Coronavirus News highlights: Tamil Nadu imposes new curbs; metro trains, theatres to operate with 50% capacity

Omicron has started replacing Delta variant in India in terms of the number of Covid-19 cases and positive international travellers are almost 80 per cent Omicron now, official sources said on Friday. Meanwhile, 23 more cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been detected in Karnataka, State's Health Minister K Sudhakar said.

Tamil Nadu imposes new curbs

In the view of rising Covid cases, Tamil Nadu govt has imposed new curbs. Malls, jewellery and textile shops, theatres, beauty parlours, showrooms, amusement parks, and metro trains will operate at 50% capacity from January 10. Also, there will not be physical classes for class 1-8 students till January 10. Not more than 100 persons will be allowed in weddings, while the cap for funerals will be 50 persons.

With rising Covid-19 cases, Kolkata to mark out fresh containment zones

With the number of freshCovid-19 infections increasing, Kolkata Municipal Corporation will mark out 17 containment zones in different parts of the city, Mayor Firhad Hakim said Friday. (PTI)

2 Omicron cases detected in Andamans

Two Omicron cases were detected in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, a senior health official said. Dr Avijit Roy, Health Department Deputy Director and nodal officer for COVID-19, said that the Omicron variant was detected among two tourists. (PTI)

West Bengal records 3,451 fresh Covid-19 cases, 1,510 recoveries, and 7 deaths today

Active cases: 10,710
Total recoveries: 16,08,011
Death toll: 19,764

Chandigarh reports 49 new Covid-19 cases & 8 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

Total cases: 65,895
Total recoveries: 64,646
Death toll: 1,079

Active cases: 170

West Bengal's new Covid-19 cases rise 62% today as tally goes up to 3,451

1,954 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Kolkata.

(ANI)

Maharashtra reports 8,067 fresh Covid cases (including 4 Omicron cases), 1,766 recoveries, and 8 deaths today

Active cases: 24,509
Total recoveries: 65,09,096

(ANI)

Maharashtra Minister Yashomati Thakur says she has tested positive for Covid-19.

(ANI)

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and ICMR D-G Balram Bhargava write to chief secretaries of all states/UTs set up round the clock functional RAT booths at different locations, engage medical and paramedical staff, and encourage use of home test kits.

New Year's Eve muted by Omicron; many hoping for better 2022

In many places, New Year's Eve celebrations were muted or cancelled for the second straight year due to a surge of coronavirus infections, this time driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Read more

Kolkata celebrating New Year's Eve with caution

With coronavirus infections witnessing a sudden surge, -- 1,089 on Wednesday to 2,128 on Thursday -- the West Bengal government is attempting a balancing act -- permitting celebrations and revelry, but with caution.

Read more

Pune reports 412 fresh Covid-19 cases today; active cases 1,799

34 fresh Covid-19 cases reported in Dharavi in the last 24 hours; active cases in the area rise to 95

(ANI)

88 new Covid cases and 1 death reported in Uttarakhand today; active caseload stands at 302

Sikkim announces new Covid restrictions till January 10 amid Omicron threat

Pubs, discos, cinema halls, restaurants, fast food centres, bakeries, gymnasiums, barbershops, spas, and salons to operate with only 50% of seating capacity.

Hotels, homestays, guest houses are also now required to operate with only 50% capacity.

All social & political gatherings are to be organised with prior permission from DC and 50% space capacity.

(ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspects oxygen cylinders during a visit to the Covid-19 Ward at Maternal and Child Referral Chikilsalaya, in Lucknow, Friday.

(PTI Photo)

Andhra Pradesh on Friday reported 166 fresh Covid-19 cases taking the tally to 20,77,145 while the toll rose to 14,495 with two fatalities.

As a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19, the tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum for the general public will remain closed from Saturday till further notice.

Fully vaccinated people can still spread Omicron: Study

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is largely resistant to antibodies from people who recover from Covid-19 infection, and those vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, according to a study.

Read more

Karnataka reports 23 new Omicron cases; state tally at 66

Delhi records 9 Covid deaths in December; highest in last 4 months

Nine Covid-19 deaths have been reported in Delhi in December so far this year, the highest count of fatalities due to coronavirus infection in the last four months in the national capital, according to official data.

Read more

India crosses 145 crore Covid vaccinations, says Centre

Covid can trigger self-attacking antibodies: Study

Infection with the virus that causes Covid-19 can trigger an immune response that lasts well beyond the initial infection and recovery -- even among people who had mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, finds a new study.

Read more

A worldview of Covid-19 deaths

Delhi deaths at four-month high

Nine Covid-19 deaths have been reported in Delhi in December so far this year, the highest count of deaths due to coronavirus infection in the past four months in the national capital, according to official data. Delhi had recorded seven deaths due to Covid in November, four in October and five in September.

Must be prepared for sudden spike in cases, says MP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that as Covid-19 cases are rising, the state needs to be fully prepared to tackle any situation. Chouhan instructed that ICU beds, oxygen beds and ventilators should be ready and available at hospitals. "I've reviewed preparations for vaccination of 15-18 age group," he said, about the vaccination process.

