5 covid deaths reported in India as covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 spreads
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New Delhi: Another bout of Covid-19 infections has led to five deaths in the country as more active cases are being reported.
The Union Health Ministry on Sunday recorded 335 fresh cases while the active ones have risen to 1,701, India Today reported.
Four people died in Kerala where a sub-variant JN.1 is reported to be spreading.
The Health Ministry data showed one death from Covid -19 in Uttar Pradesh.
The total Covid caseload in the country is put at 4.50 crore (4,50,04,816) and the number of recoveries has increased to 4.46 crore meaning 98.81 per cent, according to the Health Ministry.
A senior official from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Saturday said the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 was detected in a 79-year-old woman.
Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the ICMR, said the case was reported in Karakulam in Thiruvananthapuram district.
The woman, who developed mild symptoms of Influenza -like Illness (ILI), has since recovered from Covid-19.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said there was no need to worry as the JN.1 was detected in the state.
She told media the new variant had already been detected months ago in Indian passengers screened at Singapore airport.
‘There is no need for any concern. It's a sub-variant. It was just found here. Months ago, this variant was detected in a few Indians who were screened at the Singapore airport. It's just that Kerala has identified the variant here through genome sequencing. There is no need to worry. The situation is being closely monitored,’ she was quoted as saying.