Coronavirus Omicron India Highlights | India has logged 90,928 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, and the daily positivity rate is at 4.18 per cent the Union Health Ministry informed on Thursday.
The active caseload of COVID cases in the country now stands at 2,85,401.
As per the Ministry, 2,135 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in India, of which 828 have recovered.
As many as 4,82,551 recoveries and 534 deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours were also reported by the Ministry. While the cumulative recoveries from the virus stand at 3,43,21,803, the total COVID deaths were reported to be 4,82,551.
Further, the Ministry informed that over 147.72 crore COVID vaccine doses have been administered across the nation so far.
Maharashtra reported 26,538 fresh COVID-19 cases and eight deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the state health bulletin on Wednesday.
Of the new cases, Mumbai reported the highest number of infections at 15,166.
Delhi on Wednesday reported 10,665 new coronavirus cases, almost double the number of infections logged the day before, with the positivity rate shooting up to 11.88 per cent, according to health department data.
This live blog session has been ended, thank you for being with us. For more news, views and updates log in toMoneycontrol.com.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Chandigarh imposes night curfew; all educational institutions to remain shut
All non-essential activities prohibited b/w 10pm-5am. Educational institutions &sports complexes to remain closed; 50% WFH for govt/pvt offices. Cinemas,malls, restaurants,etc. to operate at 50% capacity. Gathering restricted to 50 persons (indoor)&100 (outdoor), says Chandigarh Admin
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 149.57 crores
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 149.57 crores with more than 85 lakh vaccine doses administered till 7 pm today: Government of India
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 39 more NIT Hamirpur students test Covid positive
Thirty-nine students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, a district official said. With this, 81 NIT Hamirpur students have been found infected with the coronavirus in the last two days. On Wednesday, 42 students of the institute were found COVID-19 positive.Apart from the 39 NIT students, 23 other people tested positive for COVID-19 in Hamirpur district on Thursday, the official said. Two students of Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira and three other local students were also found positive, he added.This has raised the number of active cases to 152 in the district. He said that in all 489 samples were tested on Thursday and the results of 62 of them came out positive.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 600 new COVID-19 cases in Noida, Ghaziabad's tally crosses 1,000
Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday logged 600 new COVID-19 infections that pushed the number of active cases in the district to 1,706 the highest in Uttar Pradesh, official data showed.Gautam Buddh Nagar's tally of active cases is followed by Ghaziabad (1,180) and Lucknow (1,153), with the three being the only districts in the state to have more than 1,000 active cases, the statistics showed. So far Gautam Buddh Nagar has recorded 468 deaths due to the pandemic.Meanwhile, 19,751 people got vaccinated against coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday, District Immunisation Officer Neeraj Tyagi said. Of those vaccinated, 6,100 were children in the 15+ age group who got their first dose, he said.Among the 18-plus population, 4,930 people got their first dose while another 8,721 were administered their second, he added. So far, over 33.72 lakh COVID-19 vaccinations have been recorded in Gautam Buddh Nagar including 19.76 lakh first doses, according to last data available on Co-WIN portal.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Kerala Literature Festival postponed to March 17 amid rising Covid cases
The sixth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2022, scheduled to be held at the beaches of Kozhikode from January 20-23, has now been postponed to March 17-20 amid a surge in Covid cases, said the organisers in a statement on Thursday. Hosting 200 plus sessions and writers, experts, and performers from over a dozen nations globally -- apart from India -- the eclectic line-up of the festival this year include names like Jeffrey Archer, Arundhati Roy, Wendy Doniger, Shashi Tharoor, Remo Fernandes, Pawan Varma, Paul Zacharia, Perumun Murugan and Dedutt Pattanaik."We have seen a great amount of love and overwhelming public support and participation registrations over the past months for KLF 2022. Hence, wholeheartedly keeping the interest of our speakers, participants, audiences, general public, and our patrons we have to reschedule the dates to 17th to the 20th March 2022," said Ravi Deecee, chief facilitator, KLF. "The current discourse is that the numbers may peak between the latter part of January and fall by mid of February. We are hoping that the coronavirus will recede in time. We are determined on hosting an in-person festival with the active support of our patrons, speakers, and partners," he added.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 36,265 new COVID-19 cases and 79 Omicron cases
