Coronavirus Omicron Highlights | The single day rise in coronavirus infections was recorded above one lakh after 214 days, taking India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,52,26,386 which includes 3,007 cases of Omicron reported across 27 states and UTs, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
Out of the total Omicron cases reported so far, 1,199 people have recovered or migrated. Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 876 cases followed by Delhi at 465, Karnataka 333, Rajasthan 291, Kerala 284 and Gujarat 204.
The country saw a single day rise of 1,17,100 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,71,363, the highest in around 120 days, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The death toll climbed to 4,83,178 with 302 fresh fatalities, the data stated. The country last reported over one lakh cases on June 7 last year when 1,00,636 infections were recorded.
The country last reported over one lakh cases on June 7 last year when 1,00,636 infections were recorded. The active cases comprise 1.05 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 97.57 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 85,962 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
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Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | CM Ashok Gehlot urges Centre to permit booster shots for all categories
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Friday urged the Centre to permit booster doses for all categories, saying any person in any age group can have comorbid heath issues. He also said that children of all age group are being vaccinated in several countries and it should be allowed in India too."The Centre should permit booster dose for all categories as any person in any age group can have comorbid heath issues. Also, the Centre should also start vaccination drive of children in the country," he said. He was addressing a Covid review meeting from his official residence.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |
A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is scheduled to be held on January 10, Monday, in view of the rising COVID19 cases.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Karnataka government considering issuing green passes for vaccinated people
The Karnataka government is mulling issuing green passes to identify those fully vaccinated against coronavirus, Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday. "We are planning to issue green passes to those who are fully vaccinated," the minister told reporters after chairing a high level meeting with the officials of his department.He added that those who test positive will be placed under mandatory physical or tele-triaging to assess requirement of hospitalisation, the minister said. Sudhakar said 10,000 medical and nursing students would be roped in for triaging the infected people.He also said that the government will release a uniform treatment protocol, discharge policy and quarantine guidelines. "Government is ensuring preparedness in every aspect to mitigate third wave," Sudhakar said. According to him, responsibilities have been allocated to officials and instructions have been given to ensure coordination between other departments.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |
Tamil Nadu reports 8,981 new cases, 984 recoveries, and 8 deaths, in the last 24 hours. Active cases 30,817
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |
Complete restriction of non-essential movement imposed in Reasi district b/w 9pm-6am. All dhabas/restaurants in Katra & Ransoo to function b/w 6am-11pm; no movement restrictions for yatris to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine/Shiv Khori Shrine:Reasi DM &DDMA Chairman Charandeep Singh
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Schedule for precautionary vaccine dose will be published on January 8
The Health Ministry has notified that the schedules for precautionary COVID-19 doses will be published on January 8.The online appointment facility will also start by tomorrow evening. Vaccination with onsite appointment starts on 10th January. It has also clarified that there is no need for new registration. Those who have taken two doses of COVID19 vaccine can directly take an appointment or walk-in to any COVID19 Vaccination Centre.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Gujarat Government Imposes Night Curfew in 10 districts from 10pm to 6am
The Gujarat CMO notified the implementation of night curfew fro10pm-6am in Ahmedabad, Surat,Vadodara, Rajkot,Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Anand,Nadiad.Political/social programs, weddings to have max 400 person capacity in open&50% of space capacity in closed venues;100 persons allowed in funerals.Shops, spas, shopping complexes, hotels&restaurants (with 75% capacity) to function till 10 pm. 75% capacity approved in govt/private AC non-buses, 50% capacity approved in cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools, libraries, etc. Educational institutions closed till Jan 31.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |
Chandigarh reports 390 new cases, 8 deaths, & 46 recoveries today; positivity rate at 10.77% & active cases at 1,323. 18,459 children in the 15-18 age group vaccinated today: UT Administration
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 17,335 fresh cases and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours; Active cases 39,873. Positivity rate at 17.73%
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | India’s cumulative vaccination coverage achieves 150 crore landmark milestone
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed150 Crore(1,50,52,21,314) today. More than 81 lakh (81,50,982) Vaccine Doses have been administered till7 pm today. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the finalreports for the day by late tonight.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri to remain closed from Jan 10 in view of increasing Covid cases: Official
"In view of the health interest of devotees and servitors, it has been decided to close the shrine from January 10 to January 31. The decision was unanimously taken at a meeting of Chhatisa Nijog," Puri's District Magistrate Samarth Verma told reporters.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |Pune sees 4,415 COVID-19 cases; district's positivity rate now 15 pc
