Coronavirus Highlights: Karnataka reports 149 new Omicron cases, variant tally rises to 226

149 new Omicron cases have been confirmed today taking the overall tally in Karnataka to 226: Karnataka minister Dr K Sudhakar. The Table Tennis Federation of India on Tuesday decided to postpone events in three categories (Under-15, Under-13 and Under-11) in the ongoing National Ranking (Central Zone) Championships in the wake of a fresh Covid-19 surge in the country.

The committee also decided to postpone the Senior Nationals to be held in Shillong from January 22 to 29. The Cadet and Sub-Junior Nationals that were to begin from January 11 have also been put on hold. - PTI.

. A top World Health Organization official says low hospitalisation and death rates in South Africa due to the Omicron variant cannot be considered a template for how the variant will fare as it surges in other countries.

. Seven new Omicron cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh on 3rd January, taking the total number of cases to 24 in the state. One patient is mildly symptomatic and under hospital isolation. All others are healthy and are under isolation: Andhra Pradesh government. - ANI.

. Keeping in view the rising number of cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the Kerala government on Tuesday issued a slew of directions to contain its spread, including restricting the number of attendees to various cultural and social functions.

. Rajasthan on Tuesday reported 1,137 fresh Covid-19 cases that took its tally to 9,58,570, while one more fatality pushed the death toll to 8,965, according to the health department.

Of the fresh cases, 745 were reported from Jaipur, 185 from Jodhpur, 43 from Ajmer, 39 from Alwar, 31 from Kota, 21 from Bhilwara, 20 from Bharatpur and nine from Udaipur, a health department spokesperson said.

The latest fatality was reported from Jaipur. With this, the district's death toll has increased to 1,972, he said.

There are 3,183 active Covid-19 cases in the state. Thirty-seven more people recovered from the viral disease, the spokesperson said. - PTI.

. On the precipice of a third wave of Covid infections, a large number of doctors and paramedics in Delhi are turning out to be Covid positive which might put the city's health infrastructure under severe strain, experts said on Tuesday.

At least 50 doctors have tested Covid positive at AIIMS in Delhi while 26 have been diagnosed with the disease at the Safdarjung Hospital, officials said.

Forty-five healthcare workers, including 38 doctors, have contracted Covid at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the last few days, according to an official. - PTI.

. Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia have tested positive for Covid-19, the palace said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The King and Queen, who are fully vaccinated with three injections, have mild symptoms and are feeling well, given the circumstances," the palace said in a statement. - Reuters.

. Mizoram's Covid-19 tally rose to 1,42,248 on Monday as 347 more people, 195 more than the previous day, tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

The northeastern state's coronavirus death toll rose to 552 as six more patients succumbed to the disease, he said.

The single-day positivity rate dipped to 15.66 per cent from 23.40 per cent on the previous day. - PTI.

. Individuals affected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and have received two doses of vaccination are advised to be under home isolation and the health department has issued necessary guidelines in this connection, Tamil Nadu Minister Ma Subramanian said on Tuesday.

As of Monday the number of Omicron cases in Tamil Nadu was at 121.

After inaugurating a Covid-19 Siddha Centre in the city, Subramanian said those patients affected by the Omicron variant and have received two vaccine doses are advised home isolation and can receive treatment at home. - PTI.

. Nepal on Tuesday stepped up its Covid-19 testing and vaccination campaign across the regions bordering India following the highest number of fresh coronavirus cases reported in New Delhi since May 16.

Delhi reported 5,481 fresh Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest number of such cases since May 16, with a positivity rate of 8.37 per cent, and three more fatalities due to the viral disease, according to data shared by the city health department. - PTI.

. Ban imposed on processions, rallies, public gatherings, social, cultural & sports events in every district. Random testing for Covid-19 at railway stations & borders of the state. Daily reporting of hospital beds, stock of medicines, and availability of oxygen. In districts with a positivity rate of 4% or more all schools, Anganwadi centers, libraries, swimming pools, malls, cinemas, marriage palaces, hotels, restaurants, auditoriums should be closed. Night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am should be implemented: CMO Chhattisgarh - ANI.

