Escalating COVID-19 Cases Trigger High-Level Review Meeting Led by India's Health Minister

In response to the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, especially in the state of Kerala, the Union Health Ministry conducted a high-level meeting on December 20. Chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting aimed to thoroughly assess the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases and associated fatalities, exacerbated by the recent discovery of the COVID sub-variant JN.1 in Kerala. Other participants included Union Ministers SP Singh Baghel and Bharati Pravin Pawar, along with key officials such as Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant, Secretary Department of Health Research Dr Rajiv Bahl, and Dr VK Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog.