Coronavirus Omicron India Highlights | A total of 1,892 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 766 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry’s data updated on Tuesday. Maharashtra has recorded the maximum number of 568 cases, followed by Delhi (382), Kerala (185), Rajasthan (174), Gujarat (152), and Tamil Nadu (121).
India’s Covid tally rose to 3,49,60,261 with 37,379 new cases, while the active cases increased to 1,71,830, according to the data updated at 8 am. The death toll climbed to 4,82,017 with 124 more fatalities, the data showed. The active cases comprise 0.49 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.13 per cent, the health ministry said.
An increase of 26,248 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.24 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.05 per cent, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,43,06,414, 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 146.70 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 and three crore on June 23.
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Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Karnataka imposes weekend curfew amid COVID spike
The Karnataka government has announced a weekend curfew, which will come into effect from Friday 10 pm and remain in force till 5 am on Monday. The state has also made it mandatory for those arriving from Goa and Maharashtra to carry negative test results certificate. The curbs have been imposed in view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Bihar imposes night curfew, asks religious places, schools to temporarily close
The Bihar government has imposed a night curfew from January 6 to January 21, the timing of which was stated as 10 m to 5 am. Between these dates, schools for classes 1 to 8 will remain shut. The state government has also asked religious places to close down.
Malls, cinemas, clubs, swimming pools, stadiums, gyms andparks will also remain close till Jan 21, the order further reads.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | West Bengal to allow flights from Mumbai, Delhi thrice a week
The West Bengal government, which had last week announced that it would allow flights from Mumbai and Delhi only twice a week, informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)on January 4 that it would now allow flights from the two cities thrice a week. The change in norm will come into effect from January 5, it said.
Instead of Mondays and Fridays only, the flights from Mumbai and Delhi would now be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,West Bengal Additional Chief Secretaray BP Gopalika said in a communication sent to the MoCA. The situation would be further reviewed depending on the COVID-19 cases in the state, Gopalika added.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | BCCI puts domestic cricket on hold due to COVID spike
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to put domestic cricket on hold due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. Three major domestic tournaments including Ranji Trophy has been indefinitely postponed, reports said. Only theongoing U-19 pre-quarterfinal will be completed, TOI reported.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Railway ministry says unvaccinated employees won't be allowed in Rail Bhawan
The Ministry of Railways on January 4 said it "would restrict" the entry of its unvaccinatedemployees intothe Rail Bhawan. "Such staff would avail their own leave until vaccination is complete," it said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | West Bengal reports 9,073 new cases in last 24 hours
West Bengal reported 9,073 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with state capital Kolkata accounting for4,759 among them. The state had conducted a total of 47,864 tests in the same period. The positivity rate has climbed to 18.96 percent.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 18,466 new cases; Omicron tally reaches 653
Maharashtra on January 4 reported 18,46 new COVID-19 cases, with the Omicron tally climbing to 653. Mumbai, the state capital, accounted for 10,860 out of the new cases. The state also recorded 20 more deaths due to the disease in the last 24 hours.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Mumbai reports over 10,000 new COVID cases
The per-day infection count in Mumbai crossed 10,000 on January 4. The city reported 10,860 new infections, higher than 8,082 reported a day earlier. In the past 24 hours, two deaths due to the disease were reported.
The active caseload has surged to 47,476.
On January 3, Mumbai municipal body commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said the city may come under lockdown if the daily case count crosses 20,000.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Chhattisgarh CM orders ban on all rallies, processions in state
In the wake of rise in coronavirus cases in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has ordereda ban on rallies, processions and other kinds of public events across the state. "All the Collectors and SPs should take every possible measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection," Baghel said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Uttarakhand Health Secretary Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey tests positive for COVID-19
Uttarakhand Health Secretary Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey has tested positive for COVID-19, news agency ANI reported. Uttarakhand is among the states which have seen an uptick in daily infection count over the past few days. The hill-state on January 4 reported 310 new coronavirus cases.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Vaccination numbers in 15-17 age group cross 40 lakh for second day in row
The vaccination figures for 15-17 years age group has crossed 40 lakh for second day in a row. The total jabs administered on day 1 (January 3) was over 40 lakh, the numbers for today had surged past 40 lakh by 6 pm. A total of94,15,922 beneficiaries from the age group have registered themselves to get inoculated so far.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Cordelia cruise with 66 COVID positive passengers to return to Mumbai today
Cordelia cruise with 66 COVID19 positive passengers to return to Mumbai today evening. A team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will conduct screening of passengers on arrival, news agency ANI reported.