. All passengers coming to the Jharkhand need to undergo a free Covid-19 test on arrival at the airport. If a traveller is carrying a negative RT-PCR report (within 72 hrs)/full vaccination certificate (at least 15 days earlier), they'll be exempted from RT-PCR test: Ranchi Airport.

. Novak Djokovic ended speculation over his Australian Open title defence by announcing on Tuesday that he would compete at the season's opening Grand Slam event after receiving a medical exemption from getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

. Mankind Pharma's Molnupiravir drug for Covid-19 will cost Rs 35 per capsule and the full treatment of Molulife (Mankind's brand name) is expected to cost Rs 1,400, the company's chairman RC Juneja said.

. Delhi government issues an action plan for smooth running and real-time monitoring of oxygen supply in Delhi. Telemetry devices are being installed on oxygen tanks of 53 government and private hospitals in the city. Live monitoring will be done through govt Covid War Room.

. More evidence is emerging that the Omicron coronavirus variant is affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than previous variants, a World Health Official said on Tuesday.

. A couple of factors are at play, starting with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant. Omicron is more likely to infect people, even if it doesn't make them very sick, and its surge coincided with the holiday travel season in many places.

. Jamia Millia Islamia has directed that only those employees who have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine will be allowed entry in their offices and departments, in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the campus.

In an order issued on December 31, the university said action will be taken against those employees who have not even taken a single dose of vaccine and they shall not be allowed entry in their offices. - PTI.

. With rising Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and Kerala, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said checkposts will be set up in places where there are village-to-village contacts between Karnataka and neighbouring states.

He also said the police station under the jurisdiction will be responsible for such checkposts. - PTI.

. As Covid-19 cases are increasing in Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will ramp up testing from 22,000 to 30,000 per day.

GCC commissioner Gagan Singh Bedi has issued a circular stating that testing is done for employees once every 15 days in commercial establishments, their hostels, banks, restaurants, government and private offices and other possible places where there are possibilities of crowding.

The circular also stated that all those who are working in these places should be fully vaccinated. - IANS.

. Preparations are underway for hosting the 45th Kolkata International Book Fair from January 31 despite the spike in Covid-19 cases with organisers stating on Tuesday that publishers may have to starve if it is cancelled this year as well.

. The United States recorded more than 10 lakh Covid-19 cases on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, as the Omicron variant continues to spread at a blistering pace.

Johns Hopkins also reported 1,688 deaths for the same period, a day after top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci had said the country is experiencing "almost a vertical increase" in Covid-19 cases but the peak may be only weeks away. - AFP.

. Ahead of the crucial meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday evening to decide on the stringent measures to contain the surge of fresh cases of Covid-19, Health, Medical Education minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday revealed that the CM-led committee along with the experts will discuss various issues including closure of schools and holding of upcoming events.

. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Tuesday said if the daily Covid-19 cases here cross the 20,000-mark, a lockdown will be imposed in the city as per the Union government's rules.

Talking to reporters at her office in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, Pednekar suggested that citizens wear triple-layer masks while travelling in public buses and local trains. She also appealed to them to get vaccinated at the earliest and follow all Covid-19-related standard operating procedures (SOPs). - PTI.

. French researchers have detected a new Covid variant, probably of Cameroonian origin, and have temporarily named it as 'IHU'.The new variant from the lineage named B.1.640.2 is believed to have infected 12 people in the country, according to a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study supported by the French Government. It has 46 mutations and 37 deletions.

. A total of 80 people, including doctors, students and support staff, of the Government Rajindra Hospital and Medical College in Punjab's Patiala have tested positive forCovid-19, officials said on Tuesday. Patiala is turning out to be the worst-hit district in Punjab in terms of the rising number of coronavirus cases.

. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said that public transport would run at full capacity to avoid crowding at stations and bus stops, which may lead to further spike in cases.

. Reiterating that people without masks would be denied entry in Metro and bus services, he cautioned people to only step out of their residences if it's of utmost importance as these may "lead to super-spreader situations."

