Coronavirus Highlights: 3.47 Lakh New Covid Cases In Last 24 Hours, Positivity Rate At 17.94%

The Kerala High Court has banned gatherings of more than 50 people in the Kasargod district for one week. The court issued the interim order on a plea challenging the revocation of the Kasargod District Collector's order imposing restrictions in the wake of COVID-19.

A new study has found that non-neutralising antibodies may also be important in providing protection against COVID-19. The study has been published in the 'Frontiers in Immunology Journal'.

"Our results indicate that non-neutralising antibodies could also provide protection. This would mean that we have broader protection from antibodies than previously thought, making us less vulnerable to mutations of the virus. It warrants further investigation," said Pontus Nordenfelt who led the study and is a researcher at Lund University.

In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Gujarat government has announced night curfew for 17 more towns with high positivity rate and extended the implementation in eight metros and two cities till January 29. While the timing of the night curfew remains unchanged from 10 pm to 6 am, 17 more towns have been added to the list of places where it will be enforced from January 22 till January 29, a government release stated. At the same time, the government has relaxed home delivery services for hotels and restaurants to 24 hours, while permitting these establishments to operate with 75 per cent capacity till 10 pm, it was stated.

Tamil Nadu today reported 29,870 new positive cases of coronavirus as against yesterday's 28,561 cases, a rise of around 4.5 per cent. The positivity rate is 20.3 per cent. Besides, 33 virus-related deaths and 21,684 recoveries were also reported. Of the new cases, Chennai accounted for 7,038 new infections as against yesterday's 7,520 cases. Coimbatore reported 3,653 new cases, Kanyakumari 1,248, Salem 1,009, Thiruvallur 1,016 and Virudhunagar 629. Currently, there are 1,87,358 cases cases in the state.

Rajasthan on Friday recorded 16,878 fresh COVID-19 cases, the sharpest single-day rise in eight months, and 15 deaths due to the viral disease, according to a health department bulletin. While Jaipur reported 4,035 fresh cases, Jodhpur logged 2,222, Alwar 1,371, Bharatpur 898, Udaipur 857, Chittorgarh 682, Ajmer 657, Kota 594 and Pali 504, the bulletin stated. Of the latest deaths, three were reported from Jaipur, two each from Ajmer and Bikaner, and one each from Barmer, Bharatpur, Dausa, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sikar and Tonk, it said. So far, 9,059 people have succumbed to COVID-19 in Rajasthan. According to the bulletin, 84,787 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment in the state. As many as 10,175 more people have recovered from the viral disease.

The health ministry has issued new guidelines for international arrivals under which isolation facility is not mandatory for people arriving from 'at-risk' countries from Saturday. The guidelines further stated, "If tested negative they (international travellers) will follow home quarantine for seven days and shall undertake RTPCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India."