Coronavirus Live Updates: Several Covid restrictions have been imposed due to rising cases. (File)
India reported 1,41,986 fresh COVID-19 cases, over 21 per cent higher than the previous day's cases. The country's daily positivity rate stands at 9.28 per cent while the active cases are 4,72,169.
Delhi's daily Covid cases shot up by 15 per cent on Friday after 17,335 fresh cases were detected in 24 hours.
Several Covid restrictions have been imposed in the national capital as the surge continues. A weekend curfew from 10 pm Friday to 5 am Monday has also been put in place. Only essential services will be allowed during these hours.
Omicron is causing record numbers of cases around the world, and though it causes less severe Covid-19, experts warn this wave still threatens to overwhelm health systems. Six weeks after it was first sequenced in southern Africa Omicron cases are smashing infection records with average new daily cases at nearly two million this week, according to an AFP tally.
The World Health Organization has said that the spread of Omicron was down to a combination of factors including the make-up of the Covid-19 variant and increased social mixing.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus:
3,643 new Covid cases in Punjab, 2 more die; positivity rate rises to 14.64%Punjab reported 3,643 fresh infections on Saturday, while two more people succumbed to COVID-19, taking the case count to 6,17,536 and the death count to 16,665 in the state, according to a medical bulletin.
The state had witnessed 2,901 infections on Friday.
The positivity rate climbed to 14.64 per cent from 11.75 per cent on Friday.
The number of active cases jumped to 12,614 from 9,425 on Friday.
Shops to close by 8 pm, restaurants by 9 pm in Shillong to curb COVID-19 spread
Shillong, Jan 8 To prevent the surge in COVID-19, shops in Shillong were on Saturday asked to close at 8 pm and restaurants at 9 pm, an official.
The restriction has been imposed by East Khasi Hills district administration and will be effective in the entire district, besides in Shillong, which forms a part of it, till further orders, the official said.
East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Isawanda Laloo said shops have been asked to remain shut during the weekends..
The district recorded 50 new cases of the infection on Saturday, while 23 other cases were reported from other parts of the state, health services director Aman War said.
On Friday 64 new cases were reported and no death on the two days.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in the north eastern state is now 328 and the total caseload rose to 85,158, he said.
The number of COVID-19 related deaths remained at 1485 and with seven recoveries reported during the day its number increased to 83,345.
Link COVID-19 curbs to hospital bed occupancy, not positivity rate: Goa Expert Committee
The Goa government's Expert Committee on COVID-19 on Saturday recommended that outbreak curbs should be linked to hospital admissions rather than the earlier practice of basing it on the positivity rate (infections per 100 tests).
The committee, which met during the day under acting Dean of Goa Medical College Dr Wiseman Pinto, pointed out that positivity rate was high but the number of people getting admitted in hospitals for the infection was low.
A committee member said lockdown should be imposed if the hospital bed occupancy crosses 50 per cent. He said the committee will meet every week till the positivity rate in the state goes down.
Covid-19: Mizoram reports highest single day spike
Mizoram on Saturday reported its highest single day spike in COVID-19 cases since October 20, 2021, with 852 fresh cases which took the state's caseload to 1,44,624, a health department official said.
The spike was also 32 per cent more than Friday's 579 cases, he said.
As three persons died due to the infection in the state. Of the three deaths two were reported since from Khawzawl district and one from Aizawl district, the official said.
The single-day positivity rate increased to 15 per cent from 9.72 per cent the previous day. At least 128 children were among the newly infected people, he said.
Aizawl district reported the highest number of fresh cases at 261, followed by Serchhip (255) and Lawngtlai (69), the official said.
Dushyant Chautala, Punjab minister test positive for Covid
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Punjab minister Rana Gurjeet Singh tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. Chautala in his tweet said he had mild fever and has isolated himself.
"Today, due to mild fever, I got an RT-PCR test done, the report of which came positive. I have isolated myself. All those who have come in contact with me in the past 48 hours are requested to get a Covid test done as a precautionary measure," Mr Chautala said in a tweet.
On Friday, ruling Jannayak Janta Party chief Ajay Singh Chautala, who is also the father of Dushyant Chautala, tested positive for Covid.
Punjab Technical Education Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh in Kapurthala said he tested positive for coronavirus.
He also asked people who came in his contact to get themselves tested for the infection.
Uttarakhand: Highest-single day spike in virus cases since May 29 last year
Uttarakhand on Saturday reported 1,560 coronavirus cases, recording the highest single-day spike in infection cases in the state since May 29 last year when 1,687 people had tested positive.
Meanwhile, no death was reported in the state, which till now has reported 7,423 fatalities. So far, 3,49,472 cases have been reported in the state.
