Coronavirus Omicron India Highlights | 143 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in country: Govt

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Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Telangana logs 7 new Omicron, 228 fresh COVID-19 cases; achieves 100% first dose vaccination 

Telangana on Tuesday reported seven new Omicron variant of COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 62, the Health department said, as the State achieved a key milestone in the battle against the pandemic by administering the first dose of COVID vaccines to 100 per cent of eligible beneficiaries. Of the seven cases, four were passengers who arrived at the international airport from countries other than those declared 'at risk' by the Centre, while three were contacts of patients who tested positive for the variant earlier, a department bulletin said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 143 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in country: Govt 

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country reached 143 crore on Tuesday, the Union health ministry said. More than 57 lakh (57,76,358) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Andhra Pradesh logs 141 fresh COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths 

Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday reported 141 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the cumulative infections to 20,76,687, while the toll rose to 14,492 with two more fatalities. Active cases stood at 1,073, a health department bulletin said, providing details of the last 24 hours ending 9 AM today.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 

In view of the Covid19 guidelines, travel will be allowed only up to 50% seating capacity inside the trains. No standing passenger will be allowed. Entry into Metro stations will be regulated by restricting the number of gates to ensure compliance with the guidelines. Out of 712 metro gates, only 444 will be kept open as of now : DMRC, Delhi

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |Gujarat govt to set up COVID-19 vaccination camps at schools

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Ban New Year eve celebrations, revellry as Omicron threat looms large: AIADMK

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 

All persons aged 60yrs&above with co-morbidities will not be required to produce/submit any certificate from the doctor, at the time of administration of precaution dose: Union Health Ministry

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Biological E aims to produce 100 million doses/month of Corbevax from February 2022

Biological E. Limited plans to complete production at a rate of 75 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax per month, anticipating over 100 million doses per month from February 2022 which will enable the city-based company to deliver 300 Million doses as promised to the Centre, BE said on Tuesday. Corbevax, India's first indigenously developed protein sub-unit vaccine against the virus, received the approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) today, it said.

According to a press release issued by the vaccine maker soon, the company plans to deliver more than one billion additional doses globally. ''Biological E. Limited plans to complete production at a rate of 75 million doses per month, anticipating over 100 million doses per month from February 2022. These capacities will enable the Hyderabad-based company to deliver 300 Million doses as promised to the Government of India,'' it said.

The vaccine has been developed by Biological E. Limited in collaboration with the Texas Children's Hospital Centre for Vaccine Development (Texas Children's CVD) and Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor) in Houston, Texas. Mahima Datla, Managing Director, BE limited said, ''Over the years, we have worked to make quality vaccines and pharmaceutical products accessible to families around the world. With this as our backdrop, we resolved to develop an affordable and effective COVID-19 vaccine. It has now become a reality.

Corbevax has completed two Phase III clinical trials involving more than 3000 subjects between the ages of 18 and 80 at 33 study sites across India. The vaccine was found to be safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic, the company said. In the pivotal Phase III study conducted with an endpoint of immunogenic superiority, Corbevax demonstrated superior immune response in comparison with the Covishield vaccine when assessed for Neutralizing Antibody (nAb) Geometric Mean Titers (GMT) against the Ancestral-Wuhan strain and the globally dominant Delta variant, the release said.

''Our scientists at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine are thrilled to help in the development of this vaccine, possibly the first covid vaccine specifically designed for global health,'' Peter Hotez, professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor and co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Centre for Vaccine Development said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates

| COVID-19 restrictions under Yellow alert of Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi: Night curfew 10pm-5am, Delhi Metro, restaurants, bars to operate at 50% capacity; Cinema halls,spas,gyms,multiplexes, banquet halls, auditoriums & sports complexes to be closed,with immediate effect

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Precautionary dose different from boosters, mixing vaccines unlikely

The central government may opt for prescribing the same Covid-19 vaccine — that was given for the first and second dose — as the precautionary dose due to lack of data on vaccine mixing in India, a top bureaucrat has said. While there is not much evidence right now in India that mixing of Covid-19 vaccines, especially Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin works, a separate deliberation is going on regarding booster doses for the adult population which is different from the precautionary dose, the official told News18.com.

