While Goa has so far reported 19 cases of Covid sub-variant JN.1, one each has been detected in Kerala and Maharashtra.
A descendant of the Omicron lineage, JN.1 has become one of the fastest-spreading viruses in the last few weeks.
The World Health Organisation has classified JN.1 as a separate “variant of interest”, but said that it poses a “low” global public health risk.
Amid a spike in Covid cases across the country, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul on Wednesday said that there was no need to panic.
Paul said that the scientific community in India was keeping a close eye on the new variant. VK Paul, however, emphasised the need for states to step up Covid preparedness, to ramp up testing and strengthen their surveillance systems.
Meanwhile, the Centre has asked states and Union Territories to be on alert as Covid cases surge across the country. The advisory directed the states to monitor and report district-wise influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness cases in all health facilities on a regular basis.
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