Dehradun district reported the highest 537 cases, followed by Nainital (404), Haridwar (303), Pithoragarh (82), Almora (52) and Champawat (46), the Covid control room here said.
Uttarakhand had reported 814 cases of Covid-19 on Friday.
On the sudden jump in Covid cases, social activist Anoop Nautiyal said, "I appeal to Govt of #Uttarakhand and Health Dept to immediately increase the no. of Covid tests."
"We are only doing 15,000 odd tests on a daily basis. This is far lower than the target of 25,000 that was set by the authorities. In fact, this target needs revision after the big spike in cases in state," he said.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister instructs authorities to enhance testing, monitoring of clusters amid COVID surge
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday instructed the authorities to enhance COVID-19 testing, effective monitoring of clusters in view of rising COVID-19 cases in the state.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a video conference meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Chief Medical Officers from Shimla to review the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
Mr Thakur said that since the numbers of COVID-19 cases were increasing at a sharp pace, the state government was ensuring that people adopt covid appropriate behaviour.
The Chief Minister said that preparedness regarding availability of beds, oxygen PPE kits and drugs must be reviewed and all restrictions imposed by the state government must be enforced strictly.
Mumbai's Dharavi reports 147 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours
Mumbai's Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, reported 147 new cases of COVID-19 during the last 24 hours.
With this, the count of active COVID-19 cases in the area has gone up to 729.
Meanwhile, Mumbai logged 20,318 fresh COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday. With this, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai has gone up to 8,95,098.
A total of 6,003 people recovered from the infection during the last 24 hours and five people lost their lives to the deadly virus during the last 24 hours. There are currently 1,06,037 active COVID-19 cases in the state.
COVID-19: Empty roads and market places in urban areas of Karnataka due to weekend curfew
Roads in many parts of urban regions of Karnataka wore a deserted look and market places fell silent with the weekend curfew clamped in the state.
The state government ordered week end curfew and night curfew for two weeks as a measure to check the spread of COVID-19.
Due to the lockdown, the bustling markets, malls, theatres and shopping complexes were empty.
The regular schools and colleges did not function in the state and students had to go for the online classes in many places.
In Bengaluru, police penalised people who were found venturing out unnecessarily without any valid reasons.
The government allowed essential services such as supply of milk, vegetables, hospitals and medical stores. There were no restrictions on operating the factories in the state.
Permission to attend weddings on Sunday lockdown in Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said people will be permitted to travel during the complete lockdown on Sunday to attend family functions including weddings by producing invitations.
Police would extend their full cooperation to such travellers who display invitations to attend the family functions including marriages, an official release said.
Following a sharp increase in Coronavirus cases and the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the State government introduced night curfew from Thursday and announced complete lockdown on Sunday to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Bengal records 18,802 new COVID-19 cases, 19 more fatalities
West Bengal on Saturday reported 18,802 new COVID-19 cases, which raised the tally to 17,30,759, the state health department said in its bulletin. Nineteen more COVID-related fatalities pushed the deaths to 19,883.
Kolkata accounted for 7,337 new cases and North 24 Parganas for 3,286, the bulletin said.
At least 8,112 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate stood at 29.60 per cent and the discharge rate at 95.27 per cent. Bengal currently has 62,055 active cases.
As many as 63,518 samples were tested since Friday, taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 2,18,02,541.
14 new Omicron cases in Odisha, tally rises to 75Fourteen fresh Omicron cases were detected in Odisha on Saturday, taking the state's tally to 75, a health official said.
Eight new Omicron patients have travel history, while four are local cases, and the travel history of two others are yet to be ascertained, he said.
Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, the only facility in the state where genome sequencing is conducted, has informed the Health Department about the development.
Five Omicron patients have recovered from the disease so far, while a 45-year-old patient has died in Bolangir district.
Odisha had first reported Omicron cases on December 21 last year. Director of Health Service Bijay Mohapatra said that the Omicron variant has been detected in all the districts of the state.
The state government is trying to expand its genome sequencing capability, even as the daily test positivity rate has jumped from 1.13 per cent on January 4 to 5.51 per cent on January 8.
JustIn | Delhi records 20,181 coronavirus cases, 16% higher than yesterday; 19% positivity rate
Covid: Delhi Police enhances patrol, puts barricades as weekend curfew unrolls
The Delhi Police intensified patrolling, raised barricades and warned people of legal action as authorities kept up the vigil to check violations of weekend curfew that kicked in Friday night to curb the spread of coronavirus in the city. The curfew started at 10 pm Friday and will remain in force till Monday 5 am.
Police erected barricades at several places to check vehicles and ensure that no person was moving around unauthorisedly during the curfew period.
"Patrolling has been intensified in view of the weekend curfew," a senior Delhi Police officer said.
