Coronavirus Omicron India Highlights | A total of 2,135 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 24 states and UTs so far, out of which 828 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday.
Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 653 cases followed by Delhi at 464, Kerala 185, Rajasthan 174, Gujarat 154 and Tamil Nadu 121 cases.
India saw a single-day rise of 58,097 new coronavirus infections, the highest in around 199 days, taking the country’s total tally of cases to 3,50,18,358, while the active cases were recorded above 2 lakh after around 81 days, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The death toll has climbed to 4,82,551 with 534 daily fatalities, the data stated. The active cases have increased to 2,14,004, comprising 0.61 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.01 per cent, the health ministry said.
A total of 58,419 new infections were reported on June 20 this year. A total of 58,419 new infections were reported on June 20 this year.
An increase of 42,174 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.18 per cent, while weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.60 per cent, according to the health ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to3,43,21,803, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.38 per cent.
The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 147.72 crore.
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, 2021 and three crore on June 23. 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.
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Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Night curfew imposed in Jammu & Kashmir from 9 pm to 6 am
A night curfew has been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)in view of rising number of COVID-19 cases. "There shall be a complete restriction on non-essential movement in the entire UT from 9 pm to 6 am till further orders," reads anofficial statement.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi govt asks its hospitals to increase Covid beds
Amid a surge in cases of coronavirus and its Omicron variant, the Delhi government has asked its nine hospitals to increase their cumulative Covid bed capacity to 4,350 from the existing 3,316, an official order said on Wednesday. The Health and Family Welfare Department of the Delhi government issued the order. The hospitals it addressed to are India Gandhi Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Burari Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, Ambedkar Nagar Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, and Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital.
According to the order, the Indira Gandhi Hospital has been directed to increase its Covid bed capacity to 1,500 from 1,181. The order directed the authorities at the Lok Nayak and the Guru Teg Bahadur hospitals to enhance their Covid bed capacity to 750 from the existing 650 and 600 respectively. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Army issues fresh advisory to all its units and formations
In view of rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, the Army has issued a fresh advisory to all its units and formations, recommending precautionary measures to check the spread of the infection. In the advisory, the Integrated HQ of the Ministry of Defence (Army) prescribed specific measures as per the weekly positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in its establishments besides suggesting health education and awareness campaigns to deal with the situation.It said the weekly positivity rate in the Army for the week ending December 31 was 2.34 per cent but added that the current rising trends necessitate re-visiting the existing measures. The advisory said if a station records the positivity rate in the range of one to two per cent, then all its personnel returning from leave and temporary duties should undergo COVID-19 tests and that all social gatherings should be cancelled.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates| 123 out of the total 1827 passengers on Cordelia cruise have tested positive: BMC
Till now, 123 passengers out of the total 1,827 passengers on the Cordelia cruise have tested positive for COVID19. The test result of 832 samples is awaited: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates |
In view of the rising COVID19 cases, the Delhi government orders to increase Covid beds in its nine hospitals to 4,350 from the existing 3,316.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Omicron found in Delhi's 65% samples whose genome sequencing report came out between January 1 and 3
Sixty-five per cent of Covid samples in Delhi, whose genome sequencing reports came out between January 1 and 3, were found to have the Omicron variant as against 28 per cent from December 1 to 31, official data showed. Of the 72 samples, whose reports arrived in the first three days of this year, 47 were found to be infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus, while Delta and its sublineages were found in 20 samples. Only seven per cent had other variants.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Fresh COVID cases nearly double in 24 hrs in K'taka at 4,246; Bengaluru reports 3,605