The 66 COVID19 positive passengers of the Cordelia cruise will be put under isolation at designated facilities. All other passengers will undergo RT-PCR test andwill be allowed to disembark from the ship only after their COVID19 test results come, theBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Actor Sumona Chakravarti tests COVID-19 positive in Mumbai
Actor Sumona Chakravarti on Tuesday said she has tested positive for COVID-19 and is under home quarantine. The 33-year-old actor, who stars on the popular comedy series "The Kapil Sharma Show", shared her health update on her Instagram Story.
"I have tested positive for COVID with moderate symptoms. Quarantined at home. Would request anyone who has come in contact with me in the last week to please get yourself tested. Thank you," Chakravarti wrote. Mumbai is witnessing a huge surge in COVID-19 cases since last week. Several Bollywood personalities, including actors John Abraham, Mrunal Thakur, Drashti Dhami, Nora Fatehi, producer Ekta Kapoor and veteran actor Prem Chopra among others have also contracted the virus. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 5,481 new cases, positivity rate jumps to 8.37%
Delhi on January 4 reported 5,481 new COVID-19 cases, up from 4,099 recorded a day earlier. The positivity rate in the national capital has climbed to 8.37 percent, whereas, the active caseload has reached 14,889. In the period of last 24 hours, three deaths due to the disease were also reported.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Want to ensure job for family member of any govt employee who dies of COVID: Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia
"We're of the view that if any governmentemployee dies due to COVID or any other mishap, his/her family member should be provided with a job. But this right has been snatched from us. Tell (Home Minister) Amit Shah, LG Anil Baijal to give us our right," Delhi DeputyChief MinisterManish Sisodiasaid in the legislative assembly.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Over 21 lakh vaccinated in 15-17 age group so far till 2 pm on 2nd day of immunisation drive
Over 21 lakh were vaccinated in the 15-17 age group till 2 pm on January 4 -- which is the second day of the vaccination drive for the eligible teenage group, News 18 reported. The total jabs for the day is expected to hit yesterday's figure of 41 lakh, the news channel said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 63.16 lakh in age group 15-17 vaccinated so far
A total of 63,16,596 people in the age group of 15-17 years have been vaccinated so far as part of the nationwide drive. The number of people who have registered for vaccine in this group was stated as82,90,089 so far.
Omicron India Live Updates | Lockdown will be imposed in Mumbai if daily COVID-19 cases go over 20,000: Mayor Kishori Pednekar
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Tuesday said if the daily COVID-19 cases here cross the 20,000-mark, a lockdown will be imposed in the city as per the Union government’s rules. Talking to reporters at her office in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, Pednekar suggested that citizens wear triple-layer masks while travelling in public buses and local trains.
She also appealed to them to get vaccinated at the earliest and follow all COVID-19-related standard operating procedures (SOPs). Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray might address the citizens in a couple of days, she said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray might address the citizens in a couple of days, she said.
To a query, Pednekar said the BMC will carry out RT-PCR tests of people returning from Goa by a cruise ship and quarantine them at civic centres, or in hotels if they are ready to pay for it. Notably, the cruise ship, where 66 of the over 2,000 people on board tested positive for coronavirus, was sent back to Mumbai from Goa late Monday night with all the passengers after some of the infected persons refused to get admitted to a medical facility there, an official from a shipping agency said.
The mayor said BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has been keeping a close watch on the situation, and he has already hinted about the lockdown, if the COVID-19 cases in the city rise over 20,000. "Today, no one wants a lockdown and it certainly shouldn’t be imposed, as just now everyone is recovering from it. If the lockdown is enforced again, it will badly affect everyone. But, if the daily COVID-19 cases cross the 20,000 mark, a lockdown will be implemented by the civic body and the state government as per the Union government’s rules," Pednekar said.
"Today, no one wants a lockdown and it certainly shouldn’t be imposed, as just now everyone is recovering from it. If the lockdown is enforced again, it will badly affect everyone. But, if the daily COVID-19 cases cross the 20,000 mark, a lockdown will be implemented by the civic body and the state government as per the Union government’s rules," Pednekar said. She appealed to citizens to follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour, avoid overcrowding in markets, malls and marriage functions, and wear masks properly.
