COVID Cases in India

Covid Cases in India: India on Thursday recorded 594 fresh Covid-19 infections while the number of active cases increased to 2,669 from 2,311 the previous day, according to Union health ministry data. The country's Covid-19 tally stands at 4.50 crore (4,50,06,572). The death toll climbed to 5,33,327 with six more people -- three from Kerala, two from Karnataka and one from Punjab -- succumbing to the viral disease, the data updated at 8 am stated. Stay with TOI for live updates

Recent surge in Covid-19 cases and detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant has once again led to a demand from parents for vaccination to protect their children from Covid.

Spike in Covid cases in Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah to chair high-level meet

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will convene a high-level meeting here over the reported spike in Covid-19 cases in the state. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and senior officers will also attend the meeting to discuss the evolving situation. Sources indicate that the number of cases is anticipated to soon surpass the 100 mark in the state, with the situation becoming increasingly worrisome in the state capital as cases continue to spread rapidly. Authorities have sent 17 samples from Bengaluru for genome sequencing, and also to confirm the presence of JN.1 variant in the state.

JN.1 Covid variant: Experts allay fears, cite low public health risk

The emergence of the JN.1 Covid variant and India reporting cases is neither surprising nor particularly worrying, say scientists, allaying fears but also advising adherence to existing precautionary measures. The announcement on Wednesday about the increasing numbers of the new sub-variant, detected in three states, came as the Union Health Ministry reported a spike in cases. As panic spread and Covid came under the spotlight again, experts stepped in to say there is no need to panic – available treatments are effective, the infection is mild and all viruses mutate. "As it happens with most respiratory viruses, including the influenza viruses, the circulating viruses keep changing. Therefore, a sub-variant of SARS CoV-2 is not a surprise at all," Chandrakant Lahariya, a senior consultant physician and public health expert said.

India Covid Cases: Cutting pollution to Covid pandemic level may prevent Himalayan glaciers from disappearing: Study

Reducing air pollution to levels similar to those during the Covid-19 pandemic could protect the Himalayan glaciers and prevent them from disappearing by the end of the century, a study by an international research team from India, Germany and the UK has found. Analysing the situation during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, the team found that cleaner air during the period ensured that less soot was deposited on the glaciers, resulting in 0.5 to 1.5 milimeter (mm) less snow melting per day.