Coronavirus News Highlights: Karnataka reports nearly 50,000 new Covid-19 cases, 22 deaths

India added 3,47,254 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 3,85,66,027 which includes 9,692 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has proposed lifting the weekend curfew, ending the odd-even system for opening of shops and allow private offices to run with 50 per cent staff in the city. Stay tuned on DH for latest updates.

No data leaked from Co-WIN portal, says government

The Union Health Ministry on Friday clarified that no data has leaked from its Co-WIN portal, soon after reports emerged that personal data of thousands of Indians got leaked from a 'government server.

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Indian-origin brothers offer ‘Jabs with Kebabs’ service in UK

A pair of Indian-origin pharmacist brothers are using their restaurant business to offer a special ‘Jabs with Kebabs’ service this weekend to encourage their community in Kent, south-east England, to come forward for their Covid-19 vaccines.

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Karnataka reports nearly 50,000 new Covid-19 cases, 22 deaths

Karnataka reports 48,049 new Covid-19cases, 18,115 recoveries, and 22 deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases 3,23,143, positivity rate 19.23%.

WHO advisory panel recommends extending use of Pfizer vaccine to 5-11 year-olds

The World Health Organization's advisory panel on Friday recommended extending the use of a reduced dosage of Pfizer and German partner BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11 years old.

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Instead of the existing limit of 4 members, now 6 members can be registered using one mobile number on Co-WIN: Government of India

Delhi reports more than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases

Delhi reports 10,756 new Covid-19cases, 17,494 recoveries and 38 deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases 61,954 Cumulative Positivity Rate 5.16%

In Pics| Two years of pandemic: These countries are still waiting for Covid-19 vaccines

While many countries are celebrating vaccinating millions with Covid-19 vaccines, a few countries are still waiting to receive their share. Here we list some countries that are eagerly waiting to get their COVAX allotment.

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Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma tests positive for Covid-19

Sikkim's Covid-19 tally rises to 36,421 with 323 fresh cases; death toll climbs to 419 as two more people succumb to viral disease: Health bulletin

Hong Kong warns pet lovers against preventing Covid hamster cull

Hong Kong police will deal with pet lovers who try to stop people giving up their hamsters to be put down, or who offer to care for abandoned hamsters, authorities said, after they ordered a cull of the cuddly rodents to curb the coronavirus.

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Karnataka government ends weekend curfew

The weekend curfew will be lifted with immediate effect. If the number of cases (hospital admission ) increases, we will bring back the weekend curfew: R Ashok, Karnataka Revenue Minister

Telangana extends Covid-19 restrictions up to January 31

The Telangana government on Thursday extended its earlier orders prohibiting rallies, public meetings, among other measures, till January 31 as part of steps to check the spread of Covid-19.

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Harbhajan Singh tests positive for Covid-19, under home quarantine

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday said he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently under home quarantine.

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Western Australia stays shut as Covid deaths mount in east

Australia will remain a divided nation, with the vast mining state of Western Australia cancelling plans to reopen its borders on February 5, citing health risks from a surge in the Omicron Covid-19 variant in eastern states.

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Covid-19 hit Indian U-19 cricket team hopes for player availability by knockout stages

Rattled by multiple Covid-19 cases but through to the last-eight stage, the Indian team would hope that its campaign remains on track as it takes on minnows Uganda in its final Group B game of the Under-19 World Cup on Saturday.

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Indian authorities are tightening the rules around the sale of Covid self-tests, as booming sales of the home kits add to underreporting fears during a fresh surge in infections.

(AFP Photo)

L-G rejects proposal to lift Delhi weekend curfew: Sources

Lt Governor Anil Baijal Friday rejected a proposal to lift the weekend curfew and opening of markets fully in Delhi.He, however, agreed to allow 50 per cent attendance in private offices, say sources.

