Coronavirus News Highlights: 50% of central govt staff below under secretary-level asked to work from home

Vaccinations for the 15-18 year age group commenced Monday morning, after over six lakh had registered for the jabs on the Co-WIN platform till Sunday evening. The vaccination drive gains more prominence as the daily case spike continued its upward trajectory in the country, with 33,750 new cases reported over the past 24 hours. The Omicron case count also reached 1,700. Stay tuned to DH for live updates.

Thank you for following our live Coronavirus updates!

Covid: Centre allows work from home for 50% of its staff below under secretary-level

The Centre has allowed 50 per cent of its employees below the level of Under Secretary to work from home amid rising coronavirus cases, according to a Personnel Ministry order issued on Monday.

Persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees have been exempted from attending the offices, it said.

Central government officers/staff will have to follow staggered timing to avoid overcrowding in the offices, the order said.

40 lakh kids jabbed on day 1 of vaccination drive for 15-18 age group

12,160 new cases in Maharashtra, 8,082 from Mumbai

Nearly 21,000 children vaccinated in Delhi as of 6pm

Priyanka Gandhi to isolate after family member, staff test positive for Covid-19

Karnataka sees 1,290 new Covid-19 cases; positivity rate rises to 1.6%

Over 37 lakh children aged 15-17 vaccinated till 7pm: Co-WIN portal

37,84,212 children in 15-17 age group were vaccinated till 7pm on the opening day of vaccinations for 15-18 year olds

Kolkata local train services to be extended from 7pm to 10pm

COVID19 | Local train services in Kolkata now to be extended up to 10pm in place of 7 pm from today, says West Bengal government (ANI)

25 micro-containment zones in Kolkata

A boy uses a Covid-19 lateral flow self-testing kit ahead of returning to school, amid the Covid-19 outbreak in Manchester | Credit: Reuters Photo

Centre does away with biometric attendance for govt staff as cases rise

In view of the rise in Covid19 cases, the biometric attendance for government officials and employees is being suspended with immediate effect, till further orders: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh (ANI)

Goa detects four more Omicron cases; no travel history for one patient

Goa: 66 passengers in stranded cruise ship positive for Covid-19

Delhi sees 4.099 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death

Cases continue to surge in the national capital as the Omicron variant is slowly emerging the dominant variant across the nation. 84% of Delhi's cases are Omicron, health minister Satyendar Jain had said earlier.

Nearly 13 lakh children vaccinated till 3 pm: Co-WIN chief

As cases rise in Mumbai, schools to be closed for classes 1 to 9 till Jan 31

Maharashtra | Mumbai schools for classes 1 to 9 to be closed till 31st January, in view of rising COVID19 cases. School for classes 10 & 12 to continue: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) (ANI)

Shelf life of Covishield, Covaxin extended by three months each to 9, 12 months: Centre

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has approved the extension of shelf life of Covaxin from 9 months to 12 months. Similarly, the shelf life of Covishield has been extended by the National Regulator from 6 months to 9 months on 22nd February 2021: Government of India (ANI)

Expired vaccines not being administered, such media reports are false and misleading: Government

Media reports alleging that expired vaccines are being administered in India under its national COVID-19 vaccination programme are false and misleading and based on incomplete information: Government of India (ANI)

Goa shuts schools, colleges, introduces night curfew as cases rise

The Goa government on Monday decided to close schools and colleges till January 26 in the wake of a rise inCovid-19 cases in the coastal state.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who chaired the Task Force's meeting onCovid-19 on Monday, told reporters that the Goa government would also impose night curfew in the state.

Goa reported 10.7 per centCovid-19 positivity rate on Sunday. “It has been decided to close the physical sessions for classes 8 and 9 in schools from tomorrow till January 26,” Shekhar Salkar, a member of the Task Force, told reporters in Panaji.

Students of classes 11 and 12 would have to attend the school to take the vaccine againstCovid-19

Omicron: Existing vaccines not effective, boosters may help, say experts

Existing vaccines are not as effective against Omicron as they were against the original virus, and thus boosters may help enhance immunity, health experts said here.

The Omicron variant, being highly transmissible, has the potential to evade vaccine immunity. Data from various countries like South Africa and the UK has shown that it causes only mild illness. But as Omicron can surge infection cases, it can overwhelm an already burdened medical system.

"Vaccines bypass natural immunity. The efficacy of existing vaccines is not as effective as it was against the virus that originated from Wuhan," Dr Sanjay Kumar Rai, Professor, Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, said at a weekly health show by the New-Delhi-based HEAL Foundation on Sunday.

Surge in Delhi's Covid cases due to Omicron variant: Satyendar Jain

Of the latest 187 Covid samples tested, 152 had Omicron. Surge in cases due to new variant: Health minister Jain tells Delhi Assembly

Delhi minister hits out at Centre over Omicron Covid-19 variant

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that Omicron came from outside India. "Everyone knew it. Delhi government repeatedly asked Centre to stop flights but it denied," Jain said.

Rajasthan announces curbs for schools

In view of rising Covid-19 cases, the Rajasthan government has announced new curbs under which schools for students till class 8 will remain closed in Jaipur till January 9.

Ministers test positive

Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo and Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy tested positive for Covid-19.

Omicron the dominant Covid-19 variant in Delhi

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that 84 per cent of the Covid-19 cases reported in the national capital over the past two days were of the Omicron variant. "Delhi's expected to report around 4,000 cases today with the positivity rate rising to 6.5 per cent. Currently, 202 patients are admitted to Delhi hospitals," he said.