Legal action will be taken if anyone violates the COVID-19 curfew orders, he said. Officials in several districts said that teams will be in the field through the 55-hour curfew period to ensure that the order was not violated and people did not venture out unnecessarily.
"We are prepared to enforce curfew conditions and other coronavirus-related guidelines. People are likely to keep indoors as it has been raining. It will make our task a bit easy," a district official said in the morning.
World Tops Over 2 Million New Daily Covid Cases: ReportThe world recorded more than two million daily coronavirus cases on average between January 1 and 7 with figures doubling in 10 days, an AFP tally showed on Saturday.
An average of 2,106,118 new daily infections were reported over the seven-day period, shortly after the one million case threshold was passed in the week of December 23-29, 2021.
New global case numbers have soared by 270 percent since the highly contagious Omicron variant was discovered in South Africa in late November.
But Covid-related deaths were at their lowest level since October 2020, with an average of 6,237 per day recorded in the period between January 1 and 7.
Jharkhand health minister again tests COVID positive
Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time, following which he went into home isolation. He had contracted the disease in August 2020 after a cabinet meeting, following which the council of ministers of Chief Minister Hemant Soren went into isolation.
"I have once again tested positive for COVID-19 while discharging my duty. I was not feeling well for the past few days and got tested, the report of which returned positive. All those who have come in contact with me in the last few days must get tested. I have isolated myself at home," Mr Gupta tweeted in Hindi.
Mr Gupta is now feeling well but he has isolated himself at his Jamshedpur residence, a statement issued by his camp office here said.
He also urged the masses to maintain the COVID protocols issued by the government, it added.
Union Minister Raosaheb Danve tests positive for COVID-19
Union Minister Raosaheb Danve on Saturday said he had tested positive for coronavirus infection and isolated himself as per doctors' advice.
Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister of State for Railways, Coal and Mines said he underwent a COVID-19 test after experiencing symptoms of the infection.
The BJP leader from Maharashtra appealed those who came in contact with him recently to get themselves tested for the infection
Covid test mandatory for availing treatment in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district hospitals
Covid test has been made mandatory for availing treatment for any ailment in hospitals of Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district, a district health official said.
This order has been issued in the wake of a spurt in COVID-19 cases in the district in general and educational institutions in particular.
Hamirpur Medical College Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Ramesh Chauhan said that the new order has led to detection of more positive cases during the last two days and it will help the department to contain the virus spreading in the community.
The number of active cases that had gone below 50 in the district last week has gone up to 233 on Friday.
68 personnel at CBI Mumbai office test positive for COVID-19
As many as 68 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) employees working out of its Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) office here have contracted coronavirus infection, an official of the central agency said on Saturday.
The CBI had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to test 235 persons working at the BKC office, he said.
"From this lot of 235 personnel, which includes officials, 68 have tested positive. The infected ones have been asked to home quarantine," he added.
COVID-19: Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi calls for precaution, prevention and prayer to make Haj 2022 possible
The selection process of Haj 2022 pilgrims will be done as per the complete vaccination of both the doses and criteria to be decided by the Indian and Saudi Arabian governments, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Saturday as he called for the precaution, prevention and prayer to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic and to make the annual Islamic pilgrimage possible this year.
He inaugurated a two-day programme for trainers of the Haj 2022 pilgrimage at Haj House in Mumbai.
Mr Naqvi said that the entire Haj 2022 process has been chalked out with significant reforms and changes giving utmost priority to the health and well-being of the people.
The Minority Affairs Minister, who is also deputy leader of Rajya Sabha, said in a statement that making the entire Haj 2022 process 100 per cent digital/online will be extremely beneficial to ensure the health and well-being of the people besides transparent, accessible, affordable and convenient Haj pilgrimage with pandemic precautions.
The last date for applying for Haj 2022 is January 31.
Tennis Player Novak Djokovic's Lawyers Say Vaccine Exemption Due To Positive Covid Test In DecemberTennis superstar Novak Djokovic was given a Covid-19 vaccine exemption because he tested positive for the virus in December, his lawyers said in a court filing Saturday, three days after Australian border agents placed him in a Melbourne detention centre.
The world number one has also requested to be moved to a facility where he can train for the Australian Open, his lawyers said, after a vaccine exemption to play the tournament was rejected.
"The date of the first positive Covid PCR test was recorded on 16 December 2021," his lawyers said in a filing to the federal court seeking to overturn the cancellation of his Australian entry visa.
Former Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal tests positive for COVID-19Former Prime Minister and senior leader in Nepal's ruling coalition, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating, officials said, as the Himalayan nation experiences a fresh wave of coronavirus cases.
