Rapid Spread of Covid Variant JN.1 Raises Concerns

A 41-year-old man in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district has tested positive for the new COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1, which has been classified as a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organisation. The patient has mild symptoms, and 21 cases of the sub-variant have been detected across India so far. The Maharashtra health department has stated that JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and causes mild symptoms. Authorities have instructed districts to increase coronavirus testing and surveillance of influenza-like illnesses.