Alert regarding new variant JN-1 of Covid-19 in Uttarakhand, Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar issued advisory
The state government has become alert about the new variant of Covid-19, JN-1. An advisory has been issued across the state regarding this new variant of Corona. Health Secretary R. Rajesh Kumar said that the number of patients of JN.1 variant is increasing in some states. In such a situation, an advisory has been issued for all the districts and hospitals of the state that every possible effort should be made to prevent corona.
Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has issued instructions to all the District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers to follow the guidelines issued for prevention of Covid in hospitals. Also, respiratory, lung and heart patients should be monitored and their influenza should be tested. Instructions have also been given to hospitals to enter all the information of such patients in the Integrated Health Information Platform portal. Along with this, people should also be made aware about respiratory hygiene.
It is noteworthy that till now there is no patient of the new variant of Covid-19, JN.1, in the state. As a precaution, all the hospitals in the state have been alerted.
Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has written a letter to all the District Officers and Chief Medical Officers of the state. Please take reference of the letter number DO.NO.2.28015/182/2021-DMCell dated 18 December 2023 (attached) of the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India on the above mentioned subject, by which it has been informed that in the past few An increase in the number of Covid-19 patients has been recorded in some states within days. In the meantime, it is necessary to carry out continuous monitoring at the district level to stop the spread of Covid-19. It is noteworthy that no patient of Covid-19 variant JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) has been reported in the state of Uttarakhand.
However, as a matter of caution, please take the following action at the district level in accordance with the instructions of the Government of India:-
- The guidelines provided by the Government of India “Operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy in context of COVID-19” (attached) should be followed.
- Influenza like Illness (ILI)/Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) patients should be monitored at the district level.
- Adequate number of ILI/SARI patients should be tested for COVID-19 and influenza. The details of all the above patients should be compulsorily entered in the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal under IDSP.
- All preparations should be ensured at the hospital level for Covid-19 management.
- Wide publicity should be given through various mediums to create awareness about respiratory hygiene among the general public.
- In case of symptoms of ILI/SARI, seek medical advice and take medicine only on medical advice. Therefore, make sure to take necessary action as above.
