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New Delhi:
India reported 309 fresh Omicron infections, taking the total number of such cases in the country to 1,270, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The 1,270 cases have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, and 374 people have recovered or migrated. Maharashtra recording the maximum number of 450 cases followed by Delhi at 320, Kerala 109 and Gujarat 97.
The daily rise in COVID-19 cases crossed the 16,000 mark after around 64 days taking India's total number of COVID-19 cases to 3,48,38,804, while the active cases increased to 91,361 ,according to the data updated at 8 am.
India saw 16,764 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of deaths climbed to 4,81,080 with 220 daily fatalities, the data stated.
The active cases have increased to 91,361 comprising 0.26 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.36 per cent, the health ministry said.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
Delhi Containment Zones Increase By More Than 8 times In December, Shows Data
With rapid rise in coronavirus cases in the national capital, the number of containment zones has also increased by more than eight times from the beginning of this month.
Delhi has been battling a rise in Omicron cases and currently has 320 cases with experts warning that the numbers are expected to soar with each passing day.
On December 1, when the national capital had logged 39 infections in a single day, the number of containment zones stood at 102. Cut to December 30, the number of containment zones has increased to 823, while single-day infections have risen to 1,313.
Stage Of Imposing "Fresh Lockdown" Approaching, Says Maharashtra Minister
The stage of imposing a fresh lockdown is approaching in Maharashtra but Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a call on it, state minister Vijay Wadettiwar said in Mumbai on Friday.
Maharashtra recorded 8,067 new coronavirus cases during the day, a rise of 2,699 compared to Thursday, and eight deaths.
"The stage of lockdown is approaching. But the chief minister will take a decision on when to impose it," Mr Wadettiwar, the minister for disaster management, told reporters.
55% Of 282 Samples Of Covid Patients From Mumbai Test Positive For Omicron
As much as 55 per cent out of 282 samples of coronavirus patients from Mumbai, sent for genome sequencing, have tested positive for the Omicron variant, the civic body said on Friday. This was the seventh batch of samples sent to a lab at the Kasturba Hospital of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, a BMC release said.
Out of 282 samples, 156 (55 per cent) were found to be of Omicron variant, 89 (32 per cent) of Delta Derivative and 37 (13 per cent) of Delta variant.
Only one of these patients, a senior citizen infected with the Delta Derivative, died, the BMC said.
He also suffered from diabetes and hypertension and had taken only the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it added.
Bengal Sees Spurt In Covid-19 Cases, Kolkata Accounts For 56% Of Infections
The state had recorded 2,128 Covid cases on Thursday, with the metropolis accounting for 1,090 of them. While the state's fresh infections shot up by 62 per cent, the eastern metropolis's new Covid cases went up by 79 per cent in 24 hours.
West Bengal, which is witnessing a sudden spurt in Covid cases from the start of the week, recorded 3,451 infections today with Kolkata alone accounting for 1,954 or 56 per cent of these, a Health department bulletin said. The bulletin said that seven people died on Friday of the virus, taking the death count to 19,764, reported news agency PTI.
5,428 New Covid Cases In Mumbai Today, 47% Higher Than Thursday: 10 PointsMumbai today logged a massive 47% jump in daily Covid cases as 5,428 infections were reported from the financial capital in 24 hours. At 8,067 Covid cases, Maharashtra saw a 50% spike in daily cases. Eight deaths were reported in the same period.
"Important Decisions" In Days To Come: Karnataka Chief Minister Amid Covid Surge
Amid spike in Covid cases in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today said the government will take certain "important decisions" in the days to come, and put in place necessary health infrastructure to deal with the situation that might arise, reported news agency PTI.
"It is increasing across the country, the Centre has identified Karnataka also as one among the eight states. We have already taken certain precautions," Basavaraj Bommai said in response to a question on the increase in Covid and Omicron cases in the state.
