In light of the detection of the latest Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 in India, the Telangana government has put the hospitals on alert and issued an advisory as well in this regard.
The precautionary initiatives are being taken in Telangana after one death in Kerala where the latest sub-variant of Covid-19 was detected recently. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stringent surveillance is imperative as the Covid-19 virus is constantly evolving.
What do the hospital authorities say?
According to Dr M Raja Rao, Additional Director of Medical Education (DME) and Superintendent of Gandhi Hospital in Telangana, "JN.1 is a subvariant of Omicron. There were many cases in Kerala. Our state government has issued an alert to all hospitals in the state. If there are any cases of influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory illness we need to monitor them, increase their testing, keep them in isolation wards, wear masks and keep medication ready,"
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Mr Rao further asserted that the Gandhi Hospital is well-equipped to deal with the new sub-variant of coronavirus.
"There are no cases of JN.1 variant in Telangana and usually after the pandemic, we get one or two cases in a week here at Gandhi Hospital. Today no cases were reported. Even if cases of this variant are reported we are ready for treatment whether in terms of beds, medication, or equipment. There is no need to worry," the Additional DME said.
Urging people to follow the precautionary measures he said, "People should take care, especially people with comorbidities, elderly people above 65 years, children pregnant women, patients with diabetes, hypertension, cardiac problems, kidney problems- among these people the severity of the virus is more. So when they are going to crowded places they should wear masks, maintain hand hygiene and social distancing. This will ensure less spread from person to person. In overcrowded places wear masks, especially elderly people. This will ensure less spread."
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Uttarkhand and Karnataka on high alert as well
Besides Telangana, the Uttarakhand government is on high alert as well regarding the sub-variant and has issued an advisory in this regard.
The Karnataka government has made wearing masks compulsory for people over 60 with heart and kidney diseases as well as for those with fever, phlegm, and colds.
