Despite reports of the new JN.1 Covid variant, Kerala health officials assure the public that the situation is absolutely under control. While acknowledging a slight increase in Covid cases since November, Health Minister Veena George attributed it to the states high testing rate, not a surge in infections.The health minister said, In November, we sent a sample for genome sequencing. A sample of a 79-year-old woman which was sent for genome sequencing on November 18 was found to be of JN.1. She was in home isolation and now she is alright. We have been sending samples from November 1 onwards. Our number of tests is high so naturally, we find more positive cases. However, there has been no increase in ICU occupancy, ventilator occupancy or isolation bed occupancy. Those who died had severe comorbidities one person had cancer and the other patient had chronic kidney disease and heart disease. No one had Covid complications. Concerns about the arrival of JN.1 virusKerala recorded 265 fresh Covid cases and one death in the last 24 hours, raising concerns about the arrival of JN.1. However, the minister clarified that a single case of the variant was identified in November during routine genome sequencing, and the patient has recovered.Weve been sending samples for sequencing since November 1st, and with more tests come more positive cases, George explained. The ICU, ventilator, and isolation bed occupancy remain stable, and fatalities involved individuals with severe comorbidities like cancer and chronic kidney disease. No deaths were directly attributable to Covid complications.George highlighted that Kerala is prepared for any scenario. We have plans A, B, and C in place. The JN.1 variant might be more transmissible, but its severity is lower. Theres nothing to worry about.Experts like former WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan also said that there is no data to suggest that the particular variant is more dangerous or it can cause more deaths. He said, I think what we need to do is try to take the normal preventive measures that we are all now familiar with. We were familiar with Omicron, so its the same family. So not much has changed, but 1 or 2 new mutations have come up. And thats why I think WHO has said lets keep a watch on it. Its a variant of interest. Its not a variant of concern.
