Coronavirus Omicron Highlights | India saw a single day jump of 2,64,202 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 239 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,65,82,129 which includes 5,753 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. There has been a 4.83 per cent increase in Omicron cases since Thursday.
The active cases have increased to 12,72,073, the highest in 220 days, while the death toll has climbed to 4,85,350 with 315 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprises 3.48 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 95.20 per cent, the ministry said.
A total 2,76,110 coronavirus infections were reported in a single day on May 19. An increase of 1,54,542 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. An increase of 1,54,542 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 14.78 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 11.83 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to3,48,24,706, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.33 per cent. The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 155.39 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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Mumbai Police reported that 136 police personnel have tested positive for COVID in the last 24 hours. They also informed that a total of 126 personnelhave died so far. The active cases standat 1,253.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 43,211 new COVID cases, 33,356 recoveries, and 19 deaths today
Maharashtra has reported 43,211 new COVID cases, 33,356 recoveries, and 19 deaths today. The active case tally stands at 2,61,658. 238 patients with Omicron infection have been reported in the state today. This takes the total Omicron count to 1605 in Maharashtra.
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Chandigarh reports 1,834 new cases today; Active cases at 7,257. Positivity rate at 25.21%
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Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar said Covid cases have doubled in the state in three days during the 3rd wave, much faster than the first two waves. Meanwhile, test positivity rate in Bengaluru has hit 20 per cent as cases rose to 18,374 on Friday, he said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Karnataka reports 28,723 new cases, 3105 recoveries and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 10,307 fresh Covid cases, 3 more deaths in Rajasthan
Rajasthan on Friday recorded 10,307 fresh COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, according to the health department. As many as 2,549 fresh cases were reported from Jaipur, 1,027 from Alwar, 801 from Jodhpur, 735 from Udaipur, 615 from Bikaner, 576 from Bharatpur and 388 from Hanumangarh, the health department said.Of the latest deaths, one each was reported from Dausa, Jodhpur and Udaipur. So far, 8,991 people have succumbed to COVID-19 in the state, it said. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan stands at 52,773. As many as 3,096 more people have recovered from the viral disease, it said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | West Bengal logs 22,645 new COVID-19 cases, 28 deaths; fatality rate 1.07%
West Bengal on Friday reported 22,645 new COVID-19 cases -- 822 less than the previous day -- which pushed the tally to 18,63,697, the health department said in its bulletin. Twenty-eight more COVID-related deaths in the state highest since the third wave of the pandemic struck in December with the toll climbing to 20,013, the bulletin stated.The positivity rate dipped to 31.14 per cent from 32.13 per cent a day ago. The fatality rate stood at 1.07 per cent.Kolkata recorded 6,867 fresh cases in the past 24 hours followed by North 24 Parganas at 4,018. Of the 28 fatalities, eight were reported in North 24 Parganas and seven in the city.A total 8,687 people recovered from the disease in the past 24 hours. The discharge rate slipped from 91.77 per cent the previous day to 91.12 per cent.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Mumbai reports 11,317 fresh cases & 9 deaths today
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Lakhs take holy dip in Ganga in Prayagraj on Makar Sankranti, defy Covid surge
Tens of thousands of devotees took a holy dip in theGangahere on the occasion ofMakarSankrantion Friday, braving severe cold and belittling the coronavirus threat. Devotees have been flocking theMaghMelaarea since morning and around 5.5 lakh people, including children and the elderly, had taken bath in the river by 4.30 pm, an official of the annual religious event said.District Magistrate SanjayKhatri,MelaAhikariSheshmaniPandeyand Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar visited the VIP Ghat,SangamNose,ArailGhat and other major ghats. Holding themelaamid rising number of coronavirus cases has emerged as a major challenge before the fair administration. In fact, many policemen on duty were found infected with COVID-19 even before the start of the fair.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 24,383 new COVID-19 cases, 34 deaths and 26,236 recoveries
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Uttar Pradesh registers 16,016 fresh COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths
