Karnataka Imposes Mask Mandate for Senior Citizens Amidst Singapore’s Covid-19
Following the detection of the JN.1 case in Kerala, the state of Karnataka implemented a requirement for senior citizens and individuals with underlying health conditions to wear masks. The heightened focus on those aged 60 and above is attributed to findings from Singapore.
On December 18, the Health Ministry of India issued guidance to states in response to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases and the identification of the JN.1 sub-variant in the country. The advisory urges states to enhance the number of RT-PCR tests and submit positive samples for genome sequencing to promptly identify new variants.
Furthermore, states are instructed to ensure the active involvement of both public and private healthcare facilities in drills organized by the Union Health Ministry, as outlined by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Previously, the ministry confirmed the presence of an infectious lineage of the Covid-19 variant in Karnataka.
The detection of the JN.1 sub-variant of Covid-19 in Kerala through routine surveillance by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) was reported by the Ministry on December 16. Following this, Karnataka, the neighboring state, mandated the use of masks for senior citizens and individuals with underlying health conditions. The government’s focus on those aged 60 and above is influenced by findings from Singapore, prompting precautionary measures for this demographic.
The island country has been facing a significant surge in Covid-19 infections over the past few weeks, with the sudden rise in cases attributed to the JN.1 variant. The average weekly case count has quadrupled over a four-week period in Singapore, escalating from 10,726 cases in the 46th week to surpassing 56,000 cases by the 49th week.
Hospitalizations increased rapidly as well. However, the noteworthy aspect is the demographic distribution, particularly concerning senior citizens. Out of the 350 individuals admitted to the hospital in the 49th week, 294, or 84 percent, were aged 60 years or older. Forty-eight were in the 12 to 59 age group, and seven were under 12.
In the meantime, Kerala documented 302 fresh Covid-19 cases on December 16, marking a significant rise from the 109 cases reported just a week earlier on December 10.
