30% Of Those With Flu-Like Illnesses In Kochi Hospitals Are Covid Positive: Top Expert

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, and Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, spoke exclusively to NDTV on the new Covid sub-variant and the path ahead.

Over a year-and-a-half after India witnessed the Omicron wave, two eminent health experts have sounded a warning over the increasing Covid-19 cases in India in the wake of the JN.1 sub-variant of Omicron being detected in the country.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV on Wednesday, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, said 30% of all patients with influenza-like illnesses who were tested have turned out to be Covid positive in the Kochi region in a span of about 24 hours. He also said that Covid cases have spread into the community and that his neighbour has also tested positive.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist - who also spoke exclusively to NDTV - has cautioned against dismissing Covid as a common cold, not just because of the people who fall severely ill, but because of the disease's long-term effects, including increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and mental health problems.