Odisha Reports Another COVID Case After Fortnight; India Records 7-Month High At 752

Bhubaneswar: One person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry state-wise data updated on Saturday.

Sources said that heath condition of the patient, who is undergoing treatment at home, is stated to be normal.

The last positive case was detected in the state on December 3.

This has come amid an increase in sub-variant JN.1 cases with India recording single-day rise of 752 coronavirus infections, the highest since May 21 and more than double the number of infections reported the previous day. Four related deaths  — two from Kerala and one each in Rajasthan and Karnataka — were also reported during this period.

Seventeen states, including Kerala (266), Karnataka (70), Maharashtra (15), Tamil Nadu (13) and Gujarat (12), saw an uptick in active cases.

On Friday, the Odisha government advised elderly people and those with comorbidities to remain masked while going out and avoid visiting crowded places. “Most of the JN1 cases have been reported from Kerala and those infected are elderly people with comorbidities. This is why senior citizens and people with comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension and other serious health conditions must be cautious,” Director of Public Health Dr Niranjan Mishra said while confirming that no new case had been detected in the state since December 3.

Also Read: No COVID Case In Odisha Since Dec 3; Govt Advises Elderly & Those With Comorbidities To Mask Up

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the number of new COVID cases increased by 52 per cent during the past four-odd weeks. JN.1 is a descendant of the “pirola” variant BA 2.86, which by itself is an Omicron subvariant. IMA COVID Task Force Dr Rajeev Jayadevan on Thursday said that the new strain can be problematic for people of old age and those with multiple comorbidities.