Coronavirus News Highlights: India to soon get DNA and nasal vaccine, says Modi

India's Covid tally rose to 3,47,79,815 with 7,189 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, while the active cases have declined to 77,032, according to the data. Meanwhile, people around the world are celebrating a Christmas marred by the pandemic for the second straight year. Stay tuned for live updates.

Three members of K-pop sensation BTS test positive for Covid-19

Three members of K-pop sensation BTS have tested positive forCovid-19 since returning from the US, where they held their first in-person concerts since the pandemic began, the group's management said Saturday.

Rapper RM and vocalist Jin tested positive for the virus Saturday evening, according to Big Hit Music.

7 new cases of Omicron confirmed in Karnataka today: Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K

Chhattisgarh sees 37 Covid-19 cases, no death; active tally 313

Chhattisgarh's Covid-19 count reached 10,07,577 on Saturday with the addition of 37 cases, while the death toll remained unchanged at 13,597, an official said.

Punjab sees 59 fresh coronavirus cases

Fifty-nine fresh cases of coronavirus surfaced in Punjab on Saturday, taking the infection tally to 6,04,187, according to a medical bulletin.

Allow booster dose of coronavirus vaccine: Gehlot to Centre

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday once again requested the Centre to allow booster dose ofCovidvaccine, citing a spurt in infection cases following the emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus.

Goa sees 60 Covid-19 cases, 1 death; active tally now 461

Haryana reports 90 new Covid cases, 59 from Gurugram

Haryana reported no new coronavirus-related death, even as it added 90 fresh cases on Saturday, including 59 from Gurugram alone, pushing the infection count to 7,72,541 in the state, according to an official bulletin.

Booster vaccinations for healthcare and frontline workers from Jan 10th: Prime Minister

He also stated that 'precautionshot' will be given to adults above the age of 60 years, having comorbidities.

Vaccine for kids to start from January 3rd: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccination for children aged between 15-18 years from the first week of January and booster doses for healthcare workers, front line staff and the elderly from the second week.

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India to soon get DNA and nasal vaccine, says Modi

India has crossed 141 crore vaccination marks. says PM

He also stated that 61 per cent of the adult population are fully jabbed and nearly 90 per cent of the population has received the first dose.

5 lakh oxygen beds are ready: PM

Prime minister Modi, in his address to the nation, also stated that 18 lakh isolations beds are ready, along with 40 lakh ICU beds, 90,000 pediatric ICU & non-ICU beds. "We have more than 3,000 working PSA oxygen plants, 4 lakh oxygen cylinders have been distributed throughout the nation," he added. He also stressed the need to be alert and vigilant during this time.

England vaccinates on Christmas Day as Omicron cases soar

England pressed ahead with its Covid-19 immunisation campaign on Saturday in the race to inoculate as many people possible while the number of cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant soars.

Odisha govt modified Covid-19 restriction order for BJD’s function: BJP

Opposition BJP on Saturday accused the Odisha government of modifying its order of restriction on Christmas and New Year celebrations due to Omicron cases, to accommodate the ruling Biju Janata Dal’s Foundation Day celebrations on December 26.

Madhya Pradesh sees 42 Covid-19 cases, no death; active tally now 232

TheCovid-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh reached 7,93,655 on Saturday after 42 cases were detected, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,532, an official said.

Three more Omicron cases reported in Telangana

Three more Omicron cases were reported in Telangana on Saturday, taking the total number of cases of the new coronavirus variant in the State to 41, said the State Health Department.

Delhi records 249 new Covid cases, highest since June 13

Amid a surge in Omicron Covid variant cases here, Delhi on Saturday recorded 249 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise since June 13, and one death while the positivity rate mounted to 0.43 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

Random checks on travellers from 'non-risk' nations in Tamil Nadu

From tomorrow, random checks on travellers coming from 'non-risk' nations at all four international airports in Tamil Nadu will be increased from 2 per cent to 10 per cent, said the state government.

J&K records 164 new cases, 2 deaths

Two deaths and 164 newCovid-19 cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday as the authorities warned punishment against those violating the SoPs.

Bharat Biotech vaccine: 2 doses to be given 28 days apart, says report

One more Omicron case detected in Kerala, tally now 38

Tripura govenrment appeals to people to exercise caution amid Omicron threat

The Tripura government on Saturday appealed to the people of the state to exercise caution and follow Covid-19 protocols amid the rising cases of Omicron across the country. No patient in Tripura has been found infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus so far,

Chennai records sharp rise with 165 new Covid-19 cases; TN logs 606 infections, 11 fatalities

Karnataka reports 270 new Covid cases, 246 recoveries, and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.

No rallies, public meetings in Telangana till January 2 to curb virus spread

21 new Omicron cases detected in Rajasthan, tally rises to 43

DGCI gives nod to Bharat Biotech's Covid jab for kids aged 12-18 years

Gujarat reports 179 new Covid cases and 2 deaths today

The state also reported6 fresh Omicron casestoday, a total of 49 cases so far.