However, the official insisted that it is still under deliberation and the final decision will be taken “anytime soon". “We need to keep this in mind that our Prime Minister has named the dose as ‘precautionary’ and not booster doses. The panels are still deliberating over boosters for other population,” said the government official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. “Precautionary dose is the third dose or additional dose which doctors and medical practitioners can prescribe to people who are frail. In most likelihood, it is going to be the same vaccine. The discussions are still on, but no final call has been taken yet.”

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Sourav Ganguly admitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has been admitted to a city hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 but the former India captain is "stable", the medical institution, where he is undergoing treatment, said on Tuesday. Ganguly, who is double vaccinated, was rushed to Woodlands Hospital on Monday evening as a precautionary measure after his RT-PCR test returned positive. The 49-year-old Ganguly had undergone an emergency angioplasty earlier this year and given the history, a panel of the doctors is keeping a close watch on his health status.

"He received Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail therapy on the same night and is currently haemodynamically stable," Dr Rupali Basu, MD & CEO of Woodlands Hospital, said in a statement. "A medical board comprising Dr Saroj Mondal, Dr Saptarshi Basu and Dr Soutik Panda in consultation with Dr Devi Shetty and Dr Aftab Khan is keeping a close watch on his health status," Basu added. Ganguly has been travelling extensively, taking part in all professional activities. His elder brother Snehasish had also tested positive for COVID early this year.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Cipla gets EUA from DCGI to market Molnupiravir for COVID-19 treatment

Drug major Cipla on Tuesday said it has received emergency use authorisation (EUA) permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to launch antiviral drug Molnupiravir in the country to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The Mumbai-based firm said it plans to launch Molnupiravir under the brand name Cipmolnu.

"This launch is yet another step in our endeavour to enable access to all treatments in COVID care. We continue to be guided by the power of science to address the unmet needs of patients across the globe and bring care closer to the patients," Cipla MD and Global CEO Umang Vohra said in a statement. Earlier during the year, Cipla entered into a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme (MSD) to manufacture and supply Molnupiravir in India and to over 100 low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The regulatory approval comes on the back of a five-month collaborative trial conducted by a consortium of companies. Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk of developing severe disease.

Molnupiravir inhibits the replication of multiple RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2. Cipla said it will soon make Cipmolnu 200mg capsules available at all leading pharmacies and COVID treatment centers across the country. The company has adequate manufacturing capacities and a solid distribution mechanism in place to ensure speedy access to this effective treatment pan India, it added.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Covovax approval to strengthen immunization efforts in India, lower & middle income countries: SII

Vaccine major Serum Institute of India (SII) on Tuesday said the approval for the COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covovax’ would strengthen immunization initiatives across India and various lower and middle income countries (LMICs) across the world. “The approval of Covovax by DCGI is a significant milestone in strengthening our immunization efforts across India and LMICs. We are proud to deliver a highly-effective protein-based COVID-19 vaccine of more than 90 per cent efficacy rate, based on clinical data demonstrating a favorable safety profile.

“We are certain that as the repertoire of the COVID-19 vaccine increases, we will be poised strongly to save the lives of millions of people against the pandemic,” SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said in a statement. He was responding to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s announcement that the Central Drug Authority, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has approved the SII’s vaccine Covovax for restricted use in emergency situations.

