COVID-19 Cases: India's total Omicron tally has now hit 165 cases. (File)
India reported 5,326 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today, taking the total caseload in the country since the beginning of the pandemic to 3,47,52,164.
Today's daily spike in cases is nearly 19 per cent lower than yesterday's spike of 6,563 coronavirus cases. India's active caseload currently stands at 79,097, the lowest in 572 days.
The country also reported 453 new Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total death count to 4,78,007. The number of fatalities today is significantly up from yesterday's spike of 132 deaths.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the active cases in the country account for less than one per cent of total cases, currently at 0.24 per cent which is the lowest since March last year.
Amid rising concerns surrounding the Omicron variant, India's total Omicron tally has now hit 165 cases.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
Chhattisgarh sees 34 COVID-19 cases; vaccine doses given crosses 3 crore mark
Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 tally touched 10,07,446 on Tuesday as 34 new cases were detected, while the death toll remained unchanged at 13,595, an official said.
The state also touched the three crore mark as far as COVID-19 vaccine doses being administered was concerned, the government informed.
The recovery count stood at 9,93,547 after 10 people were discharged from hospitals and 24 completed home isolation, leaving the state with an active tally of 304, he said.
"Raigarh recorded nine new cases, followed by six in Raipur and three in Durg. No fresh cases were reported in 19 districts. With 21,752 samples being tested during the day, the number of tests in Chhattisgarh went up to 1,47,29,597," he said.
Gujarat records 87 COVID-19 cases, highest spike this month; two deaths
Gujarat on Tuesday reported 87 new coronavirus cases, the highest one-day addition this month, and two deaths, an official said.
The caseload in the state rose to 8,28,703 and death toll reached 10,104, he added.
The recovery count rose to 8,18,010 after 73 people were discharged.
Gujarat now has 589 active cases including eight critical ones.
A patient each died in Rajkot and Valsad districts during the day.
Coronavirus Updates: Mizoram reports 217 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 1,39,705
Mizoram's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 1,39,705 on Tuesday, with 217 more people testing positive for the infection, a health department official said.
The north-eastern state on Monday had reported 33 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest single-day spike in nearly eight months, and two more deaths.
The state's coronavirus death toll remained at 533, with no new fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, he said.
The single-day positivity rate dipped to 6.74 per cent from 11.22 per cent on the previous day, he said.
Over 138.89 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India: Government
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 138.89 crore (138,89,29,333) on Tuesday, the Union health ministry said.
As many as 51,30,949 vaccine doses had been administered till 7 pm.
The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.
The countrywide COVID-19 vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started on February 2.
The next phase of vaccination commenced from March 1 for people aged above 60 and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
The country launched vaccination for all people aged above 45 from April 1.
COVID-19: 2 omicron cases detected in Odisha
At least two people in Odisha have tested positive for the omicron variant of COVID-19, the first cases of the latest version of coronavirus in the state, officials said on Tuesday.
Bhubaneswar-based Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) confirmed the existence of the variant in the two patients after conducting the genome sequencing of 12 samples.
Both of them have travel history to foreign nations - Nigeria and Qatar, they said.
The returnee from the African country is fully vaccinated, and is stable in hospital, Cuttack District COVID-19 Nodal Officer Umesh Ray said.
All his contacts have tested negative, he added.
Just In| Maharashtra reports 825 new COVID-19 cases, 792 recoveries and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours.
11 more patients have been found to be infected by Omicron. Till date, a total of 65 patients infected with the Omicron variant have been reported in the state.
Just In| Tamil Nadu reports 602 new cases, 5 deaths and 691 recoveries; Active cases 7,078
Coronavirus Updates: Nashik district logs 53 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death, 34 recoveries
The coronavirus count in Nashik district of Maharashtra rose to 4,13,335 with an addition of 53 new cases on Tuesday, while one more patient succumbed to the infection, health department officials said.
With one fresh fatality, the death toll in the district rose to 8,747, they said.