(ANI)

Mizoram kicks off Covid-19 vaccinations for 15-18 age group

Election Commission tells poll-bound states to expedite vaccination process

The Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to chief secretaries of five poll-bound states to "accelerate" Covid-19 vaccinations. The ECI also expressed concerns over the low percentage of first dose inoculation in Manipur.

(ANI)

Karnataka government to take long-term measures, says Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said “long-term” measures will be taken to contain the spread of Covid-19 without affecting the daily life of citizens.“As much as possible, we will control the coronavirus without troubling citizens in carrying out their daily lives,” Bommai said.

Read more

Bombay High Court's principal bench to hear matters virtually

Om Birla kicks off vaccination for teens at a Rajasthan dispensary

Gurugram accounts for 358 of 577 new Covid-19 cases in Haryana

As many as 577 new Covid-19 cases were reported over the past 24 hours, with 358 cases being reported from Gurugram district, followed by 83 cases from Faridabad. Active cases in the state reached 2,400. The state's Omicron count is currently at 63.

(All India Radio News)

No new Covid-19 case in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh did not log any freshCovid-19 case on Monday, with the tally remaining at 55,343, a senior health department official said.

Chief minister kicks off vaccination for 15-18-year-olds in Madhya Pradesh

Punjab logs 417 new Covid-19 cases

Punjab recorded 417 Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, according to the health department.

(All India Radio News)

Union health minister urges 'young friends' to get vaccine jabs

Bihar kicks off vaccinations for 15-18-year-olds

Delhi rakes in Rs 1.15 crore fine from people violating Covid-19 norms

Rs 1.15 crore was collected in penalty and 45 FIRs were lodged for offences related to violation of Covid-19norms in Delhi on January 2, the government said.

(ANI)

Cricketer Shivam Dube tests positive for Covid-19

Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube and the team's video analyst have tested positive forCovid-19. Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube's replacement in a 20-member Mumbai squad.

J&K launches vaccination drive for children

'Hopeful that all in Assam will be inoculated by month-end'

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the precautionary dose programme will begin from January 10 for frontline workers and senior citizens with comorbidities. "Assam's 1st dose coverage is almost complete and 2nd dose is 70 per cent covered. I'm hopeful that all citizens will get fully vaccinated by this month," Sarma said.

(ANI)

Maharashtra jabbed over 50K people on Sunday

Maharashtra administered51,175 doses of the Covid-19 vaccines on Sunday, taking the total count to134,091,096, according to the state health bulletin.

'No community spread of Omicron in Kerala'

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said thatthere is no community spread of the Omicron variant in Kerala. "Of 152 Omicron cases, 50 are from high-risk countries, 84 are from low-risk countries, and only 18 are their contacts. At present, there is nothing to worry about," George said.

(ANI)

Kerala minister says response from 15-18 age group has been good

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that theCovid-19 vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group has started. "We've seen a very good response from parents and children so far. We've 15 lakh such children in Kerala and we hope to vaccinate them within 10 days," she said.

(ANI)

West Bengal kicks off drive for 15-18 age group

Assam CM inaugurates vax drive for teens

Vaccination for 15-18 age group begins in Chandigarh

Karnataka teen inoculated as drive for 15-18 age group begins

Sixteen-year-old Kavi Arasi was jabbed with Covaxin at Manipal Hospital on Old Airport Road in Bengaluru at 9.33 am.

Covaxin jabs for Delhi teens

India's Omicron count at 1,700

The Union Health Ministry stated that 1,700 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and union territories so far.

Vaccinations for adolescents commence in Uttar Pradesh

Gujarat starts inoculating 15-18-year-olds

India clocks 33,750 Covid-19 cases

India logged 33,750 new cases, along with 123 deaths, over the past 24 hours that took the single-day case spike to its highest sinceSeptember 18, 2021, the health ministry stated.

10 new Covid-19 cases in Andamans

TheCovid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands spiked to 7,743 on Monday as 10 more people tested positive for the infection, according to the health bulletin.

Actor John Abraham and his wife Priya Runchal test Covid positive

87 doctors of medical college in Bihar test positive for Covid-19

As many as 87 doctors of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Bihar's Patna tested positive for Covid-19. "All of them are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and are in isolation on the hospital campus," Patna DM Chandrashekhar Singh said.

Covaxin jabs to be administered for 15-18 age group

A healthcare worker at an Ahmedabad session site opens a box of Covaxin Covid-19 vaccine meant for inoculation of teenagers.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he has tested positive for Covid

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms while quarantining at home. In a statement Sunday night, Austin said he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week.

Karnataka reports 10 more Omicron cases, total at 76

Mizoram clocks 152 new cases

The active caseload in Mizoram went up to 1,732 after 152 new cases were registered.

(ANI)

Hospitalisation rates to be true test of Omicron: Fauci

The nation should focus less on the skyrocketing number of coronavirus infections and more on the number of hospitalisations and deaths, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

Read more

Covid cases jump 130% in Karnataka over one week

Two weeks ago, the state had recorded 2,160 cases. However, between December 27 and 2 January, the state recorded 4,970 cases, out of which 76 per cent originated from Bengaluru Urban.

Read more

Uptick in hospitalisations, but most have mild symptoms in Bengaluru

With just two government hospitals in Bengaluru currently accepting Covid-19 patients, most of the infected people are going to private hospitals, which have started to register increased numbers in the past one week. Most of the admitted, however, have mild symptoms.

Read more