India’s latest update on COVID-19 reveals 756 new cases, contributing to a total of 4,049 active cases, according to the health ministry’s Sunday report. Over the past 24 hours, five deaths were reported, with two each from Kerala and Maharashtra and one from Jammu and Kashmir. This data indicates a departure from the earlier trend of double-digit daily cases, with a notable increase observed after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions. The peak single-day surge occurred on December 31, 2023, with 841 cases recorded.
It is noteworthy that around 92% of the total active cases are currently undergoing recovery under home isolation. Official sources emphasize that there is no evidence suggesting that the JN.1 variant is leading to an exponential rise in new cases or causing a surge in hospitalization and mortality rates. India has experienced three waves of COVID-19, with the Delta wave reaching its zenith in April-June 2021, reporting 4,14,188 new cases and 3,915 deaths on May 7, 2021.
Since the commencement of the pandemic in early 2020, over 4.5 crore individuals in India have been infected, resulting in more than 5.3 lakh lives lost. On a positive note, the recovery count stands at over 4.4 crore, contributing to a national recovery rate of 98.81%. The country has achieved significant progress in its vaccination campaign, with over 220 crore doses of COVID vaccines administered.
The current assessment suggests that the JN.1 variant does not pose a significant threat in terms of triggering an exponential rise in new cases or causing severe outcomes. With the majority of active cases recovering at home, India remains dedicated to managing the impact of the virus and further advancing its vaccination campaign. As the situation evolves, health authorities continue to monitor and adapt strategies to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.