Kerala Woman Tests Positive for COVID-19 Subvariant JN.1

INSACOG Chief NK Arora said, JN.1 is a subvariant of BA 2.86 variant of coronavirus.

A 79-year-old woman turned positive in an RT-PCR test on November 18.

The Coronavirus Subvariant JN.1, a descendant of BA.2.86 variant, has been detected in parts of Kerala. Amid the increasing coronavirus cases in the state, India's SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSAGCO), a multi-laboratory and pan-India network, found JN.1 variant during surveillance.

According to a report on ANI, INSACOG Chief NK Arora said, "This variant has been isolated and reported in November. This is a subvariant of BA 2.86. We have some cases of JN.1."

"India is keeping a vigil and that's the reason no hospitalisation or severe disease has been reported so far," he said. 

A 79-year-old woman turned positive in an RT-PCR test on November 18. The officials said that she had mild symptoms of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and had recovered from COVID-19.

More than 90 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in India at present are mild and they are in home isolation, the sources said.

Previously, a traveler from India was identified with the JN.1 subvariant in Singapore. The individual hailed from Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirapalli district and had visited Singapore on October 25.

There was no observed rise in cases in Tiruchirapalli district or other locations in Tamil Nadu subsequent to the detection of this strain.

In September 2023, JN.1 was first found in the United States.

India Records 339 New COVID-19 Cases

India reported 339 new COVID-19 infections in a single day, causing the active caseload to increase to 1,492, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

The death toll reached 5,33,311 (5.33 lakh), according to the 8 am update.

The country's total Covid cases now stand at 4,50,04,481 (4.50 crore).

Recoveries from the disease have reached 4,44,69,678 (4.44 crore), contributing to a national recovery rate of 98.81 percent, as per the health ministry website.

The case fatality rate is reported at 1.19 percent.

The ministry's website indicates that a total of 220.67 crore Covid vaccine doses have been administered in the country to date.