COVID-19 Surge: India Sees 752 New Covid Cases, 4 Deaths In 24 Hours

With the holiday season and colder winter months looming, COVID-19 cases have increased in India. People in India are getting infected with COVID new subvariant JN.1. 

In the last 24 hours, India witnessed 752 new COVID cases and four deaths. India recorded its highest single day rise on 23 December. According to the Union Health Ministry of India, the death toll from COVID increased to 5,33,332 with four new deaths.

Two people died from COVID in Kerala, while one each died in Rajasthan and Karnataka. As of Saturday, India’s Covid case tally stood at 4,50,07,964. 

COVID cases in India

Rajib Dasgupta, an epidemiologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India, told Hindustan Times, “The holiday season, marked by significant volumes of travel, is likely to be an additional determinant of transmission of COVID-19.”

JN.1, a subvariant of Omicron and one of the most prevalent forms of SARS-CoV-2, has led to an increase in COVID cases. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has called JN.1 the fastest growing variant.

Ziyad Al-Aly, an expert in public health based at Washington University in St. Louis said, “The situation is becoming more concerning.”

Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, genome sequencing coordinator for Maharashtra, said that JN.1 rapidly increased from just 3.3 per cent of all COVID cases between October 30 and November 5 to 27 per cent in December.

COVID cases have increased in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. The authorities have advised people to take appropriate measures amid the rise in COVID cases.

JN.1 Covid 19 variant

JN.1 COVID-19 variant is fueling a sudden spike in cases in India and other countries. A total of 22 JN.1 Covid variant cases have been reported in India as of December 21. 

However, there has not been a clustering of cases. Kerala was the first state to report about the JN.1 Covid variant. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, “The types of symptoms and how severe they usually depend more on a person’s immunity and overall health rather than which variant causes the infection.”