Maharashtra reported36,265 new COVID1-19cases, 13 deaths and, 8,907 discharges today. The state reported 79 Omicroncases today, taking the tally to 876 including 381 recoveries. The active cases in the state rise to 1,14,847.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Gujarat reports 4,213 new case COVID-19 cases
Gujarat reported4,213 new cases, 860 recoveries and 1 death. The active cases in the state is14,000+.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 22 XLRI students test positive for Covid-19
Twenty two students from the prestigious XLRI-School of Management here have been tested positive for the Covid-19 infection, while test reports for another 100 are still awaited, the college authorities said on Thursday said. Worried about an alarming spike in coronavirus infections in the steel city of Jamshedpur, XLRI in collaboration with East Singhbhum District Administration, had conducted random tests on resident students.Taking a pro-active approach, the Institute has created isolation areas within the Campus to combat, contain and manage the spread of Covid-19 infections.Students who tested positive were isolated in the MDP Residence of the Campus with self-contained rooms and room service facilities. Medical supplies, food and counselling are being provided by the Institute following guidelines and directions issued by the Government of Jharkhand.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Mumbai reports 20,181 new cases of COVID-19, 4 deaths in the last 24 hours
Mumbai reported20,181 new cases of COVID19, 4 deaths today; Active caseload in the finncial capital stands at 79,260.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | SC to hear matters in virtual mode from Jnuary 7 amid rise in COVID-19 cases
Amid the sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Supreme Court on Thursday decided to hear all matters in virtual mode from Friday. According to a circular issued by the apex court administration, with effect from January 7, the benches will sit at the residential offices.Only extremely urgent mentioned' matters, fresh matters, bail matters, matters involving stay, detention matters and fixed date matters will be listed before the courts w.e.f (with effect from) January 10, 2022 till further orders, the circular said.It said transfer petitions will be listed before the regular benches, instead of single judge bench, till further orders.The circular said till further orders, applications for exemption from surrendering will also be listed before the regular benches, instead of chamber judge. While hearing a matter on Thursday, Chief Justice N V Ramana, who was heading a bench which also comprised Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, said unfortunately, again the problem of COVID-19 has started.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Puducherry govt imposes fresh curbs till January 31 amid rising COVID cases
Govt of Puducherry on January 6 said that Restrictions have been imposed up to January 31 (midnight) with malls/markets allowed to operate at not more than 50% capactiy. Intra & inter district public transport, cinemas, gyms/salons/parlours/auditoriums to operate at 50% seating too.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | RTPCR test mandatory for travellers deboarding at Bhubaneswar airport
All the travellers deboarding at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar except those in transit have to undergo RTPCR test for COVID19 at the testing facility at the airport,Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Kerala reports 4649 new cases, 17 deaths
Kerala reports 4649 new cases, 17deaths, 2180 recoveries today; Active cases at 25,157. Death tally at 49, 116204 deaths were added to the death tally as per the new guidelines of the Central government, says Kerala govt in an official statement
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot tests positive for COVID-19
This evening I got my covid test done which came positive. I have very mild symptoms and no other problems. Today all the people who came in contact with me are requested to isolate themselves and get their covid test done, the Rajathan CM tweeted.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 15,097 fresh cases, 6 deaths in the last 24 hours
Delhi reports 15,097 fresh cases, 6 deaths in the last 24 hours. The active cases rise to 31,498; positivity rate reaches 15.34%
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | New Delhi World Book Fair 2022 postponed amid Covid restrictions
The 30th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), which was scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan from January 8 to 16, has been postponed in view of the latest DDMA guidelines imposed following the surge in Covid cases driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, said the organisers in a statement.The fresh dates for the NDWBF, held online last year due to the Covid pandemic, will be announced separately, it said.First organised in 1972, the NDWBF was planning to celebrate its golden jubilee with a photo exhibition this year.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 21 Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus workers test positive for COVID
21 more Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus workers test positive for COVID. Total 87 positive, of which 22 discharged, BEST PRO, Mumbai said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 2 Markets in Delhi Shut for violating Covid19 norms
