Karnataka, one of the top contributors in Covid cases after Kerala, is going to hold a key meet today where decision over restrictions is likely to be taken
States and Union Territories are on alert over rising Covid-19 cases in India, with JN.1 subvariant being "closely investigated" by the authorities. India till Tuesday has reported 69 cases of the new Covid sub-variant, JN.1, over which states have been asked to ramp up testing and strengthen their surveillance systems.
Among the 69 cases of coronavirus sub-variant JN.1 reported in the country till Tuesday, most have been detected in Goa, official sources said, adding that Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana also have logged cases. The JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) sub-variant of Covid emerged in August in Luxembourg. It is a descendant of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of SARS COV2.
Most of the JN.1 strain Covid patients are currently in home isolation and there was no increase in hospitalisation rates, sources said.
Meanwhile, India's tally of active Covid-19 cases has breached the 4,000 mark with the addition of 412 fresh infections logged on Tuesday.
-Today's Covid Cases
India has recorded a total of 412 fresh cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry's Tuesday bulletin. Three Covid deaths have also been reported, with all of them in Karnataka.
With the fresh case count, the active cases in the country were at 4,170, as on Tuesday, while the total death toll due to the viral disease reached 5,33,337.
India has also logged 293 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
On Monday, India saw a single-day rise of 628 new Covid cases which took the number of active infections to 4,054, as per Union health ministry's Monday bulletin.
-Key Meet in Karnataka Today Over Covid
Karnataka government's Cabinet sub-committee is meeting today to discuss on the recommendations made by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on further measures to be taken to manage Covid situation in the state.
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday indicated that there will be no imposition of any restrictions as of now, while stressing the need for people to remain cautious or take precautions.
"As we increase Covid tests, cases will increase. Our TAC has met yesterday and has held discussions, the cabinet sub-committee which is meeting tomorrow will look into their suggestions or recommendations and decide on what further measures need to be taken," Rao said.
He added other than urging people to be cautious and take precautions, there is no imposition of any restrictions for now. "There are no restrictions as of now [on New Year celebration and other activities], I feel that there is no such situation. Nowhere in the country or world there is any restriction, despite JN.1 subvariant prevalent everywhere. There are no such guidelines from the central government or the World Health Organisation," news agency PTI quoted Rao as saying.
-Delhi Recording 3-4 Covid Cases Every Day: Govt
Delhi Health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said that three to four Covid cases on average are being seen every day in the city and asserted that it is well equipped to fight the virus surge.
Bharadwaj said there was a meeting with the Centre over Covid-19 situation where they were informed that the cases are increasing more in southern states like Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. "We have been conducting tests and we have receiving on an average three to four cases per day which is less than even one per cent. We have conducted mock drills and made all necessary arrangements," he said.
-Over 3,000 Active Covid Cases in Kerala
Kerala reported 128 fresh Covid cases and one death between Sunday and Monday, according to data on the Union Health Ministry website.
Of the over 4,000 active cases in the country, more than 3,000 are from Kerala alone. Kerala Health Minister Veena George, however, had reassured the people of the state that despite the rise in Covid cases in Kerala, there is no cause for alarm. The hospitals are adequately equipped to manage viral infections, she had said.
(With PTI inputs)