3 years ago
New Delhi:
Amid surging COVID-19 cases, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has decided to impose a weekend curfew in the national capital.
Addressing a press conference after the DDMA meeting today, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia informed that buses and metro trains will again run at full seating capacity to avoid crowding outside metro stations and at bus stops.
"The DDMA has decided to impose a curfew in Delhi on Saturdays and Sundays to curb COVID-19 surge. All government officials except for those engaged in essential services will work from home. 50 per cent workforce of private offices will work from home," he said.
A total of 1,892 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 766 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry's data updated on Tuesday.
India's Covid tally rose to 3,49,60,261 with 37,379 new cases, while the active cases increased to 1,71,830, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The number of deaths climbed to 4,82,017 with 124 more fatalities, the data showed.
The active cases comprise 0.49 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.13 per cent, the health ministry said.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
Coronavirus News: Meghalaya Sees Its First 5 Omicron Cases As Variant Spreads To NortheastMeghalaya has detected its first five cases of the Omicron variant, three of which are from Shillong, while the remaining two are from the RiBhoi district, health authorities said on Tuesday.
"Two are from Saiden, one from Langkyrding. One each are from Happy Valley and Laitumkhrah," an official from Health department said.
All three people who tested positive for Omicron in Shillong are returnees from outside the state, while the positive Omicron case detected in Shillong's Langkyrding is a tourist from Assam.
The Meghalaya government on Monday decided to regulate entry into the state, while also imposing certain other restrictions from January 5, to prevent an outbreak of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
In Mumbai, RT-PCR Covid Tests Mandatory For All International PassengersAll international passengers landing in Mumbai will have to take an RT-PCR Covid test, the Maharashtra government said on Tuesday night as the state recorded over 18,000 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, 50 per cent higher than yesterday.
Uttar Pradesh Shuts Schools, Extends Night Curfew By 2 Hours
In view of steady increase in COVID-19 cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday ordered closure of all schools up to Class 10 till January 15 and extended the night curfew by two hours.
In the districts where the number of active cases exceeds 1,000, not more than 100 people will be allowed at marriage ceremonies and other events. Public places like gyms, spas, cinema halls, banquet halls and restaurants will operate at 50 per cent capacity.
The night curfew will be imposed from 10 pm to 6 am from Thursday, according to a statement. Presently, the night curfew is being implemented from 11 pm to 5 am.
Major Private Hospitals In Delhi To Keep 40% Beds For Covid PatientsThe Delhi government has asked all private hospitals and nursing homes in the city to reserve 40 per cent of its beds for Covid patients as the national capital continues to report a spike in daily cases which is believed to be driven by Omicron.
Fresh guidelines have been issued to all private hospitals and nursing homes that have more than 50 beds.
Kerala Caps Number Of People At Functions Over Omicron
Kerala has today issued a slew of directions to contain the spread of Omicron, including restricting the number of attendees to various cultural and social functions, reported news agency PTI.
The Covid review meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has decided to restrict the number of people who can attend marriages, funerals, political, social and cultural events in a closed room to 75. The number of people who can attend such functions in open areas have been limited to 150.
Public Events Banned, Night-Time Movement Restricted In Certain Districts In Chhattisgarh
In view of the rise in coronavirus infections in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today ordered a ban on rallies, processions and other public events across the state, an official release said, reported news agency PTI.
Bhupesh Baghel also ordered a "night clamp-down" from 10 pm to 6 am in the districts where the case positivity rate is four per cent and above, it added.
Massive Spurt In Covid Cases In Andhra Pradesh, 334 Infections In 24 Hours
In a spike in new COVID-19 infections, Andhra Pradesh registered 334 fresh cases today, the highest in a day after November 10, 2021, reported news agency PTI.
Consequently, the number of active Covid-19 cases shot up to 1,516, an increase of 238 in a day. The state had recorded 122 new cases yesterday.
Covid Manufacturing Hub: Trinamool Slams PM Modi's Tripura Airport EventThe Trinamool Congress (TMC) today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "pushing thousands of lives into danger" and "turning Tripura into a Covid manufacturing hub" with his rallies.
COVID News: Uttar Pradesh Ready To Deal With Third Covid Wave, Says Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma
Uttar Pradesh is already prepared to deal with the third wave of the pandemic, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma today amid the country-wide spike in cases, reported news agency PTI.