Also, 34 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally of recovered cases to 4,04,128, the officials said.
Just In| 11 new Omicron cases in Maharashtra today, 8 found through screening at Mumbai airport
Coronavirus Live Updates: Jammu and Kashmir records 104 fresh Covid cases
Jammu and Kashmir recorded 104 fresh Covid cases, taking the infection tally to 3,40,036, while one fresh fatality due to the virus was reported from the Union Territory in the past 24 hours, officials said.
Out of the fresh cases, 26 were from the Jammu division and 78 from the Kashmir division of the Union Territory, the officials said.
Srinagar district recorded the highest of 40 cases followed by 18 cases in Jammu district.
Just In| Omicron at least 3 times more transmissible than Delta, take containment measures: Centre to states
Coronavirus Updates: Sweden tightens COVID-19 restrictions as cases mount
Sweden will urge all employees to work from home if possible and impose tighter rules for social distancing, the government said on Tuesday, as it ratchets up restrictions aimed at fighting a surge in new infections of the COVID-19 virus.
The new rules also will also require seated-only service at bars and restaurants as well as at larger public events.
"We must now take joint responsibility and we need to adapt to the new reality," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told a news conference. "I understand that many are tired of this - so am I - but we now have a new virus variant, which means we are in a new situation."
India supplied 983.068 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses to 94 countries, 2 UN entities till Dec 15: GovtIndia has supplied 983.068 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 94 countries and two United Nations entities in the form of grant, commercial export or through COVAX till December 15 since the start of Vaccine Maitri programme in January, 2021, the Rajya Sabha was told on Tuesday.
The country supplied COVID-19 related medical and other assistance to over 150 countries since the beginning of the pandemic, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a written reply.
"Since the start of the Vaccine Maitri programme in January, 2021, India has supplied 983.068 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 94 countries and 2 UN entities in the form of grant, commercial export or through COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) till December 15, 2021," he said.
RT-PCR testing rate in Delhi up from 50 per cent in Dec 2020 to nearly 90 per cent now
New Delhi, Dec 21 RT-PCR tests account for 88.50 per cent of the total COVID-19 tests conducted so far in December, up from 50 per cent in the corresponding month last year, according to government data.
Officials said the increase can be attributed to the "credibility" associated with RT-PCR tests and better testing infrastructure as compared to the last year.
Government data showed that out of 11.86 lakh Covid tests conducted so far in December, 10.49 lakh were RT-PCR tests.
AstraZeneca Covid vaccine protection wanes after three months: Lancet study
The protection offered by the Oxford-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine declines after three months of receiving two doses of the preventive, according to a study published in The Lancet journal.
The findings drawn from datasets in Brazil and Scotland suggest that booster programmes are needed to help maintain protection from severe disease in those vaccinated with AstraZeneca, known as Covishield in India.
The researchers analysed data for two million people in Scotland and 42 million people in Brazil who had been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Update| Delhi reports 102 new cases, 1 death in the last 24 hours; Active caseload stands at 557
No parties, mass gatherings from Dec 30 to Jan 2 due to COVID-19, rising Omicron cases in Karnataka
Keeping in view the COVID-19 situation and the rising number of cases of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, the Karnataka government on Tuesday said that no parties or mass gatherings would be permitted in the state from December 30 to January 2.
"We had a meeting with experts through video conference regarding the new year celebrations, keeping in mind the COVID-19 and Omicron related cases," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters.
On their recommendation, the government decided to prohibit mass gatherings in the city and other public places in the state.
"We are banning mass gatherings at open places. This is across the state from December 30 to January 2," Mr Bommai said.
Covid News Updates: Global Spread Of Omicron Prompts Renewed Lockdowns, Delayed ReopeningsNew Zealand delayed the planned reopening of its international border because of the sweeping spread of Omicron around the world on Tuesday, as several other countries reimposed social distancing measures.
