Should You Worry About The New Covid-19 Scare? This Is What IIT-Kanpur Experts Say

News18

6 days ago

Last Updated:
A new Covid-19 sub-variant, JN.1, is causing a rise in cases across the country, experts from IIT Kanpur predict the surge will be short-lived and less severe.
Amid a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases emerging across the country, public anxiety has once again begun to simmer, reminiscent of the traumatic early days of the pandemic. The new sub-variant of Omicron, labeled JN.1, has been identified as the primary cause of the current uptick, with infections surfacing in major states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Kerala.
The renewed unease was exacerbated by a tragic development in Bengaluru, where a young girl reportedly succumbed to the virus. This incident has reignited fears among the public, already wary after the devastating impact of earlier waves of the pandemic.
However, a measure of reassurance has come from IIT Kanpur, where experts are offering a more measured perspective on the unfolding situation. Professor Manindra Agrawal, Director of the institute and a noted voice during previous Covid-19 modeling efforts, has sought to temper the rising anxiety. Speaking to local media, he emphasised that although the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing, the absolute figures remain low when considered against the country's vast population.
When the case numbers are so minimal, it becomes challenging to draw reliable conclusions using mathematical models, however, past trends suggest this surge is unlikely to persist for long, Agrawal noted.
According to him, the JN.1 variant is a sub-lineage of Omicron, similar to those that caused brief spikes in cases over the past two years. We have seen time and again since 2022 that sudden increases occur with new variants, but the situation typically stabilises within a few weeks, Agarwal explained, expressing confidence that the current wave will follow a similar trajectory.
In the wake of these developments, the Union Health Ministry has issued fresh advisories, urging all states and union territories to remain vigilant. Hospitals have been directed to prepare for any potential surge, and the public has been asked to adopt basic preventive measures – wearing masks in crowded areas, maintaining hand hygiene, and monitoring for symptoms like cough, fever, and breathlessness.
Importantly, officials and health experts alike are urging the public not to panic. The Health Ministry has reiterated that the country's population now possesses a significantly stronger immune defence, owing to widespread vaccination and prior exposure to the virus. This built-up immunity, they say, is likely to cushion the impact of the current wave.
This isn't a return to 2020 as we are in a far better place today; medically, logistically, and socially, said a senior health official.
Indeed, the analysis from IIT Kanpur aligns with that sentiment. The institution's report concludes that while the virus may be reasserting itself, the current wave is expected to be short-lived and far less severe than previous ones.
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