"We have given instructions to all to follow the Covid guidelines in letter and spirit and have started the process to expeditiously vaccinate schoolchildren," he told reporters.
UK Marks First Anniversary Of Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine Deployment
The UK's health service today marked the first anniversary of the deployment of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19, manufactured and deployed in India soon after as Covishield, reported news agency PTI.
Brian Pinker, 82, became the first person in the world to receive the life-saving vaccine at Oxford University Hospital on January 4, 2021. Since then, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) said around 50 million AstraZeneca vaccines have been administered in the UK.
Coronavirus, Merck Anti Covid Pill, Molflu In India: Merck's Experimental Anti- Covid Pill 'Molflu' To Cost Rs 35 In IndiaDrugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd will launch its generic version of Merck's antiviral COVID-19 pill, molnupiravir.
Delhi Weekend Curfew: Delhi Weekend Curfew, Government Staff WFH, 50% Limit For Private OfficesDelhi will impose a weekend curfew and work from home for government offices in new restrictions to tackle a surge in Covid cases driven by Omicron. Buses and the Delhi metro will, however, operate at full capacity.
Just In| No lockdown in Delhi, says state Health Minister; 5,500 fresh COVID-19 cases today, positivity rate at 8.5%
Delhi Weekend Curfew, Government Staff WFH, 50% Limit For Private Offices
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 4, 2022
Read more: https://t.co/ENwfkGDz9j pic.twitter.com/ZTG1UyilX8
Will Impose Lockdown If Daily Covid Cases Jump 20,000 Mark: Mumbai Mayor
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Tuesday said that if the daily COVID-19 cases cross the 20,000 mark, then the lockdown will be imposed in the city.
"We will have to impose lockdown in Mumbai if daily COVID cases cross the 20,000-mark," said Mr Pednekar.
She further said that all the schools in the city have been closed due to spike in COVID-19 cases and students are taking online classes.
"Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has himself cancelled the programmes of Shiv Sena. This effort is going on so that the lives of our citizens should not be in danger," said Mr Pednekar.
She further urged people to follow all the COVID-appropriate rules.
#Delhi | Weekend curfew to be imposed; buses, metro to function at 100% but commuters can't enter without mask; essential services to continue pic.twitter.com/HbXO7Dfsm0
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 4, 2022
Just In| Weekend curfew to be imposed; buses, metro to function at 100% but commuters can't enter without mask; essential services to continue
Update| We will have to impose lockdown in Mumbai if daily COVID cases cross the 20,000-mark: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar
Just In| Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde says he has tested positive for COVID-19
Just In| Delhi to impose weekend curfew amid rise in Omicron cases: sources
Just In| Delhi's AIIMS faculty asked to join work immediately, winter break cancelled amid Omicron surge
72 more doctors at Patna Hospital test COVID positive, total 159 infected
Seventy two more doctors of the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Bihar's Patna have tested positive for COVID according to the Medical Superintendent .
A total of 159 doctors have been infected with the virus in the past two days.
Dr Binod Kumar Singh, Medical Superintendent of NMCH said on Monday, "72 more doctors of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Patna have tested positive for COVID-19."
On Sunday, Patna DM Chandrashekhar Singh had informed that 87 doctors of the hospital had tested positive.
Coronavirus Updates:Odisha reports highest COVID-19 cases in over 3 months
Odisha recorded the highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases in over three months on Tuesday as 680 more people tested positive, the Health Department said.
The daily positivity rate jumped to 1.31 per cent and 119 children were among those found positive in the past 24 hours, a bulletin stated.
Khurda, where Bhubaneswar is located, reported most of the new cases with 263 infections, followed by 69 in Sundargarh and 59 in Cuttack, it said.
The state had logged 424 COVID-19 cases on Monday. On September 22, there were 734 infections.
India reports 37,379 new #Covid19 cases in the last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/iOBmzC79cn
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 4, 2022
Punjab Night Curfew, Schools Shut Amid Covid Surge; No Curb On Rallies Yet
Schools and colleges will remain shut and a night curfew will be imposed to restrict public movement, the Punjab government ordered today following a sharp rise in Covid cases in the state over the past few days.
The fresh curbs were announced after Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi chaired a review meeting to take stock of the Covid situation in the state.
According to the new order issued today, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, shall remain shut for offline classes and virtual classes will continue. Medical and nursing colleges, however, have been permitted to function normally.
