India recorded 628 new COVID-19 cases, maintaining an active caseload of 4,054. The total fatalities reached 5,33,334, with one new death reported in Kerala in the past 24 hours. The country's Covid tally stands at 4,50,09,248, and the recovery rate is robust at 98.81%, with 4,44,71,860 people having recuperated. The case fatality rate remains at 1.19%. The health ministry's data indicates the administration of 220.67 crore Covid vaccine doses. As the year concludes, India continues its vigilance against the pandemic, emphasizing vaccination and recovery.

India records 322 new Covid-19 cases, prompting states to enhance preparedness. Kerala reports 128 cases, Karnataka adds 96, Maharashtra notes 103 active cases, and Tamil Nadu reports 123. With the active caseload reaching 3,742, states issue fresh guidelines. Tamil Nadu directs surveillance and ensures hospital readiness. Union Health Ministry advises hospitals to conduct drills, especially after detecting the new JN.1 sub-variant. Maharashtra focuses on RT-PCR testing, conducting 658 tests out of 1,791. Hospitals instructed to check equipment functionality and stock essential drugs. Concerns rise among smaller hospitals as cases surge.

India witnessed its highest single-day spike with 752 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the total tally to 4.50 crore. The death toll climbed to 5,33,332, including four new fatalities reported in Kerala, Rajasthan, and Karnataka within the last 24 hours. The country's recovery rate stands at 98.81%, with 4,44,71,212 people recovered. The fatality rate is 1.19%. The health ministry reports the administration of 220.67 crore COVID vaccine doses. As India grapples with this surge, health authorities emphasize vaccination efforts to curb the virus's impact, underscoring the importance of public adherence to preventive measures.

The Union government has instructed the States to send all positive COVID-19 test swabs for whole genome sequencing, intensifying surveillance for potential Sars-CoV-2 variants in India. The move follows concerns about the JN.1 variant outbreak, prompting increased vigilance. Officials emphasize that while sequencing aids in identifying variants, there's no surge in severe cases or hospital admissions. A senior government official assures that the directive is part of nationwide COVID-19 surveillance, urging States to enhance testing as a precautionary measure. Whole genome sequencing complements RT-PCR tests by identifying mutations and determining the virus variant in circulation. 

India confronts a concerning spike in Covid-19 cases, reporting 594 new infections and six deaths, notably in Kerala, Karnataka, and Punjab. Health officials reveal that fatalities primarily affect those with underlying serious illnesses, while emphasizing mild symptoms in the majority of cases. The surge is suspected to be linked to the JN.1 sub-variant, recently classified as a variant of interest by the WHO. With 21 reported cases in India, health secretary Sudhansh Pant assures ongoing scientific scrutiny of JN.1, noting its mild nature and recovery of all reported cases. Surveillance is intensified, no travel advisories issued as of yet.

India has banned the use of a fixed-drug combination containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine in cough and cold syrups for children under 4 years old. This directive follows a series of child deaths in India since 2019, linked to toxic cough syrups produced domestically. These incidents, which include at least 141 deaths in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since the middle of last year, have raised questions about the quality of pharmaceutical exports from India, often referred to as the "world's pharmacy" due to its provision of life-saving drugs at affordable prices. The country's drug regulator issued an order on December 18th requiring manufacturers to label their products with a warning against use in young children. This move follows the deaths of at least 141 children globally since last year linked to toxic cough syrups, including some exports from India. 

As the highly transmissible JN.1 Covid variant spreads in India, the country witnessed an uptick in infections with 358 fresh cases recorded in the past 24 hours. The spike comes after months of low transmission and is primarily being driven by outbreaks in states like Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Health authorities held an urgent meeting, urging preparation against emerging strains. Total active caseload in India now stands at 2,669, though hospitalizations remain low. Experts advise caution but say available treatments remain effective against JN.1. States are monitoring the situation to plan appropriate response if needed.

India experiences a surge in COVID-19 with 614 new cases, marking the highest daily count since May 21. Health Minister Mandaviya directs states to monitor emerging strains, addressing 21 JN.1 sub-variant cases in Goa, Kerala, and Maharashtra. Maharashtra confirms one JN.1 case and 14 new COVID-19 cases. Mandaviya assures preparedness, urging vigilance but no panic. INSACOG identifies 20 JN.1 cases nationwide. Gujarat's Health Minister advises staying vigilant. Goa claims readiness for any outbreak. Experts downplay fears, citing mild symptoms and effective treatments. Singapore stays alert despite a slight decline in cases, emphasizing continued preventive measures.        

So far, 21 cases of the Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been detected across three states - Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra. With 19 cases, Goa has reported the maximum number so far. In view of the rising Covid cases in some parts of India, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today reviewed the situation and preparedness. He advised states to ensure smooth coordination with the Centre for efficient pandemic management. Though India's cases remain significantly lower than global numbers, there has been a steep rise in active cases in the last two weeks, officials said. Most of the current cases are mild with no rise in hospitalisations. States have been asked to closely monitor emerging evidence on cases, symptoms and severity to plan appropriate response.

Amidst the threat of the JN.1 variant after 4 deaths, a survey reveals only 1 in 9 Indians are opting for RT-PCR testing despite COVID-like symptoms. 76% admitted not getting tested while 12% underwent RT-PCR and 6% took Rapid Antigen test after family members showed symptoms recently. People cited seeing no point in testing and found it convenient to simply take medication instead. With Singapore reporting over 50,000 JN.1 cases, India risks missing cases especially if the strain causes severe disease in vulnerable groups. Experts suggest mandating testing for international arrivals from outbreak countries and providing free testing to improve surveillance. The reluctance and gaps in tracking despite a new threat looming large highlights persisting pitfalls in India's pandemic preparedness.