The mayor also appealed to people to hold marriage functions as per the rules, and ensure such events do not prove to be COVID-19 super-spreaders. She said currently, only six Omicron patients are admitted in Mumbai hospitals and all other persons infected by the new COVID-19 variant have been discharged. Mumbai is witnessing a huge surge in COVID-19 cases since the last week. On Monday, the country’s financial capital reported 8,082 COVID-19 cases, the highest daily count since April 18, 2021, taking the caseload beyond the eight lakh-mark, while two more patients succumbed to the infection, the BMC earlier said.
Mumbai also reported 40 new cases of the Omicron variant, pushing the number of such infections to 368 in the metropolis, according to the Maharashtra government’s health department. With fresh additions, the city’s coronavirus tally rose to 8,07,602, while the death toll increased to 16,379 on Monday, as per official data.
Omicron India Live Updates | Cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla, TMC's Babul Supriyo test COVID-positive
Cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla said on Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Shukla, a former minister in the West Bengal government, said he was in home isolation.
"I have tested positive for COVID-19 and in home isolation. I have a high fever and I am following the doctor's advice. Other members of my family are fine," Shukla, the captain of the Bengal Ranji Trophy team, told PTI. Former Union minister Babul Supriyo said he along with his wife, father and several members of his staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
"Me, my wife, Dad, multiple staff, hv all tested positive, but my concern is the superhigh Rs.61000/- price of the Cocktail jab that needs to be given SOS to seriously ill #COVID19 patients. Dad who is 84, needed the jab SOS & I hv to buy it on-the-spot. Hw can the EWS afford it? (sic)," he tweeted. West Bengal's Minister of Power and Sports Aroop Biswas, who was hospitalised after being diagnosed with COVID-19, was discharged on Tuesday morning.
"I am feeling better. I will be in home as per the doctor's suggestion," he said. Biswas is haemodynamically stable and maintaining saturation in room air, the hospital said, adding that he will be in home isolation for a week.
Omicron India Live Updates | 80 doctors, students at Patiala medical college test positive for COVID-19
A total of 80 people, including doctors, students and support staff, of the Government Rajindra Hospital and Medical College in Punjab's Patiala have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday. This comes as Patiala is turning out to be the worst-hit district in Punjab in terms of a rising number of coronavirus cases.
Patiala reported 143 fresh coronavirus cases, accounting for 34 per cent of the 419 cases in Punjab, with a positivity rate of 23.95 per cent, on Monday. District Epidemiologist Dr Sumeet Singh on Tuesday said 22 resident doctors, 34 medical students, nine faculty members and 15 support and paramedical staff at the Government Rajindra Hospital and Medical College have tested positive for COVID-19.
The officials said directions have been issued to evacuate nearly 1,000 medical students from the hostel after conducting their Covid tests. Those who test positive for the viral disease will be isolated, they added. A few days ago, 93 students at the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology in Patiala had tested positive for Covid, the officials said. Punjab has been witnessing a rise in the number of coronavirus cases for the last few days.
The state reported 46 fresh cases of the infection on December 27, 51 cases on December 28, 100 cases on December 29, 167 cases on December 30, 221 cases on December 31, 332 cases on January 1, 417 cases on January 2 and 419 cases on January 3. The positivity rate climbed to 4.47 per cent on January 3 from 0.63 per cent on December 27, according to a medical bulletin. Similarly, the number of active cases jumped from 392 on December 27 to 1,741 on January 3. Punjab has so far recorded 6,05,922 Covid cases and 16,651 deaths due to the disease.
Omicron India Live Updates | Weekend curfew to be imposed in Delhi amid COVID-19 surge: Manish Sisodia
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said the Delhi government has decided to impose weekend curfew in the capital in view of a surge in Covid cases driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. He said government employees, barring those engaged in essential services, will be asked to work from home, while private offices will remain open with 50 per cent capacity.
"There will be curfew on Saturdays and Sundays. People are requested to step out only when it is absolutely necessary," he said in a virtual press conference after a meeting of the Disaster Management Authority. He said the government feared that bus stops and metro stations could become super spreaders as the seating capacity had been halved and long queues were seen at such places.
So, it has been decided to run buses and metro trains on full capacity. But no one can travel without a mask, he said. There are around 11,000 active cases in Delhi. Only 350 are in hospitals. Of them 124 need oxygen, while seven are on ventilator support, Sisodia said. There are around 11,000 active cases in Delhi. Only 350 are in hospitals.
On December 28, the DDMA declared a 'yellow alert' after the positivity rate crossed the 0.5 per cent mark, and closed down cinemas and gyms. It had directed shops of non-essential items to open on an odd-even basis and reduced the seating capacity in metro trains and buses to 50 per cent.
