Mumbai, Dec 25 (PTI) Maharashtra on Monday reported 28 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the number of active cases in the state to 153, as per a health department bulletin.

The state has so far reported nine cases of JN.1 sub-variant. No such case was reported on Monday.

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With the latest additions, the overall COVID-19 tally since the beginning of the pandemic has risen to 81,72,163 in Maharashtra, as per the state health department.

"There are 153 active cases of COVID-19 infection in the state. Of them, 142 patients are in home isolation while 11 others are admitted to various hospitals. Of these 11 patients, two are in ICUs while others are kept under observation but not in the ICU," the bulletin said.

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Maharashtra has so far tested 8,75,66,255 samples for COVID-19 over the last three years, of which 81,72,163 returned positive.

With a discharge of 13 persons, the total number of COVID-19 recoveries rose to 80,23,431, as per the bulletin.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries in South-East Asia to strengthen surveillance in view of the increasing cases of respiratory diseases, including due to COVID-19 and its new sub-variant JN.1, and influenza.

The WHO also urged people to take protective measures.

Experts had said there was no cause for concern even though JN.1 sub-variant has been detected in the country and there is an uptick in COVID-19 infections.

The COVID-19 figures in Maharashtra are as follows: Fresh cases 28, total cases 81,72,163, samples tested so far 8,75,66,255, JN.9 variant cases 9, recoveries 80,23,431.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)