Covid-19 Cases in India: The national recovery rate currently stands at 98.35%. (File)
India today for the first time reported 'Omicron' cases in the country with two cases being detected in Karnataka. The new strain of the virus has triggered a global alarm with several countries announcing restrictions to arrest the spread of the 'Variant of Concern'.
Earlier in the day, India logged a daily spike of 9,765 Covid cases, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,46,06,541. The active cases increased to 99,763, the Health Ministry data showed today.
The New Covid variant, 'Omicron' which has been declared as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns across the globe. The variant was first detected in South Africa earlier this month. Since then, the new strain has already been detected in several European countries. 'Omicron' is said to be much more infectious than the Delta variant.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will meet state and UT officials to review Covid testing and surveillance measures at international airports. India yesterday enforced strict rules for foreign arrivals, particularly from nations with Omicron cases.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases:
Coronavirus News: Nearly 3,000 International Passengers Arrive At Delhi Airport Today
Nearly 3,000 international passengers arrived at the Delhi airport on Thursday, including from the UK, France and Germany, and officials said at least six more people have tested positive, reported news agency PTI. Strict rules, including mandatory Covid tests, have been put in place for passengers coming from "at-risk" countries in the wake of the new variant Omicron. With the new rules that also require passengers from "at-risk" countries to stay back at airports till their test results are declared, there have been reports of chaos as fliers now have to wait for long hours.
Coronavirus News: Madhya Pradesh Logs 12 Covid Cases
Madhya Pradesh's covid tally rose to 7,93,199 after 12 people tested positive for the infection on Thursday, a health official said, reported news agency PTI. As many as eight patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the count of recoveries to 7,82543, while the death count remained unchanged at 10,528, as no new casualties were reported, the official said. The state is now left with 128 active cases, he said.
Coronavirus News: 72-Year-Old Tests +ve After Return From Zimbabwe, Sample Sent For Genome SequencingAmid global concern over the highly contagious Omicron variant, a 72-year-old man has tested positive in Gujarat's Jamnagar city after his return from Zimbabwe, an African nation and one of the "at risk" countries identified by the authorities, officials said on Thursday. In order to ascertain if he is infected with the Omicron variant, the health authorities have sent his samples to Ahmedabad for genome sequencing, Jamnagar municipal commissioner Vijaykumar Kharadi said, adding that it will take around one week for the result to come.
(PTI)
Coronavirus News: No Case Of Omicron In Tamil Nadu So Far, Says State Health Minister
The Tamil Nadu government today said no cases of Omicron has been detected in the state so far, reported news agency PTI. 1,807 people were subjected to tests for the variant in four international airports - Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore - and all of them tested negative, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, M Subramanian told reporters after reviewing the safety measures to prevent the spread of the new strain, at the airport this evening.
Coronavirus News: Passengers From "At Risk" Countries Must Undergo RT-PCR Test On Arrival, Says CentrePassengers arriving from "at-risk" countries need to undergo RT-PCR tests on arrival and if found positive, they will be treated under clinical management protocol, Union Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said in the wake of the new coronavirus variant Omicron, reported news agency ANI.
He further said if passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries test negative for Covid, they will be home quarantined for seven days.
Coronavirus News: Delta Variant In 95% Samples From Delhi In Last 6 Months
Ninety five per cent of the samples from Delhi sequenced at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the last six months were found infected with the Delta variant of the coronavirus, according to government data, reported news agency PTI. Delhi has sent 7,281 samples for genome sequencing to the NCDC since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Coronavirus News: Kerala Logs 4,700 New Covid Cases, 320 DeathsKerala today recorded 4,700 Covid cases and 320 deaths, taking the caseload to 51,40,090 and the fatality count to 40,855, the State government said, reportednews agency PTI. Of the 320 deaths, 66 were reported over the last few days and 254 were designated as Covid deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court, an official press release said.
Coronavirus News: Karnataka Chief Minister Discusses 'Omicron' With Union Health Minister
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai today called on Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and discussed 'Omicron', on a day it was announced that two cases of the variant have been detected in his state, reported news agency PTI. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Bommai noted that he also discussed administration of booster doses to health workers.
Coronavirus News: 1 Indian With No Travel History Among 2 'Omicron' Cases Detected In Karnataka
Of the two Omicron cases detected in Karnataka, one patient is an Indian with no travel history, sources have told NDTV.
2 Omicron Cases Detected In India, Says GovernmentTwo COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in India, the Health Ministry said on Thursday, in the first confirmation of the coronavirus strain within the country's borders that has triggered global alarm. Both the cases have been reported in Karnataka with the patients being two men aged 66 and 46, the Health Ministry said, adding that their identities will not be disclosed for now to protect their privacy. All people who came in contact with the two patients have been traced and are being tested, they said.
Coronavirus News: All Contacts On 'Omicron' Patients Traced, Being Tested, Says Centre
All primary and secondary contacts of both patients infected with the Omicron variant in Karnataka have been traced and are being tested, the Health Ministry said during a press conference.
Coronavirus News: 2 'Omicron' Cases Detected In Karnataka, Says Centre
Two cases of 'Omicron' have been detected in India, the Centre said.
Coronavirus News: 70% New Cases Last Week Came From Europe, Says Centre
Europe contributed 70% of new cases in the past week, the Centre said.
Coronavirus News: 49% Of India's Adult Population Fully Vaccinated, Says Centre
84.3 per cent of adult population in India got 1st dose of Covid vaccine, 49 per cent got 2nd dose, the Centr said.
What Fliers In Delhi Say About New Omicron Rules At AirportInternational passengers arriving at the Delhi airport shared mixed experiences as the fresh guidelines for fliers, particularly for those from 'at risk' nations, entered the second day today. Airport officials, however, said that adequate arrangements, including setting up of multiple counters for Covid tests, have been made to ensure that fliers don't face any inconvenience.
New Omicron Cases In South Africa Double In A Day; Strain In 24 CountriesThe heavily mutated Omicron variant of the coronavirus is rapidly becoming dominant in South Africa, less than four weeks after being identified there, authorities said on Wednesday, as other countries tightened their borders against the new threat.
The United States told airlines to hand over the names of passengers from parts of southern Africa hit by Omicron, which the World Health Organization (WHO) said had now reached at least 24 countries, with cases ranging from mild to severe. (Read full story
here)
JUST IN: Four more international passengers from 'at-risk' countries test Covid positive in Mumbai. The total number of infected international passengers coming to Mumbai is now 5.
9,765 New Cases In India, 9% Higher Than Yesterday
- 124.96 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
- India's Active caseload currently stands at 99,763
- Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.29%; Lowest since March 2020
- Recovery Rate currently at 98.35%
- 8,548 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,40,37,054
- 9,765 new cases in the last 24 hours
- Daily positivity rate (0.89%) less than 2% for last 59 days
- Weekly Positivity Rate (0.85%) less than 1% for last 18 days
Karnataka Chief Minister To Discuss Covid booster dose for frontline workers In Meet With Union Minister
Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will land in Delhi today at 12:40pm. He will meet Union Health Minister and discuss discuss administering vaccine booster doses to Health and Frontline workers to protect them from a possible third wave of of Coronavirus.
Kerala reports 5,405 new COVID-19 cases
Kerala reported 5,405 new COVID-19 cases and 403 related deaths on Wednesday.
According to the state health bulletin, 307 deaths were added to the daily numbers in accordance with the new guidelines of the central government. The death toll in the state stands at 40,535.
The state has 44,124 active cases.