COVID-19 cases in India: The active cases stand at 76,766. (File)
New Delhi:
India reported 6,987 new coronavirus infections and 162 deaths, which pushed the total active cases to 76,766 and the death count to 4,79,682, according to the health ministry. The number of cases of fast-spreading Omicron variant has risen to 422 in India, with Maharashtra reporting the most number of infections. At least 130 have recovered, the Health Ministry said this morning.
The health department has confirmed one case of Omicron variant of Covid-19 in Himachal Pradesh. Nine samples of Covid-19 positive were sent for genome sequencing to the National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi.
Maharashtra – which also has reported the most number of coronavirus cases – has 108 cases of the new variant. The western state is followed by Delhi, which has 79 cases. Gujarat has 43 cases and Telangana 41.
In view of the fast-spreading Omicron variant, India on Saturday announced booster shots for health and frontline workers and those above 60 from January 10. In a late night address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced vaccinations for children between 15 and 18 years from January 3.
Here are the highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
Nagaland on Sunday did not report any COVID-19 case for the third consecutive day, an official said, according to news agency PTI. The state’s COVID-19 tally remained at 32,174, the official said. The death count remained at 702, with no deaths related to the virus reported in the last 48 hours, the official added. Nagaland currently has 77 active COVID-19 cases, while 30,326 people have recuperated from the disease, including three recoveries in the last 24 hours, he said. The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state now is 94.26 per cent.
Top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci on Sunday acknowledged a Covid “testing problem” as the Omicron strain overwhelms the nation, and he vowed to make more tests available to Americans next month.
“One of the problems is that that’s not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January, and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested,” Fauci told ABC talk show “This Week.”
“But we’re addressing the testing problem,” he added, saying it should be corrected “very soon.”
Night curfew will be imposed in Delhi from 10 pm to 5 am starting tomorrow, the city government said today as the national capital reported 290 fresh cases of Covid – a 16 per cent jump from yesterday – and one related death in 24 hours. The case positivity rate has climbed to 0.5 per cent – a critical level – and could trigger the “yellow alert” if it remains there for two consecutive days.
Under the Delhi government’s four-stage Graded response Action Plan (GRAP), the yellow alert will lead to a host of additional curbs. The GRAP was approved by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority in July in anticipation of a third wave of Covid and aims to bring in imposition and lifting of restrictions depending on the situation.
Mumbai today reported 922 new cases of coronavirus that were detected in the last 24 hours – a 21% jump from yesterday when the metropolis logged 757 cases. It is the city’s highest single-day spike in nearly seven months. On June 4, Mumbai had reported 973 cases in a day. The jump in cases comes amid renewed global fears over the new variant of coronavirus – Omicron.
Two related deaths were also reported today.
The city’s active caseload now stands at 4,295 cases and the positivity rate has jumped to 2.64%.
19 children were found to be infected with Covid-19 at Maharashtra’s Jawahar Navodaya University, following which 450 students were tested for the virus. Now, 33 more children have tested positive. A total of 52 people tested positive for Covid at the school. The school has been sealed and the area has been declared a containment zone.
The school is located at Takli Dhokeshwar in the Ahmednagar district of the state.
New tougher restrictions have come in force from Sunday in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland under devolved powers in a bid to curb rising coronavirus cases across the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Cabinet is expected to review the latest data and advice from experts on Monday to decide if further restrictions need to be brought in for England as well. The region is currently under Plan B measures, which call for working from home, compulsory face masks and COVID-19 vaccination certificates for entry to large venues.
Meanwhile in Wales, nightclubs will close from Sunday and a maximum of six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, restaurants and cinemas. Up to 30 people will be allowed at indoor events, while at outdoor events the limit is 50.
With the number of Omicron cases rising in India, the Congress attacked the Centre and asked by when the government is intending to vaccinate the remaining 35 per cent of the adult population of the country.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “According to the PIB data and affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court, around 36 crore of the eligible population is yet to receive the second dose of COVID dose while 11 crores to get both the doses. By when the government will inoculate this population? The government had promised to vaccinate the adult population by December 31. However, it has not fulfilled the promise.”
At least four returnees from the United Kingdom have tested positive for COVID-19 upon their arrival at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, following which they were placed under isolation at a city hospital, a senior health official said.
Two men aged 44 and 24, a 31-year-old woman, and a five-year-old boy are among the new patients. They have been admitted to Beliaghata ID Hospital, he said.
Their samples for genome sequencing will be collected on Monday, the official said.
The health department has confirmed one case of Omicron variant of Covid-19 in Himachal Pradesh. Nine samples of Covid-19 positive were sent for genome sequencing to the National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi.
A woman who arrived on December 18 in Mandi from Canada tested positive for Covid-19 and has now been confirmed positive by NCDC for Omicron variant. Yesterday, her RTPCR report came out negative and all her three contacts also tested negative. Results from 8 other samples are awaited.