Covovax is produced by Pune-based SII under licence from US-based vaccine maker Novavax Inc. In August 2020, Novavax Inc had announced a licence agreement with SII for the development and commercialisation of NVX-CoV2373, its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, in low and middle-income countries and India.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates

| Today there're only a few cases of Omicron. Is BJP conspiring to postpone elections? There're many speculations. Election Commission's credibility as an independent institution is suspicious nowadays as they attended a meeting called by PMO: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates

| Union Health Ministry advises States/UTs to train vaccinators for the administration of vaccines to 15-18yr olds. The Ministry says dedicated centres can be established for the same, and only Covaxin will be administered with a proper training: Sources

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Yellow alert sounded in Delhi, restrictions will be imposed accordingly: Arvind Kejriwal

A yellow alert has been sounded in Delhi under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and restrictions will be imposed accordingly, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday as Covid cases rise in the city.

He said Covid cases are mild and there is no increase in the consumption of oxygen or the use of ventilators despite the rise in numbers. He said Covid cases are mild and there is no increase in the consumption of oxygen or the use of ventilators despite the rise in numbers.

"We are 10 times more prepared than earlier to deal with the rise in Covid cases," the chief minister said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Total number of Omicron cases in Delhi rises to 165: Govt data

The total number of cases of new Omicron variant of COVID-19 recorded in the national capital has mounted to 165, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. Amid the Omicron scare, Delhi recorded 331 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise since June 9 and one death, on Monday, while the positivity rate mounted to 0.68 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

India has logged 653 cases of the Omicron variant across 21 states and UTs so far, out of which 186 people have recovered or migrated, showed the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 167 such cases followed by Delhi at 165, Kerala 57, Telangana 55, Gujarat 49 and Rajasthan 46. According to officials at Batra Hospital, five Omicron patients are admitted there, and seven patients are Covid positive, but their genome sequencing reports still awaited.

Seven others have been discharged after testing negative for Omicron variant, they said. Every patient is asymptomatic and all had a travel history. Out of 14 patients the hospital has had, 11 had received three shots of Pfizer Covid vaccine, one person had got Johnson and Johnson vaccine, while one other has been inoculated with Covishield and the other had received Covaxin vaccine, officials said.

Four suspected cases of Omicron are admitted to City Hospital unit of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, sources said. All the four people have a travel history and are NRIs, and while two came from France, one each had arrived from the UK and Ghana, they said. The genome sequencing reports of these patients are still awaited, a source said. Details from LNJP Hospital are still awaited. Details from LNJP Hospital are still awaited. Delhi’s first case of the Omicron variant — a 37-year-old man from Ranchi — was detected on December 5.

He has been discharged. Amid a jump in Omicron cases reported in Delhi, doctors have warned that people should avoid all kinds of gatherings as this is a highly transmissible variant, and follow Covid-appropriate behaviours, else the situation may worsen. Amid a jump in Omicron cases reported in Delhi, doctors have warned that people should avoid all kinds of gatherings as this is a highly transmissible variant, and follow Covid-appropriate behaviours, else the situation may worsen.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi govt enforces  Level-I (Yellow alert) of the Graded Response Action Plan, says Arvind Kejriwal

As the COVID-19 positivity rate has been above 0.5% for the past few days, we are enforcing Level-I (Yellow alert) of the Graded Response Action Plan. A detailed order on restrictions to be implemented will be released soon: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | South Africa study suggests Omicron enhances neutralizing immunity against Delta

Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron infection enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant of the coronavirus. The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that people who were infected with Omicron, especially those who were vaccinated, developed enhanced immunity to the Delta variant.

The analysis enrolled 33 vaccinated and unvaccinated people who were infected with the Omicron variant in South Africa. While the authors found that the neutralization of Omicron increased 14-fold over 14 days after the enrollment, they also found that there was a 4.4 fold increase of Delta virus neutralization. "The increase in Delta variant neutralization in individuals infected with Omicron may result in decreased ability of Delta to re-infect those individuals," the scientists said.

