With 34 JN.1 cases & 7 Covid patients in ICU, Karnataka advises public to avoid New Year parties

Alongwith the rest of the country, Karnataka too is gearing up for New Year's celebration, but the administration in the state is worried due to surge in JN.1 COVID-19 cases. The southern state has reported 34 infections of the new sub-variant of the virus and all have been in Bengaluru.Amid this, the Karnataka Cabinet sub-committee set up to tackle COVID-19 held its first meeting on Tuesday on the precautionary measures need to be undertaken.After the meeting, an advisory was issued saying people have no restrictions to celebrate New Year's but have been asked not to go where there's crowd. Also, all have been asked to follow COVID appropriate behaviour."There are no restrictions for the New year but there's a standard Advisory for people not go where there's a crowd and follow COVID appropriate behaviour," the advisory by the Cabinet sub-committee stated.In the meeting, chaired by Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, it was also decided to make wearing of masks compulsory, especially for people above the age of 60."If children show symptoms, don't send them to school, get them tested," the Karnataka government said.Mandatory 7-day home isolationAs per the advisory, people of the state, who get infected by COVID-19, must have to be in seven-day home isolation and special leave must be given to the individuals by their company. A direction will be out on this soon, it added.'Maintain physical distancing'Talking to media persons after the meeting, Rao said, "There are 34 cases of JN.1 variant of COVID. We are well prepared. There is nothing alarming. The majority of the cases are in Bengaluru. We are advising people to maintain physical distancing."Karnataka COVID-19 update: 36 patients admitted in hospitalsAs per the Karnataka government, there are a total of 436 cases of COVID-19 in the state of which 400 are under home isolation and 36 are in hospital.Of the 36 COVID-19 patients in Karnataka hospitals, 29 are in general ward, while seven are in ICU.The Cabinet sub-committee has directed health officials to track all 400 active cases in Karnataka."Preparations underway to ensure the Oxygen supply generation plant and Liquid Medical Oxygen are ready," the advisory said.Karnataka to procure 30,000 Corbevax vaccinesThe Karnataka government will procure 30,000 Corbevax vaccines from the Centre and it will be provided as a precautionary vaccine to those with comorbidities and also to those who have not taken a booster dose, the advisory said.Corbevax is India's second indigenous vaccine after Covaxin and is developed by Hyderabad-based Biological E. It is a Receptor Binding Domain Protein sub-unit jab, which means this vaccine triggers an immune response by using fragments, such as the spike protein, instead of the whole virus.The Corbevax contains the harmless S-protein which once the immune system recognises, it begins to produce antibodies as white blood cells to fight the virus.The Karnataka government will also provide a compulsory flu vaccine to all health workers.The state's health department has also asked for a complete death audit in Karnataka.