Additional Chief Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, Shubhra Singh, has instructed the Medical Department to be alert and make necessary preparations as a precautionary measure after the cases of Covid were reported in various states of the country. He has constituted a state-level committee under the chairmanship of Medical Education Commissioner Shivprasad Nakate for Covid management and has given instructions to provide medical facilities according to the number of cases. So that patients can get the necessary medical facilities immediately when needed. Singh was reviewing the cases of COVID-19, ILI and SARI diseases in her room at the Government Secretariat on Wednesday. It was told in the meeting that according to medical experts, the new sub-variant of Covid, Source CoV-2 JN.1, is not dangerous. About 90 per cent of the patients tested positive for this sub-variant do not need to be admitted to hospital. Its patients are recovering with normal treatment while in isolation at home. There is no need to panic or be afraid of this, only caution is needed. At present there is no situation of concern regarding this sub-variant in the state.
In Jaisalmer, two young men have tested positive for the new variant of COVID-19. Both youths are showing symptoms of cold and cough. The detection of positive cases during the tourist season has put the medical department on alert.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. B.L. Bunkar mentioned that the travel history of COVID-positive youths is being scrutinised. Samples are being taken from people in contact with them and their families for testing. The positive individuals and their families have been advised to stay at home. Samples from the two youths will be sent for testing the new JN-1 variant. So far, a total of 92 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the district this year, including the unfortunate death of an elderly person from Dedha village.
The Chief Medical and Health Officer stated that the state government has issued an advisory regarding the new COVID variant JN-1. Samples are being collected from patients with symptoms of cold, cough, and flu. Hospitals have ensured the proper functioning of oxygen plants.
Concerns have risen nationwide after the detection of the JN-1 variant of COVID in Kerala. The central government has also advised states to remain vigilant. In the midst of this, the Karnataka government has made it mandatory for people over 60 years of age to wear masks. Experts, however, suggest that this variant is not more dangerous and belongs to the Omicron family. It may spread rapidly, but it is not expected to be more severe. Nonetheless, vigilance is necessary as the virus spreads quickly during the cold season. Currently, 89% of COVID cases are reported from Kerala alone. Singapore has reported over 56,000 cases of this variant in the past week.