North East District authority shuts two markets-Sonia Vihar 2nd Pushta Market and Mukund Vihar Market in Karawal Nagar- due to violation of Covid19 appropriate behaviour in these market areas.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | No discussion on lockdown or closing local trains in Mumbai, says Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope
No discussion on lockdown or closing local trains in Mumbai. Weekend lockdown and night curfew have been discussed but no decision taken yet. CM Uddhav Thackeray will decide on the restrictions, says Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Centre writes to states to ensure setting up of district, sub-district control rooms for COVID management
Centre writes to states to ensure setting up of district, sub-district control rooms for COVID management with adequate staff, doctors, infrastructure, monitoring of beds availability, making outbound calls to patients in home isolation.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Kerala reports 50 new cases of Omicron; total tally at 280
50 more cases of Omicron confirmed in Kerala. of which 45 are from low risk countries and 5 from high risk countries. No cases reported through contact (tracing). Total Omicron cases 280 now, Kerala Health department said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | West Bengal makes RT-PCR report must for inter-state movement
2,075 covidpatients hospitalized; total 403 containment zones, positivity rate 23.17%, fatality rate 1.18%, 19,517 beds availability. RT-PCR must for interstate border area movement; next 15 days imp, will increase restrictions & meet PM Modi tomorrow, said CM Mamata Banerjee. She further said thatnumber of daily COVID19 cases have increased to 14,022 & active cases to 33,042. "I will attend a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow," she said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Sports Authority of India issues fresh SOPs to combat rising Covid cases
Sports Authority of India issues fresh SOPs to combat rising Covid cases. Upon arrival to the training centres, all athletes will undergo mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Measures to be implemented at the various National Centres of Excellence, ongoing national coaching camps.A repeat of RAT would take place on 5th day. Those getting a positive result would undergo a RTPCR test & be treated in isolation, while athletes testing negative would continue normal training.Guidelines from State Govts shall be superseding these SOPs in those particular States.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Puducherry reports 129 new cases today
Puducherryreports 129 new cases today; Active cases stand at 399. Test positivity at 3.58%
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | US hardens COVID-19 infection controls at bases in Japan as cases surge
U.S. military bases in Japan introduced stricter COVID-19 measures on Thursday after the host government expressed grave concern about a surge of new infections and called for restrictions on the movement of U.S. personnel. Three prefectures that host U.S. bases have requested quasi-emergency measures as Japan faces what some are calling a sixth wave of coronavirus infections, with cases in some places at their highest in months. One official has blamed U.S. military personnel for spreading the Omicron variant.
U.S. Forces Japan said that due to an increase in COVID-19 cases at installations and throughout Japan, it was establishing more stringent measures, including requiring personnel to wear masks off base and stricter testing. "The mitigation measures we have instituted...are intended to protect our force's readiness, the well-being of our families, and the health of Japan's citizens," the force said in a statement. "We recognise we all have a part to play in keeping our communities safe."
More than 100,000 U.S. service members, dependents and contractors are stationed in Japan. Earlier, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi asked U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for restrictions on U.S. service members from leaving their bases, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. Matsuno said Japan was "gravely concerned" about COVID-19 infections at U.S. bases.
Nationwide, new infections surpassed 4,000 on Thursday, according to a tally by national broadcaster NHK, the most since Sept. 18. Tokyo reported 690 cases, up from 390 on Wednesday, and an expert panel said about 45% of infections in the capital were due to Omicron. Japan's total death toll from the pandemic stands at 18,397 people.
The southern prefecture of Okinawa, host to 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan, is at the epicentre of Japan's latest surge of cases, and it asked the central government on Thursday to impose new restrictions, known as quasi-emergency measures, which were likely to include limiting the opening hours of restaurants and bars. Announcing the request, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said new cases there were expected to surge to about 980 on Thursday from 623 the day before.
Tamaki told reporters this week he was "furious" about what he called inadequate infection controls at U.S. bases that allowed the Omicron variant to spread to the public. The western prefectures of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi, which also host U.S. military facilities, said they would also request similar measures. Various levels of emergency controls had been in place over most of Japan last year until their lifting on Sept. 30.
