Coronavirus News Highlights: Random Covid test of international passengers continues for 2nd day at Delhi airport

Follow the latest developments on the Covid-19 situation in India and the world with DH.

Random Covid test of international passengers continues for 2nd day at Delhi airport; some test positive

The random Covid test of arriving international passengers continued for the second day at Delhi airport on Sunday, and some passengers have tested positive, according to an official.

UP govt gives Rs 10 lakh each to kin of journalists who died of Covid

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday gave Rs 10 lakh each to the families of 53 journalists who died of Covid-19 and saluted their courage.

Maharashtra logs 32 new Covid-19 cases, zero death; active tally at 148

Genestrings ramps up manpower at Delhi airport for Covid tests

Genestrings Diagnostic Centre, which is conducting coronavirus tests at Delhi airport, on Sunday said it has increased the number of lab technicians at the facility to ensure timely reporting of test results.

The company conducted around 110 coronavirus tests at the airport on Saturday, the day when the random testing of two per cent of arriving international passengers commenced amid a spurt in infections in various countries. (PTI)

China's Covid-19 surge raises odds of new coronavirus mutant: Expert

Could the COVID-19 surge in China unleash a new coronavirus mutant on the world?

Scientists don't know but worry that might happen. It could be similar to omicron variants circulating there now. It could be a combination of strains. Or something entirely different, they say.

“China has a population that is very large and there's limited immunity. And that seems to be the setting in which we may see an explosion of a new variant," said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University. (AP)

Agra man tests positive for Covid after trip from China, isolated

A 40-year-old man, who returned from China two days back, has tested positive for COVID-19 following which he has been isolated at his home here, Chief Medical Officer Arun Srivastava said on Sunday.

His samples will be sent to Lucknow for genome sequencing, he said. The man returned to Agra from China via Delhi on December 23 following which he was tested at a private lab. The report came out positive forCovid, he added. This the firstCovidpositive case in the district detected after November 25, officials said. (PTI)

Covid-19 concerns fail to dampen Christmas spirit in Delhi

Hundreds thronged churches across Delhi for Christmas festivities on Sunday after two years of muted celebrations in the shadow of the Covid pandemic with people seeking to find a balance between rituals and precautions.

Colourful lights, Christmas trees, buntings and balloons decked up street corners, markets and public areas as people from all religions and cultures celebrated the festival with food and music.

Christmas this year comes amid a low number of Covid cases. However, church-goers exercised caution considering the surge in infections in some countries. (PTI)

Tamil Nadu has maximum XBB variants of Omicron, no variant of BF 7: State Govt

Random RT-PCR tests unlikely to disrupt travel plans of holidaymakers

India's move to conduct RT-PCR test on a limited scale on passengers arriving from abroad has raised concerns among travellers but it's unlikely to have disruptive impact on the travel plans of most holidaymakers, including from the diaspora, the community members said on Sunday. The Indian government on Saturday ramped up anti-Covid measures in the wake of a surge in the number of cases in some countries including neighbouring China and made the RT-PCR test mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. (PTI)

Delhi authorities to ascertain readiness of govt hospitals on Monday, increase testing

In view of a surge in Covid-19 cases in some countries, officials will physically visit all government hospitals in Delhi and ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality, authorities said on Sunday.

In pursuance of the central government's directions, a mock drill will be conducted across all city government hospitals on Tuesday.(PTI)

China says no new Covid deaths on December 24

China reported no new Covid-19 deaths in mainland for Dec. 24, same as zero a day earlier, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.(Reuters)

'Covid cases are rising in many countries', 'need to remain careful & wear masks & wash our hands' says Modi

India develops herd immunity; BF.7 variant may not be as serious as in China: CCMB chief

The severity of BF.7 variant of coronavirus in India may not be as serious as it is currently prevailing in China as Indian have already developed "herd immunity" a top official of CSIR- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) here said.(PTI)

3 new COVID-19 cases in Thane; active tally at 8

Three new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Maharashtra's Thane district, taking its infection count to 7,47,391.(PTI)

Active Covid cases in country rise to 3,424

India recorded 227 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,424, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,77,106).(PTI)

No Covid-19 case or death reported in Chhattisgarh; active tally now seven

No Covid-19 case or death was reported from Chhattisgarh on Saturday, the twentieth time the state had a clean slate amid the pandemic this year, an official said.(PTI)

Private hospitals in Bengaluru ready to ramp up facilities in case of Covid surge

While a circular from the health department has asked private hospitals to be prepared in case of a surge, no specifics were mentioned about bed numbers, oxygen capacity, etc. Hence there is no financial burden on the hospitals as of now.

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China's National Health Commission to stop publishing daily Covid figures