UttarPradesh reported 16,016 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally of active cases in the state to 84,440, while three more fatalities pushed the death toll to 22,949, according to an official statement released on Friday evening. With these fresh cases, the total number of cases recorded in the state so far stood at 18,01,231.Of the three deaths, two were reported from Meerut and one fromGautamBuddhNagar, it said. Of the fresh cases, 2,209 cases were reported from Lucknow, 1,887 cases reported fromGhaziabad, 1,817 cases fromGautamBuddhNagarand 1,203 cases from Meerut among others, it said.In 24 hours ending Friday evening, 2,554 COVID-19 patients were cured, taking the total number of recoveries to 16,93,842, the statement said. A total of over 2.54 lakh samples were tested for the virus in these 24 hours, taking the total number of tests conducted so far to over 9.58 crores, it stated.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Sikkim reports 385 fresh COVID-19 cases, one more fatality
Sikkim on Friday reported 385 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 34,030, according to a health department bulletin. The state had on Thursday recorded 294 new cases.The COVID-19 death toll in the Himalayan state rose to 411, as one more patient succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases is now 1,417, up from 1,063 on January 13.As many as 31,785 patients have recovered from coronavirus in the state thus far while 417 others have migrated to other states, the bulletin said. East Sikkim logged 277 positive cases in the past 24 hours, followed by 58 in South Sikkim, 41 in West Sikkim, and nine in North Sikkim.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Andhra Pradesh registers 4,528 more Covid-19 cases
Andhra Pradesh reported 4,528 fresh cases of Covid-19, 418 recoveries and one death in 24 hours ending 9 AM on Friday. The latest bulletin said the number of active cases went up to 18,313.There were a total of 20,96,755 positive cases, 20,63,934 recoveries and 14,508 deaths so far. For the first time in about four months, a district registered more than 1,000 fresh cases in a day. Chittoor added 1,027 to the tally.Visakhapatnam logged 992. Ten districts reported less than 400 new cases each while West Godavari saw the lowest at 62. Ten districts reported less than 400 new cases each while West Godavari saw the lowest at 62.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | COVID casts a shadow on Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu
The third wave of COVID-19 had a bearing on the 'Pongal' festivities in TamilNaduon Friday, though the people celebrated the harvest festival with zeal at their homes. Bright andcolourful'Kolams,' drawings made using rice flour, both dry and wet paste at homes heralded the arrival of both the first grand festival of the year and the Tamil month of 'Thai,' considered auspicious.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Kerala govt suspends offline classes up to Std 9
Kerala govt has decided to suspend offline classes up to 9th standard. Decision made in the high-level meeting held today:, Chief Minister's Office said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | BMC issues guidelines to keep track of sale, use of home testing kits
In view of the rise in the use of home test kits to detect coronavirus infection, theBrihanmumbaiMunicipal Corporation (BMC) has issued new guidelines to manufacturers, suppliers and sellers of home antigen testing kits in the city.In an order issued on Thursday, the civic body has directed people responsible for manufacturing, supplying and selling home antigen testing kits, to email certain details to the civic authorities and Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in a prescribed format every day.It is necessary to report the results of all COVID-19 tests carried out either using rapid antigen test kits or home test kits to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) by laboratories or individuals through mobile applications, the order stated.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Central govt refutes reports of Covid vaccine shortage in Maharashtra
Refuting media reports on COVID-19 vaccine shortage in Maharashtra, the Health Ministry said the state had over 24 lakhunutiliseddoses ofCovaxinand received an additional 6.35 lakh doses on Friday. According to the media reports, the state government is unable to increase the pace of vaccination due to a shortage in vaccine availability."As per their weekly consumption data available on Co-WIN, the average consumption by Maharashtra forCovaxinto cover the eligible beneficiaries for 15-17 years and for precaution dose is almost 2.94 lakh doses per day. Therefore, the state has adequate vaccine doses for about 10 days to cover the eligible beneficiaries withCovaxin," the ministry said in a statement. "Furthermore, forCovishield, the state has 1.24 croreunutilisedand balance doses available as on date. With an average consumption of 3.57 lakhs per day, this will sustain for more than 30 days for the beneficiaries to be vaccinated using the vaccine," it said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Masks rules get tighter in Europe in winter’s COVID-19 wave