Japan halted the entry of almost all foreign travellers in late November after the World Health Organization listed Omicron as a variant of concern. But the U.S. military moves staff in and out under a separate testing and quarantine regime. A U.S. Marine Corps station in Yamaguchi prefecture said on Thursday it discovered 115 new cases, after 182 announced the previous day.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Active cases in India as on January 6 is 2,85,401. Ministry of Health requests people to follow these 4 things:
-Always wear a mask
-Rightwards arrowWash/sanitize hands regularly
-Rightwards arrowMaintain distancing
-Rightwards arrowGet yourself fully vaccinate
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates
| COVID-19 guidelines are issued by the Chief Secretary and we should abide by them to keep ourselves safe from the virus. Police officers above 55 years of age are advised not to go for duty, they can work from their homes: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Sundance Film Festival 2022 to go virtual amid rising COVID-19 cases
The Sundance Film Festival has announced that it is moving forward with a virtual edition instead of the previously planned hybrid format due to the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. In a joint statement posted on the festival’s website, Joana Vicente, CEO, Sundance Institute, and Tabitha Jackson, Festival Director, said there was no option but to go digital given the rise in the cases.
"We have been looking forward to our first fully hybrid Sundance Film Festival and our teams have spent a year planning a festival like no other. But despite the most ambitious protocols, the Omicron variant with its unexpectedly high transmissibility rates is pushing the limits of health safety, travel and other infrastructures across the country.
"And so, today we’re announcing: the Festival’s in-person Utah elements will be moving online this year," the statement read. The organisers, however, assured that audiences will still "experience the magic and energy" of the gala with bold new films and discover new storytellers as well as connect with artists in the virtual format.
"While it is a deep loss to not have the in-person experience in Utah, we do not believe it is safe nor feasible to gather thousands of artists, audiences, employees, volunteers, and partners from around the world, for an eleven-day festival while overwhelmed communities are already struggling to provide essential services," the statement further read.
The team said going virtual was "a difficult decision to make" but expressed hope that the 11-day-long festival, beginning January 20, will take place as per schedule. The festival is presented by Sundance Organisation, a nonprofit that discovers and supports independent artists, and introduces audiences to their work.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | COVID-19 surge: Vibrant Gujarat Summit postponed
The Gujarat government on Thursday decided to postpone the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, that was to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 10, in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases, according to the Chief Minister's Office. The three-day summit was to be held in a big way to attract investments and delegations from many partner countries and CEOs of top companies were supposed to participate in the event.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, after analysing the situation, has decided to postpone the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit as of now, to stop the spread of the COVID-19 and its new variant Omicron among people of the state, an official communication from the CM's said. "The decision has been taken as the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the world and the country, it said.
On Wednesday, the daily COVID-19 cases in Gujarat crossed the 3,000-mark for the first time after May 26 last year with the addition of 3,350 infections, raising the state's tally to 8,40,643. Gujarat reported 50 new cases of the Omicron variant on Wednesday, taking the tally of such cases in the state to 204, as per the state health department.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai tests positive for COVID-19
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Omicron surge: Centre asks 9 states, union territories to step up testing
Underlining the highly transmissible nature of Omicron and the preponderance of asymptomatic cases, the Centre has urged nine states and union territories to ramp up COVID-19 testing to ensure that infected people do not spread the virus to others. In a letter to Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry Arti Ahuja pointed out a considerable decline in COVID-19 testing amid rising cases and positivity rate and said it is a "cause of concern".
In the absence of sufficient testing, it is rather impossible to determine the true level of infection spread in the community, Ahuja said in her letter dated January 5. "With the increased detection of the Variant of Concern (VOC), Omicron, and a majority of countries seeing multiple surges in cases despite high levels of vaccination, there is a need for continued vigil and efforts to prevent any deterioration of the COVID-19 scenario.
"Keeping in mind the unpredictable and highly transmissible behaviour of Omicron and the larger preponderance of asymptomatic cases, ramping up testing in the initial days itself will help to ensure that the infected individual does not spread the virus to others," she said. It has been observed that there has been a considerable decline in COVID-19 testing in these states and union territories amid rising cases and positivity, which is a cause of concern, Ahuja said.
She advised them to review and ensure availability of sufficient stock of testing reagents and kits etc., and regular arrangement of testing facilities, consumables, and logistics. India on Thursday saw the biggest single-day jump of 495 Omicron cases, taking the total number of infections of the new variant of coronavirus to 2,630, according to Union health ministry data.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates
| At present, we don't think that cinema halls or malls need to be closed. But if something is to be done in the larger public interest, State Cabinet will discuss these things & the CM will take a final call: Maharashtra Minister Amit Deshmukh
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Grammy Awards indefinitely postponed, Sundance to go virtual amid Omicron surge
The Grammy music awards and the renowned Sundance film festival fell victim Wednesday to Omicron's relentless march, as the variant's surge gathered pace in Europe. Citing "uncertainty" surrounding the new coronavirus variant, the Recording Academy indefinitely postponed the Grammy Awards, while Sundance Film Festival organizers said the festival would go virtual with infection numbers reaching new highs.
