Six COVID-19 Deaths, 692 New Cases In 24 Hours, Delhi Confirms First JN.1 Infection

India on Thursday added 692 new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally so far to 4,50,10,944 from the start of the pandemic in 2020.

The total active caseload increased by four, reaching 4,097, according to Union Health Ministry data.

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Six COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours

In the past 24 hours, a total of six COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours - two in Maharashtra, and one each in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and West

With this, the total number of confirmed death toll due to COVID-19 in India has risen to 5,33,346.

JN.1 sub-variant behind rise in cases

COVID-19 cases and deaths have been increasing across India in the past few weeks.

The JN.1 sub-variant is a descendant of the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.86 or Pirola and is believed to be behind the current surge in COVID-19 infections.

A total of 109 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant have been detected in India until Wednesday, as per the Health Ministry.

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First JN.1 case in Delhi

On Wednesday, Delhi reported its first case of the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1.

"Delhi reports the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the three samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1, and two are Omicron," Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

The first JN.1 case in Delhi was a 52-year-old woman, who was admitted to a hospital three to four weeks ago.

"She was admitted for mild symptoms. She had cough and upper respiratory infection. She did not require oxygen support and there was no involvement of lungs. Initially, we thought that she had flu but she tested positive for COVID. She was discharged within a few days," an official said.

Delhi prepares for rise in COVID cases

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Lady Hardinge Hospital has reserved 48 beds for the patients.

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Apart from this, six ICU beds and a ward with 30 beds have also been reserved for COVID patients in the new building of Lady Hardinge Hospital.

Additionally, 12 beds have been reserved for paediatric patients in Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, which comes under Lady Hardinge Medical College.

AIIMS issues guidelines

Meanwhile, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has issued guidelines for COVID-19 suspected or positive cases that will be reported at hospitals following the sudden surge in cases in the country.

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AIIMS Delhi director held a meeting with all heads of departments of the hospital on COVID-19 contingency measures on Wednesday. In the meeting, policies on COVID-19 testing, the areas to be designated for positive patients, and their hospitalization were discussed.

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