Category: Corona Virus

The active caseload has also climbed, pushing past the 3,000 mark to reach 3,420.

India's Covid-19 situation has sparked concern as the country recorded its highest number of daily cases in seven months, with 752 new infections reported in the past 24 hours. This surge comes amidst rising anxieties about the JN.1 sub-variant, a more transmissible Omicron offshoot.

The active caseload has also climbed, pushing past the 3,000 mark to reach 3,420. While the death toll remains relatively low, with four fatalities reported in Kerala, Karnataka, and Rajasthan, the sudden spike in cases has revived vigilance measures across the country.

In the last 24 hours, India reported four new deaths due to COVID-19, with two fatalities in Kerala, and one each in Rajasthan and Karnataka. The total death toll now stands at 5,33,332, and the case fatality rate is recorded at 1.18 percent.

The country's cumulative COVID-19 case count is 4.50 crore (4,50,07,964). The morning update from the health ministry revealed an increase in active cases in 17 states, with Kerala (266), Karnataka (70), Maharashtra (15), Tamil Nadu (13), and Gujarat (12) being among the affected regions.

In the last 24 hours, 325 people have recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 4,44,71,212. The national recovery rate is now at 98.81 percent.

On Friday, India reported 640 new COVID-19 infections and one death, increasing the active caseload to 2,997 from the previous day's 2,669, according to the Health Ministry.

In response to the ongoing situation, the Bihar government has issued directives for all districts and hospitals in the state to intensify COVID-19 RT-PCR testing, including random testing of arrivals at airports in Patna, Gaya, and Darbhanga.

The central government has reassured the public that the current increase in COVID-19 cases is not a cause for concern and urged people not to panic. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya conducted a review of the preparedness of health facilities nationwide and emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant against emerging strains of COVID-19.

While addressing the situation, the government has advised individuals with comorbidities to wear face masks as a precautionary measure. As of December 21, there have been 22 reported cases of the COVID sub-variant JN.1 in the country, with 19 cases identified in Goa and one each in Kerala and Maharashtra. Authorities are yet to disclose details of one case.

JN.1, a variant stemming from the Omicron lineage and designated as a 'variant of interest' by the World Health Organization, has rapidly spread in recent weeks. Authorities have emphasised that no significant clustering of cases linked to the JN.1 variant has been observed in India.

All reported cases have been characterised as mild, with patients recovering without experiencing complications.

Also Read:India vigilant as JN.1 Covid-19 subvariant emerges with 22 confirmed cases

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India's Covid cases reach 7-month high with 752 cases in a single day, 4 deaths reported as JN.1 variant causes concerns - Business Today

Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, who leads the new Covid task force that Maharashtra has formed, has emphasised prioritising systems to build a comprehensive database for analysing hospitalisation and death surveillance.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Dr Gangakhedkar, former head of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, explained that the aim is not only to detect Covid-like illnesses but also to identify emerging diseases within clusters.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Q: There is currently a rise in Covid cases across India. Is it due to the new variant, or is it a result of increased testing?

The primary factor is the variant. Despite increased testing, the uptick is not substantial; people are being tested just like they were during the Omicron outbreak, not voluntarily. Initial data analysis is required in our upcoming meeting at the task force. Public information indicates JN.1 is prevalent in a significant proportion of cases. While its not the sole variant, about 31 per cent of cases in the US, where it originated in September, are now attributed to JN1. So a notable portion is gradually becoming prevalent in India too.

Q: Are we anticipating another Covid wave, or do we possess sufficient herd immunity to combat it?

Its challenging to provide a definitive answer at this moment. The available information on this specific variant suggests that it remains relatively mild. Based on current knowledge, hospitalisation and mortality may not increase significantly. However, with the holiday season and large gatherings underway, caution is essential to avoid being caught off guard. The focus is on ensuring rapid response and preparedness to handle any potential surge, minimising the impact on the healthcare system.

Q: What are the foremost steps or priorities currently occupying your thoughts?

Covid is emphasising the need for well-established data on hospitalisation and a death surveillance system. This system will not detect only Covid-like illnesses but, over time, could identify new diseases within clusters.

Then the question arises: should we expand genomic surveillance further? The suggestion is to develop smart genomic surveillance, focusing on clusters where hospitalisations or deaths have increased without a clear cause. Rather than routine genomic surveillance, the emphasis is on investigating specific cases to determine if a new variant is the cause. Despite Covid becoming a recurring presence, especially in winter with new variants, the presumption is hindered by the lack of hospitalisation surveillance. Without such surveillance, attributing trends to specific seasons becomes challenging, as hospitalisations could be due to other respiratory illnesses like influenza or respiratory syncytial virus.

