Covid-19 Cases India: The country has recorded 8,961 cases of the Omicron variant so far.
India recorded 2,82,970 new cases today, 18 per cent higher than yesterday's reported 2.38 lakh daily cases, according to the Health Ministry.
441 people have died due to Covid during the same period, taking the total death count in the country due to the infection to 487,202.
The country's total caseload since the pandemic began currently stands at 3,79,01,241. This includes 8,961 cases of the Omicron variant. The active caseload currently stands at 18,31,000.
The active cases now comprise 4.83 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 93.88 per cent.
The cumulative vaccination coverage across the country crossed 158 crore doses on Tuesday.
Here are Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
Bengal Logs 11,447 Fresh Covid Cases, 38 Deaths In 24 HoursWest Bengal on Wednesday registered 11,447 new Covid-19 cases, 1,017 more than the previous day's figure, pushing the tally to 19,28,261, the health department said in a bulletin.
Thirty-eight more people also died due to the disease, with Kolkata accounting for the most of them at 14, taking the death count to 20,193.
(PTI)
Omicron Starts Receding In United States, Shows DataThe United States appears to be emerging from its latest coronavirus wave driven by the Omicron variant, data showed Wednesday, though cases remain far higher than during any previous surge and Covid hospitalizations are at a peak.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Tests Covid PositiveFormer Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has tested positive for Covid. The Shiromani Akali Dal leader has been admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana.
"He is fine and his treatment is going on," his son Sukhbir Singh Badal said.
(PTI)
Gujarat Reports Highest-Ever 20,966 Covid Cases In A DayGujarat today recorded its highest single-day rise of 20,966 new coronavirus infections besides 12 deaths, the state health department said.
On Tuesday, the state had reported 17,119 new cases, the highest one-day rise till then.
(PTI)
13,785 new cases in Delhi today, 18% higher than yesterday; positivity rate rises to 23.8% from 22% in a day
No New Covid Curbs In Assam Yet, Says Chief MinisterEven as Assam logged record number of new cases over the last two days, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that no new restrictions related to the pandemic will be imposed as long as the hospitalisation rate of infected patients remains under control.
He said the state government is targeting to complete full vaccination of the entire eligible population before February 15.
(PTI) J&K Sees Month's Highest Single-Day Spike With 5,818 New CasesIn the highest single-day spike so far this month, Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 5,818 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the total infections to 3,72,669, while four deaths were reported in 24 hours, officials said.
Of the fresh cases, 4,066 were from the Kashmir division and 1,752 from Jammu, the officials said.
(PTI)
Mumbai positivity rate drops to 10% from 12.89%, 12 deaths in 24 hours
Mumbai currently has 31,856 active Covid patients
6,032 New Cases In Mumbai Today, Marginally Lower Than Yesterday
6,032 new cases in Mumbai today, marginally lower than Tuesday; positivity rate down to 10% from 12.89%
Covid Patients Admitted To Delhi Hospitals Outnumber Those Discharged From January 1-17The number of COVID-19 patients admitted to Delhi hospitals in January so far is higher than the number of those discharged, according to government data.
An analysis of the data shows on an average, 395 Covid patients were admitted to hospitals on a daily basis between January 1 and January 17, while 243 patients were discharged daily in the period.
(PTI)
Raigad's Covid Count Rises By 1,979, Death Count By 6 In 24 HoursWith the addition of 1,979 cases, the infection count in Maharashtra's Raigad district has reached 15,771 since the beginning of this month, authorities said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
With the death of six patients, the fatalities count has gone up to 4,608 in the coastal district, an official release from the collector office said. These cases and deaths were reported on Tuesday.
95% Eligible Adults Administered First Shot, 62% The Second: Yogi Adityanath95 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's eligible population above 18 have received their first dose while 62 per cent have got their second dose, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said today.
Of the eligible teens, 62.83 lakh vaccine doses have been provided of the targetted 1.40 crore doses, he said.
(PTI)
Delhi Deploys Nodal Officers To Monitor Covid Patient Care, Vaccination At Private FacilitiesThe Delhi government has deployed senior nursing officers from public hospitals as nodal officers to monitor the management of Covid patients and vaccination at private facilities. Government hospitals have also been asked to find suitable replacement for retired and transferred nursing personnel.