Fresh COVID-19 cases in Karnataka nearly doubled in 24 hours to 4,246 and reported two deaths on Wednesday, taking the count to 30,17,572 and the fatalities toll to 38,357. The State on Tuesday reported 2,479 new cases.Of the new cases, 3,605 were from Bengaluru Urban that saw 264 being discharged and two deaths. The total number of active cases is now at 17,414.The State has been registering a steady surge in fresh infections for the last one week when the daily caseload was 566. There were 362 people discharged today, taking the total number of recoveries to 29,61,772, a health department bulletin said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates |
Chandigarh reports 229 fresh COVID19 infections, active caseload at 665; Positivity rate at 12.07%: UT Administration
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | All leaves granted to state govt officials in Delhi stand cancelled
Delhi Govt directs to cancel all leaves granted, except medical leave, to all officers, officials & staffs in the all depts of State govt& further directed no leave except medical leave shall be granted, nor allowed to leave station, until further orders, says an official letter. This is to make sure that there is adequate manpower to handle COVID wave.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | West Bengal reports 14,022 new cases, 17 deaths
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | National Museum to remain closed for visitors from today till further order, says Ministry of Culture
All the galleries of National Museum shall remain closed for visitors from today till further order. However, all depts of the museum will remain open as per order: Ministry of Culture
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | All schools up to Class 10th will remain closed till January 16 across Uttar Pradesh
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | All schools in Nagpur city from class 1 to 8 will be closed till January 31
Dr Nitin Raut,Guardian Ministeron Wednesday announced that all schools in Nagpur district will remain shut for class 1 to class 8 till 31 January amid surge in Omicron cases in the state.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Odisha gvt issues new guidelines to be effective from tomorrw till February 1; schools, colleges up to 12th class to stay close
Odisha Govt issuesnew guidelines to be effective from 5 am of Jan 7 till 5 am of Feb 1. Schools, colleges up to 12th class shall be closed. Online classes to continue for classes 10, 12. Shops to operate from 5 am-9 pm every day. Markets/cinema halls to close at 9 pm
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Mumbai reports 15,166 fresh infections of COVID-19 & 3 deaths
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Odisha reports 24 more Omicron cases, tally mounts to 61
With 24 more people testing positive for Omicron in Odisha, the tally of the COVID-19 variant in the state increased to 61 on Wednesday, an official said. The cases were detected from 218 samples sent for genome sequencing. The cases were detected from 218 samples sent for genome sequencing. Five among the affected had foreign travel history, while the remaining 19 have been infected by local contacts, Ajay Parida, the director of Institute of Life Science here said.Of the 23 cases detected earlier, seven cases were from Keonjhar district, four from Khurda, three each from Puri and Sambalpur, two each from Boudh and Angul and one each from Jagatsinghpur and Balasore, officials said. On December 21 two cases of Omicron were detected in Odisha for the first time, another two were detected on December 23, four on December 26, one on December 29, five on December 30 and 23 on January 2, they said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Night curfew imposed in Himachal Pradesh amid rising Covid cases
The Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to impose a night curfew in the state from 10 pm to 5 am to check the spread of COVID-19, an official spokesperson said. It was also decided to close indoor sports complexes and cinema halls in the state and allow only 50 per cent attendance at gatherings in marriage and banquet halls, he said. It was also decided to close indoor sports complexes and cinema halls in the state and allow only 50 per cent attendance at gatherings in marriage and banquet halls, he said.The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. It has been decided to impose night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am across the state besides closing indoor sports complexes, cinema halls, multiplexes, stadiums, swimming pools, gyms and langars, the spokesperson said. It has been decided to impose night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am across the state besides closing indoor sports complexes, cinema halls, multiplexes, stadiums, swimming pools, gyms and langars, the spokesperson said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Stricter Covid restrictions in Noida from Thursday as active case tally crosses 1,000