Q: Isnt the health department already scrutinising data through regular Covid updates?

No, Covid data primarily focuses on the number of infections. We need a more in-depth analysis of hospitalised patients and fatalities, considering factors like comorbidities, time of admission and clustering. While not challenging, it requires the development of a network, possibly involving medical colleges, to collect and submit meaningful data for analysis.

Q: How do you intend to streamline the process of gathering hospitalisation data and conducting regular analyses?

That will be discussed in the meeting at the task force, but its crucial to establish systematic surveillance for hospitalisation cases and deaths.

Q: Do you think continuous surveillance throughout the year is necessary?

Its currently challenging to ascertain. The crucial discussion involves organising hospital data for meaningful analysis, emphasising the need for a network to efficiently analyse the data. While AI may not be essential, the focus should be on identifying abnormalities in the data. This underscores the requirement for a long-term systemic change to prevent surprises with new infections. The Covid situation provides an opportunity to establish resilient surveillance systems, fostering continuous learning and awareness.

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Maharashtra's new Covid task force to focus on systematic surveillance of hospitalisations and deaths, says Dr Raman ... - The Indian Express

As winter arrives in the northern hemisphere, a new version of Omicron is taking off in many countries. While it is too early to know whether the JN.1 variant will trigger a new surge of COVID-19 cases, its rapid spread has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to designate it a "variant of interest" one containing genetic changes predicted or known to affect characteristics such as disease severity, transmissibility or antibody evasion. Here's what we know about the JN.1 variant so far.

First detected on 25 August 2023, JN.1 has already become the most prevalent variant in some countries. It is now rapidly increasing across all WHO regions. Wastewater data from multiple countries approaching the winter season also points at a large wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the community, WHO said.

In its initial risk assessment for JN.1, published on 19 December 2023, WHO added that as of 16 December 2023, JN.1 had been detected in 41 countries, and represented 27.1% of SARS-CoV-2 uploaded to the international GISAID database in the week ending 3 December. This was a substantial increase compared to the data reported four weeks earlier, when the global prevalence of JN.1 was 3.3%. The countries reporting the largest proportion of cases were France, USA, Singapore, Canada, the UK and Sweden.

When the BA.2.86 (Pirola) variant emerged in July 2023, scientists quickly became alarmed by the large number of mutations it contained, relative to previous forms of Omicron. JN.1 has acquired several further mutations, the most notable being a change in the part of the spike protein that latches onto human cells, known as the L455S mutation. This region is a major target for so-called neutralising antibodies ones that help to block infection.

According to research published online in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the L455S mutation may slightly reduce the ability of JN.1 to bind to human cells but enhance its ability to evade the immune system. In theory, this could make it less transmissible than BA.2.86, but better able to reinfect people who have previously had COVID-19.

The same study investigated the ability of antibodies from people who had previously received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines and were recovering from a breakthrough infection with the XBB sub-variant of Omicron. As predicted, the researchers found that JN.1 was better able to evade these antibodies than BA.2.86. Other preliminary studies also support the idea that JN.1 may be more immune-evasive, although WHO stressed that such data is limited for now.

Although data is limited at this stage, the available evidence does not suggest that JN.1 is any more dangerous than other currently circulating forms of SARS-CoV-2. "While there is a rapid increase in JN.1 infections, and likely increase in cases, available limited evidence does not suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants," said WHO.

Even if JN.1 is more capable of sidestepping antibodies from previous infections and vaccinations, it is not entirely resistant to them. The more antibodies someone has, the greater their chances of fighting off COVID-19. By refreshing the immune system's memory of SARS-CoV2, COVID-19 vaccines top up people's antibody levels, reducing their risk of infection. And if the virus does break through, other immune defences including T-cells are also primed to reduce the severity of that infection, reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death.

Based on current evidence, the WHO has assessed the public health risk posed by JN.1 to be "low", but warned that the sub-variant may still cause an increase in COVID-19 cases amid a surge of other viral and bacterial infections, including influenza, RSV and common childhood pneumonia.

JN.1 is no different to earlier forms of SARS-CoV-2 in the way that it spreads primarily through coughs, sneezes and exhaled air. Coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue, regularly washing your hands with soap, keeping rooms ventilated and wearing a good quality mask in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated areas will all help to reduce transmission as will staying home if you are unwell. WHO has recommended universal masking and improved ventilation in health facilities.

