Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 17: Kerala, which has been reporting the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country, is facing a new challenge due to the emergence of a new subvariant of the Omicron variant, called JN.1.
According to the state health department, JN.1 accounts for 90% of the new cases detected in the state in the last two weeks. The subvariant, which has more than 30 mutations in its spike protein, is suspected to be more transmissible and less responsive to vaccines than other variants.
The state has recorded over 10,000 daily cases for the last four days, with a test positivity rate of over 10%. The active cases have crossed 80,000, while the death toll has reached 28,000. The state has also reported 12 cases of the Omicron variant so far.
The state government has expressed concern over the rising cases and has announced stricter measures to contain the spread of the virus. The government has imposed night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am and has banned public gatherings and events. The government has also reduced the occupancy of public transport, cinema halls, malls, and restaurants to 50%. The government has also ramped up testing, tracing, and vaccination in the state.
The government has also hinted at the possibility of imposing a lockdown if the situation worsens. The chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has said that the government will take a decision on the lockdown after consulting the experts and the central government. He has also appealed to the people to follow the Covid-19 protocols and avoid unnecessary travel and socialising.
The government has also sought the help of the central government and the World Health Organization (WHO) to study the JN.1 subvariant and its impact on the population. The government has sent samples of the subvariant to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune and the WHO for genome sequencing and analysis.
The government has also urged the people not to panic and to trust the scientific evidence. The government has said that the JN.1 subvariant is not a new variant, but a subvariant of the Omicron variant, which is already classified as a variant of concern (VOC) by the WHO. The government has also said that the existing vaccines are still effective against the subvariant, although the efficacy may be reduced.
The government has also said that the JN.1 subvariant is not the only reason for the surge in cases, but also the low adherence to the Covid-19 norms and the high mobility of the people during the festive season. The government has said that the people should take responsibility for their own health and the health of others and cooperate with the government in fighting the pandemic.