To mask or not to mask is a question Italy settled early in the COVID-19 outbreak with a vigorous “yes.” Now the onetime epicenter of the pandemic in Europe hopes even stricter mask rules will help it beat the latest infection surge.Other countries are taking similar action as the more transmissible — yet, apparently, less virulent — omicron variant spreads through the continent.With Italy’s hospitalICUsrapidly filling with mostly unvaccinated COVID-19 patients, the government announced on Christmas Eve that FFP2 masks — which offer users more protection than cloth or surgical masks — must be worn on public transport, including planes, trains, ferries and subways.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Odisha Logs 10,273 New COVID Cases, Four More Deaths
Odishaon Friday recorded 10,273 new COVID-19 cases, 214 more than the previous day, with the tally rising to 11,11,879, a health department bulletin said.The death toll mounted to 8,476 as four more persons succumbed to the disease, the highest single-dayCOVIDfatalities in more than two months, it said.The daily positivity rate rose to 13.57 per cent from 12.41 per cent the previous day, the bulletin said.At least 1,065 children were among the newly infected patients.Khurdadistrict, which comprises the state capitalBhubaneswar, reported one-third of the fresh infections as 3,496 people were afflicted with the disease, the bulletin said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Anti-coronavirus measures tightened across China
China further tightened its anti-pandemic measures in Beijing and across the country on Friday as scattered outbreaks continued ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympics in a little over two weeks.The actions appear to reflect nervousness about a possible surge in cases ahead of the Beijing Games.Beijing has ordered children at international schools to be tested starting next week and is barring air passengers who transited via a third point. Citizens are being told only to travel if absolutely necessary, with no guarantee they will be permitted to return if found to have visited a city or region where an outbreak occurred.The city of Tianjin, about an hour from the capital, has ordered a third round of mass testing starting Saturday morning to be completed within 24 hours.A port and manufacturing center with 14 million people, Tianjin is one of a half dozen cities where the government is imposinglockdownsand other restrictions as part of a policy to track down every virus case.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Israel says 500,000 have received 4th vaccine dose
Israel has administered a 4th vaccine dose to more than 500,000 people, the Health Ministry said Friday.Israel began administering second boosters to the most vulnerable late last month and later began offering them to everyone over 60.Authorities hope the additional boosters will blunt a wave of infections driven by the omicron variant. Health Ministry figures show Israel currently has some 260,000 active cases. But only 289 patients are listed as seriously ill, far fewer than during previous waves.Israel was among the first countries to roll out vaccines a year ago and began widely offering third doses last summer in a bid to contain the delta variant. Nearly half the population has received at least one booster shot.The country of nearly 9.5 million has reported 8,293 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. (AP)
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | EAM S Jaishankar wishes Netherlands Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra speedy recovery who tested positive for CO
VID-19
External Affairs Minister SJaishankarwishes a speedy recovery to Netherlands Foreign Affairs MinisterWopkeHoekstrawho has tested positive forCOVID. The two exchanged views on celebrating the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, bilateral cooperation, EU & Indo-Pacific.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Madhya Pradesh govt shuts all schools, hostels in state till January 31 due to rise in COVID-19 cases; imposes fresh curbs
Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, theMadhyaPradesh government on Friday issued fresh guidelines, as part of which all schools and hostels for Classes 1 to 12 will remain shut in the state till January 31, an official said.The guidelines were issued after Chief MinisterShivraj SinghChouhanreviewed the coronavirus situation in the state with the crisis management committee, he said.''Besides the closure of schools, the state government also banned all religious and commercial fairs and rallies,'' additional chief secretary DrRajesh Rajorasaid.Only 250 people will be allowed to attend political, cultural, religious, social, educational, entertainment and other such events, he said.Programmescan be held with only up to 50 per cent of the seating capacity in closed spaces. Also, sports events can beorganisedwith 50 per cent of the capacity of stadiums, the official said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Swedish PM Andersson tests positive for COVID-19
Swedish Social Democratic Prime Minister MagdalenaAnderssonhas tested positive for COVID-19, her spokesperson told news agency TT, as a growing wave of infections swept the country, driven by the more contagious Omicron variant. "The prime minister has tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid test. She is following current recommendations and will carry out her work from home," the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | More than 75% of those who died in current COVID-19 wave in Delhi were unvaccinated, says Satyendra Jain