According to the DDMA-approved Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a positivity rate of more than five per cent for two consecutive days is one of the criteria to declare a 'red alert' which means a 'total curfew' and halting of most economic activities in the capital. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain have said most cases this time are mild or symptomatic and do not need medical care in hospitals.
Jain had said the Omicron variant of coronavirus is behind the surge in infections in the city and more restrictions will be implemented if bed occupancy rate goes up. Delhi on Monday reported 4,099 fresh COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate spiraled to 6.46 per cent, with Jain saying the Omicron variant of coronavirus is behind the surge in infections in the city and more restrictions will be implemented if the bed occupancy rate goes up.
Omicron India Live Updates
| Cases of Omicron variant have been rapidly rising. Delhi has reported around 11,000 positive cases in the past 8-10 days, of which around 350 patients are in hospital, only 124 patients need oxygen & 7 are on a ventilator: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia
Omicron India Live Updates
| More than 3 lakh children aged 15-18 years got inoculated yesterday. More than 90% of the eligible population has been vaccinated with the 1st dose & almost 80% population with the 2nd dose. Everyone will be vaccinated by January 31: Rajasthan Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena
Omicron India Live Updates | Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde says he has tested positive for COVID-19
Omicron India Live Updates | Delhi Govt likely to impose weekend curfew to curb COVID surge: Sources
Omicron India Live Updates | We will have to impose lockdown in Mumbai if daily COVID cases cross the 20,000-mark: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar
Omicron India Live Updates | Omicron states across India as of January 4
Omicron India Live Updates | Delhi may have 25,000 daily COVID-19 cases by mid-January: Report
Delhi may see 20,000 to 25,000 COVID-19 cases per day by mid-January, reported NDTV citing government sources, as cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus infection rises in the national capital. On January 3, Delhi reported 4,099 new cases, 28 percent more than January 2. At the ongoing rate of coronavirus infection, the city may report 8,000-9,000 daily cases by January 8, top sources in the Union Health Ministry told the publication.
"By January 5, there could be 20,000-25,000 daily cases in Delhi," the sources said, as they cautioned against underestimating the Omicron surge. Moneycontrol could not independently verify this report. The sources further said that the rate of hospitalisation had increased in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
“As cases rise, so will the number of people in hospitals,” they said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tested positive for COVID-19. He informed about his diagnosis on Twitter on January 4 and urged people whom he came in contact with over the past few days to quarantine and get tested. He has mild symptoms and is isolated at home, he said. Talking about Kejriwal’s health, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said he has only mild symptoms. “COVID-19 reaching the CM is not a big deal, but spreading among the people is a matter of concern. We need to be extremely cautious,” he told news agency ANI.
Omicron India Live Updates | Ladakh reports 65 new COVID-19 cases
Ladakh has reported 65 new Covid cases, taking the infection tally to 22,289, while the active cases have increased to 249, officials said on Tuesday. The Union Territory has recorded 220 Covid-related deaths -- 162 in Leh and 58 in Kargil -- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, they said. Twelve patients were cured and discharged from hospitals in Ladakh. The total number of cured patients is 20,820, they said.
Of the new cases, 58 were reported from Leh and seven from Kargil district, they said, adding that the active cases include 198 from Leh and 51 from Kargil districts. A total of 774 sample reports in Ladakh were found negative, they said.
Omicron India Live Updates | Odisha reports highest COVID-19 cases in over 3 months
Odisha recorded the highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases in over three months on Tuesday as 680 more people tested positive, the Health Department said. The daily positivity rate jumped to 1.31 per cent and 119 children were among those found positive in the past 24 hours, a bulletin stated. Khurda, where Bhubaneswar is located, reported most of the new cases with 263 infections, followed by 69 in Sundargarh and 59 in Cuttack, it said.
The state had logged 424 COVID-19 cases on Monday. On September 22, there were 734 infections. The toll mounted to 8,464 as a 50-year-old man from Balasore district died. These are confirmed as deaths due to COVID-19 after an audit, the department said.
Omicron India Live Updates | BJP MP Manoj Tiwari tests positive for COVID-19
Bharatiya Janta Party MP from North East Delhi and former state unit chief Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday said he tested positive for COVID-19 and has isolated himself at home. He has developed fever and cold two days back and tested positive on Tuesday. "Was feeling unwell since January 2 night. I could not go for poll campaigning in Rudrapur in Uttarakhand due to mild fever and cold. Have tested positive today. As precautionary measure I have isolated myself yesterday (Monday) only. Please take care of you and your families", Tiwari said in a tweet in Hindi on Tuesday.