Pune on Friday recorded 4,415 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate, or infections detected per 100 tests, of 15 per cent, taking the district's tally to 11,79,328, an official said. He said 2,757 cases were reported in Pune city, 1,000 in Pimpri Chinchwad and 658 in rural and cantonment limits.As on Friday, the district has 15,376 active cases, with 1,087 patients admitted in hospitals, the official informed.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | People stay away from malls, shopping centres as Covid cases spike in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru: SCAI
Shopping malls have seen footfalls drop by up to 25 per cent in the first week of January 2022 due to restrictions imposed by states to check the spread of coronavirus, according to industry body SCAI. On top of that consumers are also apprehensive about venturing out in the midst of rising Covid cases across the country, the Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) said.Lower footfalls and sales have resulted in piling of stock at retailers' stores in shopping malls. In cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, which are witnessing a sharp jump in the number of Covid cases, shoppers are giving a miss, skipping the annual sale promotions.When contacted, SCAI Chairman Mukesh Kumar said the weekend curfew imposed in Delhi and Bengaluru has hit the business of shopping malls. The weekend sales contribute almost 30 to 40 per cent of their business. "We expect a drop in footfall. One has to accept that there is fear of Omicron in the public and it is spreading fast," Mukesh Kumar told PTI.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Punjab reports 2901 new cases
Punjab reports 2901 new cases, 135 recoveries and 1 death. Theactive cases in the state are 9,425.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Mumbai reports 20,971 new cases, 6 deaths
Mumbai reports 20,971 new cases, 6 deaths and 8,490 recoveries today. The active cases in the financial capital is91,731.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | South Western Railway issues rules for Goa for Karnataka passengers
South Western Railway, Hubballi issued a statement saying thatonly passengers with negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hrs prior to boarding, allowed to board the trains from Goa for Karnataka, irrespective of vaccination status.It is mandatory for students & the public who are regular travellers from Goa to Karnataka for various reasons, to undergo RT-PCR once in 15 days & possess such negative report.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Rajasthan govt tightens rules, announces penalty to control COVID-19
The Rajasthan government on Friday said those organising events in violation of COVID-19 guidelines will be penalised. The state's Home Department in an order stated that organisers of public or private events with more than 100 attendees need to inform the authorities concerned well in advance and take necessary permissions.These events include weddings, rallies and processions among others. The event organisers are required to apply for permission specifying all details on the government portal http://covidinfo.rajasthan.gov.in or on Helpline Number 181, failing which a fine of Rs 10,000 will be levied, as per the notification.Those not following COVID-19-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks and maintaining social distance will also be liable to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 in such gatherings, the government stated. The Ashok Gehlot-led government had earlier specified that only those who are fully vaccinated will be allowed in most public places.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 27 FIRs Registered, 683 Challans Issued For COVID-19 Norm Violations
Over 200 FIRs were registered and 683 challans issued for violations of Covid appropriate behaviour during the night curfew imposed across the national capital amid growing number of infections, the Delhi Police said on Friday.According to data shared by the Delhi Police, as part of the action taken during night curfew from 11 pm on Thursday to 5 am on Friday, 227 FIRs under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 683 challans were issued to those violating coronavirus guidelines.Delhi recorded 15,097 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest single-day rise since May 8, and six deaths while the positivity rate mounted to 15.34 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | All colleges,universities,technical educational institutions except for medical to remain closed in Odisha
All colleges,universities,technical educational institutions (other than medical colleges/nursing colleges & institutions under control of Health &FW Deptt.) in the state to remain closed from Jan 10 in view of rising Covid cases. All ongoing offline exams to continue, says Odisha Govt
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Mumbai's Dharavi reports 150 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours
Mumbai's Dharavi reports 150 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours. The active cases in Dharavi is 558, says BMC
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Kerala reports 5,296 new cases, 35 deaths
Kerala reports 5,296 new cases, 35 deaths, & 2,404 recoveries today. The active cases in the state is at 27,859, death tally at 49,305. 154 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 LIVE Updates | List of ‘At-risk’ countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Karnataka makes vaccine certificate must for entry in malls, markets
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on January 7 said thatthere will be strict enforcement of presenting vaccination certificates, as a universal pass, before entering any public place, including markets, malls, pubs, bars, restaurants, etc. He further added thattravellers from other states will be tested & COVID-care centres to be set up. We're collaborating with all hotels & educational institutions for institutional quarantine; monitoring of a uniform, transparent hospital bed management system underway.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Doctors advise 15-18-year-olds against popping paracetamol after getting vaccinated
Doctors have advised coronavirus vaccine beneficiaries aged 15 to 18 years against taking paracetamol after getting jabbed without consulting their physicians first.Dr Akshay Budhraja, Sr Consultant, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Aakash Healthcare, said: “Paracetamol is not recommended as prophylaxis, before and after any Covid vaccination as we don't know how it alters the immune response of vaccine. A low-grade fever, muscle ache, lethargy, headache, soreness at the injection site is common in the first two days after vaccination, which usually subsides on its own, without any medication.”
