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India recorded 9,419 new Covid cases on Thursday -- a daily spike that's 11.6 per cent higher than the previous day. This took the active caseload to 94,742. At least 159 deaths were also recorded in the day.
Meanwhile, a World Health Organization official said the Omicron variant does not appear to cause more severe disease than previous Covid variants, and is "highly unlikely" to fully dodge vaccine protections.
A total of 129.54 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
Chandigarh announces Rs 50,000 compensation to family of those who died of COVID-19
A compensation of Rs 50,000 will be given to the family of persons who died of COVID-19 disease, said Yashpal Garg, Secretary Health of Chandigarh on Thursday.
Speaking to ANI, Mr Garg said, "Last month, Supreme Court has given directions to give compensation of Rs 50,000 to the family of persons who died of COVID-19 infection. So, we have given all the details to the Disaster Management Authority."
"Last week, a total of 12 applications have been received, out of which five people have received the ex-gratia amount. We have asked for more applications and trying to transfer this amount to all within 30 days," he said.
US Authorizes Pfizer Covid Booster For People Aged 16 And 17
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday expanded authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid booster to include 16- and 17-year-olds, amid growing concern over the Omicron variant's ability to overcome immunity conferred by two shots.
The FDA's decision comes a day after the companies released the results of lab tests that showed three doses appeared effective against Omicron, while two doses were probably not enough to stop infection -- though may still prevent severe disease.
Even before Omicron emerged, there had been concerns about waning immunity over time, and the US and many other northern hemisphere countries are experiencing winter waves driven by the currently dominant Delta strain.
COVID-19: 373 new cases, 4 deaths in Karnataka
Karnataka has reported 373 fresh COVID-19 cases and 4 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 29,99,471 and toll to 38,253, the health department said on Thursday.
The day also saw 292 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,53,857.
Out of the new cases reported on Thursday, 211 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 133 discharges and 4 deaths. Total number of active cases in the state is 7,332.
Meghalaya reports 12 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death
Meghalaya reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, eight less than the previous day, pushing the tally to 84,643, a senior health official said on Thursday.
The COVID-19 death toll rose to 1,476 as one more person succumbed to the contagion, he said.
Health Services Director Dr Aman War said 10 cases were reported from East Khasi Hills district and one each in East Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi districts.
He said the state now has 218 active COVID-19 cases, while 82,949 people have recovered from the disease including 33 on Thursday.
India's vaccination coverage crosses 131 crore doses: Government
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 131 crore on Thursday, the Union Health Ministry said.
On Thursday, more than 67 lakh (67,11,113) doses were administered till 7 pm, the ministry said, adding the daily vaccination tally is expected to increase further with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.
The next phase of vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
Coronavirus Updates: Telangana sees 201 new COVID-19 cases, one death
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Telangana on Thursday registered 201 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing the cumulative to 6,77,747, while the toll rose to 4,003 with one more fatality.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 76, followed by Ranga Reddy 24 and Hanumakonda 15 districts, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM on Thursday.
It said 184 people recovered from the infectious disease today. The cumulative number of recoveries till date was 6,69,857.
Coronavirus Updates: Sikkim reports six new COVID-19 cases, tally at 32,396
Sikkim's COVID-19 caseload rose to 32,396 on Thursday, with reports of six new infections in the past 24 hours, a health department bulletin said.
The state's coronavirus death toll stood at 405, with no fatalities reported in the past 24 hours, it said.
All the new infections were reported from East Sikkim district, the bulletin said.
Sikkim now has 202 active cases, while 31,448 people have recovered from COVID-19.
Daily Covid-19 infections drop below 700 in Tamil Nadu
The number of daily COVID infections, which was hovering over 700 during the last few weeks in Tamil Nadu, dropped to 698 on Thursday, taking the caseload to 27,33,346, the health department said.
The fresh cases included two returnees from West Bengal.
As many as 15 people succumbed to the virus during the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 36,575, a medical bulletin said.
Recoveries eclipsed new infections with 746 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 26,88,888 leaving 7,883 active infections.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Goa sees 31 COVID-19 cases, 94 earlier deaths added to toll
The number of COVID-19 cases in Goa reached 1,79,338 on Thursday after 31 people were detected with the infection, an official said.
Though no deaths were reported during the day, the toll reached 3,482 after 94 earlier fatalities, which took place between August, 2020 and June this year, were added to the count, he said.
So far, 1,75,408 people have been discharged post recovery, including 24 on Thursday, leaving the coastal state with an active tally of 448, he informed.
With 3,038 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the number of tests in Goa went up to 15,70,187, he added.
Just In| Delhi reports 55 new cases and 73 recoveries in the last 24 hours; active caseload at 386
Just In| Scheduled foreign flights won't resume till January 31
- DGCA (@DGCAIndia) December 9, 2021
Just In| Kerala reports 4,169 new cases, 52 deaths and 4,357 recoveries today; Active caseload stands at 40,546
Stick To Same Covid Vaccine Rather Than Mix-And-Match: WHO Experts
A World Health Organization panel said it's best to give people two doses of the same Covid-19 vaccine, but mixing and matching is a good solution for countries facing supply constraints.
"We still believe the best approach is to use the same vaccine for the two primary doses," said Alejandro Cravioto, chairman of the panel, at a briefing Thursday.
Vaccine combinations, already used by some governments, could help low- and middle-income countries manage stockpiles and deal with vaccine shortages as the new omicron variant spreads. European Union regulators endorsed mixing two different Covid-19 shots for initial vaccine schedules and boosters on Tuesday.
