Will JN.1 drive a severe Covid wave in India?

Amid mounting cases of Covid-19 infections daily in India, majorly driven by the JN.1 sub variant, health experts on Friday said there is no reason to worry. India on Friday reported 4,091 active Covid cases and five deaths, revealed data from the Union Health Ministry. The country has also reportedly detected about 145 cases of JN.1 variant from eight states. JN.1 has been classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its rapid spread. “Till JN.1 becomes Variant of Concern (VoC), it should not bother the common man — in fact they do not come into the picture at all,” said Dr Ishwar Gilada, Consultant in Infectious Diseases Unison Medicare and Research Centre, Mumbai. “Till it is only a VoI, it is only of interest (or if at all concern) for the scientific community and nodal ministry in governments at state and Centre,” he added. But then, what is causing the Covid- related deaths, including the death of DMDK chief Vijaykanth, in the country? “Individuals with certain comorbidities face an elevated risk of severe outcomes and increased mortality from Covid,” Dr. Vikas Chopra, Sr. Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, said.