Telangana reports 4 new Covid cases as state alert to all hospitals on JN.1 Covid sub-variant

Hyderabad: The number of active Covid 19 cases in Telangana increased to nine as of Wednesday after with four new cases were reported the previous day, prompting health authorities to advise people to wear masks in public. The state government government also issued an alert to all hospitals in the state regarding the new JN.1 sub-variant of coronavirus 

According to the Covid status bulletin released by the office of the director of public health and family welfare late Tuesday, a total of 402 tests were conducted in the day.

The cumulative recovery rate is 99.51 per cent.

“Everybody should wear mask when he/she goes out of the house. Face masks are the first line of defence against Covid-19. Not wearing a mask is punishable by fine,” says the bulletin.

Children less than 10 years of age, pregnant mothers and elders above 60 years of age are advised to avoid going outdoors unless mandatory.

There is a higher incidence of Covid disease in the age group of 20 to 50 years, hence people are requested to exercise due precaution while going for work/essential activities.

The authorities suggested that the work spaces be provided with soap and hand washing facility/sanitizer.

Adequate physical distancing between employees should be maintained.

Citizens have also been requested to avoid unnecessary travel and in unavoidable cases, they should ensure all Covid appropriate behaviour such as face masks, hand wash/use of sanitizer, physical distance etc.

People have been advised to seek medical care in case of any flu/ influenza-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, running nose, difficulty in breathing, body pains and headache.

Meanwhile, Additional director of medical education and superintendent of Gandhi Hospital, Dr M. Raja Rao said that Telangana has not reported any case of new JN.1 variant.

He, however, said they were maintaining a vigil and that all hospitals in the state have been alerted.

They have been directed to monitor any cases of influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory illness, keep them in isolation and increase their testing.

The Telangana government also issued an alert to all hospitals in the state regarding the new JN.1 sub-variant of coronavirus and has also issued an advisory in this regard.

"JN.1 is a subvariant of Omicron. There were many cases in Kerala. Our state government has issued an alert to all hospitals in the state. If there are any cases of influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory illness we need to monitor them, increase their testing, keep them in isolation wards, wear masks and keep medication ready," Dr M Raja Rao, Additional Director of Medical Education (DME) and Superintendent of Gandhi Hospital in Telangana said speaking to ANI.

Rao said that the Gandhi Hospital is well-equipped to deal with the new sub-variant of coronavirus and there is no need to worry.

"There are no cases of JN.1 variant in Telangana and usually after the pandemic, we get one or two cases in a week here at Gandhi Hospital. Today no cases were reported. Even if cases of this variant are reported we are ready for treatment whether in terms of beds, medication, or equipment. There is no need to worry," the Additional DME said.

Appealing people to exercise caution, he said, "People should take care, especially people with comorbidities, elderly people above 65 years, children, pregnant women, patients with diabetes, hypertension, cardiac problems, kidney problems- among these people the severity of the virus is more. So when they are going to crowded places they should wear masks, maintain hand hygiene and social distancing. This will ensure less spread from person to person. In overcrowded places wear masks, especially elderly people. This will ensure less spread."

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government is on high alert regarding the new JN.1 sub-variant of coronavirus and has issued an advisory in this regard.

The Karnataka government has ordered people over 60 years of age, those with heart and kidney diseases, and those with fever, phlegm, and colds to wear masks compulsorily amid the JN.1 subvariant scare.

One death was reported in Kerala, where the JN.1 subvariant of the coronavirus was recently detected. JN.1 was first detected in September 2023 in the United States.

In the wake of the surge in respiratory diseases and the new JN.1 COVID sub-variant, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the virus is evolving and changing and urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing.