In a concerning turn of events, Tripura has reported its first casualty linked to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant. The fatality was part of a grim toll that included two deaths in Kerala and one in Karnataka within a 24-hour period, according to data released by the health ministry on Monday.
India, grappling with the impact of a new variant and cold weather conditions, witnessed a surge in cases, recording 605 new infections. The total number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 4,002, marking a notable increase from the double-digit daily cases reported until December 5, 2023. Since then, there has been a significant uptick, with 841 new cases reported on December 31, 2023, comprising 0.2% of the peak cases reported in May 2021.
Official sources have revealed that approximately 92% of the active cases are currently undergoing recovery under home isolation. Despite concerns surrounding the new variant, named JN.1, the available data suggests that it is not leading to an exponential rise in new cases or a surge in hospitalizations and mortality.
India has experienced three waves of COVID-19, with the Delta wave peaking in April-June 2021, reporting 414,188 new cases and 3,915 deaths on May 7, 2021. Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, over 4.5 crore people have been infected, resulting in more than 5.3 lakh deaths across the country in a span of approximately four years.
On a positive note, the national recovery rate stands at an impressive 98.81%, with over 4.4 crore individuals having recuperated from the disease. Vaccination efforts have been robust, with a total of 220.67 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in the country, reflecting a significant stride in the ongoing battle against the pandemic.
As the situation continues to evolve, authorities emphasize the importance of staying informed, following health guidelines, and participating in vaccination drives to mitigate the impact of the virus and safeguard public health.
