Covid Cases in India: The active Covid caseload in Delhi stands at 93,407
Delhi today logged 20,718 COVID-19 cases while the positivity rate, for the second straight day, stood at 30.64 per cent, according to health department data. Over the last 24 hours, 30 patients have died, taking the total death count to 25,335.
Earlier in the day, India reported 2,68,833 fresh COVID-19 infections, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today, taking the total case tally in the country to 3,68,50,962.
The new cases reported are marginally higher than the 2.64 lakh daily cases reported yesterday. A total of 6,041 Omicron cases are amongst all Covid cases reported in India so far.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 16.66 per cent -- up from 14.78 per cent yesterday -- while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 11.83 per cent.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
Jharkhand extends COVID-19 restrictions till January 31
The Jharkhand government on Saturday extended the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in the state till January 31, Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh said.
Under the existing restrictions, which are in place since January 3, educational institutions will remain closed, and bars and restaurants and other business establishments shall down their shutters after 8 PM, while a maximum of 100 people will be allowed to attend events such as weddings and funerals.
The restrictions have been extended keeping in view the COVID-19 situation in the state, a notification issued by Singh, also the chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority, said. Parks, swimming pools, gymnasiums, zoos, places of tourist interest, stadiums and educational institutions shall remain closed till January 31.
Covax delivers one billionth Covid vaccine dose
The Covax scheme aimed at equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines hit a "key milestone" Saturday when it delivered its one billionth dose, one of its key backers said.
The Covax facility was set up in 2020 by the World Health Organization, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to ensure that poorer countries can access the vaccines needed to battle the pandemic.
"Covax has delivered its first billionth dose of Covid-19 vaccines to 144 countries & territories across the world," Gavi chief executive Seth Berkley tweeted.
"It's a key milestone in the largest and most rapid global vaccine rollout in history."
Berkley said that when the plane carrying the shipment with the one billionth dose had touched down in Kigali, Rwanda Saturday evening, "I felt proud but also humbled knowing how far we have to go to protect everyone and solve vaccine inequity".
Covax hit the one-billionth mark less than a year after delivering its first vaccine dose late last February -- to Ghana.
COVID-19: Goa positivity rate at 38%; logs 3,274 cases
Goa's COVID-19 case positivity rate rose sharply to 38.16 per cent on Saturday as the coastal state reported 3,274 new infections, taking the tally to 2,07,243, the state health department said. Four persons died due to COVID-19, which raised the deaths in Goa to 3,550.
The number of recoveries rose to 1,83,615 after 1,789 more patients were discharged after treatment on Saturday, leaving the coastal state with 20,078 active cases.
With 8,578 new tests, the total number of samples examined so far for coronavirus in Goa has gone up to 17,23,638, an official said.
10,661 New Cases In Mumbai Today, 5.8% Down From YesterdayMumbai reported 10,661 new coronavirus cases on Saturday - around 5.8 per cent lower than a day ago, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The positivity rate - the share of COVID-19 tests that return positive - also dipped slightly to 19.54 per cent. Read
here Ban On Political Rallies Amid Pandemic Extended Till January 22The ban on rallies and roadshows ahead of elections in five states - imposed last week as Covid cases spike alarmingly - has been extended till January 22, the Election Commission said Saturday. Indoor political meetings will be allowed subject to a cap of 300 people, 50 per cent of the hall's capacity, or the limit set by the state's disaster management authority. Political parties must bear responsibility for the enforcement of rules, which include social distancing and use of face masks. Read
here Delhi Positivity Rate Stays At 30%, Daily Cases Drop To 20,718Delhi today logged 20,718 COVID-19 cases while the positivity rate, for the second straight day, stood at 30.64 per cent, according to health department data. Over the last 24 hours, 30 patients have died, taking the total death count to 25,335. Read
here 
One-Month-Old Baby Defeats Covid-19 At Delhi Hospital, DischargedA month-old baby has recovered fully from Covid-19 at a Delhi hospital. The infant had come to Moolchand hospital with an ear infection but tested positive for the virus before being admitted to the facility.
In a tweet, the hospital said that the baby has been "discharged with full recovery".
The hospital has also shared a video that showed one of its frontline health workers taking care of the baby. Wearing a PPE kit, the hospital employee carried the baby in arms and walked around the Covid unit to keep the little one amused.
"One-month-old baby came with an ear infection and tested positive on admission. Getting discharged with full recovery. Well taken care of by the Neonatologists and NICU staff in Covid-19 isolation unit," the tweet read.
Is India Under-Reporting Covid Cases? See Latest DataThe number of COVID-19 cases has started falling in a few cities in India, but it is still unclear whether the country is under-reporting the cases or if there has been a fall in testing.
The number of cases had been on the rise since late last year due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Even as the Election Commission meets today to decide if the ban imposed by it on public rallies should continue ahead of the assembly elections in five states, India recorded at least 2.68 lakh new cases today, raising the tally to 3.67 crore, including 6,041 cases of Omicron.
See data charts here.
Pakistan clocks 4,286 COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours, highest daily spike since August 2021Pakistan has hit a new record of reporting a total of 4,286 COVID cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since August 25, 2021, data by the National Command and Operation's Centre (NCOC) showed on Saturday morning.
Earlier, the tally of the highest number of cases was 3,567 in 24 hours, reported Geo TV.
Meanwhile, the situation in Karachi may also deteriorate in the coming week as the positivity rate here is expected to reach 50%.
UP Man With Lungs Damaged By Covid Undergoes Transplant In DelhiA 55-year-old man, whose lungs had been damaged due to the coronavirus, underwent a bilateral lung transplant at a private facility in Delhi after donor organs were transported 950 kilometres in three hours, according to a statement.
The surgery took place at Max Hospital in Saket and the hospital said it is the first time in North India that a bilateral lung transplant has been done with the help of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, (ECMO) support.
The patient's lungs were damaged due to Covid and he was too unstable and desaturating badly, said the hospital in the statement.
India reports 2,68,833 fresh COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, 402 deathsIndia reported 2,68,833 fresh COVID-19 infections in 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today, taking the total case tally in the country to 3,68,50,962.
The country also reported 402 new deaths, taking the total fatalities in India to 485,752, while active cases rose to 14,17,820.
Google Mandates Weekly COVID-19 Tests For US Offices: ReportAlphabet Inc's Google is temporarily mandating weekly COVID-19 tests for any person entering Google offices or facilities in the United States, CNBC reported on Friday, citing a memo obtained by the news channel.
Anyone who comes into a Google's U.S. work sites will require a negative test, be required to report their vaccination status and wear surgical-grade masks while at the office, the report said.
The temporary policy of weekly testing comes as cases of the highly contagious Omicron variant surge in the country, the report added.
West Bengal BJP Writes To State Election Commission Seeking Postponement Of Civic Polls Amid Surge In COVID-19 CasesIn view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, the West Bengal BJP on Friday wrote to the State Election Commission (SEC) requesting to postpone the municipality elections for a month.
"We would like to add since the notification of said elections on December 28, 2021, as per the Bulletin of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, the daily reported COVID cases jumped from 732 to 23,467 on 13 January 2022," it said.
The BJP said that the positivity rate has also jumped from 2.35 per cent on 28 December 2021 to 32.13 per cent on 13 January 2022 in the state.