More than 75 per cent of those who succumbed to the novel coronavirus infection in the current wave in Delhi were unvaccinated, Health MinisterSatyendraJain said on Friday.He also said that the city is expected to record less than 25,000 coronavirus cases on Friday. Delhi had on Thursday reported 28,867 COVID-19 cases, the sharpest single-day spike since the pandemic began, and 31 deaths, while the positivity rate surged to 29.21 per cent, according to the health department data.Delhi's previous biggest daily jump of 28,395 cases was recorded on April 20 last year. According to official data, of the 97 people who died here due toCovid, between January 9 to January 12, 70 people were unvaccinated, while 19 had taken the first jab and eight were fully vaccinated. Besides seven were minors.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Lockdown was imposed sans consideration earlier, good it wasn't announced this time: NCP targets PM Modi
Aday after Prime MinisterNarendraModiheld interaction with chief ministers over the coronavirus situation, theNCPon Friday took a dig at him saying it was good that a lockdown was not announced this time unlike in the past when it was imposed ''without taking people into confidence and without any consideration.''On Thursday,Modiheld a virtual interaction with the chief ministers over the coronavirus situation in the country amid a surge in the infection cases due to itsOmicronvariant. Talking about it,NCP'schief spokesperson andMaharashtraminister NawabMaliksaid, ''People were scared that there could be another round of lockdown, but it is a good thing that PMNarendraModi, in his interaction with chief ministers, asked the states to take decisions based on the situation prevailing at the local level. When there was no COVID-19, a lockdown was announced without any consideration and without taking people into confidence.'' ''Now there are many cases of COVID-19, but people are taking precautions...It is good that a lockdown was not announced,'' he said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Over 3.5 lakh pilgrims take holy dip at Gangasagar on Makar Sankranti
Over 3.5 lakh pilgrims took the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal here on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Friday, even as officials carried out RT-PCR tests as part of the measures to check the spread of COVID-19.Those who have taken the double dose of COVID vaccines and found negative for the disease have been allowed to enter Sagar Island for the Gangasagar fair, a senior official of West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district said. The holy bath began at midnight as pilgrims from different parts of the country gathered at the confluence braving cold and steady drizzle.They also offered prayers at the Kapil Muni temple here.According to locals, physical distancing went for a toss during the dip even though disaster management and civil defence personnel, policemen and volunteers were active to maintain COVID protocols.
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| All Govt & private schools will remain closed for students of classes 1-12 between January 15 & January 31. All political & religious gatherings & fairs will be banned. No ban on Makar Sankranti 'snan': Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Puducherry adds 1,471 new COVID-19 cases, test positivity rate also spikes
The union territory of Puducherry clocked 1,471 fresh coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours pushing the cumulative caseload to 1,35,337, a senior Health department official said on Friday. The test positivity rate was 28.47 per cent as against Thursday's 26.44 per cent.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi COVID-19 cases rising fast but hospitalisation and deaths low: Arvind Kejriwal
Covid cases are rising fast but there no reason to worry, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday while emphasising that hospitalisation and death rates are low. He asked people to be responsible and assured them that the government has made all preparations and there are enough hospital beds. "There is no need to panic. Cases have risen but hospitalisation and deaths are low. We have made all the preparations and there is no shortage of beds," Kejriwal told reporters. Delhi on Thursday reported 28,867 COVID-19 cases, the sharpest single-day spike since the beginning of the pandemic, and 31 deaths while the positivity rate went up to 29.21 percent.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Hong Kong suspends transit flights from most of the world due to COVID-19
Hong Kong will suspend for a month transit flights from around 150 countries and territories considered high risk because of the coronavirus, deepening the global financial hub's isolation. The move comes as the city has seen around 50 cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant since the end of last year. Prior to the outbreak, which authorities said could be traced back to two aircrew members of Cathay Pacific Airways, the city had had no local transmissions for over three months.
