India has reported 511 cases of JN.1 variant of COVID-19 till January 2. Eleven states have so far detected the presence of the JN.1 sub-variant of the virus.
Karnataka has reported the highest number of cases at 199 followed by Kerala (148), Goa (47). Gujarat has added 36 cases, Maharashtra (32), Tamil Nadu (26), Delhi (15), Rajasthan (4), Telangana (2) and one each from Odisha and Haryana, according to the data by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
The INSACOG's data showed 279 Covid cases recorded in the country in December had the presence of JN.1, while 33 such cases were detected in November 2023.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a separate "variant of interest" given its rapidly-increasing spread, but said it poses a "low" global public health risk. The JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus was previously classified as a variant of interest (VOI) as part of the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, the parent lineage that is classified as a VOI, the world body said.
However, in recent weeks, JN.1 cases continued to be reported from multiple countries and its prevalence has rapidly increased globally. The Centre has asked states and Union territories to maintain a constant vigil amid an uptick in the number of Covid cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant in the country.
