United States: The world has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic since 2021, and now the threat has re-emerged as a new variant has come forward. The variant, JN.1, has been dominant, and there is a high possibility that it may ignite a wave of infections that have the potential to be more severe than the previous ones.
The sub-variant is a matter of concern because of its increased transmissibility and potential for severe illness.
While emphasizing the peak time of the JN.1 sub-variant, a professor of University College London (UCL) – Christina Pagel, stated, “Unfortunately, it is likely that this JN.1 wave has not yet peaked and will peak mid-January, either next week or the week after. I am sure this wave will rival the first two Omicron waves in 2022 and might even exceed them.”
US battles JN.1 wave
The JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19 has been sweeping the United States; the cases are increasing at an immeasurable pace and can lead to one of the largest waves occurring due to SARS-CoV-2 virus, following the wave due to the Omicron variant. It is to be noted that health experts are worried because this new sub-variant has been even affecting the vaccinated and previously infected population.
Another concern dealt with by the health experts is wastewater detection levels, which shows that the wave could be ‘unprecedented’ and could infect as many as 2 million Americans per day.
The health experts have also outlined that along with this rapid increase in cases, a glimmer of hope came with reduced hospitalization and deaths due to the infection. According to the official data, hospitalizations and deaths are lower than last year’s figures.
The United States reported around 1,400 deaths each week since Thanksgiving – which is less than half of the numbers reported in previous years during the same time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
World must brace for another devasting COVID-19 wave, warns experts!
Health experts and authorities have been repeatedly asking and urging the general public around the world to brace themselves to deal with the possible wave due to JN.1 sub-variant.
The experts have emphasized that vaccination is one of the crucial tools that can assist in the fight against COVID-19 infection. Therefore, people are recommended to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.
Furthermore, the experts are asking to maintain all the possible hygiene practices and precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask, frequently washing hands, and practicing social distancing.
What measures should be followed to protect against COVID-19 subvariant JN.1?
The health experts have mentioned that governments and health organizations must start working diligently towards robust testing and tracing systems. Public health campaigns are asked to share correct information, clear up misunderstandings, and promote responsible behavior. It is also really important to work on making healthcare better and ensuring that everyone has fair access to healthcare services.