As of December 26, a total of 109 cases of the JN.1 COVID variant have been reported in India, with Gujarat recording 36 cases, Karnataka 34, Goa 14, Maharashtra 9, Kerala 6, Rajasthan 4, Tamil Nadu 4, and Telangana 2. The emergence of new COVID variants, including JN.1, has raised concerns globally. Dr. Bobby Bhalotra from Gangaram Hospital stated that, so far, these variants are mild, belonging to the Omicron family.
He emphasized the importance of taking precautions due to the higher infectiousness of these variants. Additionally, he highlighted the increase in respiratory illness cases in the OPD, attributing it to weather changes, viral infections, and elevated pollution levels in Delhi. Dr. Bhalotra urged people to get vaccinated and take preventive measures to curb the spread of respiratory illnesses.