Precautionary third doses of vaccines -- announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month -- will be given to health and frontline workers and immuno-compromised seniors starting today as Covid numbers spike in the country, driven by Omicron. Uttar Pradesh has reported a massive surge in Covid cases ahead of state elections that are less than a month away. The 7,695 fresh cases reported over the last 24 hours are 13 times what was recorded last week. Last Sunday, the state had recorded 552 fresh cases and other top stories.