He has also asked his staff and those who came in contact with him to get tested and quarantine themselves as a precaution. According to his staff members, the BJP MP has tested positive for COVID-19 second time, earlier he had tested positive during the second wave of coronavirus pandemic in April 2021. The BJP star campaigner, Tiwari has cancelled his upcoming rallies in poll bound Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He has to address a rally in Lunckow on January 7, which has been cancelled now, one of his staff members told PTI.
He has last addressed a public gathering in Chandigarh on December 21. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana has also tested COVID positive. "Dosto I have been diagnosed Covid Positive. Fortunately it’s a mild one. I m in Home isolation now. Please aap sab log apna dhyan rakho. U people take care of urself, Khurana, son of former Delhi chief minister late Madan Lal Khurana, tweeted".
Omicron India Live Updates | Bengal tourist among 3 found omicron-positive in Puri, hotel declared micro-containment zone
A hotel in Odisha’s Puri was declared a micro-containment zone after three people were found to be positive for the omicron variant of coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday. One of the patients is a tourist from West Bengal, while the other two are staff members of the hotel, they said. The hotel in ward 11 was declared a micro-containment zone after the three cases were detected, Puri District Collector Samarth Verma said.
No one would be allowed to enter the hotel, and no one from inside would be allowed to come out, he said. All the employees of the hotel will undergo RT-PCR tests, he said. All the shops on the premises of the hotel have been closed, while the administration is providing essential items to those living inside, he said. Verma, however, clarified that it would have no impact on devotees visiting the famed Jagannath temple.
Omicron India Live Updates | Former Saurashtra player Ambapratasinh Jadeja dies of COVID-19 infection
Former Saurashtra cricketer Ambapratasinhji Jadeja died of COVID-19 infection on Tuesday, the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) said. He was 69. "Everyone at Saurashtra Cricket Association are deeply saddened on the sad demise of Saurashtra's yesteryears’ cricketer late Shri Ambapratapsinhji Jadeja. He passed away today early morning at Valsad fighting hard battle against Covid-19," the SCA said in a media statement issued here.
Hailing from Jamnagar, Jadeja was a prominent right-arm medium pacer and right-handed batsman. He played eight Ranji Trophy matches representing Saurashtra. He was a retired DSP, Gujarat Police. In a condolence message, former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said, “Ambapratapsinhji was a remarkable player and I have interacted good cricketing moments with him. May his noble soul rest in the shelter of the Almighty.”
Omicron India Live Updates | Actor Drashti Dhami tests positive for COVID-19, under home quarantine
Popular TV actor Drashti Dhami on Tuesday said she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine. The 36-year-old actor took to Instagram to share news about her COVID-19 diagnosis with her fans.
"Just some good things to keep me company as I fight the 3rd wave! Luckily, I can smell those lilies and enjoy that Twix. Counting on these blessings! Now accepting love and good food.'' Dhami is recognized for her roles in TV shows such as "Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon", "Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani", "Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka" and features in historical drama 'Empire on Disney+Hotstar among others.
Mumbai reported 8,082 COVID-19 cases on Monday and two more patients succumbed to the infection, according to the city civic body. The city also reported 40 new cases of the latest coronavirus variant Omicron, pushing the number of such infections to 368 in the metropolis, according to the Maharashtra government's health department.
Omicron India Live Updates | Satyendra Jain says Covid reaching the CM is not a big deal, but spreading among the people is a matter of concern
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has only mild symptoms. Covid reaching the CM is not a big deal, but spreading among the people is a matter of concern. We need to be extremely cautious: Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain
Omicron India Live Updates | Surge in cases indicative of third COVID-19 wave in India: Expert
In the major Indian cities, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is accounting for more than 50 per cent of the fresh cases of the infection and the massive surge in the number of cases over the last one week is indicative of a third wave of the pandemic, as is being witnessed in several countries, Dr N K Arora, the chairman of the COVID-19 working group of the NTAGI, said on Tuesday.
Omicron is being detected in most of the states in the country, he told PTI. Noting that in the major metro centres and the surrounding regions, the new variant of the virus is accounting for over 50 per cent of the fresh cases, Arora said, "The galloping increase in the number of Covid cases over the last one week is indicative of the third wave, as is being seen in several other countries across the globe."
He, however, stressed that there is no need to panic. Arora said over 80 per cent of the people in the country have been infected with the virus naturally, more than 90 per cent of the adults have received at least one dose of an anti-Covid vaccine and over 65 per cent are fully vaccinated.