The health authorities are sending more samples for genome sequencing.
Odisha has reported four new Omicron cases, taking the total tally of the cases of the new variant of coronavirus to eight, informed State Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra. According to Mr Mishra, four foreign returnees including two from Nigeria, two from Saudi Arabia, and one from the UAE have tested positive for Omicron.
“Four new Omicron cases reported in the state, four foreign returnees, two from Nigeria, one from UAE, and one from Saudi Arabia have tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID19. The total number of Omicron cases now stands at eight,” said Mr Mishra.
Eight cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been found at Indore in Madhya Pradesh, state Home Narottam Mishra said. This is the first time that the MP government has reported cases of the new virus variant in the state.
“Eight Omicron cases have been found in Indore. Out of these patients, six have recovered and have been discharged while two are undergoing treatment,” Mr Mishra, who is the state government’s spokesman, said.
A total of 75% of the eligible population has been administered with 2nd dose of vaccine. The administration of preventive dose will start from 10 Jan for those with comorbidities and above 60 yrs of age: Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K pic.twitter.com/4v7Vi3VEGg
– ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021
Arunachal Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally rose to 55,331 as one more person tested positive for the infection on Sunday, a senior health official said. The state now has 15 active COVID-19 cases, the official said.
As many as 55,036 people have recuperated from the disease so far, including five on Saturday, he said.
With the administration of 32,90,766 vaccine doses in the last 24 hrs, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 141.37Cr. The recovery rate of 98.40% is the highest since March’20. Weekly positivity Rate at 0.62% remains less than 1% from last 42 days: Union Health Ministry
– ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021
With the cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 reaching 38 in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with health experts, senior officials and cabinet colleagues to take stock of the rising infections.
Revenue Minister R Ashoka, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Health Minister K Sudhakar, chief secretary Ravi Kumar and other officials of the health and police department are present in the meeting.
Further details are awaited.
With the addition of 203 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra’s Thane district has gone up to 5,72,050, an official said on Sunday.
The virus also claimed the life of one more person, raising the death count in the district to 11,605, he said, adding that the COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane is 2.03 per cent.
COVID19 | A total of 422 #Omicron cases were reported in 17 States/UTs of India so far. The number of persons recovered is 130: Union Health Ministry
– ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021
COVID19 | We welcome the Centre govt’s decision on boosters for 60+, frontline staff; vaccines for 15-18 years. Booster dose amid Omicron scare is need of the hour: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope pic.twitter.com/CCYfk73wKf
– ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2021
Malaysia reported 3,160 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Saturday, bringing the national total to 2,738,401, according to the health ministry. Some 156 of the new cases are imported, with 3,004 being local transmissions, data released by the ministry showed.
Another 25 deaths have been reported, bringing the death count to 31,315.
Singapore is reporting rising Omicron cases due to the rapid spread of the variant, the Ministry of Health said on Saturday, confirming 448 infections till date, of which 369 arrived here or were imported. Ninety-eight new Omicron infections were confirmed on Saturday, comprising 73 imported cases and 25 local infections.
“Given its high transmissibility, it is a matter of time before the Omicron variant spreads in our community,” cautioned the ministry.
More than 6,000 flights have been cancelled worldwide over the long Christmas weekend and thousands more were delayed, a tracking website reported Saturday, as the highly infectious Omicron variant brings holiday hurt to millions.
Compounding the travel chaos in the United States, severe weather in the country’s west is due to wreak havoc on roadways and other routes there although it may well bring a white Christmas weekend to northwest cities Seattle and Portland.
According to Flightaware.com, nearly 2,800 flights were scrubbed around the globe on Saturday, including more than 970 originating from or headed to US airports, with over 8,000 delays as of 0130 GMT.
COVID-19 India News: Well Prepared To Tackle Covid Surge, Says Assam Minister
In view of the surging cases of Omicron across the country, Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said that the state government is well-prepared to tackle a possible surge in COVID-19 cases, reported news agency ANI. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Mr Mahanta said, “We are in readiness from all corners. Our hospitals and doctors are well-prepared too. We have completed our planning.” The minister further made it clear that there would be no lockdown in Assam.
COVID-19 India News: Telangana Reports 3 New Omicron Cases
Telangana reported three new cases of the new COVID variant, Omicron, in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department, reported news agency ANI. With this, the total number of Omicron cases rose to 41 in the state out of which 10 patients have recovered completely and were discharged from the state-run TIMS hospital. The tally of Omicron cases in India has surpassed the 400-mark now.
Seven more cases of Omicron variant have been reported in Karnataka, informed State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday, according to news agency ANI. Of these seven, two had travelled from Delhi, one had arrived from the US, one each from Zambia, the UK, UAE, and another is a primary contact of the UK traveller. “All primary and secondary contacts have been tracked, traced and tested,” the minister said. The Omicron tally has reached 38 in the state.