Karnataka: JN.1 Subvariant Prompts State to Increase COVID-19 Testing and Sequencing

In anticipation of a potential COVID-19 surge due to the JN.1 subvariant, which is common in the neighboring state of Kerala, Karnataka has decided to increase testing and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of confirmed cases.

Currently, the state is conducting a minimal number of COVID-19 tests. However, D. Randeep, the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, has declared a plan to boost testing to 5,000 per day. On Monday, December 18, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recommended all States to ensure sufficient testing in every district, adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, and maintain a balance between RT PCR and RAT tests.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also arranged a meeting with all State governments, set to take place on Wednesday morning (December 20) via video conferencing.

Today, the number of Covid-19 cases stood at 44.

The state government also resumed the daily COVID-19 health bulletin from Tuesday. The report revealed 44 new COVID-19 cases in the state within the last 24 hours. The bulletin also stated that 35 patients had been discharged during the same period, leaving a total of 79 active cases in the state as of Tuesday.

The bulletin revealed that only 722 tests have been conducted by the State in the last 24 hours, comprising of 487 RT PCR tests and 235 RAT tests. Out of these, 44 returned positive results, indicating a high positivity rate of 6.09%.

Among the current cases, 62 individuals are undergoing home isolation. It further stated that 17 patients have been hospitalized, six of which are in the ICU, and an additional 11 are receiving treatment in isolation beds.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare in Karnataka has released a circular instructing district officials to execute Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in certain situations. These include cases where symptoms are present alongside an international travel history, or representative samples from clusters or focal outbreaks that exhibit severe sickness or death.

The Health Department's circular indicates that Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) should be performed for critically ill patients who are hospitalized, cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), instances of extended hospital stays, instances of COVID-19 re-infection, individuals who have received both doses of the vaccine and have been infected, and deaths due to COVID-19.

In the meantime, officials from BIAL stated that no preventive steps had been implemented at the Bengaluru International Airport.

The Health Department issued another directive on Tuesday, instructing all district and taluk hospitals to assess their current situation and prepare accordingly. The directive mandates health officials in each district to evaluate the condition of PSA plants, liquid medical oxygen plants, ICU ventilators, oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, medical gas pipelines, and ICU equipment.