Jagan Calls for Preventive Steps to Face Covid JN.1 Variant

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the Health department to have full preparedness and focus on preventive steps in view of the reports that Covid-19's new variant, JN.1, is spreading fast. 

At a review meeting on the Covid threat, held at the camp office here on Friday, the chief minister told them to keep the village clinics as also village and ward secretariats on high alert and take preventive steps. This was despite doctors’ advice that there was still no need to panic.

The chief minister said senior officials should create awareness among the staff of village clinics and secretariats on identifying the features of the new variant and on taking preventive steps. Also, introduce teaching through AI (Artificial Intelligence) in all medical colleges, he said.

Earlier, officials explained that those affected by  the new variant were fast recovering without developing any complications and without the necessity of visiting hospitals. “The new variant is not like the Delta type but it is spreading fast and people are undergoing medical tests in government hospitals,” they said.

The chief minister was informed that rapid testing kits and personal care kits were being kept at village and ward secretariats and government hospitals respectively.

While necessary medicines, oxygen concentrators and D-type cylinders are made available at all hospitals, oxygen infrastructure is also being readied and oxygen can be supplied by running PSA plants, they said.

Samples of those who tested positive are being sent to Genome Sequencing Lab in Vijayawada for further examination to identify new variants and 56,741 oxygen beds are also kept ready at various hospitals.

Health minister V Rajani, chief secretary Jawahar Reddy, Special CS (Health) Krishna Babu, secondary health director Venkateswar, medical education director Narasimham and other officials were present.