Even though most people now have some degree of immunity against SARS-CoV-2 through vaccination and/or previous infection, COVID-19 is not just a cold, and people are still being hospitalised and dying from it. The threat of Long COVID also looms large. If you have respiratory symptoms and COVID-19 tests are available where you live, you should get tested and take precautions to limit further spread.

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Seven things you need to know about the JN.1 COVID-19 variant - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise in Maine

by Thomas O'Boyle, WGME

FILE - Health care workers treat patients at Maine Medical Center in Portland. (Maine Medical Center)

Health officials in Maine are now tracking a slight increase in COVID-19 cases but still lower numbers than a year ago. This comes as many are gathering for the holidays.

The state's COVID dashboard shows the number of hospitalizations has reached its highest point since April.

Half of the counties in Maine are at a medium level for hospital admissions.

Experts say the holidays which saw people spending time with others indoors helped COVID-19 to spread.

The US CDC says the positive test rate is at just under 12%.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise in Maine - WGME

Editors note: During the holiday season, the Fort Worth Report is looking back at the stories you told us you appreciated the most in 2023.

Tarrant County experienced a COVID-19 spike in the middle of August when 1,152 new cases were reported. This was nearly double the 605 cases reported in July.

Dr. Carol Nwelue, an internal medicine physician with Baylor Scott & White Health in Fort Worth, said heading into the fall, COVID-19 cases were expected to increase and they did.

There have been times within the last couple of months, where weve seen pretty big increases on the outpatient side, which tells us that the virus is still around, she said.

(Source | Tarrant County Public Health)

COVID-19 cases continue to be of concern during the holiday season.

As of Dec. 16, 943 new cases have been reported in Tarrant County. Nwelue noted that the data on the number of new infections could be unreliable, given that some cases arent reported to public health officials.

Documented cases of the virus in Tarrant County have not been as prominent as in the news in previous years. The region saw 2,406 reported cases by this time in 2022 and 3,289 new cases by the end of December 2021.

The virus also isnt making a large amount of people sick enough to be hospitalized, said Nwelue.

Cases have mellowed out, at least in the hospitals, she said. Were definitely seeing more mild cases than when the pandemic started.

As of Dec. 16, only 2.37% of emergency department visits have been associated with COVID-19, according to Tarrant County Public Health. Experts are linking these COVID-19 cases to the most prominent variants in the region, EG.5, HV.1 and JN.1.

Like many other viruses, coronavirus has evolved and formed new variants, including Omicron, HV.1 and now JN.1.

In August, EG.5 was the most prominent strain in the U.S. with 17.3% of cases, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

In October and November, HV.1 became the dominant variant and accounted for one-third of cases nationwide with nearly 30% of new COVID-19 infections.

As of December, the coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is causing about 20% of new COVID-19 infections in this country and is the fastest-growing strain of the virus, according to CNN. However, it is most dominant in the Northeast, where it is estimated to cause about a third of new infections.

The majority of cases in Texas continue to be linked to HV.1, said Nwelue.

Like other variants, symptoms remain the same for HV.1: changes in taste and smell, dry cough, fatigue, fever, runny nose and sore throat.

Heading into the new year, those who are immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system are recommended to receive a booster vaccine now. Even though no vaccine currently targets HV.1, the updated COVID-19 vaccine made available in September still offers protection against new variants.

Tarrant County Public Health recommends anyone ages 6 months and older receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

If you are in urgent need of a booster, click here to see where you can receive a free vaccine in Tarrant County.

Nwelue encourages residents to practice good hygiene by covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue; avoiding close contact with those who are sick; avoiding contact with your eyes, nose and mouth; and to get plenty of rest.

David Moreno is the health reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.orgor viaTwitter.

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policyhere.

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COVID-19 cases in Tarrant County hit a spike in August. Are infections still on the rise? - Fort Worth Report

28 Dec 2023, 08:16 AM IST Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: EPFO subscribers alert! Covid withdrawal facility may be stopped soon: Report

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has reportedly shut the Covid-19 withdrawal facility that allowed its subscribers to take out a part of their retirement savings as Covid advances, the Economic Times reported. While there is no official notification in this regard yet. Mint could not independently verify this development. Read more here

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: Several life-saving drugs supplied to various government hospitals in Delhi have reportedly failed to pass quality tests. The list of medicines that have failed to match the mandatory quality standards includes steroids, anti-epilepsy medications, antibiotics, anti-hypertensive drugs, and even antacids. Read more here

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: Wearing masks, not sending children with symptoms to schools, adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour like social distancing, seven days home isolation and leave for infected patients, are among the measures that have been decided by the Karnataka government's cabinet sub-committee on coronavirus, amid a spike in cases and detection of JN.1 infections in the state.

