Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, the co-chair of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) COVID Task Force, stated that while there is a significant number of cases of the JN.1 subvariant outside India, only cases from Kerala have been reported within the country so far.
A new variant of the coronavirus has emerged in Kerala, identified as JN.1 after genomic sequencing. Scientists are closely monitoring this variant, which has been associated with an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, Singapore, and Indonesia. Experts reassure that there is no immediate cause for concern in India.
Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, co-chair of the IMA COVID Task Force, emphasized that the attention is primarily on Kerala due to continuous genomic sequencing. The situation in other states can only be assessed once genomic sequencing of samples from COVID-19 patients is conducted. The variant in question, known internationally as the Pirola variant, has emerged from the B.A.2.86 lineage.
Dr. N.K. Aroda, Co-Chair of the INSACOG consortium, assured that there is no reason to worry about India. The identification of the JN.1 subvariant in Kerala is attributed to vigilant genomic sequencing in the state. The situation in other states can be better understood when genomic sequencing of samples from COVID-19 patients is conducted there.
Following a decline in temperatures, there has been a surge in daily COVID-19 cases. For the first time in six months, more than 300 new COVID-19 cases were reported in a single day, pushing the active cases in the country to cross the 1,000 mark.
Regarding the sewage surveillance for COVID-19, only two states, Odisha and West Bengal, have conducted tests so far. The majority of states in the country are not actively pursuing sewage surveillance to determine the presence and nature of the coronavirus. The INSACOG has encouraged states to register for sequencing samples obtained from sewage for a better understanding of the situation. So far, six medical institutions in Odisha and West Bengal have completed the sequencing of 350 samples collectively. Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Mumbai have also undertaken this process in selected institutions.
