Maharashtra reports 50 fresh COVID-19 cases, with nine identified as JN.1 infections, including two from Pune city.

In Maharashtra’s latest COVID-19 update, nine of the newly reported cases are attributed to the JN.1 sub-variant, bringing the total infections linked to this new strain in the state to 10.

The affected individuals include five from Thane city, two from Pune city, and one each from rural areas of Pune district, Akola city, and Sindhudurg district. Notably, one patient from Pune had recently travelled to the United States.

The overall count of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra reached 81,72,135, with 50 new cases reported on Sunday. All nine cases associated with the JN.1 sub-variant have successfully recovered. Despite the rise in cases and the detection of the new sub-variant, health officials emphasize that there is no immediate cause for concern, as 92% of the infected individuals are opting for home-based treatment, indicating mild illness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized the JN.1 sub-variant as a distinct variant of interest due to its rapid spread but has assessed it as posing a low global public health risk. To prevent the spread of the virus, individuals experiencing symptoms such as cold, cough, or fever are advised to maintain distance, wear masks, and practice regular hand hygiene, as recommended by healthcare professionals.

According to the latest data from the Union health ministry on Sunday, the country recorded 656 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, contributing to a total of 3,742 active cases.