As per the latest development, the COVID is making a comeback, as a new variant. With regard to this, the central government has advised all states to enforce more stringent public health measures to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, as a surge in infections has been reported in certain states, especially Kerala.
If reports are to go by, on December 8, the first case of a new sub-variant of COVID-19, JN.1, was reported in the southern state, sparking concerns about a potential resurgence of health risks after two years since India's last pandemic-related lockdown.
The JN.1 variant (BA.2.86.1.1), a recent emergence, is regarded as a descendant of an Omicron sub-variant with a heightened potential to evade immunity acquired through prior vaccination or infection.
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Regarding this, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant issued a letter to states and Union territories, emphasising the necessity of maintaining constant vigil over the COVID situation. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the central and state governments that have successfully sustained a trajectory of consistently low infection rates.
Nevertheless, Pant highlighted the ongoing circulation of the COVID-19 virus and the need to adapt to its epidemiological behaviour in conjunction with Indian weather conditions and the presence of other common pathogens. He stressed the importance of sustaining momentum to effectively address public health challenges.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has urged states to strictly adhere to operational guidelines for COVID-19 surveillance and ensure comprehensive testing across all districts. Pant specified that states should routinely monitor and report cases of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness in health facilities, and use the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal to detect early trends in case numbers.
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States have been instructed to send positive samples for genome sequencing to Indian SARS COV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) laboratories to identify any new variants of the virus. Additionally, states are expected to ensure the active participation of all public and private health facilities in a preparedness and response capacity drill organised by the Union Health Ministry.
In response to the presence of the new COVID-19 variant in Kerala, the Karnataka state Government has mandated the use of masks in public for individuals aged 60 and above and those with comorbidities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a 'variant of interest,' and so far, it has been detected in the United States, China, Singapore, and India.