Alex Sigal, a professor at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, said on Twitter on Monday that if Omicron was less pathogenic as it looked from the South African experience, "this will help push Delta out". According to an earlier South African study, there is reduced risk of hospitalisation and severe disease in people infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant compared with the Delta one, though the authors say some of that is likely due to high population immunity. The Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong in November, has since spread worldwide and threatened to overwhelm hospitals and disrupt travel plans this holiday week.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik asks officials to prepare for COVID third wave on war-footing

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed officials to make preparations on a war-footing to deal with a possible third wave of COVID-19 with at least eight omicron cases detected in the state. In a meeting on Monday, where he took stock of the state's preparedness to deal with the pandemic, Patnaik issued a series of directives to government departments, calling for the same level of readiness as was there during the first and second waves.

The chief minister said that though only eight omicron cases have so far been detected in the state, there could be a surge in the coming days. He directed officials to ensure that all eligible persons are provided with the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health cards within a week. He also told district collectors and superintendents of police to ensure its success, and especially monitor private hospitals to make sure they treat the beneficiaries of BSKY. Patnaik directed the Health Department and district authorities to step up the vaccination drive and reopen COVID facilities that were closed after cases dropped.

Hospitals should have adequate oxygen supplies, he said. He also instructed the Health Department to ensure adequate facilities to treat children. "More hospitalisation is needed among children. Therefore, the Department of Health should implement adequate care for pediatric patients across the state." He also instructed the Health Department to ensure adequate facilities to treat children.

The chief minister directed the police to enforce COVID-19 protocols among the people and take action against violators. He stressed on launching fresh awareness campaigns on the importance of wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands. Speaking at the meeting, Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra said that all necessary instructions have been forwarded to the district and health authorities. COVID hospitals have been set up and the necessary medicines and other arrangements have also been made, he said. Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, R K Sharma said people who have not taken the first and second doses will be vaccinated within the next three weeks. "All hospitals have the necessary oxygen supply," he said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | COVID-19 booster dose: Centre in talks with Gennova Biopharmaceuticals to test mRNA vaccine

In the wake of the rising cases of Omicron variant of novel coronavirus, the Union government is in discussion with Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd to consider its mRNA vaccine for booster dose. Gennova’s messenger RNA or mRNA vaccine is in the late-stage trial. It has completed phase 2 studies and has progressed well in the third phase, News18 reported.

“By the end of January, next year, the company is hoping to complete the trial and apply for gaining emergency use authorisation from the drug controller general of India (DCGI),” the report said quoting a senior government health ministry official.The Department of Biotechnology had earlier provided seed funding for the development of Gennova's novel self-amplifying mRNA-based vaccine candidate for COVID-19. In collaboration with HDT Biotech Corporation, USA, Gennova has developed an mRNA vaccine candidate (HGCO19), with demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, neutralisation antibody activity in the rodent and non-human primate models, the report said.

The company now plans to initiate trials for booster dose and for use among children after completing the ongoing trials, said the report said quoting the above mentioned official. He further added that “the discussions over the booster dose have already begun with the DCGI. We have hinted that they can start trials on boosters soon…” Reportedly, Gennova’s vaccine could be a “big opportunity for India” as global studies show mRNA works as good boosters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25 announced that a third dose would be given to those who have been vaccinated twice but are over 60 and suffer from comorbidities. In a press conference on December 24, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said discussions are going on to look at different aspects of booster dose.

"There is a COVID working group, which has debated on it several times that those recommendations to the subcommittee of the National Technical Advisory Group of immunisation following which it goes to the main technical advisory group of immunisation and then to NEGVAC which will then be accepted by the Ministry of Health," he said. "So, deliberations are going on and we are reviewing all the scientific data from across the world as well as from India. We are deliberating and we are formulating our policy," he said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Chinese city records 175 local infections

The Chinese city of Xi'an recorded 175 local coronavirus infections on Monday, as it grapples with a coronavirus outbreak that has pushed China's daily cases to record highs since early last year. The 175 infections reported in Xi'a, in the northwestern Shaanxi province, were up from 162 on Sunday, and 158 the day before, according to a government notice issued Tuesday. Authorities blame the outbreak on the Delta variant

