India recorded a total of 412 fresh cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative number of active cases in the country to 4,170, as per the data published by the Union health ministry at 8 am on Tuesday.
The death toll was recorded at 5,33,337 with three new fatalities reported from Karnataka in a span of 24 hours.
With six more cases of JN.1 variant of coronavirus, the number of infections of the new variant was reported in the country to have risen to 69, reported PTI quoting official sources as saying. Most of the patients are currently in home isolation and there has been no increase in hospitalisation rates, the report added.
Of the total cases, 34 are from Karnataka, 9 from Maharashtra, 14 from Goa, 6 from Kerala, 4 from Tamil Nadu and 2 from Telangana.
NITI Ayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul said last week that the new variant was being closely investigated while stressing on the importance of ramping up testing and strengthening surveillance by the states.
According to the officials, while the number of cases are witnessing a surge and the JN.1 variant has been detected in the country, there is no cause of immediate concern as 92 per cent of those infected are opting for home-based treatment, indicating a mild illness, the PTI report stated.
The hospitalisation rates have also not increased and COVID-19 is an incidental finding in those hospitalised due to other medical conditions, they had said.
Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant wrote a lett to states and Union territories last week underlining the critical COVID-19 control and management strategies considering the upcoming festive season.
In his letter, Pant advised them to put in place requisite public health measures to minimise the risk of transmission.
States have been urged to ensure effective compliance of operational guidelines shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for revised surveillance strategy for COVID-19.