Covid-19 Cases India: The country has recorded 9,287 cases of the Omicron variant so far.
India recorded 3,17,532 new Covid cases on Wednesday, 12.2% higher than yesterday's reported 2.82 lakh daily cases, according to the Health Ministry.
491 people have died due to Covid during the same period, taking the total death count in the country due to the infection to 487,693.
The country's total caseload since the pandemic began currently stands at 3,82,18,773. This includes 9,287 cases of the Omicron variant. The active caseload currently stands at 19,24,051.
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.
Here are Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
Gujarat Logs Highest-Ever Single Day Covid Spike With 24,485 CasesGujarat on Thursday recorded 24,485 new cases, the highest single-day spike so far, pushing up its tally above the 10-lakh mark, while 13 patients succumbed to infection, the state health department said.
With these additions, the state's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,01,563 cases, while the death count increased to 10,199, said a health department release.
(PTI)
Biophore India Receives Licences To Market Covid Durg MolnupiravirBiophore India Pharmaceuticals on Thursday said it has received licences from Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) on behalf of originator company MSD to manufacture and market molnupiravir for treatment of COVID-19 and will launch in India next week priced at Rs 1,500 for a pack of 40 capsules.
The licences are applicable for both active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished product in capsules form. It enables the company to launch the product within India as well as export to 104 other countries around the world, Biophore India Pharmaceuticals said in a statement.
(PTI)
Over 160.32 Crore Covid Vaccine Doses Administered So Far: CentreThe cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 160.32 crore on Thursday, according to the Union health ministry.
At a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said 94 per cent of India's adults have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 72 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Bengal Logs 10,959 New Covid Cases, 37 More DeathsWest Bengal today registered 10,959 new Covid-19 cases, 488 less than the previous day's count, pushing the tally to 19,39,920, the health department said in a bulletin.
Thirty-seven people died, pushing the death count to 20,230. The state now has 1,44,809 active cases, 6,893 less than what the figure was on Wednesday.
(PTI)
Himachal Pradesh Reports 8 Cases Of Omicron Variant In 24 HoursHimachal Pradesh reported eight more cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus today, taking the total number to 15, a senior health official said.
Initially, the Omicron variant was reported only from international arrivals, but now it is being recorded among the community also, he said.
A total of 156 samples of the patients found Covid positive from December 15 to December 31 were sent for whole genome sequencing to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi, he added.
(PTI)
Record 5,992 Cases In J&K In 24 Hours With 7 DeathsJammu and Kashmir today recorded 5,992 fresh coronavirus cases, its biggest single-day spike in infections so far, pushing the tally to 3,78,661, while seven deaths due to the disease were reported in the past 24 hours, officials said.
The previous highest one-day jump in infections was recorded yesterday when 5,818 fresh cases were registered in the Union Territory.
(PTI) 2 Sputnik Doses Generate Two Times Higher Antibodies Against Omicron Than Pfizer: StudyA study has found that two doses of Sputnik V provide two times higher virus neutralising antibodies against the Omicron variant than two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said today.
The study was conducted at the Italian Spallanzani Institute on comparable groups of sera from individuals vaccinated with Sputnik V and Pfizer.
(PTI)
5,708 Covid Cases In Mumbai In 24 Hours
5,708 cases have been reported in Mumbai in 24 hours - a five per cent drop from yesterday. 12 related deaths were reported from the metropolis in the same period of time.
COVID-19 India News: Telangana To Undertake Door-To-Door Survey For Fever CasesThe Telangana government would undertake a door-to-door fever survey in the state from Friday as part of measures to check the spread of COVID-19. The survey would help in controlling the spread by identifying those suffering from fever and others, State Health Minister T Harish Rao told reporters on Thursday.
Some people are asymptomatic despite testing positive for the infection, while some others are not getting themselves tested in spite of having symptoms like fever, he said. The survey would help address such issues. He said a home-isolation kit, comprising medicines and others, would be provided to those with symptoms.