Authorities have locked down 13 million residents in Xi'an amid the rise in infections as they attempt to curb the spread. China is one of the few remaining countries with a zero Covid policy, with authorities implementing mass-testing when infections are found in the community. Xi'an has so far conducted four mandatory rounds of testing as authorities sought to detect new infections. The city has also launched a disinfection campaign, spraying down roads and buildings.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Arvind Kejriwal to hold high-level meet on COVID-19 situation in Delhi: Sources

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will discuss the existing COVID-19 situation with top officials at a high-level meeting on Tuesday during which a decision is also likely to be taken on implementing the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi, officials sources said. The chief minister will chair the meeting at 12 noon. It will discuss the rising number of COVID-19 cases and threat posed by its new variant Omicron. Besides, the meeting may decide on sounding the 'Yellow' alert and restrictions according to the GRAP, according to the sources.

The 'yellow' alert is sounded when Covid positivity rate stays over 0.5 per cent on two consecutive days. It involves restrictions like night curfew, closure of schools and colleges, alternate day opening of shops of non-essential items and halved seating capacity in Metro trains and public transport buses among others.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Union Health Ministry issues guidelines for COVID19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years

Union Health Ministry issues guidelines for COVID19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years, precaution dose to health care & frontline workers, and 60+ population with comorbidities. For those HCWs&FLWs who have received two doses, another dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be provided from 10th Jan. The prioritization & sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months from the date of administration of 2nd dose reads the guidelines.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Corbevax, Covovax, Molnupiravir approved for restricted emergency use against COVID-19

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said that the Central Drug Authority CDSCO has approved the Serum Institute of India’s COVID-19 vaccine Covovax, Biological E’s jab Corbevax and anti-Covid pill Molnupiravir for restricted use in emergency situation. The announcement comes a day after the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended granting emergency use authorisation (EUA) to the COVID-19 vaccines Covovax and Corbevax with certain conditions.

It also had recommended granting restricted emergency use approval to the drug Molnupiravir for treatment of adult patients with COVID-19 and who have high risk of progression of the disease. In a tweet, the minister said, "Congratulations India. Further strengthening the fight against COVID-19, CDSCO, @MoHFW_INDIA has given 3 approvals in a single day for: – CORBEVAX vaccine – COVOVAX vaccine – Anti-viral drug Molnupiravir For restricted use in emergency situation".

With this approval, the number of Covid vaccines which have received emergency use authorisation in the country has increased to eight. Six COVID-19 vaccines — Serum Institute’s Covishield, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D, Russia’s Sputnik V and the US-made Moderna and Johnson and Johnson — had already received EUA from the Indian drug regulator earlier.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates

| Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given emergency use authorization approval to COVID-19 vaccines Covovax & Corbevax and Anti-viral drug Molnupiravir, says Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine behind lower Covid deaths in UK, says expert 

Britain's early deployment of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to protect against COVID-19 may be responsible for the country's lower death rates compared to other European countries, a UK vaccines expert has said. Dr Clive Dix, former chairman of the UK's Vaccine Task Force, told the Daily Telegraph' that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured and administered in India as Covidshield may offer stronger long-term protection against severe COVID-19 and death. If you look across Europe, with the rise in cases, there's also a corresponding lagged rise in deaths, but not in the UK, and we have to understand that, said Dr Dix. "I personally believe that's because most of our vulnerable people were given the AstraZeneca vaccine," he said.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Maharashtra records maximum number of Omicron cases, India's total tally at 653

India has logged 653 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 21 states and UTs so far out of which 186 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 167 cases followed by Delhi at 165, Kerala 57, Telangana 55, Gujarat 49 and Rajasthan 46.

With 6,358 people testing positive for coronavirus infections in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,47,99,691. The active cases have declined to 75,456, according to the data updated at 8 am. The death toll has climbed to 4,80,290 with 293 fresh fatalities, the data stated. The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 61 days now.

