New Delhi: India reported 9,119 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, pushing the cumulative national tally to 3,45,35,763, while the death count increased to 4,66,584 with 396 related fatalities. The active coronavirus cases in India now stand at 1,11,481, the lowest in 538 days, according to the health ministry. For 47 straight days the country has been reporting below 20,000 new infections daily.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has written to 13 states and union territories, expressing concerns over declining weekly testing rates and spiking positivity rates in some districts.
Here are the LIVE Updates on Coronavirus cases in India:
Nov 25, 2021 23:45 (IST)
3 More Army Officers Test Covid Positive IIM Indore, Tally Reaches 14
Three more fully vaccinated Army officers, participating in a course at the Indian Institute of Management in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of infected personnel to 14 in the last five days, an official said on Thursday.
Five persons, including three Army officers, tested positive for the infection in the district in the last 24 hours, the official said.
The infected personnel were asymptomatic and were taking treatment at the Military Hospital at Mhow, about 25 km from the district headquarters, district chief medical and health officer Dr B S Satiya said.
The 14 infected officers had joined the six-month certificate course in Business Management nearly two-and-a-half-month ago, he said.
Meanwhile, an IIM-I official said that offline (physical) classes for the Army officers has been discontinued after they contracted the disease and the course is now being conducted online.
The 60 participants of the course were not staying in the IIM-I campus, and a separate classroom had been set up for them, he added.
Nov 25, 2021 22:39 (IST)
"Serious Implications": Centre Calls For Tighter Screening For New Strain
India called for rigorous screening and testing of fliers coming from South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana where a new variant of COVID-19 has been found with multiple mutations that have led to a surge in infections.
In a letter to states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked them to ensure that samples of travellers turning positive are sent to designated genome sequencing laboratories promptly. The contacts of these international travellers must also be closely tracked and tested as per Health Ministry guidelines, he said.
"lt has now been reported by NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) that multiple cases of a COVID-19 variant 8.1.1529 have been reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6 cases) and Honk Kong (1 case). This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel," the letter read.
Nov 25, 2021 20:57 (IST)
Angela Merkel's "Every Day Counts" Reminder And Push For More Covid Curbs
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday renewed her call for tougher curbs to halt record coronavirus infections in Germany, stressing that "every day counts" as the country's Covid-19 death count passed the 100,000 mark.
"We need more contact restrictions," the outgoing German leader said, adding that she had "today clearly told" her successor at the chancellery, Olaf Scholz, that "we can still manage this transition period together and look at all necessary measures".
Calling Thursday a "sad day" over the grim death count, Merkel said she had sought dialogue with Scholz and the leaders of his coalition partners Greens and FDP because of the gravity of the situation.
Nov 25, 2021 20:13 (IST)
France Makes Covid Booster Jabs Compulsory For Vaccine Pass, Expands Coverage
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said Thursday that Covid-19 booster shots would be made available to all adults from this weekend to counter a new wave of infections.
Until now they have only been available to people over 65, health workers or people with health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to Covid.
Veran added that from January 15, people aged over 18 would need to show proof of a top-up vaccine dose to maintain a valid Covid pass, which is required to enter restaurants, bars, gyms and other public venues.
He ruled out imposing another lockdown or a curfew at this stage in the fight against a fifth wave of infections, which he described as "stronger and longer" than the previous wave this summer.
"We can get through this wave without using the most restrictive tools" used by some European countries to fight the spread of the virus, Veran said.
Nov 25, 2021 13:53 (IST)
Over 18.5 lakh inoculated in Madhya Pradesh during mega vaccination drive
Over 18.5 lakh people were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the Madhya Pradesh government''s Mega-Campaign-6 on Wednesday, a health official said on Thursday.
Nov 25, 2021 11:14 (IST)
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.79 per cent. It has been less than two per cent for last 52 days. The weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 0.90 per cent. It has been below two per cent for the last 62 days, according to the ministry.
