Divya Delhi: As the world adjusts to life post-pandemic, JN.1, a novel COVID-19 strain, has received attention due to its rapid spread across Asia and beyond. JN.1, an Omicron lineage member BA.2.86, has multiple spike protein mutations that make it highly transmissible and immune-evading. The variation was discovered in late 2023 and has increased COVID-19 instances in Singapore, China, and Hong Kong. JN.1 has spread rapidly, but there is little evidence that it causes more severe illness than earlier forms. Most infections cause mild to moderate symptoms, even in immunized people. Fever, sore throat, cough, tiredness, and congestion are typical. Singapore reported a 28% increase in COVID-19 infections in the first week of May 2025, from 11,100 in the last week of April to 14,200. Hospitalizations rose 30% during this time. Hong Kong, like Singapore, saw a spike in COVID-19 cases in early 2025, although vaccination coverage kept hospitalizations low.