. After announcing a weekend curfew, Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia advised people to work from home and only get hospitalised if their oxygen level dips.

. People being hospitalised withCovid-19 in the United Kingdom are broadly showing less severe symptoms than before, Britain's vaccine minister Maggie Throup said on Tuesday."The numbers that are in hospital beds is about half what it was a year ago - and that just shows the power of the vaccine."

. Addressing concerns over the Covid-19 case spike, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said, "We will have to impose lockdown in Mumbai if daily COVID cases cross the 20,000-mark."

. As Covid-19 cases surge in Delhi, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday decided to impose a curfew on weekends.

. Odisha recorded the highest single-day jump inCovid-19 cases in over three months on Tuesday, as 680 more people tested positive, the Health Department said. The daily positivity rate jumped to 1.31 per cent and 119 children were among those found positive in the past 24 hours, according to a bulletin.

. In the major Indian cities, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is accounting for more than 50 per cent of the fresh cases of the infection and the massive surge in the number of cases over the past week is indicative of a third wave of the pandemic, as is being witnessed in several countries,Dr NKArora, the chairman of theCovid-19working group of the NTAGI, said Tuesday.

. The Gujarat High Court has restricted the entry of people in its premises in the wake of a rise in coronavirus cases in the state, and barred the entry of litigants while making it mandatory for those required to appear in person to carryCovid-19 negative reports. The curbs will come into effect from Wednesday.

. AIIMS, Delhi, cancelled the remaining part of winter vacation — from January 5 to January 10 — asking faculty members to join duty "with immediate effect"

. The number of activeCovid-19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands jumped to 41 as 20 more people tested positive for the infection, while only three persons were cured of the disease in the past 24 hours, an official said Tuesday.

. Bars, cinemas halls, malls, restaurants, spas to operate at 50% capacity subject to staff being fully vaccinated. Gyms to remain closed, the order stated.

(ANI)

. Laura Parker Russo, a 54-year-old public-school science teacher in Nassau County, New York, was arrested after being accused of giving a minor aCovid-19 vaccine without parental consent.

. Additional Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Suresh Kakani said that at present, there is no proposal to curb suburban train travel. If needed, the Maharashtra government will take a decision on the issue as it pertains to the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, he said.

. India clocked 37,379 new Covid-19 cases and 124 deaths over the past 24 hours, with the daily positivity rate touching 3.24 per cent. Besides, 11,007 recoveries were also reported.

. Mizoram logged 347 new Covid-19 cases, at a positivity rate of 15.66 per cent. The death toll spiked to 552, while the active caseload was at 2,181.

. Oregon reported more than 9,700 new cases ofCovid-19 on Monday, after the holiday weekend, smashing a previous record for weekly coronavirus cases, with an average of about 2,400 new daily cases as the Omicron variant took hold.

. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday the government will expand a 'vaccine bubble' from February 24 to include venues such as gyms, cinemas and libraries as the city steps up its fight against the spread of coronavirus.

. New virus cases in Australia surged to record levels on Tuesday, increasing the strain on hospitals and testing centres across the country. In New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, 23,131 new cases were reported, an increase on the record of 22,577 cases on New Year's Day.

. Over 40 lakh adolescents in the 15-18 age group were vaccinated on Monday as India began vaccinating its teenagers as part of its staggered vaccination programme that started on January 16 last year.

. The number of containment zones in Bengaluru rose to 16 on Monday, which BBMP officials said is the biggest single-day spike since September.

. With the rise in Covid-19 infections and detection of Omicron cases suggesting an increase in "transmissibility", the Mumbai civic body on Monday revised the protocol regarding sealing of buildings where coronavirus cases are found.

Coronavirus Highlights: Karnataka reports 149 new Omicron cases, variant tally rises to 226

Karnataka reports 149 new Omicron cases, variant tally rises to 226

TTFI postpones all National Championships across categories due to Covid-19 surge

Pfizer to supply 10 million additional courses of Covid-19 pill to US government - Reuters

Karnataka CM approves separate rules for Bengaluru and rest of Karnataka parts to contain the spread of Omicron

Omicron surge could differ per country, WHO says

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