Coronavirus big update: Active cases climb to 1828, 15 dead, 4 new variants found in India, maximum deaths in….
The number of COVID-19 cases in India has been once again increasing across India. As of May 30, the country reported 1,828 active cases, and 15 deaths so far, with 6 of them in Maharashtra alone. In response, the state government has started surveying for influenza and respiratory illnesses to monitor the situation closely. In Gujarat, six new cases were reported on Thursday. Among them is an 8-month-old baby who is currently on oxygen support due to breathing issues.
Kerala now has 727 active cases. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that the state is seeing cases of the Omicron JN variant LF7, which is contributing to the rise. Maharashtra conducted over 9,500 COVID tests since January. On Thursday alone, 79 new cases were detected. Mumbai has reported a total of 379 cases in 2025, with 1 case in January and February each, 4 in April, and a sharp rise of 373 cases in May.
In Jammu & Kashmir, two new cases were confirmed on Thursday. Both patients are from Kerala and are students at the Government Dental College in Srinagar.
Health authorities are keeping a close watch as the virus seems to be making a slow comeback in several regions.
Four new COVID variants detected
Amid this spike, health authorities have identified four new COVID variants in the country. According to ICMR Director Dr. Rajeev Bahl, genome sequencing in southern and western India has revealed the presence of variants LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1. Sequencing is also ongoing in other parts of the country to monitor for further variant developments. While the situation is not considered severe, people are advised to remain alert and not to panic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reviewed these variants and has not marked them as variants of concern. However, they are under surveillance due to their growing presence in parts of Asia, including China.
The NB.1.8.1 variant has mutations in the spike protein, A435S, V445H, and T478I, which may help it spread faster than older variants. These mutations may also reduce the effectiveness of existing immunity from previous infections or vaccinations.
In India, the JN.1 variant is currently the most common, showing up in more than half of all tested samples. It is followed by BA.2 (26 per cent) and other Omicron sub-lineages (20 per cent)
About JN.1 variant
The JN.1 variant is a sub-strain of Omicron’s BA.2.86 lineage. It was first detected in August 2023, and by December 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) had classified it as a “Variant of Interest.”
What makes JN.1 notable is that it has about 30 mutations, many of which help it weaken immunity, which means it can has the potential to infect people who have been vaccinated or previously infected more easily.
According to Johns Hopkins University, JN.1 spreads more easily than earlier variants. However, the good news is that it’s not considered highly severe. Still, it has become one of the most common variants globally.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the JN.1 variant can last from a few days to a few weeks. If symptoms continue for a long time even after recovering from the infection, it may lead to what’s known as Long COVID.
Long COVID is a condition where certain symptoms of the virus persist for weeks or months after the initial infection is gone.
What to Do
- Stay alert if you have prolonged fatigue, cough, or brain fog after recovery.
- If symptoms don’t improve, consult a doctor, as it could be Long COVID.
- Continue following basic safety precautions like masking in crowded areas, hand hygiene, and getting timely booster shots if eligible.
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