The number of active COVID-19 cases has crossed the 1,000-mark inGautam BuddhNagar, the district administration said on Wednesday, as it announced tougher restrictions like extension of night curfew.TheUttarPradesh government on Tuesday ordered additional restrictions to be automatically enforced in districts where the number of cases go beyond 1,000.CurrentlyGautam BuddhNagar, which includesNoidaand GreaterNoida, is the only district with over 1,000 active cases of the disease.Regarding the restrictions that will be enforced inGautam BuddhNagarfrom Thursday, he said night curfew would be enforced from 10pm-6am instead of the earlier 11 pm-5 am.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Man Who Returned From UAE Becomes Chhattisgarh's First Omicron Case
A 52-year-old man from Bilaspur district, who returned from the UAE, became the first case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Chhattisgarh, health officials said on Wednesday.The man, who recently returned from United Arab Emirates (UAE), had tested positive for coronavirus following which his sample was sent to the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) for a genome sequencing test, an official statement said.The health department on Wednesday received the sample's report that confirmed the presence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, it added.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Maharashtra govt to discontinue physical classes in colleges,universities till February 15
Amid rising COVID cases, Maharashtra govt to discontinue physical classes in colleges,universities till February 15. All exams in the said instituitions to be conducted online till February 15, said Maharashtra Higher & Technical Education Minister Uday Samant.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly’s daughter tests Covid positive
BCCI president and former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly’s daughter Sana has tested positive for Covid-19 and is in home isolation, her mother Dona Ganguly said on Wednesday.Sana, who is asymptomatic, took the test following a “sore throat” on Tuesday and the result came out positive, said Dona who was found negative for coronavirus.A couple of other members of the Ganguly family are also down with the virus, she said.“Since dada (Sourav) tested positive for Covid-19, we have been taking the test every day. I am negative, but Sana tested positive for the disease,” Dona told PTI when contacted.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Kerala reports 4,801 new cases, 29 deaths, 1813 recoveries today
Kerala reports 4,801 new cases, 29 deaths, 1813 recoveries today; Active cases at 22,910. Death tally at 48,895 229 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 | No paracetamol or pain killers are recommended after being vaccinated with Covaxin: Bharat Biotech
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 10, 665 fresh cases and 8 deaths in the last 24 hours
Delhi reports 10, 665 fresh cases and 8 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases 23,307. The positivity rate rises to 11.88%.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Thailand fears "tens of thousands" of new COVID-19 cases, weighs curbs
Thailand is considering measures such as limiting large gatherings and banning alcohol sales in restaurants to discourage customers to avert a wave of coronavirus infections, a health official said on Wednesday. The country reported 3,899 cases on Wednesday, up from an average of 2,600 daily cases towards the end of last year, and the Omicron variant itself has tripled from last month's holiday period, government data showed. If measures like wearing masks and regular testing were not followed, infections could reach the "tens of thousands in the next two weeks," Sumanee Watcharasin, a spokeswoman for the country's coronavirus taskforce, said. She said the government will decide on new curbs on Friday and also review the suspended "Test & Go" scheme that allowed vaccinated arrivals to skip quarantine.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Molnupiravir has major safety concerns including mutagenicity, muscle & bone damage
Molnupiravirhas major safety concerns includingmutagenicity, muscle & bone damage. If this drug is given contraception has to be done for three months as child may have problems. So it is not included in national task got treatments, saidDrBalramBhargava, DG,ICMR.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates |
Different parts of the regions of the country will be in different stage, VK Paul said in response to a question on whether the current surge be called third wave of the pandemic in India
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Over 50 COVID-19 cases found in IIT-Guwahati, restrictions imposed
Over 50 people, including students and a faculty member, have tested positive for COVID-19 inIIT-Guwahatiover the last six days, forcing the authorities to impose restrictions on the campus, an official said on Wednesday.Almost 99 per cent of the cases were people who returned to the campus from outside Assam after holidays, saidParmeshwarIyer, Dean-PR,IIT-Guwahati."More than 50 cases of COVID-19 have been detected on the campus since December 31. Among them are a faculty member and five members of his family, and another staff member. The rest are students," he toldPTI. Except for the faculty member and his family, all the patients are lodged at the quarantinecentreat the institute's guest house on the campus,Iyersaid.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Omicron Detecting RT-PCR Kit to Give Results in 4 Hours