COVID-19 News: Cheaper Merck Covid Pill For 105 Nations, Says UN-Backed AgencyGeneric drug manufacturers will make a more affordable version of Merck's anti-Covid pill for 105 of the world's poorer nations, a UN-backed organisation said Thursday, according to news agency AFP. "This is a critical step toward ensuring global access to an urgently needed Covid-19 treatment and we are confident that...the anticipated treatments will be rapidly available in low- and middle-income countries," said Charles Gore, executive director of Medicines Patent Pool.
COVID-19 India News: Akali Leader Parkash Badal's Health Improving, Say DoctorsThe health condition of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, is improving, doctors at the hospital where he had been admitted said on Thursday, according to news agency PTI. The 94-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch was admitted to Ludhiana's Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH ) on Wednesday afternoon.
Dr Bishav Mohan, the hospital's Covid-19 team in charge, treating the Akali Dal patriarch, said, "Badal is progressing well." He said due to his advanced age, the veteran leader falls in the vulnerable group and would remain under observation for the time being.
COVID-19 India News: 72% Adults Fully Vaccinated, 52% Teens Jabbed With 1st Dose
The Centre has informed that 72 per cent of India's adult population is fully vaccinated whereas around 52 per cent of children in the 15-18 age category have been inoculated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Addressing a press conference today, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "Till now, 52 per cent children in the 15-18 age group in the country vaccinated and a proportion of fully vaccinated people is 72 per cent against COVID-19."
COVID-19 India News: Active Cases Cross 50,000 In Andhra PradeshThe surge in coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh continues, a health bulletin said Thursday, according to news agency PTI. There were 12,615 fresh cases in 24 hours ending 9 AM today thereby taking the active cases past 50,000. According to the latest bulletin, the state reported 3,674 recoveries and five deaths in 24 hours. The gross COVID-19 positives now climbed to 21,40,056. The number of active cases stood at 53,871 after a total of 20,71,658 recoveries and 14,527 deaths, the bulletin said.
COVID-19 India News: Deaths Fewer This Time Due To Vaccination, Says OfficialDr V K Paul, NITI Aayog member, said deaths are fewer this time and that the mortality is much much lower due to vaccination. The overall positivity of 16% is very high, he said. Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab are still showing very high positivity, he said.
"We are on a mission to respond to this virus with vigour. We must take personal precautions through masking and social distancing. It is not time to stop our Covid protocols. Comorbidities are leading to fatalities, they are the most vulnerable which is why precaution dose must be taken," he said.
Around 1 crore people over 60 have not taken the second dose. About 25% have not taken their second dose, he said, adding that 6.5 crore people's second dose is overdue.
Healthcare and frontline workers should come forward because there is no issue of availability, he said.
COVID-19 India News: 2 Lakh Home Tests Done In 20 Days, Says OfficialDr Balram Bhargava, ICMR director general, said testing is being maintained at the level comparable to the second wave. On home tests, he said: "We have noted an increasing uptick of home tests. In 20 days we have seen 2 lakh home tests used."
Some districts and states have seen a dip and they have been encouraged to increase testing, he said and added, "Due to high vaccination uptake we are not witnessing much severe disease. Vaccines prevent death and so are a must. People with comorbidities should be cautious.
COVID-19 India News: Status Active Cases, Hospitalisations In DelhiA graph on active cases, positive cases and hospitalisation in Delhi shown during the press conference by the health ministry on coronavirus situation.
COVID-19 India News: Comparison Of Beds Occupied During 2nd And 3rd SurgeComparison of first wave to second wave in Delhi: Much fewer people need hospital beds in this wave, according to the health ministry.
COVID-19 India News: Comparison Of Key Indices During Second And Third SurgeComparison of key indices during the second and third surge: Mortality rate is significantly lesser and the vaccinated population is much larger. Vaccines are effective and disease severity for vaccinated individuals is much lower, said the health ministry.
