India Reports 358 New COVID-19 Cases With 6 Deaths; 300 Fresh Infections In Kerala Alone

India on Thursday reported 358 new COVID-19 cases with six deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry data said.

Out of 358, Kerala has recorded 300 fresh cases. It is followed by Karnataka (13), Tamil Nadu (12), Gujarat (11), Maharashtra (10) and Telangana (5). However, the number of active cases in Kerala has now surpassed 2000.

According to the released data, the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 533,327.

Amidst the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases in India, the Health Ministry has urged all states to remain vigilant and avoid panic. State governments have been instructed to intensify testing efforts and closely monitor and trace any emerging developments related to COVID-19.

Assuring the states of receiving all support from the Centre, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, on Wednesday, said, "We need to be on the alert but there is no need to panic." It is important to be prepared with mock drills of hospital preparedness, increased surveillance and effective communication with people, the minister said.

"There should be no laxity in our preparedness. Health is not an area for any politics. The Union Health Ministry is available for every support," Mandaviya said, adding that it was time to work together in a "whole-of-government" approach.

The JN.1 Variant, first identified in a 79-year-old woman in Kerala earlier this month, has contributed to the rising number of COVID cases in the state. As of December 21, Kerala has reported an active caseload of 2,041.

The World Health Organization has categorized JN.1 as a separate "variant of interest" due to its rapid and widespread dissemination. However, it has clarified that this variant poses a "low" risk to global public health.

Initially, the JN.1 variant was considered a variant of interest (VOI) within the BA.2.86 sublineages, which is the parent lineage classified as a VOI, as per the world body's statement on Tuesday. Nevertheless, in recent weeks, there has been a continual reporting of JN.1 cases in various countries, and its prevalence has swiftly escalated worldwide.