New Delhi: India on Wednesday saw an uptick in Covid-19 cases, with 614 fresh infections recorded in the past 24 hours, the highest since May 21, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The surge in cases is due to the Covid sub-variant JN.1, which was first detected in Kerala.
The death toll was recorded at 5,33,321 with three deaths reported from Kerala in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The country’s Covid case tally stood at 4.50 crore (4,50,05,978).
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease increased to 4,44,70,346 and the national recovery rate was pegged at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry’s website.
The case fatality rate stood at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry’s website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in the country so far.
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday held a meeting to review the sudden increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths in some parts of the country.
The meeting was chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Union Ministers SP Singh Baghel, Bharati Pravin Pawar, Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant, Secretary Department of Health Research Dr Rajiv Bahl and Dr VK Paul, Member, (Health), NITI Aayog, were also part of the meeting.
During the meeting, Mandaviya stressed it was important to remain alert and be prepared against new and emerging strains of Covid-19.
He called for the need for joint efforts between the Centre and states to ensure efficient management of the virus. “Let us undertake mock drills once every three months at both Central and State levels and share best practices,” he said.
States have been directed to monitor emerging evidence of Covid-19 cases, symptoms and case severity to plan appropriate public health response.
All states and Union Territories (UTs) have been advised to send samples of all Covid positive cases to Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) labs to facilitate tracking of new variants.
Mandaviya stated that state governments should take steps to awareness, manage the infodemic and ensure the dissemination of factually correct information.
“Currently, there are around 2,300 active cases of Covid in the country. The upsurge is due to the Covid JN.1 variant. There is no need to panic. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka have cases. In the past two weeks, 16 deaths were reported in people with serious co-morbidities,” said VK Paul.
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