COVID-19 Update: Ahead Of New Year, India Sees 841 Fresh Covid Cases, Highest 1-Day Jump In 227 Days

With a jump of 841 new COVID cases since yesterday, the highest in 227 days, India has a total of 4,309 active COVID-19 cases as of December 31, 2023, as per the available on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Three deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24-hrs, the health ministry said on Sunday. The single-day jump of 841 new COVID cases is the highest in 227 days after the country recorded 865 new COVID cases on May 19. On Saturday, India recorded 743 fresh cases and seven deaths - three in Kerala two in Karnataka, and one each in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

The number of daily cases fell to double-digits till December 5, but recently the cases have gone up due to the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions. With the recent spike in cases of the new Covid variant, JN.1, in some States amidst the New Year celebrations, Health officials in several states have advised the public to adopt precautionary measures, including wearing masks, to control the spread of the infection.

The data updated at 8 a.m. on the health ministry website showed that Kerala is the top contributor to the rising cases with a caseload of 2082. 37 new cases have been reported in the state since yesterday, with 1 death in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Kerala's neighboring state Karnataka has reported 131 fresh cases, taking the total caseload to 833. The third biggest contributor is Tamil Nadu with a total number of 177 cases, 5 reported since yesterday, as per data available on the ministry website. Since yesterday, 3 deaths have been reported in the country, one each from Bihar, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Maharashtra has a total caseload of 613 cases after 134 new COVID cases were reported since yesterday.
The daily numbers were in lakhs at the peak of the pandemic, which began in early 2020 and has seen more than 4.5 crore people getting infected and over 5.3 lakh deaths in about four years since then across the country.

In the past few days, COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 cases have seen a surge throughout the country. Ahead of the New Year celebrations, both the central and state governments are vigilant and prepared to tackle an outbreak of the new Omicron Subvariant JN.1. The country saw, a total of 145 cases of COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 till December 28. Seven COVID-related deaths were reported on December 30.

WHO directives to control the spread of COVID-19 virus:

• Maintain a physical distance of at least 1 meter from others and avoid crowded gatherings.
• Wear a properly fitted mask when physical distancing is not possible, particularly in poorly ventilated settings.
• Clean hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• Cover mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue while coughing or sneezing.
• Dispose off used tissues immediately and clean hands regularly.