Delhi reports first case of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1

The official said multiple samples were sent for genome sequencing, and one of them tested positive for the JN.1 variant.

New Delhi: Delhi has reported its first case of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1, officials said on Wednesday.

Delhi has more than 35 active cases with nine fresh infections being reported on Wednesday, an official said, adding that a 28-year-old man, who had comorbidities, had died, though Covid was not the primary reason.

"The man was not from Delhi and was referred to a private hospital recently. He had multiple comorbidities and the Covid finding was incidental. The sample of the man has been sent for genome sequencing and a report is awaited," he added.

The official said multiple patient samples had been sent earlier for genome sequencing, and one of them had tested positive for the JN.1 variant.

India recorded 529 fresh Covid-19 cases in a single day, while the country's active infection count stood at 4,093, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Three new fatalities — two from Karnataka and one from Gujarat — were reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.

The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but infections have again gone up after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.