Hong Kong International Airport said in a statement on Friday that any persons who have stayed in places classified as high risk by health authorities in the 21 days before travelling cannot transit through the city from Jan. 16 until Feb. 15. The measure was taken "in order to control the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant," it said.
Hong Kong currently classifies more than 150 countries and territories as high risk. Last week, it banned incoming flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the United States, including interchanges. The Chinese-ruled city has followed mainland China's policy in adopting a zero-tolerance towards local COVID-19 cases even as much of the world shifts towards living with the coronavirus.
In recent weeks, authorities have tightened quarantine restrictions on air crew and reintroduced curbs on social life. Fifteen type of venues, including bars and clubs, cinemas, gyms and beauty salons were ordered to close, while dining in restaurants is banned after 6.00 pm. Primary schools and kindergartens have also shuttered. The government is expected to announce later on Friday that the restrictions will be extended through the Lunar New Year holiday at the start of February.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | China to suspend more incoming U.S. flights over COVID-19 cases
China's aviation regulator said on Friday that it would suspend two American Airlines flights from Dallas to Shanghai from Jan. 24 after seven passengers tested positive for COVID-19 on a recent flight. It will also suspend two Delta Air flights from Detroit to Shanghai from Jan. 24 after nine passengers tested positive, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a statement on its website. China's aviation regulator has in recent weeks ordered the cancellation of around 70 scheduled flights from the United States.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi expected to record less than 25,000 COVID-19 cases on Friday: Satyendra Jain
Delhi is expected to record less than 25,000 coronavirus cases on Friday, Health MinisterSatyendraJain said, while stating that almost 75 per cent of those who have succumbed to the infection were unvaccinated. "Delhi is expected to record less than 25,000 cases today," Jain told reporters.The city had on Thursday reported 28,867 COVID-19 cases, the sharpest single-day spike since the pandemic began, and 31 deaths, while the positivity rate surged to 29.21 per cent, according to the health department data. Delhi's previous biggest daily jump of 28,395 cases was recorded on April 20 last year.
According to official data, of the 97 people who died here due toCovid, between January 9 to January 12, 70 people were unvaccinated, while 19 had taken the first jab and eight were fully vaccinated. "Nearly 75 per cent of the people who died due to coronavirus had not even taken a single dose of the vaccine. It is important to get vaccinated. There have also been instances where people had severe illnesses before they contracted COVID-19," Jain noted.The minister added that more than 13,000 hospital beds are lying vacant in the city.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 13,862 COVID-19 Patients In Home Isolation In Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh currently has more than 14,400 active COVID-19 cases and out of them, 13,862 patients are undergoing medical treatment in home isolation, according to state health officials. During a meeting with health officials on Wednesday to review the COVID-19 situation in MP, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed the authorities to ensure best possible treatment for the patients in home isolation and to immediately shift them to hospital by ambulance in case of an emergency, a public relations department official said on Thursday. In the meeting, officials informed that out of 14,413 active cases in the state, 13,862 patients were in home isolation and they were provided with medical kits and tele-consultation facilities, he said.
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| Calcutta High Court directs West Bengal Election Commission to consider postponing civil body polls for 4-6 weeks due to rising COVID cases; EC to clear its stand within 48 hours
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Odisha activates telemedicine service for non-COVID patients
Keeping in view the risk to non-COVID patients in accessing medical facilities in hospitals amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Odisha government has allowed the activation of telemedicine service for them. The state government on Thursday issued an order asking telemedicine platforms to provide distance medical assistance to the needy.
