Start Wearing Masks, Says Health Minister

Hyderabad: Health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha on Wednesday urged the public to start wearing masks in public places and follow social distance protocols, while chairing a review on Covid-19 control in the state in the wake of the emergence of the JN.1 variant.

The minister said that people experiencing Covid-like symptoms must visit a doctor, get advice and get themselves tested for the disease.

He said the new variant was not dangerous and that the government was alert to the situation, taking all necessary steps to control its spread. “Care must be taken to ensure children, and those with long-term comorbidities do not catch the disease and when in public places, masks must be worn,” he said.

“There is no need for panic and there are enough kits for testing for Covid-19. There have been no new Covid-19 deaths in the state and the two deaths that took place were a result of long-term health complications the patients had and were not due to Covid-19, which they also had,” he said.