New Delhi/IBNS: India has added 22 percent rise in Covid-19 cases amid the surge in infections across the country, media reports said.

The tally has neared 850 cases for the first time in seven months, Wion reported.

The rise in cases is credited to the JN.1 sub variant.

Kerala, the south Indian state, may have witnessed the peak of the new variant, reports claim.

India recorded a two percent rise in COVID-19 cases over the past 2 weeks, with the tally in the last 24 hours reaching 636 cases.

On Sunday, India recorded 841 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the first time in seven months.

The Maharashtra government on Monday said that 29 people have been detected with the new JN.1 variant of coronavirus.

The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till Dec 5, but cases have again gone up after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

Amid rising cases, the Leh district administration on Monday said wearing masks in public places will be mandatory for people.

"In view of rising COVID-19 cases in the district, precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19... are hereby ordered to be followed strictly.

"People must ensure compulsory wearing of facemasks in offices, workplaces and public places, including public transport," District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) CEO Santosh Sukhadeve said in an official order.