It has also decided to administer "precautionary vaccine" for the aged and those with comorbidities and to get 30,000 doses of Corbevax vaccine from the Centre for this purpose.

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday appealed to the disgruntled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to make the documents public related to the alleged 40,000 crore scam in Covid-19 management during the previous BJP government in the state.

The minister said Yatnal should at least hand over the details to the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission of Inquiry to probe into the coronavirus related irregularities.

Kharge, who is the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, suspected the involvement of the Central government in the Covid scam.

"Yatnal has said that if he is expelled from the BJP then he will release all the documents (related to Covid mismanagement). I appeal to him through the media to please make the documents public, keeping in mind the people of Karnataka and to safeguard their interest. Or at least share them with Justice John Michael Cunha Committee Commission of Inquiry," Kharge, who holds IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj portfolios, told reporters.

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Leader Vijayakanth tested positive for COVID. The party informed that Vijayakanth has been put on a ventilator due to breathing issue.

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: A fifty-eight-year-old daily wager died of Covid-19 on Wednesday in a government hospital for chest diseases here.

Director of Health G Sriramulu told PTI that the worker had co-morbidities, including a cardiac problem. He was first admitted to the Government General Hospital here. As he was diagnosed with Covid pneumonia, he was later shifted to the hospital for chest diseases, where he died today.

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: After the national capital reported its first case of JN.1 variant infection, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that there is no need to panic and that it only causes mild sickness.

"JN.1 is a sub-variant of Omicron and is a mild infection. This is the one spreading in south India. There is no need to panic. It causes mild sickness," Bharadwaj said while speaking to ANI.

Earlier today, Delhi reported the first case of JN.1 variant infection.

"Delhi has reported the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the 3 samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1 and the other two are Omicron," Saurabh Bharadwaj told ANI.

With new Covid sub-variant JN.1 fueling a sudden infection surge, former AIIMS director and senior pulmonologist, Dr Randeep Guleria noted though the new variant is spreading rapidly, it is not causing severe infections and hospitalisation. On the vaccine situation, he said that since the virus is changing, we need a new jab that covers a broader type of the virus. Read more here

Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE: Two more Covid cases were detected in Gurugram on Wednesday, taking the total number of active cases to 10 while the authorities directed all hospitals to be on alert.

The directions come amid a scare over the new Covid sub-variant JN.1 which spreads rapidly but poses low risk. However, it has not been determined if the new cases in Gurugram belong to this sub-variant.

District Collector Nishant Kumar Yadav has asked all hospitals in Gurugram to expeditiously establish separate isolation wards exclusively for patients exhibiting Covid symptoms.

These wards should be equipped with necessary medical infrastructure, including isolation beds and oxygen facilities, to provide optimal care, according to the orders.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) of Delhi has issued guidelines for Covid-19 suspected or positive cases that will be reported at hospitals following the sudden surge in the cases of Coronavirus in the country.

- As per the policy on COVID-19 testing, directed by the management, testing will be done for patients with SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) like symptoms that include according to the WHO, acute respiratory infection, persistent fever or fever of >= 38 C with cough and onset within last 10 days.

-It further asked all the departments at the institution to make provisions in their respective designated wards to manage in-patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

-"12 beds in the C6 ward will be earmarked for hospitalization of seriously ill COVID-19 patients," the memorandum said.

-It also said that a screening OPD in the Emergency Department will screen patients for COVID-like symptoms and triage them same based on the medical requirements.

-"Rooms no 1 to 12 in the new private ward are to be earmarked for hospitalization of COVID-19 positive EHS beneficiaries," it added.

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Lady Hardinge Hospital here has reserved 48 beds for the patients.

Apart from this, six ICU beds and a ward with 30 beds have also been reserved for Covid patients in the new building of Lady Hardinge Hospital.

Additionally, 12 beds have been reserved for paediatric patients in Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, which comes under Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Recently, the Director of the hospital also held a meeting with all the stakeholders and information was taken regarding all the arrangements related to COVID-19.

