Centre confirms presence of JN.1 Covid subvariant

The Centre confirms the presence of the JN.1 subvariant of Covid-19 in Kerala, the first case in India. JN.1 is closely related to the BA.2.86 variant, also known as Pirola, detected in the US and China. The patient from Thiruvananthapuram tested positive for JN.1 on December 8 and has since recovered. Kerala has seen a rising trend in Covid cases, with most cases being mild and patients recovering at home. A mock drill is being conducted in health facilities to assess preparedness measures.