"The present COVID-19 situation has raised a big challenge to the accessibility of patients to hospitals for general healthcare. Taking the situation into account, it has been decided to use telemedicine centres effectively and proactively established in medical colleges and other hospitals," the notification said.
The telemedicine service will be available in SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, VIMSAR, Burla, Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics in Cuttack round the clock and staff arrangement be made accordingly, it said.
The service will also be available at four new medical colleges and hospitals in Balasore, Baripada, Bolangir and Koraput, along with Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela General Hospital (RGH) from 8 AM to 5 PM. In PHCs, the telemedicine service will be available as per OPD timings from 8 AM to 12 PM, and 4 PM to 6 PM, it said.
In another directive, the Health Department asked the hospital authorities to ensure social distancing, prevention of infection among healthcare personnel, avoiding non-essential admission, and conducting of only emergency surgeries with universal precautions. In Inpatient Department (IPD), only one attendant be allowed for serious patients and no attendant for ambulatory patients. In Outpatient Department (OPD), medical officers should not advise frequent revisits of patients if not required, it said.
Media must not be allowed to enter either OPD or IPD, and dedicated fever clinic, isolation ward and testing facilities must be established, the order issued by the Directorate of Health Services to the superintendents of all medical colleges and hospitals, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, RGH and chief district medical officers and public health officers said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | DGCI to review applications for full market approval of Covaxin, Covishield today
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) headed Subject Expert Committee will review applications of Bharat Biotech andSIIfor full market approval toCovaxinandCovishieldon Friday, according to sources.The move comes after the Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech on Thursday announced that its indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccineCoavaxinis now a universal vaccine for adults and children."COVAXINis now a universal vaccine for adults and children. Our goals of developing a global vaccine against Covid-19 have been achieved and all product development for licensure has been completed," said Bharat Biotech.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | DCGI's Subject Expert Committee to review applications of Bharat Biotech and SII for full market approval to Covaxin and Covishield today: Sources
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | India reports 2,64,202 fresh COVID cases in last 24 hours
India saw a single day jump of 2,64,202 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 239 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,65,82,129 which includes 5,753 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. There has been a 4.83 per cent increase in Omicron cases since Thursday.
The active cases have increased to 12,72,073, the highest in 220 days, while the death toll has climbed to 4,85,350 with 315 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprises 3.48 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 95.20 per cent, the ministry said.
A total 2,76,110 coronavirus infections were reported in a single day on May 19. An increase of 1,54,542 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. An increase of 1,54,542 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 14.78 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 11.83 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to3,48,24,706, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.33 per cent. The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 155.39 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.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | After six-week surge, Africa's Omicron-driven fourth pandemic wave flattens: WHO
Africa’s fourth pandemic wave, driven primarily by the Omicron variant, is flattening after a six-week surge, the WHO has said even as it stressed that the shortest-lived surge to date in the continent was ''steep and brief but no less destabilising.'' The new Omicron variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24. The World Health Organisation (WHO) on November 26 declared it as a variant of concern.
“Early indications suggest that Africa’s fourth wave has been steep and brief but no less destabilising. The crucial pandemic countermeasure badly needed in Africa still stands, and that is rapidly and significantly increasing COVID-19 vaccinations. The next wave might not be so forgiving,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the WHO said, “After a six-week surge, Africa’s fourth pandemic wave-driven primarily by the Omicron variant is flattening, marking the shortest-lived surge to date in the continent where cumulative cases have now exceeded 10 million.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced concern that even though more than 9.4 billion vaccine doses have now been administered globally, 90 countries did not reach the target of vaccinating 40 per cent of their populations by the end of last year, and 36 of those countries have not yet vaccinated 10% of their populations. More than 85 per cent of the population of Africa – about one billion people - is yet to receive a single dose of vaccine, he said.