Ending 2021 On A Great Note: Health Minister On India's Vaccine Achievement"Ending the year on a great note," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweetd as India achieved the milestone of administering 145 crore Covid doses on New Year's Eve.
Surge Will Be So Fast, Warns WHO Expert Soumya SwaminathanThe biggest challenge India will face amid the Omicron crisis will be the sudden need for medical care, WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said.
Coronavirus: T-Cells - The Unsung Heroes In The Fight Against OmicronAn unsung arm of the immune system appears to protect against severe disease with the omicron variant even when antibodies wane, helping to explain why a record wave of infections hasn't engulfed hospitals so far.
Sourav Ganguly Discharged From Hospital After Covid Treatment, To Remain In Home Isolation
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been discharged from the hospital in Kolkata after his COVID-19 treatment, hospital sources informed NDTV.
Mr Ganguly will remain in home isolation for 14 days. Sources said that Mr Ganguly's test results returned negative today and all his parameters are normal. According to news agency PTI, Mr Ganguly has not been infected with the Omicron variant.
The former India cricketer was admitted to the Woodlands hospital on December 27 after testing positive.
"We have discharged Ganguly this afternoon. He will have to be in home isolation for the next fortnight under doctors' observation. After that the next course of treatment will be decided," a hospital official told PTI.
Covid Hospitalisations Jump 60% In US' "Most Densely Populated" State
Hospitalizations for Covid-19 jumped 60% from a week ago in New Jersey, the most densely populated US state. The 3,604 patients numbered just 122 short of those a year ago, before vaccinations were widely available. Read more
Just In| Mumbai bans people from visiting beaches, open grounds, sea faces from 5 pm to 5 am tomorrow amid Omicron spread
US's "Make Contingency Plans" Warning For Americans Travelling Abroad
The United States has warned Americans travelling abroad to make "contingency plans" as countries around the globe grapple with rising numbers of COVID-19 cases spurred by the omicron variant.
"US citizens who do choose to travel internationally should make contingency plans, as they may have to remain in a foreign country longer than originally planned, which will be at their own expense. The Department recommends international travel insurance with coverage for COVID-related trip cancellation and medical benefits," the US State Department said in a statement.
Woman Tests Covid Positive Mid-Air, Isolates In Plane Toilet For Hours: Report
A US woman was quarantined in an aeroplane bathroom for three hours after testing positive for COVID-19 halfway through a flight from Chicago to Iceland, according to media reports.
Marisa Fotieo, a teacher from Michigan, said her throat began to hurt halfway through the trip on December 19 so she went to the bathroom to perform a rapid Covid test which confirmed she was infected, local news channel WABC-TV reported.
Before the flight, Ms Fotieo told news network CNN she took two PCR tests and about five rapid tests, all of which came back negative. But about an hour and a half into the flight, Ms Fotieo started to feel a sore throat.
Coronavirus Updates: Odisha reports 228 new COVID-19 cases, two more fatalities
Bhubaneswar, Dec 31 Odisha on Friday reported the highest single-day spike of 228 new COVID-19 cases in the last three weeks, taking the tally to 10,54,834, a health department bulletin said.
The state had on December 10 registered 286 such infections.
The death toll rose to 8,460 as two more persons succumbed to the disease in Khurda district, it said.
Fifty-three other COVID-19 patients have died due to comorbidities so far, the bulletin said.
Khurda, which comprises Bhubaneswar, reported the highest number
Omicron is now the main coronavirus variant in France: official
Omicron has become the main coronavirus strain in France where the number of infections has seen a big increase in the last few days, the country's public health agency has said.
"62.4 percent of tests showed a profile compatible with the Omicron variant" at the start of this week, compared to 15 percent the previous week, the agency said
Coronavirus Updates: Arunachal Pradesh logs 3 new COVID cases, tally at 55,339
Arunachal Pradesh on Friday reported three new COVID-19 cases, one more than the previous day, with the tally rising to 55,339, a health department official said.