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates |
From Dec 1 till now, we've received 410 air passengers. Of these,185 passengers tested positive for the Omicron variant of Covid. All Omicron patients recovered without O2. The rapid rise in cases is a big challenge for healthcare workers: Dr Suresh Kumar, MD LNJP Hospital, Delhi
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Latest guidelines for all international arrivals in India include a 7-day mandatory home quarantine
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 7-day home quarantine compulsory for all international passengers arriving in Kerala
Laying out its strategy to fight the COVID-19 spread as the highly contagious Omicron variant was mostly detected in air travellers from foreign countries, Kerala's health department on Friday decided to make it compulsory for all international passengers arriving in the state to undergo seven days home quarantine. A total of 280 people in the state have been infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and of these, the ones who came from low-risk countries were the most affected, state Health Minister Veena George said.As per the Centre's guidelines, all travellers coming to the state from abroad will be required to have a seven-day compulsory home quarantine, the health minister said, adding that their RT-PCR tests will be performed on the eighth day. Of the 280 cases, Omicron infection was confirmed in 186 people coming from low-risk countries and 64 from high-risk countries. Thirty people were infected through contacts.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 93 Mumbai policemen test positive for COVID in the last 24 hours
93 Mumbai policemen have tested positive forCOVIDin the last 24 hours. Atotal 9,657 policemen have positive so far.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | India to become hub for COVID-19 antiviral generic drugs: Fitch
India will become the largest global hub for Covid-19 antiviral general drug production after the drug controller granted emergency-useauthorisationto several pharmaceutical companies in the country to manufacture and market generic versions ofmolnupiravir, Fitch Solutions said Friday.Increased access tomolnupiravirwill keephospitalisationsand deaths in India to a manageable level as Omicron infections rise, Fitch Solutions said in a report.Those grantedauthorisationby the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) include Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals,Cipla, SunPharma,NatcoPharma,Viatris, Hetero Drugs and MankindPharma.Lagevrio(Molnupiravir) was developed by Merck andRidgebackBiotherapeutics, and it is the first ever oral antiviral drug for the treatment of high-risk adults withmild to moderate COVID-19.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Night curfew timings changed to 10pm to 6am from January 8, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
AssamCMHimantaBiswaSarma on January 7 said that the night curfew timings changed to 10pm to 6am, starting from 6am on Jan 8. Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter hotels, restaurants, government offices, shopping malls, multiplexes. All schools up to Class VIII inKamrup-Metropolitandistrict and up to Class V in all other districts will remain closed from Jan 8. No physical classes are allowed till 30th January, he said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | MCA shuts office for 3 days after staff members test positive; cases in BCCI too
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was on Friday forced to shut its office for three days after 15 of its staff members tested positive for COVID-19.A few cases have been reported in the BCCI office too, it has been reliably learnt. The Cricket Centre is the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is situated in the plush South Mumbai area. The MCA operates from the same building.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel holds meet to review preparedness to tackle COVID-19 situation
In light of the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases, Gujarat Chief MinisterBhupendraPatel chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review the administration's preparedness to deal with the situation. Municipal Commissioners ofAhmedabad, Surat,Vadodara, Rajkot andGandhinagarcities along with collectors and district development officers ofAnand,Bharuch,Navsari,Valsadand Kutch attended the meeting through video-conference, a government release said.Chief principal secretary to the chief minister, KKailashnathan, chief secretaryPankajKumar and ACS-HealthMukeshKumar attended the meet in person, it stated. As per the release, municipal commissioners and district collectors shared the latest details and data about the vaccination drive, tracing and tracking of cases, availability of beds and medicines and status of isolated patients in their respective districts.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Govt mandates all international arriving passengers to undergo home quarantine for 7 days
Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, the government mandated that all international arriving passengers will have to undergo home quarantine for 7 days.This will be followed by anRTPCRtest on eighth day.The new standard operating procedure will be valid with effect from January 11, 2022, until further order, said the new government circular.According to the latest circular, people willing to travel to India will have to submit a complete and factual information in self declaration form on the online AirSuvidhaportal -- https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India surpass 150-crore mark
India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 150-crore mark on Friday. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya termed it an "historic achievement" made possible because of the relentless hard work of healthcare workers under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When everyone makes efforts together then any goal can be achieved, Mandaviya said in a tweet in Hindi. The Covid vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark on October 21, leading to celebratory events in various parts of the country. According to health ministry officials, over 91 per cent of the adult population has received at least one dose while over 66 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
Over 22 per cent of eligible adolescents have been vaccinated with the first dose since the vaccination for this age group began on January 3. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced from January 3 for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | 20 staff members of Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tested positive for COVID-19: State Home Minister's Office
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Nirmala Sitharaman reviews PSBs' readiness to tackle any Omicron-induced disruption
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday chaired a meeting with chiefs of public sector banks and assessed their readiness to tackle any possible disruptions due to the Omicron variant. In a tweet, the Finance Ministry said during the meeting with CMDs/MDs, held through virtual mode, the minister also reviewed various steps taken by PSBs in implementing pandemic-related measures initiated by the government and RBI.
"During the review meeting, FM Smt. @nsitharaman assessed various steps taken by PSBs in implementing pandemic-related measures initiated by GoI and RBI and readiness to tackle possible future disruptions that may occur due to the ongoing variants of the #COVID19 pandemic," it tweeted. The ongoing third wave to the highly infectious Omicron variant of coronavirus has led to various domestic rating agencies lowering India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal.
India Ratings and Research cut its forecast to 9.3 per cent, from 9.4 per cent earlier, while Brickwork Ratings has revised its estimates to 8.5-9 per cent from 10 per cent. India on Friday reported 1,17,100 new single day COVID-19 infections and 302 fatalities. 3,007 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus detected across 27 states, UTs so far.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Karnataka's Omicron tally at 333 with 107 fresh cases
Karnataka on Friday reported 107 new cases of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus taking the total count to 333 in the state, Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said. "107 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in Karnataka on Jan 6th taking the overall tally to 333," Sudhakar tweeted Health officials said the infected persons have been isolated. It is not known whether the infected persons were symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi weekend curfew from tonight: what's allowed, what's not
A weekend curfew will be in force in Delhi from 10 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday amid the sharp increase in coronavirus cases. The city had recorded 15,097 new infections on Thursday, taking the tally since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic to 14,89,463. The number of active cases in Delhi stood at 31,498. Six more deaths pushed the toll in the city to 25,127.
Overall, India is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases with the spread of the Omicron variant. The country reported 1,17,100 new cases on January 7. Many states have re-imposed restrictions because of the surge in infections. To combat the rising cases, Delhi will shut markets and malls over the weekend and only shops selling essential commodities will be allowed to open.
Metro trains and buses can run with 100% of the seating capacity. Standing passengers will not be allowed. Boarding in buses will only be allowed from the rear door, while de-boarding can take place only from the front. Government officials who are not involved in essential services will work from home. In case of private offices, 50% employees will work remotely.
The curfew will not affect the functioning of testing labs, oxygen suppliers and other medical services. There are restrictions on movement during the curfew period, except for emergencies. However, the following categories will be exempted: Officials involved in emergency services and officials of the Government of India. They will have to produce valid identity cards.