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Covid-19 JN.1 news LIVE updates: DMDK's Vijayakanth tests positive for COVID, put on ventilator due to breathing issue | Mint - Mint

The case was detected in an RT-PCR-positive sample in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Scientists across the world are worried about a new COVID-19 variant that could be more infectious than previous variants. The JN.1 strain of coronavirus has recently been detected in Kerala. The case was detected in an RT-PCR-positive sample from Karakulam in Thiruvananthapuram district of the southern state on December 8. The 79-year-old woman had mild symptoms of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and has since recovered from Covid. This variant is causing a surge in infections worldwide yet again and raising alarm bells among health authorities.

An Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.86 or Pirola is thought to be the COVID JN.1 variant. The case was first detected in the US in September this year. Seven cases of the specific subvariant were found in China on December 15, according to Reuters. "Even though BA.2.86 and JN.1 sound very different because of the way variants are named, there is only a single change between JN.1 and BA.2.86 in the spike protein," the CDC said in a recent update.

The spike protein, which is referred to as a "spike" because it resembles small spikes on the virus's surface, plays an important role in the virus' ability to infect humans. According to the CDC, vaccinations targeting the spike protein of a virus should also function against JN.1 and BA.2.86.

According to news agency ANI, Senior Consultant in Chest Medicine at Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Ujjwal Prakash, addressed the emergence of this variant and stated that although vigilance is crucial, there is no need for people to panic. "You need to be more vigilant. I don't think that there's reason to panic or do anything extra than just being vigilant," he added.

Fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and, in certain situations, minor gastrointestinal problems are among the symptoms that have been recorded in patients so far. The doctor added that most patients experience mild upper respiratory symptoms, which typically improve within four to five days.

"The first way going forward is testing this new variant of COVID if possible, and then we have to see whether they have COVID or any other viral infection. Symptoms are almost very common with other viral infections. They may be slightly more severe. Some patients may have some symptoms more severe than others, but more or less the infection is just like any other viral infection," Dr Prakash told ANI.

"I don't think I would be wise enough to say that the new wave of COVID is coming. It may just pass away like any other viral infection. Let's keep a watch and keep our fingers crossed," he said regarding the emergence of JN.1. He advised people to take precautions by wearing masks and undergoing testing if they detect viral infection symptoms. If symptoms persist, individuals are encouraged to isolate themselves from the general public, the doctor added.

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Covid Variant JN.1 Detected In Kerala: All You Need To Know About The Infection - NDTV

Hospitals and emergency rooms could be forced to ration care by the end of this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Thursday, saying recent trends in COVID-19 and influenza are now on track to again strain America's health care system. The new COVID variant JN.1 is making up an increasing share of cases, the CDC's tracking shows.

"COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising quickly," the agency said in its weekly update. "Since the summer, public health officials have been tracking a rise in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is caused by COVID-19. Influenza activity is growing in most parts of the country. RSV activity remains high in many areas."

The CDC has been urging people to get vaccinated as the peak of this year's mix of three seasonal respiratory viruses influenza, COVID-19 and RSV is nearing.

click to expand

In pediatric hospitals, the CDC says beds "are already nearly as full as they were this time last year" in some parts of the country. Data from emergency rooms published Wednesday tracked emergency room visits nearly doubling in school-age children last week.

The increase, driven largely by an acceleration in flu cases, follows weeks of largely plateauing emergency room figures nationwide ahead of Thanksgiving.

Similar to this time last year, influenza emergency room visits are now outpacing COVID-19 for the first time in months across most age groups. Only in seniors do rates of COVID-19 remain many times higher than influenza.

Nursing homes have seen a steep rise in reported COVID-19 across recent weeks. In the Midwestern region spanning Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, infections in nursing home residents have already topped rates seen at last year's peak.

A new COVID-19 variant called JN.1 has been driving a growing share of the latest wave of infections, officials estimate.

The JN.1 lineage a closely related descendant of the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant that scientists first warned about over the summer was estimated last week in the CDC's projections to make up as much as 29% of infections nationwide. That's up from 8.8% at the end of November.

Health officials have been closely tracking the acceleration of BA.2.86 and its descendants, like JN.1, around the world in recent months. More than 4 in 10 test results from the CDC's airport testing program for international travelers have turned up these strains.

A panel of experts convened by the World Health Organization concluded this month that JN.1's changes were not steep enough to warrant a new revision to this season's vaccines, but acknowledged early data suggesting these shots were less effective at neutralizing the strain.

"CDC projects that JN.1 will continue to increase as a proportion of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences. It is currently the fastest-growing variant in the United States," the CDC said last week.