'Prachanda', 67, tested positive in the polymerase chain reaction test on Friday evening, after complaining of some breathing-related discomfort, his Personal Secretary Ganga Dahal said.
Goa Medical College & Hospital to get genome sequencing device on January 15: State Health MinisterThe genome sequencing device will be installed in the State-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim on January 15, said state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. "The genome sequencing facility will enable the health services to conduct tests in the State and get faster results."
The Minister said that the ongoing third wave is being tackled carefully.
COVID-19 vaccine: Over 150 crore doses administered in India till nowWith the administration of more than 90 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 150.61 crores till 7 am. According to the Union Ministry of health release, India executed 90,59,360 doses in the past 24 hours.
This has been achieved through 1,60,89,073 sessions. The break-ups of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
40,895 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) now stands at 3,44,12,740.
26 new cases push Arunachal's COVID-19 tally to 55,462Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 55,462 as 26 more people, including two returnees from Assam and Bihar, tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases, with 110 infections reported in the last four days. The state had registered 29 cases on Friday.
The Capital Complex region recorded the highest number of new cases at six, followed by three each in Namsai, Papumpare and Lower Dibang Valley, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
Bengal relaxes Covid curbs; allows salons, parlours to operate at 50% capacityThe West Bengal government relaxed its COVID-19 curbs in the state, allowing salons and beauty parlours to operate with 50 per cent capacity till 10 pm. An official order to this effect said the owners should ensure that the staff and customers are fully vaccinated and they follow all health protocols.
However, there was no clarification from when the order would be applicable.
Over 2 crore children in 15-18 age group vaccinated with first dose till now: Health MinisterOver 2 crore teenagers in the age group of 15-18 years have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week of the inoculation drive being launched for children, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
With the administration of more than 90 lakh (90,59,360) vaccine doses in the past 24 hours, the cumulative number in the country has exceeded 150.61 crore (150,61,92,903), according to provisional reports updated till 7 am.
"Great Going, my Young Friends. Over 2 crore youngsters between the 15-18 age group have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week of vaccination drive for children," he tweeted.
Mexico Covid death count passes 300,000Mexico's deaths from Covid-19 surpassed 300,000 on Friday, one of the world's highest count as the pandemic rebounds around the globe. Mexico is the fifth worst-hit country, with the United States the most affected with more than 836,000 fatalities, followed by Brazil (619,000), India (483,000) and Russia (314,000)
The Central American nation recorded 28,023 new infections on Friday, the second highest since the start of the pandemic, for a total of more than four million cases. Mexico has officially recorded 300,101 deaths since March 2020, including 168 in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.
1,41,986 Covid Cases In India Today, 21% Up From Yesterday, Positivity 9%India reported 1,41,986 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, a week after the country crossed the 10,000 mark, as the virus continued to spread at an unprecedented pace, largely driven by the Omicron variant now present in 27 states.
Australia treasurer tests positive for COVID-19 as cases hit a recordAustralian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he had tested positive to COVID-19 and was isolating, joining other senior government officials to have contracted the disease amid a record number of cases in an outbreak of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
"Like thousands of Australians, I tested positive today to COVID-19," Frydenberg wrote in a short message which he posted to Twitter and Facebook late on Friday.
"I have the common symptoms and am isolating with my family," he added without elaborating or disclosing which variant he had.
Hong Kong leader orders probe of 13 officials who went to COVID-hit partyHong Kong leader Carrie Lam has ordered an inquiry into the behaviour of 13 senior government officials who attended the birthday bash of a delegate to China's legislature, where two of the 170 guests tested positive for the coronavirus.
The officials, along with 19 members of Hong Kong's new "patriots-only" legislative council - all of whom have so far tested negative - and the other guests were sent to a quarantine facility this week as authorities scramble to contain the emergence of a new wave of cases.
Lam said in a late Friday statement she ordered "detailed" investigations "as to whether the attendance of 13 officials at the banquet constitutes any breach of discipline."
7-Day Mandatory Home Quarantine For All International Arrivals In IndiaPeople flying in from abroad will need to home quarantine for a week after landing in India and test on the eighth day, in new rules that take effect on Tuesday to tackle a huge Omicron-driven surge in Covid cases in the country. The number of "at-risk" countries has been increased to 19; nine more have been added since December.
All passengers have to go into home isolation for seven days and take an RT-PCR test after that. If they test positive, they will be sent to an isolation facility and their samples will be sent for genome testing.
Delhi Records 17.73% Covid Positivity Rate Delhi's daily Covid cases shot up by 15 per cent on Friday after 17,335 fresh cases were detected in 24 hours. Nine people have died in the national capital in the same period. On Wednesday, the city witnessed its biggest-ever single-day spike in nearly eight months as 10,665 cases were reported in 24 hours.
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