11 Fresh Cases of Covid Variant Detected

Visakhapatnam: Eleven more positive cases were detected when 34 more samples were analysed in Covid-tests from here and Vijayawada on Monday.

The cases were distributed between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada -- 8 and 3 cases respectively. This brought the total number of Covid-19 cases in Visakhapatnam to 32.

The King George Hospital (KGH) shared updates, confirming the successful tracing of the 11 positive cases identified on Sunday. The cases here were linked to Srikakulam, Anandapuram, Denkada, Kailaspuram, Anakapalli, Sabbavaram and Kancherpalem.

Currently, all the affected individuals were  under home isolation but displayed no severe symptoms.

"The only way to control the spread is to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and practice frequent sanitization," doctors said.

Dr. Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director and senior pulmonologist, acknowledged the rapid spread of the new variant. The variant does not appear to cause severe infections or lead to hospitalizations, he said.

Most of the symptoms associated with the new variant were mild and affected the upper airways, including fever, cough, cold, sore throat, running nose and body aches.

He said, "We require a vaccine that offers a broader spectrum of protection against the virus. Given the multiple mutations, Jn.1 is a sub-lineage of Omicron.

Therefore, a vaccine designed to target Omicron would effectively combat this variant."