"If we look at the behaviour of the Omicron wave in South Africa, where it rapidly increased, in two weeks, the number of cases started coming down and most of the cases were either asymptomatic or had a mild illness, along with the decoupling of the total number of Covid cases vis-a-vis those requiring hospitalisation. All these factors indicate that the Omicron wave in South Africa may soon subside," he said.
There are some epidemiological similarities between South Africa and India. The natural infection rates in both the countries are very high, Arora pointed out, adding that however, the immunisation rates in India are several fold higher. "In view of this, we may see a somewhat similar pattern in India as far as the third wave is concerned. "Looking at the behaviour of the Covid infection in the last seven to 10 days in India, I feel that we may be in for a third wave peak very soon," he said.
Arora, however, asserted that there is no need to press the panic button. "Those who are yet to take the vaccine or are partially immunised should get the jab for protection against severe disease and hospitalisation. Also, one should strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour," he said. A total of 1,892 Omicron cases have so far been detected across 23 states and Union territories in the country and of the patients, 766 have either recuperated or migrated, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.
Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of 568 Omicron cases, followed by Delhi (382), Kerala (185), Rajasthan (174), Gujarat (152) and Tamil Nadu (121). With 37,379 fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 3,49,60,261, while the number of active cases of the infection has gone up to 1,71,830, according to the ministry’s data updated at 8 am.
Omicron India Live Updates | COVID-19: Night curfew imposed, educational institutions shut in Punjab
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the Punjab government on Tuesday decided to clamp night curfew, shut educational institutions and allow cinema halls to operate with 50 percent capacity to arrest the spread of the infection, officials said. Movement of individuals for all non-essential activities shall remain prohibited between 10 pm to 5 am within municipal limits of all cities and towns of Punjab, according to an order issued by the home affairs and justice department on Tuesday.
All educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and coaching institutions, shall remain closed, it further said. Bars, cinema halls, multiplexes, malls, restaurants, spas, museums, and zoos shall be allowed to operate at 50 per cent of their capacity subject to all employees being fully vaccinated, it said.
Only fully vaccinated staff will be allowed to attend government and private offices, working spaces, factories, and industries, it said. The restrictions in poll-bound Punjab will remain in force till January 15. Punjab has been witnessing a rise in the number of infections for the last few days. It has so far recorded 6,05,922 Covid cases and 16,651 deaths.
Omicron India Live Updates | Whoopi Goldberg tests positive for COVID-19
Veteran actor and "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg has tested positive for COVID-19. Joy Behar, co-host of the ABC talk show, revealed 66-year-old Goldberg's diagnosis on the programme Monday. "Whoopi unfortunately tested positive over the break, but she will hopefully be back next week. Since she is vaxxed and boosted, her symptoms have been very, very mild, but we are being super cautious here at The View," Behar, 79, said. According to The Hollywood Reporter, another co-host Sunny Hostin (53) also said she tested positive for COVID-19 before Christmas.
"I am so thankful that I was vaccinated and boosted, because I just had cold-like symptoms, but I didn't feel great," Hostin said. Ana Navarro's father tested positive for the virus over the holidays, along with Sara Haines' husband in separate incidents. The hosts all appeared on the show remotely. Celebrity late-night show host Jimmy Fallon also revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 over holiday break. He shared a photo of himself masked in an isolation room on Instagram Monday.
"Hey guys, on the first day of our holiday break I tested positive for Covid. I was vaccinated and boostered which made me lucky enough to only have mild symptoms," Fallon, who recovered in time for "The Tonight Show" return from break, wrote. The 47-year-old also thanked the medical professionals for the commitment to their job "to get everyone vaxxed". "Thank you to NBC for taking the testing protocols so seriously and doing a great job," he added.
Omicron India Live Updates | COVID-19 surge: Gujarat HC restricts entry of people in its premises
The Gujarat High Court has restricted the entry of people in its premises in the wake of a rise in coronavirus cases in the state, and barred the entry of litigants while making it mandatory for those required to appear in person to carry COVID-19 negative report. The curbs will come into effect from Wednesday, as per a circular issued by the HC's registrar general on Monday.
According to the circular, the Chief Justice has also ordered for the closure of all the canteens located in the high court premises from Wednesday. Screening has been made mandatory for all those entering the court premises, with strict adherence to social distancing norm and cooperation with the medical screening team, it said.
