CM reviews Covid preparedness New variant is not like Delta type, but it is spreading fast

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the Medical and Health Department officials to have full preparedness and focus on preventive steps in view of the reports that the new Covid-19 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, and village and ward secretariats on high alert for taking preventive measures, despite doctors’ advice that there is no need to panic.
He said that senior officials should create awareness among the staff of village clinics and secretariats on identifying the features of the new variant and taking preventive measures.
He also directed them to introduce teaching through AI (Artificial Intelligence) in all medical colleges.
Earlier, officials explained that the people who have been infected with the new variant are fast recovering without developing complications. The new variant is not like the Delta type, but it is spreading fast and people having symptoms are urged to undergo medical tests in government hospitals, they said.
The Chief Minister was informed that rapid testing kits and personal care kits are being kept at village and ward secretariats and government hospitals, respectively.
While necessary medicines, oxygen concentrators and D type cylinders have been made available at all hospitals, oxygen infrastructure is also being readied and oxygen can be supplied by running PSA plants wherever necessary, they said.
They informed him that samples of the people tested positive are being sent to the Genome Sequencing Lab in Vijayawada for further examination to identify new variants and 56,741 oxygen beds are also kept ready at various hospitals.
Medical and Health Minister V Rajani, Chief Secretary Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, Special CS (Medical and Health) MT Krishna Babu, Secondary Health Director S Venkateswar, Medical Education Director Dr DSVL Narasimham and other senior officials were among those present.