Omicron Symptoms Far Milder Than First Three Waves: South Africa Expert
Netcare Ltd., which operates the largest private healthcare network in South Africa, is seeing milder Covid-19 cases even as omicron is driving up the number of people testing positive for the virus.
The symptoms displayed by patients in Netcare's hospitals in the epicenter of the current fourth wave, the province of Gauteng, "are far milder than anything we experienced during the first three waves," Chief Executive Officer Richard Friedland said in a statement Wednesday.
This echos initial findings from two other local hospital groups that show most Covid patients are not needing oxygen or intensive treatment. Scientists are still conducting scores of tests in order to get a better grasp of omicron's risks and much will only be known in coming weeks.
During the first three waves, the rate of hospital admissions rose in tandem with the rate of community transmission and this may now be "decoupling," Friedland said.
Inside The Lab Where Omicron Was Discovered, An Army At Work
Access to the laboratory is strictly limited, for the risk of accidental infection is just too high. Read more
Access to the laboratory is strictly limited, for the risk of accidental infection is just too high. Read more
Coronavirus Updates: 195 new COVID-19 cases in Odisha
Odisha logged 195 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 10,50,955 on Thursday, a Health Department bulletin said.
The COVID-19 toll rose to 8,428 as a person each from Khurda and Kendrapara districts succumbed to the pathogen. Fifty-three other Covid patients have died due to comorbidities so far, according to official data.
Twenty-four children were among the new patients and Khurda district reported the highest number of 99 new infections, the bulletin stated.
The state now has 2,071 active COVID-19 cases, while 10,40,403 people have recuperated from the contagion so far, including 264 in the past 24 hours, it said.
At least 61,899 samples were tested during the period and the positivity rate was 0.32 per cent, the bulletin said.
Greece Lifts Travel Restrictions For Tourists From India
The Global Visa Center World has announced that Indian citizens and residents of India can now enter Greece following the Covid-19 testing protocol as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.
The Global Visa Center World has announced that Indian citizens and residents of India can now enter Greece following the Covid-19 testing protocol as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.
South Africa Approves Coronavirus Vaccine Boosters For Adults
The South African Health Products Authority said in a statement that it was authorising a third vaccine dose "in individuals aged 18 years and older, to be administered at least six months after the second dose".
Severely immuno-compromised children aged between 12 and 17 years can be given a third shot at least 28 days after their second dose, it added.
South Africa on Wednesday approved Pfizer's coronavirus booster shots for over-18s, as the Omicron variant dominates rising new infections.
Severely immuno-compromised children aged between 12 and 17 years can be given a third shot at least 28 days after their second dose, it added.
9,419 Fresh Covid Cases In India, 11.6% Higher Than Yesterday
India recorded 9,419 new Covid cases on Thursday -- a daily spike that's 11.6 per cent higher than the previous day. This took the active caseload to 94,742. At least 159 deaths were also recorded in the day.
India recorded 9,419 new Covid cases on Thursday -- a daily spike that's 11.6 per cent higher than the previous day. This took the active caseload to 94,742. At least 159 deaths were also recorded in the day.
US Senate votes to block Biden vaccine mandate
The US Senate on Wednesday voted to block President Joe Biden's vaccine-or-test mandate for large private employers, in a symbolic win for conservatives that will have little tangible effect.
The measure passed 52-48 with the support of all 50 Republicans in the upper chamber and two centrist Democrats, but is not expected to fare well in the House of Representatives, where it may only have support from the right.
Under Biden's plan, all companies with more than 100 workers will have to require their employees to be immunized or undergo weekly testing from January 4.
The US Senate on Wednesday voted to block President Joe Biden's vaccine-or-test mandate for large private employers, in a symbolic win for conservatives that will have little tangible effect.
The measure passed 52-48 with the support of all 50 Republicans in the upper chamber and two centrist Democrats, but is not expected to fare well in the House of Representatives, where it may only have support from the right.
Under Biden's plan, all companies with more than 100 workers will have to require their employees to be immunized or undergo weekly testing from January 4.
Omicron Reinfection Risk May Be High But Might Be Milder Than Delta: WHO
Early data indicates the Omicron Covid variant may more easily reinfect people who have already had the virus or been vaccinated than previous variants, but could also cause milder disease, the WHO said Wednesday.
"Emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding that "there is also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta".
But he stressed that more data was needed before drawing firm conclusions, and urged countries everywhere to boost their surveillance to help provide a clearer picture of how Omicron is behaving.
Early data indicates the Omicron Covid variant may more easily reinfect people who have already had the virus or been vaccinated than previous variants, but could also cause milder disease, the WHO said Wednesday.
"Emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding that "there is also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta".
But he stressed that more data was needed before drawing firm conclusions, and urged countries everywhere to boost their surveillance to help provide a clearer picture of how Omicron is behaving.
US authorizes AstraZeneca Covid treatment in some cases
US health authorities on Wednesday authorized the use of synthetic antibodies developed by AstraZeneca to prevent Covid-19 infections in people who react badly to vaccines.
It was the first time the Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorization for such a purely preventative treatment.
US health authorities on Wednesday authorized the use of synthetic antibodies developed by AstraZeneca to prevent Covid-19 infections in people who react badly to vaccines.
It was the first time the Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorization for such a purely preventative treatment.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Advises Work From Home, Mandates Vaccine Passports Amid Omicron SurgeBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced the tightening of virus restrictions in England as Omicron variant cases surge, including guidance to work from home and mandatory vaccine passports. Read here.