Daily recoveries outnumber new Covid-19 cases in Kerala

Kerala on Saturday clocked 2,407 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the total caseload to 52.21 lakh. However, 3,377 people recuperated from the deadly disease during the same period, taking the total number of those cured in the southern state to 51,61,800

Omicron spread is significantly higher in closed, unventilated rooms: TN govt

The spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 among close contacts and in closed unventilated rooms is “significantly and extremely high”, the Tamil Nadu government said on Saturday, quoting preliminary data from contact tracing of those infected withthe omicron variant.

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Maharashtra reports 1,485 new cases

796 recoveries and 12 deaths were reported today, with 9,102 active cases. Two new Omicron cases from Aurangabad were reported, taking the tally to 110.

Sikkim reports four new Covid-19 cases, tally rises to 32,477

Omicron scare: Night curfew to come into effect in Noida from tonight

No fresh Covid-19 case, fatality in Nagaland on Christmas Day

Mumbai: 757 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, with 280 recoveries and no deaths

Active cases stands at 3,703

Kerala reports 2,404 new cases, 11 deaths, and 3,377 recoveries today

This takes the tally of active cases to24,501, while the death tally is at 46,318

Delhi reports 249 positive cases, one death, and 96 recoveries in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of active cases to 934

17 girls of Raigarh school test positive for Covid; reports of 476 students awaited

Kenya to start giving Covid-19 booster shots

Kenya will offerCovid-19 booster shots to individuals six months after their initial shots, the health ministry said in a document published on Saturday, a day after the country logged its highest rate of positiveCovid-19 tests.

Kerala reports one more case of Omicron from Kannur district, taking the tally to 38

Pope celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as virus surges in Italy

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday, going ahead with the service despite the resurgence in Covid-19 cases that has prompted a new vaccine mandate for Vatican employees.

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Andhra Pradesh logs 104 fresh Covid-19 cases, 1 death

Andhra Pradesh on Saturday reported 104 freshCovid-19 cases, taking the cumulative infections to 20,76,410, while the toll rose to 14,489 with one more fatality. Active cases stood at 1,249, a health department bulletin said.

Fresh lockdown will be imposed in Maharashtra only if demand for medical oxygen touches 800 metric tons per day: Health Minister Rajesh Tope

Assam impose night curfew from 11.30 PM to 6 AM, tomorrow onwards

The curfew, however, will not be in effect on New Year's Eve, said the state government.

Pondy posts 12 Covid-19 cases, tally touches 1.29 lakh

Karnataka: 33 medical students of a medical college in Kolar have tested Covid- 19 positive

All the students have been isolated in a hospital, saidDistrict Surveillance Officer Dr Charani

21 new cases of Omicron reported today in Rajasthan, taking the total tally to 43: State Health Department

No need of night curfew in Bihar: Nitish Kumar

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced that no night curfew is needed in Bihar as the situation in the state is much better than the rest of the country.

Portugal says Omicron dominant, infections rising

Omicron has become the dominant strain in Portugal where over 12,000 dailyCovid-19 cases were registered on Friday, the national health agency said.

USA v Ireland one-day cricket match cancelled due to Covid-19

The United States' one-day cricket international match with Ireland, due to be played on Sunday, was cancelled because one of the umpires tested positive for Covid-19, USA Cricket said.

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Christmas celebrations muted in Delhi amid Omicron fears

The Christian community in the national capital celebrated Christmas on Saturday with caution as fewer people reached churches amid concern over the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

100% eligible population of Ambala has been vaccinated with both doses of Covid-19. Also, 4 students of a school have tested Covid-positive. Students & teachers of the school have been tested; contact tracing has been done: Ambala Deputy Commissioner Vikram Yadav

(ANI)

South Africa stops tracing, quarantining contacts of Covid cases

South Africa has with immediate effect stopped tracing and quarantining contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19, said the Department of Health.

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Over 4,500 flights cancelled by Christmas day as Omicron hits holiday travel

Over 4,500 flights were cancelled around the world by Saturday and thousands more were delayed as the highly infectious Omicron variant disrupted holiday travel, according to tracking website Flightaware.

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Three Covid-19 micro-containment zones identified in Ahmedabad city

China's Covid-hit Xian city reports rise in infections

Xian in northwest China reported an increase in daily Covid-19 infections for Friday, and local companies curtailed activity as the country's latest Covid-19 hot spot entered its third day of lockdown.

The city of 13 million detected 75 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms for Friday, its highest daily count of the year and reversing the previous day's decline, official data showed on Saturday.

Bommai to hold meeting on Omicron threat tomorrow, to decide on night curfew, other curbs

The chief minister said he would hold a meeting with top officials and a technical team regarding the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19, specifically the Omicron variant. “A meeting will be held in Bengaluru on Sunday and based on the suggestion given by the experts we will decide the future course of action,” he said.