Doctors, nurses, paramedics, pregnant women, patients and their attendants. People going to get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19, persons travelling to and from railway stations, airports and bus terminals. The travellers have to produce their tickets as proof. Professionals engaged in print and electronic media, students appearing for exams and staff deployed for duty for exams. People going to attend weddings. They will have to produce copies of invitation cards.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Ladakh reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, 9 recoveries
Ladakh has reported 21 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 22,370, officials said on Friday. The number of active cases in the union territory has gone up to 269 -- 232 in Leh and 37 in Kargil districts -- they said. Of the 21 fresh cases, 20 cases were reported from Leh and one from Kargil district, they said. Ladakh has recorded 221 COVID-related deaths -- 163 in Leh and 58 in Kargil -- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, they said. Nine patients were cured and discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of recoveries to 21,880, they said. Another 470 sample reports in Ladakh were found negative, the officials mentioned.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Karnataka's Omicron tally at 333 with 107 fresh cases
Karnataka on Friday reported 107 new cases of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus taking the total count to 333 in the state, Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said. "107 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in Karnataka on Jan 6th taking the overall tally to 333," Sudhakar tweeted.Health officials said the infected persons have been isolated. It is not known whether the infected persons were symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | OPD services in AIIMS Hospital & all Centres to function with restricted registrations limited to only prior appointment
AIIMSDelhi on January 7 said thatOPDservices inAIIMSHospital & allCentreswill continue to function with restricted registrations limited to only prior appointment patients (New & followup). Allspecialityclinics to be stopped for the time being andspecialityclinic follow up.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Centre tells Delhi, adjoining districts to ramp up health facilities
Amid a surge inCOVIDcases, Union Home Secretary AjayBhallahas asked Delhi andneighbouringdistricts to immediately strengthen health infrastructure, maintain buffer stocks of essential drugs and ensure that oxygen supply equipment is fully functional.At a meeting convened to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital and adjoining districts on Thursday,Bhallaalsofavouredramping up of testing in all districts of Delhi-NCR where the number of tests is low. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Assam reports seven more Omicron cases, tally rises to nine
At least seven more people, including a foreign returnee, have tested positive for Omicron variant of coronavirus in Assam, taking the tally of the new strain to nine, an official said on Friday.
Of the seven new Omicron patients, six have no travel history, National Health Mission Director Lakshmanan S said. "Genome sequencing test results of seven COVID-positive patients came yesterday and all have been infected with Omicron variant. Of them, only one had returned from a foreign country and others did not have any travel history," Lakshmanan told PTI.
Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in home isolation. "Yesterday I tested COVID positive. I have mild symptoms and I am in Home Isolation, following all COVID protocols and guidelines. Those who came in contact with me are requested to take necessary action accordingly," the minister wrote on Twitter.
The nine Omicron-positive patients include an Assam resident whose sample was collected in Meghalaya. Assam had on January 5 reported its first case of Omicron variant as a Saudi Arabia returnee tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus. The northeastern state on Thursday recorded 844 fresh COVID infections, 253 more than the previous day, with the tally rising to 6,23,332, an NHM bulletin said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Thailand announces more coronavirus curbs after jump in cases
Thailand will extend the suspension of its quarantine waiver programme and bring in new restrictions after a jump in new coronavirus cases linked to the Omicron variant, the government's COVID-19 taskforce said on Friday. New applications for Thailand's "Test & Go" quarantine waiver scheme will not be approved until further notice to stem the increase of coronavirus infections, said Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesman of the COVID-19 taskforce.
But existing applicants can still enter Thailand without quarantine until Jan. 15, he said. "We can still make changes if the situation improves, but for now we have to learn more about Omicron," Taweesin said. Due to concerns over Omicron, Thailand had halted the waiver programme since Dec. 22 and also most of its "sandbox" schemes, which requires visitors to remain in a specific location for seven days but allows them free movement during their stay, except for the resort of Phuket. But from Jan. 11, Thailand will allow quarantine-free entry into the country via the previously suspended sandbox schemes of Samui Plus, Phang Nga, and Krabi, Taweesin said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Delhi likely to see 17,000 COVID-19 cases with positivity rate of nearly 17%: Satyendar Jain
Delhi is expected to add 17,000 cases to its coronavirus infection tally with a positivity rate of around 17 per cent on Friday, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. He said Delhi is the first to witness a surge in infections because most of the international flights come to the capital.
"That is the reason we have implemented stricter measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 as compared to other states. Some people may say that this is not needed but it is better than repenting later," Jain told reporters. On the World Health Organisation terming the Omicron variant of coronavirus "mild", the minister said only experts will be able to tell if it is mild or not.
"I can give you the data I have. Delhi has around 31,498 active cases and only 1,091 hospital beds are occupied. When we had an equal number of cases last time, around 7,000 beds were occupied," Jain said.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Vishal Dadlani, Kubbra Sait test positive for COVID-19
Music composer-singer Vishal Dadlani and actor Kubbra Sait on Friday revealed their coronavirus diagnosis on their respective social media handles. Taking to Instagram, Dadlani shared a picture of his COVID-19 test-strip and urged everyone who came in contact with him to get themselves tested. "This is for anyone who may have come in contact with me this last week or 10 days. My symptoms are relatively mild, but still quite debilitating. Please be careful," the 48-year-old musician wrote.
