New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause concern worldwide, with a surge in cases reported in over 40 countries. India is also facing a similar situation, with 341 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The southern state of Kerala has seen the maximum number of cases.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting with health ministers from all states to assess the situation and discuss preventive measures. During the meeting, the minister emphasised the need for close collaboration among states and urged officials to maintain vigilance without causing panic.
The minister also highlighted the importance of hospital preparedness and directed all hospitals to conduct mock drills once every three months. It was revealed during the meeting that 21 cases of the new JN1 variant have been reported in the country.
NITI Aayog member Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul provided detailed information about the current COVID-19 situation in India. He explained that a subtype with a mild variant of 2.86 is what is causing the recent outbreak. However, its exact nature is still being studied. Dr. Paul reiterated that COVID-19 is still a threat and urged people to remain cautious.
The WHO has classified the new virus as a “variant of interest.” Currently, there are 2,311 active cases in India, with a corona positivity rate of over 5% in five states. Kerala has the highest positivity rate at around 21%, and Maharashtra is second at 7%.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses. The health ministers were asked to ensure adequate supplies and encourage people to get vaccinated and boosted to protect themselves against the virus.
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