Shaun
Covid-19 India Cases Live Updates: NB.1.8.1, a new Covid-19 subvariant, has been detected in India. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution has designated this variant as ‘Variant Under Monitoring’ — one with significant changes in virus characteristics but whose epidemiological impact remains unclear. At least one sample of this variant has been submitted to India’s Covid-19 genome sequencing consortium INSACOG from Tamil Nadu. A majority of the samples sequenced in India over the last couple of weeks were BA.2 and JN.1 variants.
Reasons behind Covid-19’s recent surge: The number of Covid-19 cases has surged in India over the past few weeks due to a list of factors including decreasing immunity from vaccines administered over a year ago, relaxed public behaviour and the emergence of a new variant NB.1.8.1, with a higher transmissibility, according to experts and reports. Changes in weather and air quality can also influence respiratory infections.
COVID-19 cases in major cities: The number of active COVID-19 cases in India has crossed 3,000, with Kerala accounting for the highest number at 1,336 active cases, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday. Four deaths — one each in Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have been reported across the country in the past 24 hours.
