JN.1 cases rise to 110 in state, task force advices recent travellers to avoid crowd

Meanwhile, the state has reported two unrelated Covid-19 deaths, confirmed by the health department not to be linked to the JN.1 variant. On December 31, 2023, a 73-year-old individual with underlying health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, passed away at a private hospital in Solapur, despite being fully vaccinated. In a separate incident on January 3, 2024, a 101-year-old, with heart disease comorbidities, succumbed at a private hospital in Kolhapur, having received no Covid vaccine doses. These incidents underscore the intricate interplay of age, underlying health conditions, and vaccination status in the outcomes of Covid-related cases, emphasising the need for comprehensive public health strategies.

On Thursday, the total caseload of JN.1 in Maharashtra reached 110, recording 78 new variant cases. Additionally, the state reported a total of 171 new Covid cases, with a test positivity rate of 1.1% from 15,404 conducted tests.

Simultaneously, the state health department is expected to issue guidelines on preventive measures for individuals recently returning from vacation during the festival season. The Covid task force recommends these recent travellers to maintain distance, particularly from vulnerable groups, especially those aged 60 and above with co-morbidities.

Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, formerly in charge of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research and currently leading Maharashtra’s Covid task force said that despite the more infectious nature of the JN.1 variant, there’s no cause for alarm as the state hasn’t witnessed a spike in hospitalisations. “Although cases have surged, hospitalisation hasn’t increased. Nevertheless, it’s always better to take precautionary measures,” he stated.

Furthermore, the Covid task force has recommended to the health department that, given the low virulence of JN.1, there is no necessity to perform contact tracing for all individuals in close contact with positive patients. Instead, they advise focusing on tracing only the close family members who are at a higher risk of contracting the infection.