JN.1 variant of Covid-19 : PMC takes precautionary measures ; urges to wear mask 

Following the reports of the Covid-19 virus’s JN.1 subtype in Kerala, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) moved quickly to guarantee readiness and attentiveness in light of the changing circumstances.

Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar assured the public that the new variant is nothing to be afraid of. He did, however, stress the significance of adopting the required safety measures to stop the spread of Covid.

To address the issues and strengthen Pune’s Covid prevention efforts, the health department called a meeting on Tuesday, which was presided over by Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravindra Binawade.

The purpose of the meeting was to go over the different aspects of the recent discovery of the Covid variant in Kerala, which is characterized by benign symptoms and a patient who is 79 years old and fully recovered. Officials emphasized the need of taking the required safety measures and emphasized the significance of acting in a way that is appropriate for the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes wearing masks, washing your hands frequently, and keeping a social distance.

There haven’t been any JN.1 variant cases documented in Pune city as yet. Authorities did, however, emphasize the importance of maintaining watchfulness and adhering to preventative measures. Prompt notification was sent to all hospitals and dispensaries owned by Municipal Corporations, along with directives to improve patient survey effectiveness. Those who were identified through these surveys were instructed to get tested for COVID-19.

As part of the preparations, Pune city’s entire municipal corporation dispensaries and private healthcare facilities participated in a thorough pre-Covid drill. Finalized on December 17, the Mock Documentary was sought to assess the preparedness and response systems of the city.

Mock drills were carried out in tertiary-level health institutions throughout the state of Maharashtra between December 15 and December 17, in accordance with directives from the Government of India. Participating in these drills were hospitals affiliated with Pune Municipal Corporation as well as private hospitals, wherein the availability of hospital beds, ICU facilities, equipment, oxygen, drug stock, manpower, training programs, and telemedicine facilities were evaluated.