"In the matter of habeas corpus petitions, the corpus shall be produced by the jurisdictional police authorities before the jurisdictional district court to enable the judges presiding the bench to interact in virtual mode with the persons so produced," said the circular. The HC has also asked the advocates' association president to ensure that the bar library, reference library and all bar rooms are closed by 1 pm every day, and requested advocates to not sit in large numbers in any of the court premises.
Other precautionary measures like downloading the Aarogya App and avoiding handshakes are also required to be taken, apart from following the government advisory issued from time-to-time, said the circular. On Monday, Gujarat reported 1,259 new COVID-19 cases, its highest tally in nearly seven months, raising the total number of confirmed cases reported from the state to 8,35,028. Out of the fresh cases, Ahmedabad city alone accounted for 631 cases. The high court had resumed physical hearing from August last year, after operating online for nearly a year due to the pandemic situation.
Omicron India Live Updates
| Punjab Govt imposes night curfew in municipal areas with certain exceptions. Bars, cinemas halls, malls, restaurants, spas to operate at 50% capacity subject to staff being fully vaccinated. Gyms to remain closed. Only fully vaccinated staff to attend Govt, pvt offices
Omicron India Live Updates | Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey diagnosed with COVID-19, he tweets
Omicron India Live Updates | Omicron evades immunity better than Delta, Danish study finds
The Omicron coronavirus variant is better at circumventing vaccinated peoples' immunity than the Delta variant, according to a Danish study published last week, helping explain why Omicron is spreading more rapidly. Since the discovery of the heavily mutated Omicron variant in November, scientists have been racing to find out whether it causes less serious disease and why it appears more contagious than the previously dominating Delta variant.
A virus can be more transmissible due to a number of reasons, such as the time it lingers in the air, its ability to latch onto cells, or its evasion of the body's immune system. Investigating nearly 12,000 Danish households in mid-December, the scientists found that Omicron was 2.7 to 3.7 times more infectious than the Delta variant among vaccinated Danes.
The study, conducted by researchers at University of Copenhagen, Statistics Denmark and Statens Serum Institut (SSI), suggests the virus is mainly spreading more rapidly because it is better at evading immunity obtained from vaccines. "Our findings confirm that the rapid spread of the Omicron (variant) primarily can be ascribed to the immune evasiveness rather than an inherent increase in the basic transmissibility," the researchers said. The study has yet to be peer-reviewed.
Seventy-eight percent of Danes have been fully vaccinated, while nearly 48% of those have received a third "boosted" shot. More than eight out of ten Danes have received Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine. The study also found that booster-vaccinated people are less likely to transmit the virus, regardless of the variant, than the unvaccinated. While more transmissible, the Omicron variant does seem to induce less serious disease, SSI's technical director, Tyra Grove Krause, told local media on Monday.
"While Omicron will still be able to put pressure on our healthcare system, everything indicates that it is milder than the Delta variant," she said, adding the risk of being hospitalised with Omicron was half of that with Delta. That echoes the results of some other studies into Omicron. Out of a total of 93 people admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 from Omicron in late December, less than five were receiving intensive care, Danish data showed. "This may be what is going to lift us out of the pandemic, so that this becomes the last wave of corona," Krause said.
Omicron India Live Updates | Cruise ship sent back to Mumbai from Goa with all passengers, including COVID-19 infected
The Cordelia cruise ship, where 66 of the over 2,000 people on board tested positive for coronavirus, has been sent back to Mumbai from Goa with all the passengers after some of the infected persons refused to get admitted to a medical facility in the coastal state, an official from a shipping agency said on Tuesday. The infected passengers would be isolated on the ship, he said. The infected passengers would be isolated on the ship, he said.
As many as 66 of the over 2,000 people on board the Cordelia cruise ship, which came to Goa from Mumbai, had tested positive for COVID-19, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday. The cruise liner, where the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted a high-profile rave party in October last year, was carrying hordes of New Year revellers.
The testing of those on board the vessel was necessitated after a crew member was found infected with the coronavirus on Sunday, an official said. The ship was sent back at 11.30 pm on Monday after 27 passengers, who had tested positive, refused to disembark, Govind Pernulkar, manager operations, JM Baxi and Co, a local ship agent, told PTI.
The ship had to be sent back after some of the passengers who tested positive refused to get admitted to a COVID-19 facility in Goa. Only six crew members out of the total 66 who had tested positive were disembarked in Goa, he said. Pernulkar said after considering the situation, the South Goa district administration ordered that the ship along with all the passengers be sent back to Mumbai.