“We cannot end the acute phase of the pandemic unless we work together to close these gaps,” he said. Last week, more than 15 million new cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHO from around the world – by far the most cases reported in a single week, with Ghebreyesus calling it an “underestimate.” “This huge spike in infections is being driven by the Omicron variant, which is rapidly replacing Delta in almost all countries.
As of January 11, there have been 10.2 million COVID-19 cases in Africa. Weekly cases plateaued in the seven days to January 9 from the week before. Southern Africa, which saw a huge increase in infections during the pandemic wave, recorded a 14 per cent decline in infections over the past week. South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first reported, saw a 9 per cent fall in weekly infections.
East and Central Africa regions also experienced a drop. However, North and West Africa are witnessing a rise in cases, with North Africa reporting a 121 per cent increase this past week compared with the previous one, the WHO said. Across the continent, though, deaths rose by 64 per cent in the seven days ending on January 9 compared with the week before mainly due to infections among people at high-risk.
“Nonetheless, deaths in the fourth wave are lower than in the previous waves. Hospitalisations have remained low.” WHO said adding that in South Africa, around 9 per cent of its over 5,600 intensive care unit beds are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients. While the African continent appears to be weathering the latest pandemic wave, concerns remain over the low vaccination rates. Just around 10 per cent of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated. However, vaccine supplies to the continent have improved recently, and WHO is stepping up its support to countries to effectively deliver the doses to the wider population.
“This year should mark a turning point in Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination drive. With vast swaths of the population still unvaccinated, our chances of limiting the emergence and impact of deadly variants are frighteningly slim,” Moeti said. “We have the know-how and the tools and with a concerted push we can certainly tip the balance against the pandemic.” In countries experiencing a surge in cases, the fast-spreading Omicron variant has become the dominant type. While it took around four weeks for the Delta variant to surpass the previously dominant Beta, Omicron outpaced Delta within two weeks in the worst-hit African countries.
So far 30 African countries—and at least 142 globally—have detected the Omicron variant while the Delta variant has been reported in 42 countries in Africa. In West Africa where COVID-19 cases are on the rise, the number of Omicron sequences undertaken by countries including Cabo Verde, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal is growing. In Cabo Verde and Nigeria, Omicron is currently the dominant variant.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Sixty-eight new cases take COVID tally of Andamans to 8,465
Andaman and Nicobar Islands have reported 68 new COVID-19 cases, 40 less than the previous day, with the tally rising to 8,465, a health department official said on Friday. Thirty-eight new patients have travel history, while 30 infections were detected during contact tracing, he said. The Union Territory now has 461 active cases, while 86 people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 7,875. The death toll remained at 129 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported during the period. The administration has conducted over 6.76 lakh sample tests for COVID-19 so far, and the positivity rate stood at 1.25 per cent, the official added.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | India reports 2,64,202 fresh COVID cases and 1,09,345 recoveries in the last 24 hours
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 13,862 COVID-19 Patients In Home Isolation In Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh currently has more than 14,400 active COVID-19 cases and out of them, 13,862 patients are undergoing medical treatment in home isolation, according to state health officials. During a meeting with health officials on Wednesday to review the COVID-19 situation in MP, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed the authorities to ensure best possible treatment for the patients in home isolation and to immediately shift them to hospital by ambulance in case of an emergency, a public relations department official said on Thursday. In the meeting, officials informed that out of 14,413 active cases in the state, 13,862 patients were in home isolation and they were provided with medical kits and tele-consultation facilities, he said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Ladakh issues guidelines, all schools, hostels, coaching centres, gyms & other indoor activities to remain closed
All govt/pvt/residential schools, hostels, coaching centres, gyms & other indoor activities shall remain closed. Bars, restaurants shall operate with 25% seating capacity. Public transport to ply with half of the seating capacity-no entry without masks in Leh district. This comes after Ladakh reported 122 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 22,649, while the active cases in the union territory have shot up to to 502, officials said on Thursday. Twenty six patients were cured and discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of recoveries to 22,125, they said. Of the 122 fresh cases, 111 were reported from Leh district and 11 from Kargil district, they said. With these, the total number of active cases in Ladakh has gone up to 502 -- 468 in Leh and 34 in Kargil district.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Rapid antigen COVID-19 tests mandatory for entering Kashmir hospitals
Authorities in Kashmir on Thursday directed the hospital administrations in the valley not to allow patients and attendants enter the medical facilities without taking a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 in view of the surge in the number of cases. In a circular, Director Health Services Kashmir, M A Rather, asked all chief medical officers, medical superintendents, block medical officers in the valley to get COVID-19 SOPs/guidelines properly implemented in all healthcare institutions falling under their administrative control.
