Ahead of New Year celebrations, Maharashtra health minister Tanaji Sawant on Thursday asked people and institutions in the state to remain alert for the next 10 to 15 days to check the spread of coronavirus, reported news agency PTI.

Amid COVID-19 surge, the health department has already directed that the number of coronavirus tests be increased in view of the detection of cases caused by the JN.1 sub variant, Sawant said, reported PTI.