The passengers who were shifted to an isolation facility were also brought back to the ship before it sailed to Mumbai. The coronavirus positive passengers would be isolated on the ship, he said. Some of the infected persons who refused to leave the ship were travelling along with their families, he said, adding that a few of their family members had tested negative for the viral infection. The ship is expected to reach Mumbai by Tuesday afternoon, he added.
Omicron India Live Updates | Twenty new cases take COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 7,763
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands jumped to 41 as 20 more people tested positive for the infection, while only three persons were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, an official said on Tuesday. The fresh infections raised the tally in the Union Territory to 7,763, he said. Of the new patients, 10 have travel history and others were detected during contact tracing. Ten fresh cases of coronavirus infection were reported on Sunday.
The death toll remained at 129 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours, the official said. At least 7,593 people have so far recovered from the disease in the archipelago. The local administration has been strict to contain the spread of the disease and has adopted an approach of tracking, testing and treating, he said, adding that people arriving here from the mainland are mandatorily required to undergo COVID tests. Altogether, 5,94,997 people have been inoculated with 2,93,992 of them having received both doses of the vaccines.
At least 1,934 people were vaccinated on January 3, and of them, 1,293 beneficiaries were in the age group of 15-18 years. "All the active cases are in the South Andaman district. At least 1,607 beneficiaries were inoculated there during the day. Of the total number of immunised people in the age group of 15-18 years, 1,010 were in the South Andaman and 283 in North and Middle Andaman," the official said.
Congress MP from the archipelago, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, has requested the authorities to direct the health and education departments to arrange vaccination of children in their respective schools to avoid gatherings in immunisation centres. He also congratulated the Andaman and Nicobar administration for starting the inoculation drive for children between 15-18 years in Port Blair from Monday. The administration has conducted over 6.68 lakh sample tests for COVID-19 so far, and the positivity rate stands at 1.16 per cent, the official added.
Omicron India Live Updates | Goa imposes night curfew, orders shutdown of schools and colleges amid COVID spike after New Year celebrations
Goa imposed a night curfew and ordered shutdown of schools and colleges as COVID spiked in the coastal state after a huge number of tourists turned up for New Year celebrations in the month of December. The decision comes after Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant chaired the state task force’s meeting on COVID.
The curfew would last from 11 pm to 6 am and colleges as well as classes eight and nine in schools would remain shut till January 26. On January 3, a 29-second clip showing a massive crowd flouting COVID guidelines on a narrow road near Baga Beach went viral. Most of them were reportedly tourists. Goa reported 631 new COVID-19 cases with the positivity rate jumping 16 percent to 26.43 percent. With the new infections, the overall caseload in the state rose to 1,82,201 on January 3.
The COVID death toll remained unchanged at 3,523 in Goa as no fresh fatality was reported on the day, officials added. The number of recoveries rose to 1,76,438 after 62 people were discharged during the day, leaving Goa with 2,240 active cases, an official said.
Omicron India Live Updates | Omicron tally in India rises to 1,892
A total of 1,892 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 766 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry’s data updated on Tuesday. Maharashtra has recorded the maximum number of 568 cases, followed by Delhi (382), Kerala (185), Rajasthan (174), Gujarat (152), and Tamil Nadu (121).
India’s Covid tally rose to 3,49,60,261 with 37,379 new cases, while the active cases increased to 1,71,830, according to the data updated at 8 am. The death toll climbed to 4,82,017 with 124 more fatalities, the data showed. The active cases comprise 0.49 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.13 per cent, the health ministry said.
An increase of 26,248 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.24 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.05 per cent, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,43,06,414, 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 146.70 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 and three crore on June 23.
Omicron India Live Updates | Actor Prem Chopra, 86, wife hospitalised after testing positive for COVID-19
Veteran actor Prem Chopra and his wife Uma Chopra were on Monday hospitalised in Mumbai after they tested positive for COVID-19, a senior doctor treating the couple said. The couple has been admitted to the city’s Lilavati Hospital, said Dr Jalil Parkar who is treating them, adding that they are likely to be discharged in "a day or two".
"They both have received the monoclonal antibody cocktail and are recuperating well. Hopefully (he) will be discharged in a day or two. At the age of 86 years (he) is responding quite well," Dr Parkar was quoted as saying in a statement by news agency PTI. Chopra is known for playing iconic villain roles in Hindi films such as "Bobby", "Do Raaste", and "Kati Patang".
Prem Chopra and his wife are among a strong of Bollywood celebrities to test positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, at a time when India is seeing a massive surge in infections and a fast spread of the Omicron variant of the virus.