The move comes in view of the recent surge in COVID-19 infections in the country and the detection of cases of the new Omicron variant in many states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir. "Besides, they will ensure that no patient/attendant is allowed to enter the hospital premises unless & until rapid antigen test (RAT) is undertaken and masks are put on the face by them properly, the circular said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Total COVID-19 vaccine doses given in India crosses 155.28 crore
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 155.28 crore on Thursday with more than 63 lakh doses being given till 7 pm, the Union Health Ministry said. More than 33,12,573 precaution doses have been administered so far to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities.
Also, 3,12,89,109 first doses have been given to beneficiaries in the 15-18 years age group so far. Till 7 pm on Thursday, 63,92,572 vaccine doses were administered. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2 last year.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1, 2021 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began from April 1, 2021. The government then decided to expand its drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1 last year.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from January 3 this year for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years. India began administering precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers, frontline workers including personnel deployed for election duty and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10 amid the country witnessing a spike in coronavirus infections fuelled by Omicron variant of the virus.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Market in Delhi closed for violation of Covid norms
The authorities have ordered the closure of Kali Ghata Market in West Karawal Nagar Road in northeast Delhi due to overcrowding and violation of COVID-19 norms amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the national capital, according to an official order. According to the order issued on Wednesday, the market will remain closed from 4 pm Thursday till 10 am Friday or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
The action was taken after it was found that shopkeepers, vendors and general public were not following COVID-19-appropriate behaviour, it said. Shops, establishments and offices in the market were asked to display signboards encouraging people to wear mask, follow social distancing and use sanitiser. They were also asked to open shops on odd-even basis. In the last meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), strict compliance of the order was made mandatory to contain further spread of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Concerned over people not reporting COVID-19 cases found through self-testing kits, Maharashtra govt instructs authorities
Expressing concern over the non-reporting of the coronavirus positive cases diagnosed using self-testing kits by people, the Maharashtra health department has written to the district and civic officials to monitor the sale of such kits and ensure that patients report about their infection to the authorities. Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary of the state public health department, gave these directions to all the municipal and divisional commissioners, district collectors and chief executive officers of zilla parishads (ZPs) in a letter written on Wednesday.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Omicron is rapidly spreading, we must be alert but need not panic: PM Modi
Compared to previous variants Omicron is rapidly spreading...it's more transmissible...Our health experts are assessing the situation. It's clear that we have to stay alert, but also ensure to avoid panic, said PM Modi during the meeting with states over COVID situation.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | South Korea gets first supply of Pfizer’s COVID-19 pills
South Korea on Thursday received its first supply of Pfizer’s antiviral COVID-19 pills to treat patients with mild or moderate symptoms. Health officials have described the Paxlovid pills as a potentially important tool to suppress hospitalizations and deaths, as the country braces for another possible surge in infections driven by the contagious omicron variant.
South Korea’s initial supply is enough to support the required five-day treatment courses for 21,000 people. Officials say another batch of pills, enough to provide the required five-day courses for 10,000 people, will come by the end of January. Workers were seen unloading containers of the pills from a plane at Incheon International Airport. The pills will be moved to a pharmaceutical warehouse in central South Korea before being administered to patients nationwide starting Friday.
