Amid rising fear of a new Covid wave in India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that he will hold a meeting with health ministers of states and Union territories on Friday.
Meanwhile, India on Thursday reported 185 new coronavirus infections, taking the total number of Covid cases to 4,46,76,515.
The country also reported one virus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the death tally to 5,30,681.
According to Union Health Ministry, the active cases declined to 3,402.
Here are the LIVE updates on the Covid situation in India:
West Bengal is alert and prepared to tackle any deterioration in the COVID-19 situation, Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya told a national-level meeting on Friday.
Mr Bhattacharya said that West Bengal will be a part of the countrywide mock drill on December 27 to ensure the readiness of infrastructure with a specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources.
In view of the spurt in COVID-19 cases in some countries, the Gujarat government has decided to conduct random tests on 2 per cent of all passengers arriving at international airports in Ahmedabad and Surat and launch a special drive to expand the coverage of booster doses, a minister said on Friday.
Maharashtra on Friday recorded 23 new cases of coronavirus that raised the tally of infections to 81,36,441, an official from the state health department said.
The toll remained unchanged at 1,48,414, as no fresh fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours, while the count of recoveries reached 79,87,893 after 23 people recovered from the infection, the official said
A mock drill to test the COVID emergency preparedness of health facilities in Karnataka will be conducted on December 27, state Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday advised states and union territories to undertake a mock drill across all health facilities on December 27 to ensure readiness of infrastructure with a specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources.
With random coronavirus testing of arriving international passengers set to start from Saturday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has said that airlines' crew members will have to bring such identified passengers to the testing facility at the airport.
Against the backdrop of rising coronavirus cases in China and some other parts of the world, the government has decided to subject 2 per cent of the passengers arriving on international flights to random coronavirus test starting from Saturday morning.
Allaying fears about BF.7 variant of coronavirus, a prominent scientist on Friday said it is a sub-variant of Omicron strain and that India need not worry too much about its severity on the population.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday highlighted the ongoing vaccination drive, launched by the central government, against COVID-19 amid the fear of a covid surge in the country.
Addressing a press briefing on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's efforts towards a 'Healthy India' on Friday, the Union Minister said that 220 crore doses of vaccines have been administered till this Monday.
Amid the spurt in covid cases of a new variant in China and other countries, Telangana Health Minister Harish Rao urged the State's people not to panic but to be alert.
Following the instructions of the central government in view of the increasing spread of coronavirus in many countries including China, Finance and Health Minister Harish Rao conducted a high-level review on covid preparedness through Zoom on Thursday.
He said, "There is no need to worry about Corona, but there is a need to be alert. Everyone is advised to observe personal hygiene and those who have not taken the covid vaccine should take it immediately and take a booster dose."
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a virtual meeting with State health ministers on the Covid-19 situation and preparedness at 3 pm today, according to sources.
China has requisitioned medical supplies production across the country as millions struggle to obtain basic drugs and testing kits in the face of a surge in Covid-19 cases.
