Covid cases in India: Two Omicron cases have been detected in Karnataka. (File)
A 33-year-old man from Maharashtra who travelled to Mumbai from South Africa via Dubai and Delhi late last month has tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, in the fourth such case confirmed in India. According to a government note, the patient is a resident of the Kalyan-Dombivali municipal area and had not taken any COVID-19 vaccine.
India's first two reported 'Omicron' cases were detected in Karnataka. The new strain of the virus has triggered a global alarm with several countries announcing restrictions to arrest the spread of the 'Variant of Concern', declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
India also logged a daily spike of 8,603 Covid cases on Saturday, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,46,24,360. The country further recorded 415 new deaths, pushing the total death count to 4,70,530.
The active cases increased to 99,974, according to the latest Health Ministry data.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases:
Coronavirus News: Sikkim Logs 16 Covid Cases, Tally Rises To 32,359
Sikkim's Covid caseload rose to 32,359 on Saturday with 16 new cases reported in 24 hours, a health department bulletin said, reported news agency PTI. The state's coronavirus death count rose to 405 as two people died in 24 hours. Of the 16 new cases, East Sikkim reported 14, while South Sikkim and West Sikkim registered one each. Sikkim currently has 213 active cases, while 31,400 people have recovered from the disease. 341 patients have migrated to other states.
Coronavirus News: Assam Reports 169 New Covid Cases, 3 Related Deaths
Assam reported 169 new Covid cases and three rlated deaths on Saturday, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said, reported news agency PTI. The state has so far reported 6,17,475 cases and 6,116 deaths, it said. Two deaths were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan and one from Dibrugarh. Among the new cases, 74 were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan, 19 from Barpeta, 16 from Dibrugarh and 12 from Lakhimpur.
Covid News: Omicron Has Higher Transmissibility Rate, Causes Mild Symptoms, Says Maharashtra Health Minister
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the Omicron variant has a higher rate of transmissibility but the symptoms caused by it are mild, reported news agency PTI. In a pre-recorded message, Mr Tope said, "The Omicron variant of novel coronavirus has a higher transmissibility rate but its symptoms are mild. No one in South Africa, infected with the Omicron variant, has been put on oxygen. It has not increased the fatality rate so far."
Coronavirus News: Gujarat Man Infected With Omicron "Stable", Says OfficialA 72-year-old man who arrived from Zimbabwe and tested positive for Covid's new variant Omicron is in isolation and is stable, confirmed Dr Sourabh Paridhi, District Collector, Jamnagar. "On Nov 28, a 72 yr old man who had arrived from Zimbabwe tested COVID-19 positive. After studying genome sequencing, the Omicron variant was confirmed. The patient is in isolation and is stable. We're following the SOP to tackle the situation," Sourabh Pardhi in a press conference.
(ANI)
Coronavirus News: Kerala Logs 4,557 Covid Cases, 52 Related Deaths In 24 HoursKerala logged 4,557 new Covid cases and 52 related deaths today, taking the total affected in the state to 51,49,642 and the death count to 41,439, reported news agency PTI. The health department said 5,108 persons recuperated from the disease, taking the total cured to 50,75,605.
Coronavirus News: Delta Variant Predominant In UK Even As Omicron Cases Emerge
The Delta variant remains predominant in England, accounting for over 99% of all coronavirus infections, even as 75 more cases of the new Omicron strain have now been detected, taking the total to 104, reported news agency PTI. "As of November 30, there are 22 confirmed cases of Omicron, identified through sequencing or genotyping in England. None of these cases are known to have been hospitalised or died," the UK Health Security Agency had said on Friday.
Coronavirus News: 51 Covid Cases In Delhi In 24 Hours
Delhi reports 51 Covid cases with zero related deaths. The positivity rate stands at 0.08%, reported news agency PTI quoting authorities.
Third Omicron case detected in India
Jamnagar man who returned from Zimbabwe found infected with Omicron variant of COVID-19, reports PTI quoting the Gujarat health department
Amid Omicron, Parliamentary Panel Wants Efficacy Of Existing Vaccines CheckedAmid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the efficacy of Covid vaccines must be evaluated and the government conduct more research to examine the need for booster doses to contain the new strain.
Two new COVID-19 cases push Andamans tally to 7,668Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded two new COVID-19 cases, one more than the previous day, pushing the tally in the union territory to 7,688, a health department official said on Saturday.
Both the cases were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Single-day COVID-19 recoveries surpass fresh cases in Arunachal PradeshSingle-day COVID-19 recoveries outnumbered fresh cases in Arunachal Pradesh as four more persons recuperated from the disease while one new infection pushed the coronavirus tally to 55,286, a senior health department official said on Saturday.
A total of 54,973 people have recovered from the COVID-19 so far, the official said.
Over 21.38 crore unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses with States, UTs: CentreMore than 21.38 crore balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the States and Union Territories (UTs) to be administered, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.
As per an official statement issued by the ministry, a total of 21,38,89,971 balance and unutilized doses are still available with the States and UTs to be administered.
Just in: India records 8,603 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours.
Covid updates: 65 inmates, staffers of Sikkim prison among 76 new patientsSikkim reported a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases on Friday as 76 more people, including 65 inmates and staffers of Namchi Central Jail, tested positive for the infection, taking the state's caseload to 32,343, a health bulletin said.
51,775 cases of mucormycosis reported in India: Health Minister
A total of 51,775 cases of mucormycosis have been reported till November 29, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
On the steps taken by the government to tackle such cases, Mandaviya in written reply to a question said health is a state subject and the Union Ministry of Health has proactively supported states to tackle the challenge posed by cases of mucormycosis during the second surge of COVID-19.
The ministry had asked all states to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease so as to get details of its prevalence in the country.
India Reports 9,216 New Covid Cases, 391 DeathsIndia logged a daily spike of 9,216 Covid cases on Friday, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,46,15,757. India also recorded 391 new deaths, pushing the total death count to 4,70,115.
The active cases increased to 99,976, according to the latest Health Ministry data.
Coronavirus News Updates: Brazilian Supreme Court orders probe into Bolsonaro for linking COVID-19 vaccines to AIDSA Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered on Friday that a probe be opened into President Jair Bolsonaro for having said during a live broadcast on multiple social media platforms in October that COVID-19 vaccines may raise the chance of contracting AIDS.
Bolsonaro, who has declined to take the vaccine, was temporarily suspended from both Facebook and YouTube after his comments.