India reported 752 new COVID-19 cases in a span of 24 hours between 8:00 am on 22nd December to 8:00 am on 23th December. This is the highest single day cases since 21st May this year. With the latest numbers, the active cases in the country have increased to 3,420.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data also informed that four new deaths had occurred in the last 24 hours – four from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Kerala reported the highest number of cases with 266 cases. On Friday, the State’s Health Minister Veena George said that there has been a slight increase in the number of cases but assured that there was nothing to worry. The situation is under control, while also announcing that more cases are expected in the coming days.

In its latest update on COVID-19, World Health Organization, (WHO) said that globally, the number of new cases increased by 52% during the 28-day period of 20 November to 17 December 2023, while the number of new deaths decreased by 8% as compared to the previous 28-day period. As of 17 December 2023, over 772 million confirmed cases and nearly seven million deaths have been reported globally, WHO stated.

The Organization declared at as of 18 December 2023, JN.1, a sub-lineage of BA.2.86 Omicron variant has been designated a separate variant of interest (VOI) apart from its parent lineage BA.2.86 due to its rapid increase in prevalence in recent weeks. Globally, EG.5 remains to be the most reported VOI, it added.

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