Omicron detectingRT-PCRkit has been developed in partnership with Tata MD andICMRand it has been approved byDCGI. This kit will test will give results in 4 hours,DrBalramBhargava, DG,ICMRsaid.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine given previously
Precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as has been given previously. Those who've receivedCovaxinwill receiveCovaxin, those who've received primary two doses ofCovishieldwill receiveCovishield, saysDr VK Paul, Member-Health,NITIAayog.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Dr Balram Bhargava, DG-ICMR:
Omicron is the predominant circulating strain in the cities in the country, mass gatherings to be avoided to lower the speed of this spread.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu govt imposes Sunday lockdown; check full details here
In a bid to restrain the continuous surge of COVID cases in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has imposed further restrictions, including Sunday lockdown, ban on the entry of people to placesto places of worship on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and closure of schools. These restrictions will be effective from January 6.The state reported 2,731 new COVID-19 cases on January 4 – a 58% jump from the 1,728 it logged on January 3. Chennai which is the hotspot recorded 1,489 new cases as compared to 876 on January 3. Health officials had a meeting to discuss how the surge in cases can be controlled.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 108 Omicron Deaths in World: Health Ministry
There are 108 confirmed Omicron deaths in the world: LavAgrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Health Ministry lists states reporting more than 10% weekly positivity
The States of concern are Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, TamilNadu,Karnataka,Jharkhand, Gujarat where there has been a rise in cases. 28 districts in the country are reporting more than 10% weekly positivity, says Ministry of Health.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | More than 6.3 times increase in cases in the last 8 days, says Health Ministry
India has reported a more than 6.3 times increase in cases in the last 8 days. A sharp increase seen in case positivity from 0.79% on 29th Dec 2021 to 5.03% on 5th January, the Health Ministry said
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Ministry of Health:
25.2 lakh cases were recorded globally on 4th January, the highest ever since the onset of the pandemic. Approx 65% of cases in the week ending 4th Jan reported from the USA, UK, France, Italy & Spain.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Chhattisgarh Health Minister T S Singh Deo requests Mansukh Mandaviya to start a genome sequencing facility in the state
In view of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases,ChhattisgarhHealth Minister T S SinghDeorequested Union Health MinisterMansukhMandaviyato start a genome sequencing facility in the state soon. In the letter written to Union Health MinisterMandaviya,ChhattisgarhHealth Minister said genome sequencing facility is not available in the state at present, & samples are being sent toBhubaneswarinneighbouringOdishafor the test, which is a time-consuming process.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Coronavirus cases could peak between January 6-13 in Mumbai: TIFR scientist
As coronavirus infections surged in Mumbai, the city could witness a peak between January 6 to 13 and take a month for the cases to see a decline, according to researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).SandeepJuneja, senior professor, School of Technology and Computer Science, at theTIFR, said the peak fatalities could be in February, but it is expected to be around 30 to50 per cent less than what was recorded during the deadly second wave between March to May last year.The city recorded 10,860 cases, the highest daily count since April 7, 2021, on Tuesday. "Cases in Mumbai could peak between January 6 to 13 and they are likely to come down to lower levels in around a month. The peak fatalities are expected to be around 30 to 50 per cent less than what was witnessed during the second (delta) wave,"Juneja, who is involved in COVID-19modellingfor the city, said. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu govt imposes Sunday lockdown; saloons, spa closed until further orders
The TamilNadugovt has revised curfew timings. The provision , Food , vegetable stores will be available from Mon to Sat (6 am to 12 pm). There will no restrictions on Milk, Medicine and will remain open on all days. Dine-in in Hotel & Restaurant will be from allowed from 6am-10am, 12pm-3pm, 6pm-9pm.Saloons, Spa, Movies, entertainment, sports and all other commercial shops outletswill be closed until further notice. The non-vegetable market will be open on Monday to Friday from6am to 12pm.50 people will be allowed in Marriages while20 people allowed in death events.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | India reports first death linked to Omicron coronavirus variant
