India records 743 new Covid cases, seven deaths

New Delhi: India recorded 743 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. According to the Union Health Ministry, the total number of active cases has continuously increased to 3,997. According to official data, there have been seven deaths in the country in the last 24 hours: three in Kerala, two in Karnataka, one in Chhattisgarh and one in Tamil Nadu. With this, the total number of coronavirus cases in India since the outbreak in January 2020 has reached 4,50,12,484, with an increase of 743 cases in the last 24 hours. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 cases in India has increased to 5,33,358, showing an increase of seven deaths in the last 24 hours. According to official information from the Indian Council of Medical Research, 41,797 tests have been conducted since December 29, 2023. A total of 145 cases of COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 were reported in India till December 28. “Since December 28, a total of 145 cases of the JN.1 variant have been reported. These samples will be collected between November 21 and December 18, 2023”, official sources told ANI. Specifically, subvariant JN.1 is a descendant of subvariant Omicron known as BA.2.86 or Pirola. The first case of JN.1 variant of COVID-19 was reported in Kerala. The World Health Organization (OHM) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the world health body stressed that the overall risk posed by JN.1 is low according to current evidence.