"Right now, we do not know to what extent JN.1 may be contributing to these increases or possible increases through the rest of December like those seen in previous years," they wrote.

However, so far the CDC had said that so far JN.1's fast spread does not appear to be leading to any upticks in the severity posed by COVID-19.

As COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses have accelerated in recent weeks, health officials say they have also been closely tracking an unprecedented drop in vaccinations this season.

Data from insurance claims suggest flu vaccinations in adults are around 8 million doses behind vaccination levels seen last year. The CDC's survey data suggests flu shots in children are also down around 5 percentage points from the same time last year.

"Covering the missed volume is going to be very difficult or not possible," vaccine manufacturers concluded at a recent stakeholder meeting with the CDC, according to a readout from the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit.

Health officials have also been urging providers to redouble their efforts to buoy COVID-19 vaccinations this year, especially for those most at-risk of severe disease like seniors.

In nursing homes, just a third of residents and less than 1 in 10 staff are vaccinated with this season's COVID-19 shot.

"We aren't seeing the uptake in vaccines that we would like to see," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told doctors at an American Medical Association event Tuesday.

Cohen also cited survey data on uptake of the RSV vaccinations, which were greenlighted for the first time this year in older adults. Around 16% of adults ages 60 and older say they have gotten the shot.

"We acknowledge that is too low and it is one of the reasons we wanted to have this conversation," she said.

Alexander Tin is a digital reporter for CBS News based in the Washington, D.C. bureau. He covers the Biden administration's public health agencies, including the federal response to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19.

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COVID and flu surge could strain hospitals as JN.1 variant grows, CDC warns - CBS News

Right now, all eyes are on the new COVID variant JN.1, a heavily mutated new strain that has swept the United States in recent weeks.

JN.1 is now the fastest-growing variant in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It currently accounts for more than one-fifth of all infections in the U.S.

The HV.1 subvariant is still the dominant strain right now but JN.1 is not far behind. During the two-week period ending on Dec. 9, HV.1 accounted for about 30% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., per the CDCs latest estimates. JN.1 was the second-most prevalent strain, making up about 21% of cases, followed by EG.5.

Scientists are closely monitoring JN.1, which has sparked some concern due to its rapid growth rate and large number of mutations. However, the new variant is closely related to a strain we've seen before. It's a direct offshoot of BA.2.86, aka "Pirola," which has been spreading in the U.S. since the summer.

JN.1 has one more mutation compared to its parent strain BA.2.86, which has more than 30 mutations that set it apart from the omicron XBB.1.5 variant. XBB.1.5 was the dominant strain for most of 2023 and it's the variant targeted in the updated COVID-19 vaccine, TODAY.com previously reported.

All of the most prevalent COVID-19 variants in the U.S. right now aredescendants of omicron, which began circulating in late 2021.

During the last few weeks, JN.1 has beat out many other variants, including its parental strain BA.2.86 as well as EG.5 or Eris, and XBB.1.16 aka Arcturus.

As the U.S. enters the thick of respiratory virus season, some are concerned about whether JN.1 could cause a COVID-19 surge. Others are wondering if it causes different symptoms and how its mutations may affect tests, treatments and vaccines. Here's what experts know about JN.1 so far.

JN.1 was first detected in September 2023 and it has been detected in at least 12 countries so far, including the U.S., according to the CDC. Just like the other newer variants, JN.1 is part of the omicron family.

"Think of (the variants) as children and grandchildren of omicron. They're part of the same extended family, but they each have their own distinctive personalities," Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.

JN.1 descended from BA.2.86, which is a sublineage of the omicron BA.2 variant, TODAY.com previously reported that's what sets JN.1 and BA.2.86 apart from the other prevailing variants like HV.1 and EG.5, which descended from Omicron XBB.

When its parent BA.2.86 emerged, everybody was worried because it had a lot of mutations and looked like it was going to evade a lot of the immunity from vaccines and infection population, says Pekosz. But (BA.2.86) sort of fizzled out, Pekosz adds.

Laboratory data suggest that Pirola is less contagious and immune-evasive than scientists once feared,NBC News reported.

JN.1, however, picked up an additional mutation in its spike protein, says Pekosz. Spike proteins help the virus latch onto human cells and play a crucial role in helping SARS-CoV-2 infect people, per the CDC. This mutation may affect JN'1's immune escape properties, says Pekosz.

"Now it's circulating and growing at a really fast rate compared to other variants, as well as the parent its derived from (BA.2.86), says Pekosz.