India on Wednesday reported its first COVID-19 death linked to the fast-spreading Omicron variant in the western state of Rajasthan, Reuters has reported citing a federal health ministry official said.Omicron cases in the country have now risen to 2,135, the official told a small group of reporters in New Delhi.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | 21 MBBS Students Test COVID Positive in Karnataka
Twenty-one students pursuingMBBScourse from the Vijayanagar Medical college here have tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said on Wednesday. According to college authorities, random tests were conducted among 250 students staying at a hostel, who were exposed to the virus. “TheCOVIDrandom test was done for all the students in the hostel. Among them 21 were found infected and they have been shifted to the District Hospital for treatment,” Dr TGangadhargowda, Director ofVIMS, toldPTI. They were first and second yearMBBSstudents.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Out of 60 COVID Patients on Cordelia Cruise Ship, 41 Shifted to COVID-care Center
Out of 60COVIDpositive patients on a Cordelia cruise ship, 41 have been shifted toCOVID-carecenter, hospital, and hotels, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Nitish Kumar puts off programmes in view of COVID surge
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has put off his ongoing tour of the state and his weekly public interaction programme in the capital city in view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, an official release said on Wednesday. Missives have been shot off to all district magistrates, superintendents of police and higher officials that 'Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan' and 'Janta Ke Durbar Mein Mukhyamantri' have been "suspended till further orders".
Notably, eight citizens and a caterer from the last weekly public interaction programme have tested positive for the infection. In addition, four members of Kumar's cabinet, including both his deputies, have contracted the disease. The state has witnessed a sharp rise in COVID cases over the past one week during which its active caseload has jumped by more than 20 times. Patna district has borne the brunt of the spike, accounting for 1,250 of the state's 2,222 active cases.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Madhya Pradesh's Indore sees 23-time jump in COVID-19 cases in 10 days
With the addition of 319 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city as seen a 23-time jump in infections in the last 10 days, an official said on Wednesday. Indore, one of the worst affected regions in the state due to the pandemic, had recorded 14 cases on December 26 and the number has rapidly increased since, the official from the district administration said.
According to the government data, the district has so far recorded 1,54,437 cases, including 1,397 casualties. Following a meeting of the District Crisis Management Committee, the administration has prepared a proposal to permit a maximum of 200 attendees at weddings and 50 in funeral processions to prevent the viral spread, he said.
The administration had earlier lifted the restrictions on the number of guests at weddings and mourners at funerals, as the cases had seen a decline. A proposal has also been prepared to allow coaching classes in the district to function with 50 per cent student strength, the official said, adding that these guidelines will be implemented once the state government approves them. Meanwhile, some locals claim that despite a surge in infections, several people are seen without masks in public places and physical distancing norms are also being violated.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Over 1 crore youngsters between 15-18 age group have received 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Over 1 crore youngsters between 15-18 age group have received 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine that too on the 3rd day of vaccination drive for children.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates | Multivariant Covid vaccine booster shows promise, early data suggests
A COVID-19 vaccine booster aimed at tackling multiple coronavirus variants shows promise in inducing a comprehensive immune response, early data suggests. The initial phase one clinical data shows the vaccine has strong levels of neutralising antibodies, similar to approved mRNA vaccines, but at up to a 10-fold lower dose in the first 10 individuals.
The yet-to-be peer-reviewed results also show the vaccine, being trialled with the anticipated involvement of 20 people aged 60 and over, was generally safe and well-tolerated. The trials are being conducted by US-based biotechnology company Gritstone bio in collaboration with the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
The self-amplifying mRNA second generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine -- or samRNA -- delivers antigens from both spike and non-spike proteins. The spike protein is used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter and infect human cells, and is a target of most currently used vaccines. The samRNA vaccine also produced broad CD8+ T cell responses against targets from SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins and boosted spike-specific T cells. T cells are part of the immune system, and form the second line of defence beyond antibodies.