Pakistan records most daily Covid cases since pandemic began

Pakistan reported on Friday over 7,000 Covid-19 cases in a single day, its highest daily number of infections since the pandemic began, as the south Asian nation imposes new restrictions to curb the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

At least 7,678 cases in the past 24 hours pushed the positivity ratio to 12.93%, the highest ever in the last two years, 23 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours, according to data from the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which is overseeing the pandemic response.

Vaccination status to be pasted in all offices, shops from February 1 in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government has revised its Covid-19 guidelines making

pasting of vaccination details of staff mandatory in all offfices and shops from February 1.

Also, it says that in view of the increasing infection of Covid, if a person wants to change the booking made earlier for the coming days, then the hotel concerned will have to refund or adjust the payment made earlier.

Why is regular licensing for vaccines significant?

India’s vaccine manufacturers may soon move to commercially sell their Covid-19 vaccines after a regulatory panel on Wednesday recommended the grant of regular licences for Covishield and Covaxin vaccines.

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'Isolation' not mandatory for foreign arrivals testing Covid positive: Authorities

Travellers arriving in India from any country who will test positive for Covid-19 shall be treated/isolated as per the laid down standard protocol and will not mandatorily be managed at an isolation facility, authorities have said.

According to the revised ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ released on Thursday, the new norm will apply from January 22 till further order.

People not adhering to social distancing norms visit the Heritage street near the Golden temple, amid concern over rising cases of Omicron variant, in Amritsar

(PTI Photo)

Delhi to take call on lifting more curbs within 3-4 days, says Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Active Covid-19 cases highest in 235 days

There has been a 4.36 per cent increase in Omicron cases since Thursday, the health ministry said. The active cases comprise 5.23 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has decreased to 93.50 per cent, the ministry said.

Former Kerala CM Achuthanandan tests Covid positive

Delhi govt recommends lifting weekend curfew, end odd even for shops & allow private offices to run with 50% staff, L-G's nod sought

(ANI)

9,692 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus detected in India so far: Union Health Ministry.

Hong Kong warns pet lovers against preventing Covid hamster cull

Hong Kong police will deal with pet lovers who try to stop people giving up their hamsters to be put down, or who offer to care for abandoned hamsters, authorities said, after they ordered a cull of the cuddly rodents to curb the coronavirus.On Tuesday, officials ordered the killing of about 2,000 hamsters from dozens of pet shops after tracing a coronavirus outbreak to a worker at a shop, where 11 hamsters later tested positive for Covid-19.

A Covid-19 patient inhales herbal medicine at a Covid care centre in Kanyakumari district.

(PTI Photo)

Karnataka govt likely to lift curbs in districts with less Covid cases

Ahead of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's crucial meeting on Friday, Revenue Minister R Ashoka dropped a broad hint that the government may consider relaxing Covid-19 curbs in districts where the pandemic situation is under control.

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Vaccination for kids aged 12-14 likely by March in Bengaluru

BBMP officials said they will begin jabbing nearly six lakh children in the 12-14 age group in the city once they are done with the 15-18 age group.

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Centre urges 6.5 crore Indians to take Covid vaccine second shot

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday asked 6.5 crore Indians who missed their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to come forward for the shot with top health officials claiming a significant drop in Covid mortality in the third wave as against the second surge due to protection offered by the vaccine.

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India reports 3.47 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 703 deaths

India's Covid-19 cases soared further on Friday as the nation reported 3,47,254 new infections, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The nation's Covid-19 toll also saw a sharp jump as 703 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

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Karnataka reports 47,754 new Covid-19 cases, 29 deaths

US airliner turns back in mid-flight due to passenger defying mask rule

An American Airlines jetliner headed from Miami to London turned around in mid-flight Thursday because a passenger refused to wear a Covid mask, the airline said.

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France to loosen Covid curbs in February, allowing popcorn in cinemas again

France will ease work-from-home rules from early February and allow nightclubs to reopen two weeks later as the general Covid-19 situation in the country is starting to improve, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday. (Reuters)