a 78-year-old woman in Kerala and more cases have been detected since 19 in Goa, one in Maharashtra.
Coronavirus Latest Update: Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, stressed that people who are sick should wear a mask to protect others. For the vulnerable population, she recommended using pulse oximeters.
Covid-19 cases in India hit a seven-month high with 619 fresh infections and three deaths reported in the past 24 hours. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a review meeting on the situation and called for mock drills once in every three months.