The active cases have declined to 75,456 comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.40 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said. A decrease of 385 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Traders in Delhi fear closure of shops, business establishments amid rise in number of Covid cases 

With the COVID-19 positivity rate going beyond 0.5 per cent in Delhi on Sunday and a steady rise in the number of Omicron cases, the traders of the city are worried as they fear that their establishments may be shut under a ''yellow'' alert, if announced by the government in the coming days.

The business fraternity of the national capital is in a state of panic as it urged the Delhi government on Monday to consider two other indicators as well -- the number of fresh coronavirus cases and that of the oxygen beds occupied -- before announcing a ''yellow'' alert. Under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) prepared by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in July, a ''yellow'' (level-1) alert will be sounded if when the Covid positivity rate crosses 0.5 per cent for two consecutive days or the number of fresh cases goes up to 1,500 for seven days or the oxygenated bed occupancy reaches 500 for seven days.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Arvind Kejriwal to hold high-level meet on COVID-19 situation in Delhi: Sources

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will discuss the existing COVID-19 situation with top officials at a high-level meeting on Tuesday during which a decision is also likely to be taken on implementing the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi, officials sources said. The chief minister will chair the meeting at 12 noon. It will discuss the rising number of COVID-19 cases and threat posed by its new variant Omicron. Besides, the meeting may decide on sounding the 'Yellow' alert and restrictions according to the GRAP, according to the sources.

The 'yellow' alert is sounded when Covid positivity rate stays over 0.5 per cent on two consecutive days. It involves restrictions like night curfew, closure of schools and colleges, alternate day opening of shops of non-essential items and halved seating capacity in Metro trains and public transport buses among others.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Union Health Ministry issues guidelines for COVID19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years

Union Health Ministry issues guidelines for COVID19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years, precaution dose to health care & frontline workers, and 60+ population with comorbidities. For those HCWs&FLWs who have received two doses, another dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be provided from 10th Jan. The prioritization & sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months from the date of administration of 2nd dose reads the guidelines.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | BCCI President Sourav Ganguly tests positive for COVID-19

BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been admitted to hospital after having tested positive for COVID-19. "BCCI President and former India captain Sourav Ganguly admitted to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19," PTI has quoted BCCI sources as saying.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 2nd COVID-19 wave, Omicron emergence kept Maharashtra health sector on tenterhooks in 2021

Maharashtra’s health sector came under severe strain in 2021, as it faced the onslaught of the ferocious second wave of COVID-19 led by the Delta variant, reporting a record number of daily infections and deaths, and towards the year-end saw the emergence of a high number of Omicron cases.

As Maharashtra struggled to handle the rising COVID-19 cases, it was hit by incidents of fire at some hospitals, claiming lives of several patients and children, which kept the state government and health officials on tenterhooks and raised questions over safety measures in medical facilities.

Earlier this year, the state also reported a large number of cases of mucormycosis, also known as the 'black fungus', and patients struggled to get its costly medicines, which were in short supply for some months.

On the greener side, Maharashtra was the second state to administer the highest number of vaccines since the nationwide rollout of the inoculation campaign in January, and also earned praise from the Bombay High Court, which recently said the state was one of the pioneers in successfully tackling the crisis that arose because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Rise in Covid-19 cases: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel makes surprise visit to hospital 

Amid the increasing COVID-19 cases in Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel paid a surprise visit to the Gandhinagar civil hospital on Monday morning and inquired about the facilities there and treatment provided to patients. The state has so far reported 49 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, and the daily COVID-19 cases are also increasing in the state since the last week. "Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Gandhinagar civil hospital this morning. During the surprise visit he interacted with indoor patients, hospital staff and inquired about treatment, cleanliness and availability of medicines," a note from the CM's office said.

oronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Kerala govt imposes night curfew from December 30-January 2

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In view of the rising Omicron cases, Kerala govt imposes night curfew (10 pm to 5 am) from December 30 till January 2.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 28 students among 31 more test COVID-19 positive in Ahmednagar school  

Twenty-eight more students and three staff members of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the number of such cases at the institute to 82 in the last one week, a health department official said. According to the official, a majority of the infected students are "asymptomatic" and currently admitted to hospital, where their health condition is stable.