The heavily mutated Omicron variant, the most transmissible to date, accounted for around 95 percent of US cases in the week ending January 1. According to the latest CDC figures cases stateside are running at nearly 500,000 a day, with new hospitalizations rising. And in the UK, official data shows one in 15 people in England were infected with the virus in 2021's final week.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said travel curbs beefed up last month to contain the new strain were now ineffective, and his government scrapped the need for visitors to have pre-departure tests and quarantine on arrival until testing negative. Italy's government, meanwhile, said Wednesday it would make vaccination against COVID-19 compulsory from February 15 for everyone over the age of 50 -- nearly half of its population -- in its bid to battle surging infections.
The new decree obliges people over 50 who do not work to get vaccinated, and those who do work to obtain a vaccine pass -- which effectively covers all over-50s. France on Wednesday set a record for new Covid cases over a 24-hour period, according to the latest official figures, with more than 332,000 additional infections recorded. It was the first time that French cases breached 300,000, smashing the previous record established on Tuesday when 271,686 new Covid cases were recorded.
The government is currently debating replacing the current health pass -- which contains proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery -- with a "vaccine pass" for which only people with full vaccination qualify. President Emmanuel Macron has warned the government would squeeze those who continued to refuse Covid shots. "As for the non-vaccinated, I really want to piss them off," he said. Around five million people in France remain unvaccinated.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | AMU Vice Chancellor tests Covid positive, urges others to take caution
The vice chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University has tested positive for COVD-19 infection with mild symptoms, the varsity said. VC Prof Tariq Mansoor has isolated himself but is continuing his duties from his official residence through online mode, the AMU announced on social media. “AMU Vice Chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor is border line COVID positive, tested positive today with mild symptoms/asymptomatic. Performing his official duties from his official Residence in online-mode,” the AMU tweeted on Wednesday.
The university quoted a tweet from the 65-year-old Mansoor to make the announcement. “I have tested COVID positive today with mild symptoms / asymptomatic. I urge all concerned who have recently come in contact with me to take necessary precautions in accordance with the COVID protocol of health authorities,” the VC tweeted from his handle which is yet-to-be-verified by Twitter.
Aligarh had a total of 69 active cases of coronavirus, according to a UP government data updated till Wednesday. The AMU had lost over 30 teachers during the second wave of the pandemic last year, according to varsity officials.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Puducherry sees jump in new Covid-19 cases; 129 fresh infections take tally to 1,29,821
The union territory of Puducherry witnessed a jump in the number of fresh coronavirus cases with 129 being added in the last 24 hours, a senior Health department official said on Thursday. The union territory had clocked 73 new infections on Wednesday and 66 on Tuesday. The 129 new cases in the last 24 hours ending 10 AM on Thursday pushed the overall tally to 1,29, 821, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services G Sriramulu said in a release here. While Puducherry region (the capital of the union territory) reported 84 fresh cases, Karaikal logged 36, Mahe (8) and Yanam (1), he added.
There was however, no fresh fatality in the last 24 hours and the death toll remained at 1,881. The test positivity rate also shot up to 3.58 per cent (as against 2.68 per cent on Wednesday) and the fatality and recovery rates were 1.45 per cent and 98.24 percent respectively. Sriramulu said the number of active cases stood at 399 with 72 patients undergoing treatment in hospitals and 327 patients in home isolation. Eight patients recovered and were discharged during the last 24 hours while the overall recoveries climbed to 1,27,541, he said.
The Department of Health has so far tested 20,59,705 samples and has found 17,48,412 out of them to be negative. The Health department Director said so far 14,20,267 doses of the vaccine which comprised 8,48,113 first and 5,72,154 second doses have been administered.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Countries where Omicron has spread
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Haryana orders closure of cinema halls, multiplexes till January 12 in six more districts
Amid the rising COVID-19 cases in Haryana, authorities have ordered the closure of cinema halls, multiplexes and sports complexes in six more districts till January 12, according to an official order. The six districts where the restrictions will be applicable are Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Rohtak and Jhajjar.