In early November, JN.1 accounted for fewer than 1% of COVID-19 cases and now, only several weeks later, it makes up over 20% of cases, Dr. MichaelPhillips, chief epidemiologist at NYU Langone Health, tells TODAY.com.

Its not known whether JN.1 causes different symptoms from other variants, according the CDC.

Right now, theres nothing that says that JN.1 infection is any different from previous COVID variants in terms of disease severity or symptoms, but were paying close attention, says Pekosz.

The symptoms of JN.1 appear to be similar to those caused by other strains, which include:

According to the CDC, the type and severity of symptoms a person experiences usually depends more on a persons underlying health and immunity rather than the variant which caused infection.

While severe infections do still occur, overall (COVID-19) is causing a lot of milder illness, says Schaffner.

Some doctors have reported that upper respiratory symptoms seem to follow a pattern of starting with a sore throat, followed by congestion and a cough, NBC News previously reported.

The virus is adapting. ... I think its getting better at infecting humans and evading pre-existing immunity in the population ... but its not changing symptomology too much, says Pekosz.

At this time, theres no evidence that JN.1 causes more severe infection, the experts note.

One of the things these (omicron variants) have in common is that they are highly contagious, and as new variants crop up, they seem to be as contagious or even more contagious than the previous variants, says Schaffner.

According to the CDC, the continued growth of JN.1 suggests that the variant is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems.

Its probably a little bit more transmissible than its parental virus because weve seen an increase in case numbers that we didnt with (BA.2.86), says Pekosz. However, it is too early to tell how exactly JN.1's transmissibility or immune escape properties compare to other variants, such as HV.1, the experts note.

Many of the newer strains, including JN.1, have another mutation that affects how strongly the spike protein binds to cells in the respiratory tract, says Pekosz. We know that its probably helping the virus become better at replicating and helping the virus evade more of that pre-existing immune response, he adds.

JN.1 does not pose an increased public health risk compared to other variants currently in circulation, the CDC said.

The changes in JN.1 could give it an advantage over other variants, but its unclear how that will affect cases in the coming months. So far, there doesnt seem to be a massive increase in transmission. ... We would be concerned if there was a huge surge in cases, says Pekosz.

Right now, JN.1 is increasing in terms of the percentage of COVID-19 cases its causing, and theres also been a slight increase in total cases," says Pekosz.

Test positivity, an early indicator of case levels, is on the rise, says Phillips the rate increased by 11.5% in the past week, per the CDC. (The CDC no longer tracks the total number of cases in the U.S.).

Hospitalizations have also risen by 13% and ICU admissions by 9% in the last two weeks, according to an NBC News analysis.

"The good news is that as of yet we're not seeing severe disease or hospitalizations going up significantly, and ICU admissions are still very low, but we're going to watch these carefully," says Phillips.

COVID-19 activity was expected to rise around this time as the country enters winter and respiratory virus season, the experts note. In recent years, the virus has followed a pattern of increasing and peaking around new year, according to the CDC.

"Right now, we do not know to what extent JN.1 may be contributing to these increases or possible increases through the rest of December," the CDC said. Only time will tell whether JN.1 or another variant will cause a surge in infections this winter.

All COVID-19 diagnostic tests including rapid antigen tests and PCR tests are expected to be effective at detecting JN.1, as well as other variants, according to the CDC.

Testing is an important tool to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, especially ahead of holiday gatherings, says Schaffner.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are often indistinguishable from those caused by other viruses spreading right now, the experts note. These include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and rhinovirus, which causesthe common cold.

The experts urge anyone who becomes ill or is exposed to COVID-19 to take a test, especially people at higher risk of severe disease, such as people over the age of 65, who are immunocompromised and who have underlying health conditions.

Every American canorder four free at-home COVID-19 testsfrom the government, which will be delivered by mail via the U.S. Postal Service. To order your free tests, go toCOVIDTests.gov.

"Get tested because, whether it's COVID or flu, we have treatment available," says Schaffner. Current treatments are also expected to be effective against JN.1, the CDC said.

"JN.1 should be just as sensitive to the antivirals available as any other variants," says Pekosz, adding that antivirals like Paxlovid are most effective when taken within the first few days after infection.

The new, updated COVID-19 vaccines, recommended for everyone 6 months and older, are expected to increase protection against JN.1, as well as other variants, the CDC said.

Although the shots target omicron XBB.1.5, which has since been overtaken by HV.1, JN.1, EG.5, and others, there is still evidence that it will protect against new strains circulating this winter,TODAY.com previously reported.