"We had sent repeat swab samples of some students, who had earlier tested negative, for analysis as they showed some symptoms (of coronavirus). Last night, the samples of 19 students returned positive and today 12 more samples tested positive (three of them of staff members and bringing total new cases to 31)," said Dr Prakash Lalge, health officer of Parner tehsil in the adjoining district.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | India Omicron tally surges to 653; Maharashtra tops with 167 cases

India has reported as many as 653 Omicron cases across 21states and union territories in India so far and 186of these people have recovered or migrated, Union health ministry said on December 28.

Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Omicron cases at 167, followed by Delhi at 165, Kerala 57, Telangana55, Gujarat 49, Rajasthan 46, Tamil Nadu 34 and Karnataka 31.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to hold a high-level review meeting today on the prevailing COVID19 situation.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Andhra Pradesh may need 75 lakh booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine-officials

Andhra Pradesh may need 75 lakh booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine for people, including those between 15-18 age group, a high level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was informed on Monday. The Chief Minister, in the meeting with health department officials on the COVID-19 situation in the state, directed them to be prepared to tackle any eventuality in the wake of the pandemic.

"The officials informed the Chief Minister that preliminary estimations revealed that 75 lakh booster doses are need for people including who are between 15-18 age group," an official release said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that India would start vaccinating children between the ages of 15 to 18 from January 3 next year while healthcare and frontline workers will be provided with "precautionary doses" from January 10. During the review meeting, the Chief Minister said private hospitals, along with government hospitals, should be prepared to tackle any situation. He instructed the officials to expedite the vaccination process by conducting a door to door drive and identify people who had not taken the jabs and administer vaccines to them.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India reach 142.38 crore: Govt

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country reached 142.38 crore on Monday, the Union health ministry said. More than 65 lakh (65,20,037) vaccine doses were administered till 7 pm Monday, it said. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | China local symptomatic COVID cases rises for a 4th day as Xian outbreak expands

China's local symptomatic coronavirus cases rose for a fourth consecutive day on Monday, with Xian city reporting more infections in a flare up that has put 13 million residents under lockdown. Xian reported 175 symptomatic cases, up from the previous day's 150, official data showed on Tuesday. No Omicron infections have been announced yet from the 810 confirmed cases in Xian from Dec. 9 to Monday. China has reported only a handful of Omicron infections among international travellers and in its south.

Nationwide, mainland China detected 182 local symptomatic cases for Monday, according to a statement by the National Health Commission, compared with 162 a day earlier and marks a fourth consecutive day of increase. Monday's national local symptomatic case load also marks the highest daily count since the official daily bulletin started to classify asymptomatic carriers separately at the end of March last year.

Case numbers in Xian and in China are small compared with many clusters in other countries, but officials have imposed tough curbs on travel within the city and on leaving it, in line with the national guideline to immediately contain outbreaks.

Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Ramp up vaccination in 5 poll bound states, says Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a high-level meeting

Union Health Secy Rajesh Bhushan held a high-level meeting with 5 poll-bound states of Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur, UP & Punjab to review the public health response measures for containment & management of COVID19, & the vaccination status in these states, health ministry said. States were advised to speedily ramp up COVID19 vaccination of all eligible population for 1st dose& ensure that those who were due for the 2nd dose are administered the 2nd dose, it said.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | No. of Covid cases to increase in Delhi in next two months; peak likely in Feb: Experts

With the number of fresh COVID-19 cases going up by 10 times from what it was at the beginning of the month in Delhi, experts on Monday said the number of cases will see an increase in the next couple of months due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, with the peak likely to be attained in February. Delhi reported 290 fresh Covid cases on Sunday with a positivity rate of 0.55 per cent, while the number of new cases and the positivity rate rose to 331 and 0.68 per cent respectively on Monday.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 3,481 kids orphaned during Covid pandemic to get benefits under PM CARES for Children scheme

Of 6,098 applications received under the 'PM CARES for Children' scheme, 3,481 children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic have been approved as eligible for its benefits, the government said on Monday. In a statement, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said as per the PM CARES for children portal, total applications registered as on December 24 is 6,098, out of which 3,481 applications have been approved by district magistrates.