The restrictions were imposed in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ambala, Panchkula and Sonipat from January 2 to 12. According to the latest order issued by the Haryana State Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday, the restrictions will be applicable in all 11 districts till 5 am on January 12.
Cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes shall remain closed, the order stated.b Malls and markets will be allowed to open till 6 pm. However, shops selling essential items like milk and medicine shops will be allowed to open at all times to enable them to serve the public at large, it said. According to the restrictions imposed earlier in five districts, the closing time for malls and markets was 5 pm. All sports complexes, swimming pools and stadia shall remain closed except when being used for training of sportspersons for participation in national and international sports events, the order said.
All entertainment parks and B2B exhibitions are prohibited, it said. Government and private offices, except for emergency/essential services have been advised to function with 50 per cent staff attendance, it added. The order stated that other restrictions released vide its order dated January 1 and applicable till January 12 shall continue as before. Notably, Haryana has witnessed a big spike in Covid cases over the past week.
The state reported 2,176 Covid cases on Wednesday, up from 1,132 on Tuesday, according to official data. Of the 2,176 cases reported on Wednesday, 1,178 were from Gurgaon alone, the data stated. Many other districts are also witnessing a surge in cases. To check the spread of the viral infection, the state government banned people eligible for vaccination but not fully vaccinated from entering shopping malls, cinema halls, restaurants and grain markets, among other crowded places, starting January 1. A night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am is already in force in the state.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Bihar man claims to have got 12 Covid jabs, says made him "feel better": Report
An 84-year-old man in north Bihar's Madhepura district has caused a flutter with the claim that he has taken a dozen shots of the COVID-19 vaccine since every jab made him "feel better". Brahmadeo Mandal lives in a village in Udakishanganj sub-division of Madhepura and claimed to have taken his 12th dose a few days ago.
"I have used my Aadhar card and my voter ID card on different occasions to get myself registered," said Mandal who is a retired postal department employee. "Every single dose (of COVID-19 vaccine) has helped relieve my chronic back pain. I have never caught cold since I took the first shot 11 months ago," the Bihar resident said, reading out date, time and site of each jab scribbled on a piece of paper.
Oddly, Mandal is not in possession of any system-generated vaccination certificate for these. With the matter appearing in a section of the press, bewildered health officials have ordered a probe. "It needs to be found out whether the man is bloviating or his claims have a modicum of truth," said district civil surgeon Amarendra Narayan Shahi. He said that as per rules, no person was supposed to be administered more than two doses.
"If his claim turns out to be true, officials concerned will face action. He may also end up facing the music for getting jabbed so many times knowingly and willingly," said the civil surgeon.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates
| Maharashtra Health Department says it has stopped genome sequencing of COVID samples after 55% of the samples in last genome sequencing were confirmed for Omicron variant. Order for fresh sero survey is expected this week. It also added that no consideration of lockdown as of now. Maharashtra govt will consider a lockdown or lockdown-like restrictions after medical oxygen demand for the state goes beyond 800 metric tonnes/ day or more than 40% of Covid beds in hospitals are occupied.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Delhi likely to see 14,000 COVID-19 cases today: Satyendar Jain
Delhi is expected to record 14,000 fresh Covid cases on Thursday, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. Speaking to reporters, the minister also said the city is in a comfortable position in terms of hospital bed occupancy and there is no need for a lockdown right now. Jain said the number of cases in Delhi is high due as a large number of people are being tested for COVID-19 in the city.
"We have been conducting a large number of tests. If we don’t do that, the new cases can reduce to 500-1,000. A lot of people (states) don’t conduct tests and say they don’t have cases. We have been transparent," he said. "We are conducting the maximum number of tests in the country," he claimed. A few healthcare workers in Delhi have tested positive, but the number is not alarming, the minister said in response to a question.
