Health Minister Ma Subramanian announced on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu has detected 23 cases of the JN.1 variant of the COVID virus. While no clusters have been identified so far, the minister emphasized the importance of adhering to basic COVID protocols, including wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

Addressing reporters, Minister Subramanian acknowledged that the state is witnessing approximately 25-30 new COVID cases daily, but reassured that the numbers are not alarming. Out of the 26 samples subjected to genomic analysis, 23 were confirmed as JN.1 cases, and the remaining were identified as the XBB variant. Notably, the patients associated with these cases have already been discharged after receiving treatment and are currently under the department’s monitoring.

Comparing the situation to Singapore, where 1,000 new cases prompted the recommendation for a fifth booster dose, Minister Subramanian highlighted that the Union Ministry has advised against additional vaccinations. Instead, he urged specific populations, such as senior citizens, children, pregnant women, and those with comorbid conditions, to continue practicing preventive measures like wearing masks and maintaining social distance in public places.

Despite extreme rainfall affecting eight districts in December, Minister Subramanian reported a lack of monsoon-related diseases in the state. Special monsoon medical camps were conducted for 10 consecutive weeks between October 1 and December 30, benefiting around 12 lakh people. Additional camps were organized in the southern regions of Tamil Nadu, including Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts, from December 17 to January 3.

Shifting focus to tuberculosis (TB), Minister Subramanian outlined steps taken to make Tamil Nadu a TB-free state by the next year. Over the past year, the health department conducted extensive testing, with 97,000