Many nations are on high alert just days ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, as the latest health crisis also takes a toll on financial markets, which fear the impact on the global economic recovery.
Omicron infections are multiplying rapidly across Europe, the United States and Asia, including in Japan where a single cluster at a military base has grown to at least 180 cases.
Coronavirus News Updates: As Omicron Rises, UK PM Holds Off On Tougher Rules Before ChristmasBoris Johnson held off introducing stricter UK coronavirus rules to clamp down on a surging new wave of the virus, but left open the prospect they'll be needed soon.
"We will not exclude going further if we have to do things to protect the public," Johnson said in a pooled television interview. For now, "there are still some things that we need to be clearer about before we decide to go further."
With the government's scientific advisers urging for new rules sooner rather than later to stave off a surge in hospitalizations, Johnson's comments leave the U.K. in limbo just 5 days before Christmas as daily Covid cases remain near record levels due to the fast-spreading omicron variant. Earlier on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab refused to rule out a Christmas lockdown.
Just In | Total Omicron cases in India jump to 200, reported across 12 states so far. Of this total, 77 people have recovered.
Coronavirus Live Updates: India Reports 5,326 Covid Cases, 453 Deaths In 24 HoursIndia reported 5,326 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today, taking the total caseload in the country since the beginning of the pandemic to 3,47,52,164. India's active caseload currently stands at 79,097, the lowest in 572 days.
The country also reported 453 new Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total death count to 4,78,007. The number of fatalities today is up from yesterday's spike of 132 deaths.
Just In | Total Omicron cases in India rises to 165.
Coronavirus News Updates: Unvaccinated Texas Man Becomes First Omicron Death In US, Says ReportUS' Texas on Monday reported its first death related to the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a man who was unvaccinated, the Harris County health department said.
It is believed to be the first known recorded Omicron death in the United States, ABC News reported. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the issue.
The victim, aged between 50-60 years old, was at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 as he was unvaccinated, the health department said in a statement.
Coronavirus Live Updates: 4 more positive Omicron Covid cases in Kerala take case tally to 15
Four more tested positive for Omicron in Kerala on Monday. The total number of Omicron cases in Kerala stands at 15. Of the four new cases, three were foreign returnees (two from UK, one from Nigeria), while one of the infected was a primary contact of a UK returnee.
Covid India News: Gujarat extends night curfew in eight districts till December 31
Gujarat government has extended night curfew till December 31 in eight major cities of the state amid rising COVID-19 variant Omicron cases in the state.
The curfew timing will be 1 am to 5 am, reads the official order.
The eight cities which continue to witness night curfew are Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Junagarh.
Meanwhile, Business can continue their operations till 12 at night.
As per the order, Restaurants can only fill 75 per cent of their sitting capacity in order to maintain social distancing.
The limit of 400 people for a wedding has not been changed in the order.
Omicron Variant News: 73% Of New Covid Cases In US Are Omicron As Strain Now "Dominant"The fast-spreading Omicron variant is now the dominant strain of Covid-19 in the United States, health authorities reported Monday, as the WHO called for greater efforts to ensure the pandemic ends next year.
The new variant has helped fuel record case surges, forcing a return to harsh restrictions in some countries. But in the United States, President Joe Biden does not plan on "locking the country down," press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier in the day.
Omicron now accounts for 73.2 percent of new US cases over the past week ending Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. In some regions of the country -- the Pacific Northwest, South and parts of the Midwest -- it already comprises more than 90 percent of new infections.
Omicron Cases In India: No Evidence On Omicron's Transmissibility, Severity, Says Centre's Research BodyThere is no clear evidence yet on the transmissibility, immune evasion or severity of Omicron in India, said Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) in its latest bulletin while noting that the variant continues to grow rapidly as a variant of concern globally.
The bulletin, dated December 13 and published on Monday, said public health measures and investigations are being conducted to look into the new variant.
"At this time, there is no clear evidence regarding transmissibility, immune evasion, or severity in India," INSACOG said.