(PTI)
6 Passengers, Double-Vaccinated, Test Positive For COVID-19; Stopped At Indore AirportSix passengers, including three women, were not allowed to board Air India's Dubai-bound flight at the Indore airport today after they were found infected with coronavirus, a health official said.
"As per protocol, every passenger boarding the weekly Indore-Dubai flight has to undergo a rapid RT-PCR test at the airport. Today, 67 passengers were tested (in the morning) and the results of six passengers came out positive," Priyanka Kourav, medical officer of the Madhya Pradesh health department, told news agency PTI.
She said that two of the six infected passengers are from Bhopal and four from Indore.
Hong Kong's Covid Hamster Cull Sparks Fear Of Owners Abandoning PetsA mass hamster cull in Hong Kong sparked fears among animal welfare groups on Wednesday that panicky people would abandon their pets after 11 of the rodents from one pet shop in the city tested positive for COVID-19.
The local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which runs veterinary clinics, told Reuters it received "numerous" enquiries from worried pet owners, asking what to do about the latest scare.
"We urge the pet owners not to panic or abandon their pets," SPCA said in a statement.
Coronavirus India News: PM Modi lauds youngsters for enthusiasm in getting vaccinated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded youngsters in the 15-18 age group for showing enthusiasm in getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and called for continuing the momentum.
While reacting to Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya's tweet the Prime Minister said "Young and youthful India showing the way! This is encouraging news. Let us keep the momentum. It is important to vaccinate and observe all COVID-19 related protocols. Together, we will fight this pandemic."
Earlier on Tuesday, Mandaviya informed that over 50 per cent of children between the 15-18 age group have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far in the country, since January 3 when vaccination drive for the age group commenced.
"Big day for India's fight against COVID-19! Over 50 per cent of our youngsters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Well done, my Young Friends! Your enthusiasm for vaccination is inspiring people all over India. Sabko Vaccine Muft Vaccine," Mr Mandaviya tweeted.
"We Get Along Very Well": Chinese Couple Trapped On Lockdown Date EngagedA Chinese couple who were trapped on a neverending date thanks to a virus lockdown have been relieved to find that love, not the coronavirus, is in the air and have agreed to tie the knot.
It is the second time this month that China's state media have published reports about a couple on a date getting trapped by sudden lockdown rules -- but this one has a happier ending.
Zhao Xiaoqing, a 28-year-old woman from northern China's Shaanxi province, thought her date in mid-December with a young man living in a different city would be a one-day affair where she would also get to know his family.
"I never thought about staying the night, because it's pretty awkward," said Zhao Xiaoqing, who was meeting the man for only the second time.
But authorities in her date's city of Xianyang suddenly ordered a lockdown due to a spike in virus cases, leaving the woman unable to return home. Read more here.
18.69 Lakh Covid Tests Done In Last 24 Hours
A total of 70.74 crore samples have been tested so far. Over 18.69 lakh tests were conducted in the past 24 hours - over 2 lakh more than yesterday.
India reports 2.82 lakh new cases in 24 hours, 18% higher than yesterday's daily cases
India recorded 2,82,970 new cases today, 18 per cent higher than yesterday's reported 2.38 lakh daily cases, according to the Health Ministry. The total tally of Omicron cases in the recorded in the country stands at 8,961.
441 people have died due to Covid during the same period, taking the total death count in the country due to the infection to 487,202.
The active caseload currently stands at 18,31,000. The active cases now comprise 4.83 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 93.88 per cent.
Assam's Highest 1-Day Covid Spike Is Worrying Its Largest City GuwahatiRegistering its highest single-day spike since the onset of the pandemic, Assam logged 8,072 Covid cases yesterday which pushed the state's tally to 6,61,789. The previous highest number of new cases on a single day were reported on Monday when 6,982 people tested positive.
The worrying rise in Covid cases has largely been seen after Christmas, New Year and Bihu celebrations in the state.
Bill And Melinda Gates' Foundation Pledges $150 Million In Covid FightThe Gates Foundation and British biomedical charity Wellcome on Tuesday pledged $150 million each in the fight against Covid-19 and to prepare for future pandemics.
The $300 million will go to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership founded five years ago that co-leads Covax, the initiative to distribute Covid vaccines across the developing world, alongside the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
"None of us believe Omicron will be the last variant, or that Covid-19 will be the last pandemic," British scientist Jeremy Farrar, the director of Wellcome, said at a press briefing.