COVID-19 India News: 515 Districts With Weekly Positivity Rate Above 5%, Says CentreAs many as 515 districts across India are reporting weekly test positivity over 5%. This is up from 335 districts in previous week, said the health ministry.
COVID-19 India News: States Of Concern Include Delhi, Maharashtra, UPThe states of concern are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. "We are in continuous contact. We have sent central teams to these states which are visiting various districts and briefing local officials," said an official at the health ministry conference.
COVID-19 India News: Health Ministry Press Conference Live On CovidOn the global situation of COVID-19, the health ministry said the following:
1. The Average daily cases for the last week: 29.18 lakh
2. Active cases globally: 5.86 crore
3. By continent: Coronavirus cases have been falling in Africa and Europe, while it is rising in Asia, Oceania, and South America. Cases are plateauing in North America.
Coronavirus News: Austria Introduces Lottery To Encourage People To Get VaccinatedAustria's conservative-led government said on Thursday it was introducing a national lottery to encourage holdouts to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, hours before parliament was due to pass a bill introducing a national vaccine mandate.
Roughly 72% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.
New daily infections surged to a new record on Wednesday as the extremely contagious Omicron variant spread further, but the government wants to avoid another national lockdown, since the country emerged from its fourth one only last month.
India COVID-19 News: Mumbai Schools To Reopen On Monday, Same for Rest of MaharashtraSchools in Maharashtra will reopen for all classes from next week, state Education Minister said today.
"From 24 (January) we will be reopening schools for classes 1-12th with COVID protocols; Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to our proposal," Varsha Gaikwad, Maharashtra's School Education Minister, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government had announced the closure of schools in the state till February 15 as the number of coronavirus cases started spiralling from December amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Puducherry records 2,783 new Covid cases, 1 death in 24 hours
The union territory of Puducherry recorded 2,783 fresh Covid-19 infections during the last 24 hours as the overall tally went up to 1,45,342 and the active cases broke the 13,000 mark, a senior Health department official said today.
The test positivity rate (the number of cases per 100 tests) shot up to 43.19 per cent in the last 24 hours, from 30.23 per cent recorded on Wednesday.
A 95-year old woman succumbed to the virus pushing the death toll in the union territory to 1,897, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services G Sriramulu said in a release.
India Coronavirus News: Uttar Pradesh Man Wrestles Official, Another Climbs Tree To Dodge Covid ShotA team of health officials in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia, out on a Covid vaccination awareness drive, faced cases of extreme hesitancy in a remote village, underscoring the need for faster vaccinations ahead of elections in India's most populous state.
Ballia is among UP's worst-performing districts when it comes to overall vaccinations in the state. The videos were shot on Tuesday by health officials. One of them shows a man climbing a tree to escape vaccination, another video shows a man wrestling a health official to the ground.
"Please come down," a group of people urge a man on a tree.
"I won't come down. I don't want to get jabbed. I am scared," the man replies.
3.17 lakh fresh Covid cases in India, 491 deathsIndia added 3.17 lakh new Covid cases today, taking the tally to 3.82 crore.
As many as 491 people have died of Covid during the past 24-hour period, according to the Health Ministry. This includes 134 deaths in Kerala in the last few months, added based on pending appeals after the last Supreme Court guidelines.
Coronavirus News: An Approval That Suggests Big Changes In Booster Policy Are LikelyIn a big boost to India's fight against coronavirus, an expert panel of the central drug authority on Wednesday cleared Covaxin and Covishield for full use, a year after the vaccines were given emergency approval. With the significant move, the vaccines are expected to be widely available soon at hospitals and clinics registered with the government portal CoWIN.
The development comes as the government deliberates over the booster dose policy. Precautionary third doses of vaccines -- announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month -- are now being given to health and frontline workers and adults above 60 years of age, dealing with illnesses. The recommended period, however, between the second and the third dose is currently nine months.