Covid-19 update: India reports 774 new Covid infections, 2 deaths

Covid-19 update: As per the data and reports by Union Health Ministry, India witnessed 774 fresh Covid-19 cases and two fatalities in the last 24 hours. 

The two deaths have been reported - one each in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in the last 24 hours. 

Since the onset of Covid-19 in January 2020, the Covid-19 infections reached 4,50,17,431, with an additional 774 cases reported in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the death toll in India rose to to 5,33,387, reflecting an increase of two deaths in the last 24 hours. 

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The total recovery count in India stands at 4,44,79,804, with an increase of 919 recoveries since the previous day and since the outbreak, India has administered a total of 220,67,81,345 Covid-19 vaccinations as of now.

Meanwhile, Southern India reported the highest number of cases with Karnataka reporting 1169 cases, followed by Kerala with 1160, Tamil Nadu with 188 and Maharashtra with 931 Covid infections. 

JN.1 subvariant surge in India 

Following the increase in JN.1 subvariant, a total of 619 cases of the Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 were reported from 12 States until January 4. 

Notably, JN.1 is a variant of the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.86 or Pirola. Kerala reported the first case of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently designated JN.1 as a variant of interest, different from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the World Health Organisation emphasised that, based on current evidence, the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low.