The death toll remained at 280 as no fresh fatality due to the infection was recorded in the last 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
One more person recuperated from the disease during the period, taking the total number of recoveries to 55,038.
The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state stood at 99.46 per cent.
Arunachal Pradesh now has 21 active Covid-19 cases, the SSO said.
Update| Night curfew from 11 pm till 5 am have been imposed in Puducherry with effect till 31st January 2022, except on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadashi.
Chinese cities on COVID-19 alert as New Year holiday looms
China is on high alert against COVID-19 as the New Year holiday looms, with the city of Xian under lockdown while several New Year's Eve events in other cities have been cancelled and some provinces urged restraint in travel during the festive season.
China reported 166 locally transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms for Thursday, according to the National Health Commission, with 161 from Xian, which is fighting the worst outbreak for a Chinese city this year.
The number of domestically transmitted infections in Xian have exceeded 1,200 during the Dec. 9-30 period. While the case load pales in comparison with many outbreaks overseas, China has insisted on stamping out infections quickly, especially ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.
"With the arrival of the New Year and the Lunar New Year, the number of people returning home from abroad will increase and the movement of people within China will rise," He Qinghua, an official at the National Health Commission, said on Wednesday.
Just In| With the administration of 66,65,290 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 144.54 Crore. The recovery rate stands at 98.36%. Weekly positivity Rate at 0.89% remains less than 1% from last 47 days: Union Health Ministry
Just In| 1,270 Omicron cases in India, most in Maharashtra (450); 16,764 fresh COVID-19 cases, 27% higher than yesterday
#COVID19 | "Mask Up, It's The Final Frontier": Centre On Battling #Omicron Surge pic.twitter.com/CFWj4VouwH
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 31, 2021
Assam set to vaccinate 15-18 age group from Jan 3
Assam government has announced that the COVID-19 vaccination drive for students aged between 15 to 18 years will start from January 3, 2022.
Speaking to ANI, the Assam health minister said the vaccination drive for children will begin with educational institutions.
"We are starting from January 3 to vaccinate children under the 15-18 age group. It will begin with educational institutions," Keshab Mahanta said.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 15-18 years will start from January 3.
Update| International passengers testing positive for COVID upon arrival at the IGI Airport to isolate at institutional designated paid and free facilities set up by in various districts: Delhi Govt
New Year preparations underway at Old Port Complex in Puducherry.
"For New Year celebrations on December 31st, all hotels/restaurants/malls/cinemas have been instructed to allow only fully vaccinated people," as per the Union Territory administration.
Night curfew patrolling visuals from Statue Junction area in Thiruvananthapuram.
Kerala govt imposed night curfew (10 pm to 5 am) from December 30 till January 2.
Update| Chhattisgarh reported 150 new cases, 16 recoveries and 0 deaths. Active cases 597
141 In Mumbai, Without Travel History, Test Positive For Omicron
As many as 141 Mumbai residents who had not traveled abroad recently tested positive for the Omicron variant of coronavirus on Thursday, the civic body said.
Out of 153 persons who were found to have Omicron infection in the city during the day, only 12 had international travel history, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
But as per the Maharashtra government's release, issued earlier in the evening, out of 198 Omicron cases reported in the state, a whopping 190 were from Mumbai. The difference in state and BMC statistics could not be reconciled.
US Tells Its Citizens To Avoid Cruise Travel, Even If Fully Vaccinated
US health authorities on Thursday urged Americans to avoid cruise travel even if they are vaccinated, citing the surge in Covid-19 cases spurred by the Omicron variant.
"Avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status," said a posting on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website that upgraded the travel notice on cruising to Level 4, the highest on its Covid risk scale.
"Even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants," the notice said.
Between December 15 and 29, there were 5,013 Covid cases in US waters reported to the CDC, 31 times the level in the prior two weeks, according to an email from a CDC spokesperson.
