India reported 6,650 fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With this, the country's caseload reached 3,47,72,626. India's active caseload currently stands at 77,516.
The country also reported 374 new Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total death count to 4,79,133.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the active cases in the country account for less than one per cent of total cases, currently at 0.22 per cent which is the lowest since March last year.
The number of cases of Covid's fast-spreading strain Omicron has crossed the 200-mark in India, the Union Health Ministry said, with Omicron cases in India currently standing at 358.
With 88 cases, Maharashtra has reported the highest incidence of the new strain. It is followed by Delhi with 64 cases, Telangana with 24, Rajasthan 21, Karnataka 19, Kerala 15 and Gujarat 14 cases.
The Centre has said the Omicron variant is at least thrice more transmissible than the Delta and asked the states and Union Territories to "activate" war rooms, analyse even small trends and surges and take prompt containment action.
Here are the highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
The Maharashtra government has decided to impose fresh restrictions in the state to avoid crowding in view of the rising cases of COVID-19, and it will issue guidelines regarding these curbs, an official said on Friday.
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement late last night that the guidelines will be issued today.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held talks with the members of the state COVID-19 task force. They discussed the ways to avoid crowding during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, weddings and parties at hotels and restaurants, it said.
Dozens of officials have been punished over a virus outbreak in the locked-down city of Xi'an, China's disciplinary body said Friday - the latest state reprimands under Beijing's strict zero-Covid approach.
China, where the coronavirus was first detected in late 2019, is on high alert for new infections as it prepares to hold the Winter Olympics in February in the capital Beijing.
The world's most populous nation has reduced cases to a minimum thanks to a zero-Covid strategy of tight border restrictions, lengthy quarantines and targeted lockdowns.
Union Territory of Ladakh reported 24 new positive cases of coronavirus. On Friday, 19 patients were cured and discharged from hospital. Covid-19 active cases in Ladakh stand at 201, including 154 cases in Leh and 47 cases in Kargil district, reported news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, the advisor of Ladakh, Umang Narula, reviewed measures with senior officers to tackle the rising Covid cases. He has directed strict enforcement of the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and immediate additional procurement of medical supplies.
Merck & Co.'s Covid-19 pill was cleared by US regulators Thursday, giving high-risk patients a second at-home treatment just as the Omicron variant is causing cases to surge around the country.
The drug, Molnupiravir, received emergency authorisation on the heels of Pfizer Inc.'s Covid pill being cleared Wednesday. The FDA said Merck's drug is not recommended for use in pregnant people.
The two treatments hold the potential to keep a sharp rise in infections from overwhelming U.S. hospitals. Molnupiravir, developed by Merck with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, is intended to be used at home to treat Covid in people 18 and older at risk of developing severe illness. A study showed it reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death among adults with mild to moderate disease by 30%.
Molnupiravir works by introducing errors in genetic material to ultimately stop the virus's replication, but it may affect growing human cells. Merck has established a pregnancy surveillance programme for the drug and said men and women should use contraception while taking Molnupiravir, if they're having sex that might result in pregnancy.
The US has cleared its first two Covid-19 treatment pills, and now comes another hurdle -- deciding who should get which one.
Merck & Co.'s molnupiravir was authorised Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration for use in adults at high risk of severe cases who have no other treatment option, though it is not recommended for pregnant women. Still, the US will soon have 3 million courses available.
Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc.'s Paxlovid -- authorised earlier this week --showed stronger clinical trial data with President Joe Biden hailing the pill as "a promising new treatment". It will be available in limited quantities at first as Pfizer grinds through a months-long manufacturing process.
Regulators are signaling they prefer Pfizer's pill, which they've bought more of, but the US will have a lot more early on of Merck's pill, which regulators say is better than no treatment. The coming weeks will see states and physicians hash out who gets what.
Amid rising Covid cases in the national capital, the Delhi Police has sealed a restaurant in Mehrauli for allegedly violating Delhi Disaster Management Authority or DDMA's guidelines, officials said today.
As part of a series of inspections conducted in view of latest DDMA orders for prohibiting large gatherings, a flying squad team went for a surprise inspection at Diablo restaurant in Mehrauli, District Magistrate Sonalika Jivani said.
There were around 600 people at the restaurant around 10:45 pm on Thursday. The restaurant had organised an event in complete violation of prevalent Covid protocols, she said.
A night curfew has been announced in Uttar Pradesh - from 11 pm to 5 am, starting tomorrow (Saturday) - amid growing concern over the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
In addition, UP has also announced additional restrictions - only 200 people will be permitted to attend marriages and social functions, at which all necessary Covid-safety protocols to be followed.
Poll-bound UP becomes the second state, after Madhya Pradesh, to impose night-time restrictions.
"Satark, Saavdhan": PM Modi Says Be Alert, Cautious In High-Level Omicron MeetPrime Minister Narendra Modi today directed officials to remain alert and vigilant at all levels as Covid cases rise in several parts of the country. The meeting came amid rising concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
602 New Covid Cases In Mumbai, PM Reviews Omicron Preps: 10 PointsMumbai reported 602 fresh cases of Covid today and one death -- detected over the last 24 hours -- showing an upward trajectory that has concerned many. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country should be alert and watchful to contain Omicron.