It also said post office accounts have been opened for 3,275 beneficiaries under the scheme. Under the scheme, a quantum of sponsorship of Rs 2,000 per child per month is available for non-institutional care of children and maintenance grant of Rs 2,160 per child per month for children living in child care institutions.

The ministry also said 704 One Stop Centers' or Sakhi Centers' have been set up across 34 states/UTs. Women affected by violence and in need of assistance, medical and legal aid and counseling and psycho-social counseling are being helped and as on December 24, assistance has been provided to over 54 lakh women.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Denmark, Iceland report record Covid cases as Omicron surges

Denmark and Iceland on Monday reported record daily coronavirus cases as the fast-spreading Omicron variant makes Europe the global hotspot for infections and deaths. Both Nordic nations had some of Europe's lowest infection rates before Omicron's arrival. Europe recorded the most Covid-19 cases and deaths in the past seven days, according to statistics compiled by AFP and drawn from official sources. The five countries with the highest case rates over the last seven days were all European.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Centre issues guidelines for children aged 15-18, precaution doses

The union home ministry on December 27 issued guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 15-18 years and for the administration of booster dose to healthcare, frontline workers, and senior citizens with co-morbidity. "For those Health Care Workers (HCWs) & Frontline Workers (FLWs) who have received two doses, another dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be provided from January 10," the ministry said in its guidelines.

"The prioritization & sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months from the date of administration of 2nd dose reads the guidelines," it said. "Covid vaccination of children in the age group of 15-18 years to be started from 3rd January 2022. For such beneficiaries, vaccination option would be Covaxin only," the guidelines stated.

This comes after PM Narendra Modi in his national address on December 25 announced that India will start vaccinating kids aged above 15 years from January 3, 2022. The guidelines will come effect from January 3 and will be reviewed from time to time, it stated.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Haryana reports two more Omicron cases; tally mounts to 12

Haryana reported two more cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Monday, pushing the tally of such cases to 12 in the state, according to the health department’s daily bulletin. In view of the emergence of the Omicron cases, the Haryana government has already imposed a night curfew and restrictions on gatherings from Saturday.

It has also said people eligible for vaccination but not fully vaccinated will be banned from entering shopping malls, cinema halls, restaurants and grain markets, among other crowded places, from January 1. Meanwhile, the state reported 85 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, including 61 in Gurugram alone, the bulletin said.

However, no fresh fatality due to the viral disease was reported in the state. The total COVID-19 case count rose to 7,72,718 in the state, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,062. Among other districts, Faridabad and Ambala reported eight and three fresh cases respectively. The number of active coronavirus cases in the state is 536, while 7,62,097 patients have recuperated, the bulletin said, adding that the recovery rate was recorded at 98.63 per cent.

Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Mumbai sees 809 COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths; active tally now 4,765

Mumbai on Monday reported 809 COVID-19 cases and three deaths. taking the tally in the metropolis to 7,71,921 and the toll to 16,373, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said. The day’s addition was a fall from the 922 cases reported on Sunday, he pointed out.

The recovery count increased to 7,48,199 after 335 people were discharged during the day, leaving Mumbai with 4,765 active cases, he said. With 43,383 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the number of tests in the country’s financial capital went up to 1,34,92,241, BMC data showed.

It also revealed that the caseload doubling time was 967 days, the recovery rate stood at 97 per cent and the growth rate of cases between December 20 to 26 was 0.07 per cent.

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