Asked whether the AAP government was considering a lockdown in the city, Jain said Delhi has already taken stringent actions, including imposing a night curfew and weekend curfew, which are sufficient for time being. There is no need for a lockdown right now.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 71 Mumbai Police personnel tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking active cases in the force to 265: Police
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Gujarat Govt postpones 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit to be held from January 10 to January 12
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Aurobindo Pharma launches COVID-19 drug Molnupiravir in India
Aurobindo Pharma Limited has launched COVID-19 treatment drug Molnupiravir under brand name "Molnaflu" in India. Molnupiravir is for treatment of adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19, under certain conditions, a press release from the city-based drug maker said. Molnupiravir was earlier approved under Emergency Use Authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. Molnupiravir was earlier approved under Emergency Use Authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
Earlier last year, Aurobindo had signed a bi-lateral non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme, Singapore (MSD), a subsidiary of Merck & Co. (US) to manufacture and supply Molnupiravir to over 100 low and middle-income countries (LMIC), including India. K Nithyananda Reddy, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Aurobindo said, "We are delighted with the timely permission from DCGI for the licensed version of Molnupiravir (Molnaflu) as it opens up access to an affordable treatment option for COVID-19 patients and enable us to help battle the pandemic with effective and high-quality pharmaceutical products.
For the licensed version of Molnupiravir, Aurobindo enjoys backward integration with in-house API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) manufacturing which equips it with stronger control on the Quality systems and Supply chain. The product will be made at the Company’s manufacturing facilities in India that are approved by global regulatory agencies including USFDA and UK MHRA. The company has adequate capacities to meet the global demand across the over 100 LMI Countries for the product, Aurobindo said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Akhilesh Yadav's Vijay Rath Yatra in Ayodhya and other places cancelled as COVID surges
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s Vijay Rath Yatra in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 9, has been cancelled amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has also called off his other rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda and Basti that were to take place on January 7 and 8, according to reports. This comes a day after the Congress party decided to postpone major rallies in Uttar Pradesh and other states heading for assembly elections due to the raging pandemic.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | COVID-19 surge has not yet dented domestic travel plans: Cleartrip CEO Ayyappan Rajagopal
The surge in COVID-19 cases, driven by the new Omicron variant, has not dented overall demand for tickets during the busy winter travel season, according to Cleartrip Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ayyappan Rajagopal. In talks with CNBC-TV18, Rajagopal said there used to be around 4.2 lakh travellers in November and December before the COVID-19 outbreak. In the same period in 2021, it was around 3.35 lakh - almost 85 percent of the pre-pandemic time, he said.
Talking about the impact of surging Omicron variant of novel coronavirus infection on the travelers, the CEO said the numbers have still not crashed. “If we talk about domestic travelers, the bookings that they are doing at this point of time is a lot more for the near term rather than planning for two-three months ahead,” he said.
Even international travelers are still thinking about carrying on with their plans. They are not postponing or cancelling their travels. They are going ahead, but it is most dependent on whether the airlines are operating, or the government coming up with new restrictions, he said. “So, largely, the numbers have remained at par with what November and December saw. We saw a huge uptick in the two months in domestic travelers. The New Year saw a dip but it has been broadly flat,” he said.
The search trends have gone down 15-20 percent Month-on-Month, Rajagopal shared. “People mostly search when they are still not clear, whereas direct booking happens when people are clear about their travel plans. At present, bookings are a lot more for the near term than two-three months into the future,” he added. India has seen a massive surge in new COVID-19 cases as it reported 90,928 fresh infections in the 24 hours, according to the Union health ministry’s data updated on January 6 at 8 am . On the previous day, there were 58,097 fresh cases reported.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to hold a review meeting this evening over rising cases of COVID-19 in the country: Sources
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Union minister Bharati Pawar tests COVID-19 positive
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pawar on Thursday said she has tested positive for coronavirus. Today my #Covid-19 test report has come out positive and I have quarantined myself at home. All those who came in contact with me in the last few days are requested to get their #Covid test done and follow the rules for prevention of coronavirus, the minister tweeted.
Pawar is the Lok Sabha member from Dindori in Nashik district of Maharashtra. Earlier this week, Lok Sabha member from south Mumbai Arvind Sawant, Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde and MLA Vidya Thakur (from Goregaon in Mumbai) had also tested positive. Last week, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said 10 ministers and 20 MLAs had tested positive for the coronavirus in the state.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan reaches EC office to brief officials on COVID-19 situation in poll-bound states
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan reached Election commission office to brief the Election Commission officials on the latest Covid situation in the five poll-bound states, sources said. This will be the second time when Bhushan will brief the EC top brass on the emerging COVID-19 situation in the country and in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur in particular.
Earlier, he had briefed the poll panel on December 27. During the interaction, the EC had asked the government to ramp up the vaccination programme in the poll-bound states. The EC could announce the dates for elections in these five states in the next few days.