A night curfew will be in force from 10 pm to 5 am daily. Bars, cinemas halls, multiplexes, malls, restaurants, spas, museums and zoos may operate at 50% capacity provided all staff members are fully vaccinated, the new order states.
Coronavirus Updates: Australia COVID-19 cases surge, hospitalisations hit pandemic high in most populous state
Australia's COVID-19 cases touched a fresh pandemic high on Tuesday amid an Omicron surge in its two most populous states as hospitalisations in New South Wales state, home to Sydney, surpassed the record numbers hit during the Delta outbreak.
People admitted in New South Wales hospitals rose to 1,344, a new pandemic peak, topping the 1,266 reached last September during the Delta wave. Numbers have more than doubled in a week, straining the health system.
A record 47,799 infections have been reported in Australia so far on Tuesday, eclipsing its previous high of 37,212 a day earlier. Four new deaths were registered.
Despite the record spike in infections fuelled by the Omicron strain, dual-dose vaccination levels of nearly 92% in people above 16 have helped Australia to keep the death rate lower than the previous virus outbreaks.
100 Students Test Positive As Punjab Colleges Emerge As Covid Hotspots
Colleges are emerging as Covid hotspots in Punjab as the new fast-spreading Omicron strain pushes up daily case counts.
About 100 students of Government Medical College in Patiala tested positive for the infection yesterday. Thereafter, the district administration held an emergency meeting and asked all students staying at the hostel to vacate their rooms immediately.
This is the second education institution in Punjab that has turned out to be a hotspot. Last week, about 93 students of Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, also in Patiala, tested positive for Covid.
Just In| 1,892 Omicron cases in India so far; 37,379 fresh COVID-19 cases, marginally lower than yesterday
No move as of now to put curbs on suburban train travel: BMC official
There is no proposal at present to put any restrictions on suburban train travel in Mumbai, a senior civic official has said amid the metropolis recording a surge in new coronavirus cases.
Though the number of daily COVID-19 cases and positivity rate have been increasing in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working on preventive measures and is ready to handle any crisis, Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani told reporters on Monday.
He said at present there is no proposal to put any curbs on suburban train travel.
If needed, the Maharashtra government will take a decision on the issue in consultation with the state task force on COVID-19 as it pertains to the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Mr Kakani said.
Amid COVID-19 surge, BMC issues fresh guidelines for sealing of buildings in Mumbai
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday issued fresh guidelines for sealing of the buildings in Mumbai wherein the whole building or a wing shall be sealed if more than 20 per cent of the occupied number of flats in the building or wing has COVID-19 patients.
The guidelines shall come into effect from today, that is January 4, 2021.
"With the continuous threat of rising cases of COVID-19 in the city of Mumbai in the past few days and detection of Variant of Concern (VoC) Omicron suggesting an increase in transmissibility, earlier guidelines issued on March 1, 2021, for sealed buildings stands revised," the order copy said.
Just In| Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tests positive for Covid, says symptoms mild
Update| Mizoram reports 347 new COVID-19 cases and 2 deaths; Active caseload stands at 1,834
Schools, educational institutions in Telangana to be closed from Jan 8 to 16
Schools and educational institutions in Telangana will remain closed from January 8 to January 16, Chief Minister's Office informed on Monday.
"Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao has directed all educational institutions in the state to declare a holiday from January 8 to January 16," the CMO said.
This decision was taken at a meeting convened by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to review the pandemic situation in view of the COVID-19 cases rising sharply in Telangana.
The Chief Minister in the meeting directed State Health Minister Harish Rao and medical officers to strengthen all types of infrastructure in government hospitals in the state and equip existing beds, oxygen beds, medicines and testing kits as required in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases.
23 Junior Doctors Of Delhi Hospital Test Covid+ In A Week As Cases Spiral23 resident doctors of a top hospital in Delhi have tested positive for COVID-19 over the span of a week, even as the national capital is reeling under a sharp spike in cases. The medics at Safdarjung hospital have mild symptoms and have isolated themselves, said a senior doctor on Monday.
"No case of Omicron has been detected so far. They are quarantining themselves and no hospitalisation required at the moment," the doctor said.
The city added 4,099 new COVID-19 cases on Monday with positivity rate jumping to 6.46 per cent in the past 24 hours, according to a health bulletin.