(DHNS)

No 'Delmicron' virus yet, time to fight Omicron: Health experts

As the debate rises in India over a new coronavirus strain being called 'Delmicron', leading health experts said on Saturday advised people not to pay heed to rumours and wait for the global health agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) or US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to confirm or deny the presence of such Covid variant.

Several news reports talking about 'Delmicron' surfaced this week in India, quoting Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of Maharashtra's C-19 task force, who said: "Delmicron, the twin spikes of Delta and Omicron, in Europe and US, has led to a mini-tsunami of cases."

(IANS)

Omicron cases likely to reach 1,000 in 2-3 weeks, say experts

Carols, midnight masses usher in Christmas festivities in Goa amid pandemic

Special midnight masses held with adherence to Covid-19 norms, pealing of church bells and singing of carols ushered in Christmas in Goa to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Considering the growing threat of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country, the Christian organisations in the state had asked people to strictly comply with all the standard operating procedures (SOPs), like wearing of masks and sanitisation, during the masses and while visiting the churches.

Social distancing was mandated during the masses and to accommodate all the parishioners, screens were installed outside the churches and chapels where the masses were aired.

India likely to see surge in Covid cases by January-end, says expert

Omicron scare: Night curfews, other curbs in states ahead of Christmas, New Year

As the Centre advised poll-bound states to ramp up Covid vaccination exponentially amid a steady rise in cases of the Omicron variant, several states imposed fresh restrictions during the holidays.

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A member of SEWA trade facilitation centre stitches cotton facemasks as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Ahmedabad on December 24, 2021.

(AFP Photo)

In Pics | India rings in another Christmas amid Covid-19

See how people around the country are celebrating Christmas festivities in the shadow of Covid-19.

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Images of first lady Jill Biden and US President Joe Biden are seen on a Christmas tree honouring American educators, including Jill Biden, outside the Floriana restaurant in Washington, US, on December 24, 2021.

(Reuters)

Covid makes Biden's first White House Christmas less merry

So long eggnog, shrimp cocktail and pet-shaped sugar cookies.

It's been a less merry holiday scene at the White House this year under Covid-19's shadow. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden have replaced the packed parties and overflowing buffet tables of the past with food-free open houses, face masks and testing for the unvaccinated.

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Multi-disciplinary Central teams to be deployed in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Punjab.

(ANI)

Central teams to be deployed in 10 states, some of which are either reporting an increasing number of Omicron and Covid-19 cases or slow vaccination pace: Union Health Ministry in an official statement

(ANI)

Mumbai bans New Year parties, gatherings in closed or open spaces

People shop at a crowded market ahead of Christmas during the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, in New Delhi.

(Reuters)

Maharashtra tops 108 Omicron cases; India's tally at 415

A total of 415 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in India so far, out of which 115 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Saturday.

Maharashtra has recorded a maximum of 108 Omicron cases, followed by Delhi at 79, Gujarat 43, Telangana 38, Kerala 37, Tamil Nadu 34 and Karnataka 31.

Paris' Notre Dame rector offers hope to virus-hit worshipers

Worshipers in face masks filed into Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois Church across from the Louvre Museum on Friday for Christmas Eve Mass, and were greeted by the rector of the closed Notre Dame Cathedral.

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India reports 7,189 Covid-19 cases, 387 deaths

India recorded 7,189 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of cases to 3,47,79,815, while the active cases declined to 77,032, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

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Delhi govt orders Sarojini Nagar market to operate on odd-even basis on December 25, 26 to prevent it from becoming Covid super spreader

Global coronavirus caseload tops 27.8 crore

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 27.8 crore, while the deaths have surged to more than 53.9 lakh,according to Johns Hopkins University.

Maharashtra: The Ahmednagar district administration issued a 'no vaccine, no entry' order covering various areas, including private establishments, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, auditoriums, marriage halls, agriculture markets as well as events.

(ANI)

Mizoram reports 173 fresh cases. Total active cases stand at 1,569.

(ANI)

People must not disregard Covid protocols amid high Christmas spirit: Goa CM

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand Santa Claus with an installation of red roses and other flowers with the message “Merry Christmas, Enjoy your Christmas with Covid guidelines “, at Puri beach of Odisha, Friday, December 24, 2021.

(PTI Photo)

Remdesivir to be used for moderate, severe Covid cases

The Centre on Friday said Remdesivir drug should only be used in patients with ‘moderate to severe’ Covid-19 and those with no renal or hepatic dysfunction within 10 days of the onset of any symptom.

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World set to ring in another pandemic Christmas

The rise of the Omicron variant heralded on Friday another pandemic-tinged Christmas for billions, with Santa's arrival and longed-for family reunions overshadowed by the prospect of yet more Covid restrictions.

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Omicron: Health infra scaled up to combat Covid waves

More than 7 lakh hospital beds and enhanced daily medical oxygen capacity – 80% more than the peak demand during the second Covid-19 wave – were readied to tackle any new Covid-19 wave, a top health official said here on Friday with experts anticipating a new surge driven by the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

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