(ANI)

Kerala logs 44 Omicron cases

Kerala recorded 44 fresh confirmed cases of Omicron, taking the total cases of the newer coronavirus variant to 107 in the state, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said

Rashtrapati Bhavan, museum closed for public from January 1

Tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum for the general public will remain closed from January 1. The Change of Guard ceremony will also not take place till further notice, the Rashtrapati Bhavan administration said.

Omicron replacing Delta variant in India: Report

A report by All India Radio, citing official sources,stated that the Omicron variant may bereplacing the Delta variant as the major Covid-19 variant in the country.

Maharashtra extends curbs from 5 pm to 5 am till Jan 15

Extending restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC, the Mumbai Police prohibited citizens from visitingbeaches, open grounds, sea faces, promenades, gardens, parks, or similar public places, from 5 pm to 5 am.

Rahul slams Centre for 'missing' vaccination target

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Modi government for not fulfilling its “promise” to fully vaccinate all eligible beneficiaries againstCOVID-19 by the end of the year.

SII applies to Indian authorities for full market authorisation of Covishield

Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawala on Friday said it has applied to Indian authorities for full market authorisation of Covishield, stating supplies of theCovid-19 vaccine have exceeded 125 crore doses.

Read more

Israel extends fourth vaccine to elderly in care facilities

Israel is extending its offer of a fourthCovid-19 vaccine dose to elderly people in care facilities, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Friday, citing their high exposure and vulnerability to infections.

Omicron declared main Covid-19 variant in France

US woman tests positive on flight, isolated in bathroom

A US woman was quarantined in an aeroplane bathroom for three hours after testing positive forCovid-19 halfway through a flight from Chicago to Iceland, according to media reports. Marisa Fotieo, a teacher from Michigan, said her throat began to hurt halfway through the trip on December 19 so she went to the bathroom to perform a rapidCovid-19 test, which confirmed she was infected.

Read more

Arunachal logs 3 new cases, tally at 55,339

Arunachal Pradesh on Friday reported three newCovid-19 cases, one more than the previous day, with the tally rising to 55,339, a health department official said.

Haryana, Puducherry announce Covid-19 curbs

The Puducherry and Haryana administrations announced night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am, with immediate effect, to prevent gatherings for New Year in view of the ongoing Omicron spread.

(ANI)

'No need to worry'

"There is no need to worry about Covid-19, we just have to take precautions. The positivity rate in the state is below 0.05 per cent. Till now, we've administered 20 crore vaccine doses, which is the highest in the country," said CM Yogi Adityanath.

Yogi takes stock of medical facilities

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the Covid-19 facility and oxygen plant at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Lucknow.

Delhi commuters face issues due to 50% cap on bus capacity

Commuters face difficulties as city buses are operating at a 50 per cent seating, in view of Covid-19 restrictions imposed in the national capital. Commuters said they are facing delays and have been delayed by hours to reach their offices.

(ANI)

Thane's case count grows by 714

Thane district in Maharashtra reported 714 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, taking its infection count to 573,887, an official said Friday.

Covid-19 hits sporting events: Barcelona's outbreak swells, Leicester-Norwich off

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Barcelona squad swelled to 10, potentially jeopardising the team's return to league play after Spain's winter break of nearly two weeks.

Meanwhile, in England, Saturday's match between Leicester and Norwich in the Premier League was postponed because Norwich did not have the required numbers to play as a result of Covid-19 cases and injuries. It is the 17th match to be called off in the league in the past month.

Omicron tally spikes to 1,270

India's Covid-19 Omicron tally increased to 1,270, with 16,764 cases in total on Thursday, according to the health ministry. The death toll increased by 220, taking the tally to 481,080.

South Africa lifts curfew as Omicron wave subsides

South Africa, where the Omicron variant was detected in November, said Thursday that the country's latest coronavirus wave had likely passed its peak without a significant increase in deaths and that restrictions would be eased.

Arrivals testing positive at IGI Airport to isolate at designated facilities, says govt

International passengers testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at the IGI Airport are to isolate at institutional designated paid or free facilities set up by in various districts, theDelhi government announced.

(ANI)

Further restrictions in Maharashtra

With the Covid-19 outbreak, the Maharashtra government announced further restrictions on gatherings. "In case of marriages or any other social, political or religious event, the maximum number of attendees shall be restricted to 50 persons. The maximum number of attendees is restricted to 20 in funerals," the order read.

South Africa lifts coronavirus night curfew

South Africa has lifted night curfew that was first imposed nearly two years ago to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read more

Community spread of Omicron can overwhelm hospitals: Experts

Senior doctors in Delhi on Thursday warned that though the data collected so far suggests that the Omicron variant of coronavirus causes mild infection, there is a need to remain watchful as a community spread can still strain hospitals.

Read more

Israel approves fourth Covid-19 vaccine shot for immunocompromised

Israel is to go ahead with second Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for people with weakened immune systems, the top government health official said on Thursday, but a final decision on wider usage is still pending.

Read more