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:
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.
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.
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.
He further said if passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries test negative for Covid, they will be home quarantined for seven days.
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.
The Centres priority is to fully vaccinate the adult population of the country against coronavirus, NITI Aayogs Member-Health Dr VK Paul said as the new variant Omicron has triggered a global alarm with several countries imposing fresh curbs.
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.
According to sources, while the 66-year-old is a foreigner with a history of travel to South Africa, the 46-year-old is a health worker in Bengaluru.
Of the two Omicron cases detected in Karnataka, one patient is an Indian with no travel history, sources have told NDTV.
Two Omicron cases have been detected in India, the government said today. Both the cases are from Karnataka.
Two 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.
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.
Two cases of 'Omicron' have been detected in India, the Centre said.
Europe contributed 70% of new cases in the past week, the Centre said.
84.3 per cent of adult population in India got 1st dose of Covid vaccine, 49 per cent got 2nd dose, the Centr said.
International 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.
Leading South African scientists warned it is still too early to determine that the omicron variant will only cause mild illness.
4 passengers coming from South Africa to Mumbai have tested COVID positive; samples sent for genome sequencing. RT-PCR tests are mandatory for travellers from 'at risk' countries, in view of the new variant #Omicron: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar pic.twitter.com/qcXg4fPxgk
- ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2021
#Omicron | All travellers coming to #UttarPradesh will go through thermal scanning; any #COVID positive traveller will be isolated. Every district's railway and bus station will have a medical team for COVID sampling: #UttarPradesh government
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 2, 2021
(ANI) pic.twitter.com/xQh5OirdqA
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.
Tamil Nadu | New COVID SoPs have been implemented from December 1, as per which passengers on arrival from the 'at risk' countries will remain at the airport till their RT-PCR result comes negative: S. Dharmaraj, Director at Tiruchirappalli International Airport pic.twitter.com/pggC6mQMtg
- ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2021
Singapore's world-leading pivot away from Covid Zero is being watched closely as the omicron variant roils global markets. So far, the country has refrained from reversing course on its gradual border reopening, and experts say it has time to wait be
- 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
The omicron variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa, has now been detected in countries from the U.S. to South Korea, underscoring the difficulties of curtailing contagious new strains.
The first confirmed case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been detected in a person in California, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
Maharashtra rules mandating Covid tests and quarantine for passengers arriving in Mumbai - whether or not they come from 'at risk' nations - have been challenged by the centre, as has a demand for negative RT-PCR tests from incoming domestic fliers.
The resumption of commercial international flights -- earlier scheduled for December 15 -- is likely to be postponed, with the authorities hitting brakes in view of the emergence of the new Covid variant Omicron.