Dadlani said he contracted the virus despite following necessary COVID-19 guidelines. "Sadly, despite every precaution, I've tested Covid Positive. At no point, except during weekly shoots (where all testing protocols were followed to the best of my knowledge), have I met anyone without a mask on. Nor have I touched anything unsanitised, as far as I know," he added.
"Sacred Games" star Sait shared the news of her COVID-19 diagnosis on her Instagram Stories. "First and foremost #maskup. Second of first, tested positive with mild/ asymptomatic Covid-19. If you were in contact with me, please run a home test... (so that we don't burden the already testing system). "I haven't still received the results from the lab, it's been 36 hours. Else better stay indoors and take a break. You may not even realise you're a carrier (at this stage)," the 38-year-old actor posted.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Milder Omicron an 'evolutionary mistake'; next variant could be more virulent, Indian-origin UK expert warns
A leading Indian-origin scientist from the University of Cambridge has warned that the reduced severity of Omicron is good news for now, but it is the result of an "evolutionary mistake" as COVID-19 is transmitting very efficiently and there is no reason for it to become milder, indicating that the next variant could be more virulent. The recent study was led by Ravindra Gupta, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Diseases (CITIID).
The study on the Omicron variant was among the first globally to describe the modified fusion mechanism of cells at play which might make Omicron more visible to the body’s immune defences. While the study showed that the new variant, dominant in the UK and now sweeping parts of India, is infecting the cells found in the lungs less, the virus itself is not intending to become milder.
In an interview with PTI on Thursday, Prof Gupta said, "There is this assumption that viruses become more benign over time but that’s not what’s happening here because those are long-term evolutionary trends." “SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) does not have that issue because it is transmitting very efficiently so it doesn’t have any reason to become milder, especially in the era of vaccination with plenty of susceptible hosts. So that’s why I think it’s an evolutionary mistake. It’s not something intentional that the virus is trying to do to change its biology,” he explained.
“This finding of reduced severity with Omicron is obviously good news for now but the next variant that comes, and there will be one, will not necessarily have these characteristics and could go back to the severity that we’ve seen before." “And, in fact I think it probably will… Therefore, blocking infection is a potentially desirable thing to do rather than what I’ve heard, which is people seeing this as a natural vaccine. That is an understandable but dangerous thing to do because we don’t understand the complete implications of different variants on our health,” he said.
According to the UK-born scientist with familial roots in Uttar Pradesh, who advises the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), keeping up the vaccination drive is important because that remains “our first line of defence” against the virus.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Odisha reports India's second Omicron death
Odisha on Thursday reported its first and the country's second Omicron-related death. The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday had confirmed the first death due to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 in Rajasthan. The first Omicron death in Odisha was confirmed by CDMO, Balangir, Dr Snehalata Sahu. The deceased, a 50 year old woman, was suffering from a brain stroke. She was admitted to Burla Medical College where she tested COVID positive. She died on December 27, 2021.
Her sample was sent for genome sequencing. The report of the test, which came after her death, was Omicron positive. Dr Sahu further informed that after the detection of Omicron death, the district administration and the health department rushed to her native village Agalpur for contact tracing. Further testing of the contacts is underway.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates | Election Commission informed on COVID-19 situation in India: Union Health Ministry
The government on Friday termed as misleading media reports stating that the Union Health Health Ministry has suggested to the Election Commission that there is no cause of "alarm or concern in view of very few cases of Omicron in poll-bound states". "These reports have a very high tendency to start a mis-information campaign in the midst of a pandemic," the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.
"Some media reports are suggesting that Union Ministry of Health has in a meeting with the Election Commission of India (ECI) yesterday suggested that the 'Covid situation in the country is nothing to be worried about' and 'there is no cause of alarm or concern in the view of very few cases of Omicron in the poll bound states'. Such reports are highly ill-informed, misleading and far from the truth," the ministry said.
The Union Health Secretary, in his meeting with the ECI on Thursday, presented the overall global and domestic status of spread of Covid, as well as Omicron, in the country. The Union Health Secretary, in his meeting with the ECI on Thursday, presented the overall global and domestic status of spread of Covid, as well as Omicron, in the country.
Details were also presented on status of preparedness of the public health response within the states for control and management of the increasing numbers of Covid cases, the statement said. The focus of the presentation was on poll bound states and their neighbouring states, it added.
