COVID Is Back in Talk: What You Should Know
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Back in 2020, when Dr. Sushila Kataria, Senior Director of Internal Medicine at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon, was asked to treat 14 Italian tourists with suspected COVID-19, she and her team swiftly set up a special isolation ward. This marked the beginning of India’s long battle with the virus. The first wave peaked in September 2020, mainly affecting the elderly, before subsiding by January 2021. But the worst was yet to come. The second wave, beginning in March 2021, devastated the nation. Targeting the lower respiratory tract, it led to severe lung complications and overwhelmed the healthcare system. India recorded the highest number of cases globally during this period. While experts spoke of herd immunity, it was mass suffering that defined that phase.
“Not much was known then. There was fear, uncertainty, and no roadmap,” she recalls. But it’s exactly in such moments that we turn to doctors for clarity and that’s why we spoke to Dr. Kataria again, now that COVID is making headlines once more.
What Do We Know About the New Variant JN.1?
“It’s a mild variant,” says Dr. Kataria. “It may be spreading, but not wildly—and it’s not causing severe illness.”
Is Your Hospital Testing for COVID? Have You Seen Any Cases?
“We weren’t testing until recently, but have now increased screening,” she says. “So far, we haven’t found a single positive case. But anyone with a severe flu is being tested for upper respiratory infections. It’s all about monitoring at this stage.”
Is JN.1 a New Variant in India?
“No, it was around last year too—we just weren’t testing enough. Countries like Singapore are sharing real-time data because they’re testing aggressively. We aren't. It’s very likely the high-grade flu infections we saw in December 2024 were actually COVID, but we didn’t confirm it. Thankfully, most were managed in OPD.”
Should People Get Vaccinated Again?
“As of now, I don’t see an urgent need. People are fighting off infections well, which means immunity—though old—is still helping. But we do need a combined flu and COVID vaccine. It’s in the works, but low case numbers have slowed progress.”
What About Nasal Vaccines?
“Nasal vaccines are more efficient. They activate a strong immune response in both upper and lower respiratory tracts. That helps reduce viral shedding and transmission.”
What Should People Do Right Now?
“Hospitals must resume COVID testing for respiratory illnesses. Surveillance is key,” says Dr. Kataria. “At an individual level, follow hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. There are no booster recommendations from Indian authorities yet. Let’s wait for guidance from ICMR. Most waves pass mildly—but we must stay alert and prepared.”
