WHO Charts Rapid Global Spread of COVID-19 JN.1 Variant

Facts

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the COVID Omicron subvariant JN.1 as a 'variant of interest' as it continues to monitor its rapid spread across the globe — including in India, China, the UK, and the US.¹
• After reviewing the available data, the WHO determined 'the additional global public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low' but 'with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere' it could increase the prominence of respiratory infections there.²
• Data shows that JN.1 made up approximately 3% of all new COVID cases globally in early November. In December, the subvariant skyrocketed to 27.1% of all new cases.³
• While there is no data showing that JN.1 increases the likelihood of severe illness, a mild case could be mistaken for the common cold or other illness. Symptoms of JN.1 can include cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, fever, brain fog, and other flu-like symptoms.⁴
• While there are constantly new variants and subvariants emerging, Dr. Mandy Cohen — Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — voiced optimism, noting that they can be picked up by testing, they’re treatable, and the current vaccine is still effective against the virus's evolution.⁵
• With the ramping up of the 'tripledemic' — RSV, COVID, and Influenza — the CDC recommends individuals protect themselves by receiving the most up-to-date vaccines for all three infections. CDC guidance suggests that individuals who get sick should stay away from others and that people should practice hand-washing and wearing a mask in confined spaces.⁶

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Un news, ³Washington Post, ⁴USA Today, ⁵Abc news and ⁶Yale medicine.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The hansindia. This new COVID subvariant has a low mortality rate and shouldn't be a cause for panic. Even so, individuals and public health officials must remain vigilant and follow all recommended precautions and protocols that have been practiced repeatedly since the onset of COVID to prevent a wider spread that could affect vulnerable communities.
• Narrative B, as provided by Cleveland clinic. A large swath of the world’s population is treating COVID as though it's the common cold. But it can still be very real and very dangerous because individuals run the risk of repeat COVID infections and multiple infections at the same time — not to mention possible long-term complications. This presents a risk of severe disease to a large portion of the global population and changes the outlook for seasonal infections.

Predictions