Data from laboratory studies show that the vaccine appears to generate a strong immune response against JN.1's parent strain, BA.2.86, Schaffner notes.

The new vaccines also protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death, the experts emphasize. So even if you get COVID-19 after vaccination, the infection will likely be milder and it can keep you out of the hospital, Phillips adds.

However, uptake of the new vaccine among the U.S. population has been poor so far, the experts say. As of Dec. 8, only about 17% of adults, 7% of children and 36% of adults ages 65 and older have gotten the new vaccine, according to the latest CDC data on vaccination trends.

On Dec. 14, CDC officials issued an alert to warn about low vaccination rates against COVID-19, flu and RSV in the U.S.

Now is the best time to get vaccinated if you haven't already, the experts say. "The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you'll be protected and it does take seven to 10 days for protection to build up to the maximum," says Schaffner.

Phillips recommends everyone, especially high-risk individuals, to get the seasonal influenza shot, as well.

"Getting vaccinated is the best present you can give yourself and your family this holiday season," Schaffner adds.

Every day, but especially during respiratory virus season, people can take steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

The experts encourage everyone to:

Caroline Kee is a health reporter at TODAY based in New York City.

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Know The Symptoms of JN.1, Fastest-Spreading Covid Variant - TODAY

Amid the sudden rise in coronavirus cases, especially due to sub-lineage of BA.2.86 JN.1, in the country, the Singapore Health Ministry issued a fresh advisory to the island nations citizens and travelers, reported Economic Times. The advisory also applies to Indian travelers.

According to the report, the ministry estimated around 56,043 COVID cases in the week of 3-9 December 2023, a rise from 32,035 cases in the previous week.

Though the Singapore government doubts the JN.1 variant for the rise in cases, there is still no clear indication that BA.2.86 or JN.1 are more transmissible. Even clarity on JN.1 causing more severe disease than other circulating variants is absent.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 sub-strain JN.1: Monitoring situation, we should be alert, says Kerala Health Minister Veena George

Meanwhile, the island country's health ministry in its report said that average daily coronavirus hospitalizations rose to 350 from 225 a week earlier.

To battle the disease, the health ministry is collaborating with public hospitals ensuring enough manpower, and deferring non-urgent elective procedures.

Making beds available for urgent cases that require immediate medical attention and utilizing step-down facilities like Transitional Care Facilities and alternative care models like Mobile Inpatient Care are being considered.

Apart from this, the health ministry said, as quoted by ET, that it will be opening a new COVID-19 Treatment Facility (CTF) at Singapore EXPO Hall 10 to provide care for more than 80 stable COVID-19 patients who do not require intensive hospital care.

ALSO READ: China detects 7 infections of COVID subvariant JN.1; is this a variant of concern? Here are the details

In addition, the health ministry requested its citizens, experiencing symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI), to stay home until symptoms resolve and avoid contact with others.

The advisory noted that if the interaction is unavoidable, they should wear masks, limit social interactions, and steer clear of crowded places.

Also, the Ministry of Health (MOH) emphasizes the importance of wearing masks in crowded areas.

Among others, the ministry advised travelers to take precautions such as wearing masks at airports, obtaining travel insurance, and avoiding poorly ventilated crowded spaces.

Meanwhile, a specific case of JN.1 was identified in an RT-PCR positive sample from Kerala's Karakulam on 8 December. The patient, who initially tested positive on November 18, 2023, experienced mild symptoms of ILI and has since recovered from COVID-19.

ALSO READ: Covid subvariant JN.1 in Kerala: From symptoms to precautions; here's all you need to know

"No need for any worry. That is a sub-variant (COVID-19 sub-strain JN.1). Two or three months back it was detected in Indians when tested at Singapore airport," state Health Minister Veena George said, appealing to the people to stay vigilant.

"As Kerala's health system is good, we could detect it through genomic sequencing. No need to worry. We are keenly monitoring the situation. But we should be alert. People with comorbidities should be taken care of," she added.

However, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao ruled out the need to restrict movement on the border at present adding that the government has ensured all precautionary measures. Currently, Karnataka reports 58 active cases, with 11 hospitalized and one COVID-related death, compounded by other comorbidities.

The India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a network of Genomic Laboratories, has been actively monitoring the genomic aspects of COVID-19 in India.

JN.1 was first detected in September 2023 in the United States

With agency inputs.

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Singapore health ministry issues travel advisory as COVID-19 cases rise; India braced for JN.1 variant | Mint - Mint