Coronavirus Highlights: Saudi Arabia returnee tests positive for Omicron in Assam

A total of 2,135 Omicron cases have so far been detected across the country, as the single-day spike in Covid-19 cases doubled within a span of four days. India on Wednesday logged 58,097 cases and 534 deaths over the past 24 hours. Stay tuned for more updates.

Assam logs first Omicron case as Saudi Arabia returnee tests positive for variant

Delhi National Zoological Park shuts down temporarily amid rising numbers of Covid-19 cases, says zoo official - ANI

Karnataka orders special surveillance on people coming from Goa

The Karnataka government on Wednesday ordered special surveillance measures, including a negative RT-PCR, for people coming to the state from Goa in view of the rise in Covid-19 there.

In its order, the government said the negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours must be produced by the passengers travelling on flight, bus, train or personal transport to Karnataka. - PTI.

Goa's reports 1,000 cases; positivity rate at 18%

Goa continued to reel under a Covid-19 surge at it reported 1,002 new cases on Wednesday, registering a positivity rate of 17.72 per cent, while one more patient succumbed to the infection, a senior official said.

As per a bulletin issued by the state health department, Goa reported 1,002 coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 1,83,795. - PTI.

UK records 194,747 new Covid-19 cases, 334 deaths - Reuters

Delhi government orders to increase Covid beds in its nine hospitals to 4,350 from the existing 3,316

Leave of all Delhi govt officers, staff cancelled to ensure adequate manpower to handle Covid wave: DDMA

Over 50 Covid-19 cases detected in IIT Guwahati

The campus of IIT Guwahati has been declared a containment zone after over 50 residents tested Covid-19 positive since December 30.

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Maharashtra reports 26,538 new cases, 8 deaths and 5,331 discharges today; active cases rise to 87,505. State's Omicron case tally at 797 including 330 recoveries

Gujarat reports 3,350 new cases, 1 death and 236 recoveries today. Active cases cross 10,000 - ANI

50 new Omicron cases in the last 24 hours. Total Omicron cases 204, recoveries 112. Active Omicron cases 92.

West Bengal reports 14,022 Covid-19 cases, 17 deaths and 6,438 recoveries

143 of 1,827 passengers on board Cordelia cruise ship test positive for Covid-19 in Mumbai in addition to 66 others already infected: BMC

Odisha reports 24 more Omicron cases, tally mounts to 61

With 24 more people testing positive for Omicron in Odisha, the tally of the Covid-19 variant in the state increased to 61 on Wednesday, an official said. The cases were detected from 218 samples sent for genome sequencing. - PTI.

Odisha announces restrictions to curb spread of Covid-19

Mumbai reports 15,166 Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths; active cases climb to 61,923

418 new cases in J&K - 311 from Jammu and 107 from Kashmir, and 140 recoveries reported. Active cases in the UT are 1,819

Night curfew to be imposed in Raipur from 9 pm to 6 am

Delhi logs 10,665 cases, positivity rate at 11.88 per cent

Delhi on Wednesday logged 10,665 Covid cases, the highest since May 12, and eight deaths with the positivity rate shooting up to 11.88 per cent, officials said.

On Tuesday, the city had recorded 5,481 fresh cases, almost half of Wednesday's count, and a case positivity rate of 8.37 per cent. - PTI.

Man who returned from UAE becomes Chhattisgarh's first Omicron case

A 52-year-old man from Bilaspur district, who returned from the UAE, became the first case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Chhattisgarh, health officials said on Wednesday.

The man, who recently returned from United Arab Emirates (UAE), had tested positive for coronavirus following which his sample was sent to the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) for a genome sequencing test, an official statement said. The health department on Wednesday received the sample's report that confirmed the presence of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, it added. - PTI.

"Supersonic" rise in French Covid cases to continue in coming days - government

A "supersonic" rise in French Covid-19 cases is set to continue in the coming days and there are no signs of the trend reversing, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.

He also said that infections were reaching "stratospheric levels" in the Ile-de-France region around Paris and some other parts of France and said that the situation in hospitals could worsen in coming weeks. - Reuters.

Bengaluru's positivity rate spikes to 6.45% with 3,605 new cases

Karnataka Covid cases nearly double in 24 hours to 4,246; positivity rate climbs to 3.33%

Maharashtra govt to discontinue physical classes in colleges, universities till February 15. All exams in the said institutions to be conducted online till February 15: Maharashtra Higher & Technical Education Minister Uday Samant

Night curfew to be imposed from 10 pm to 5 am in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh Minister Suresh Bhardwaj: Night curfew to be imposed from 10 pm to 5 am throughout the state besides closing indoor sports complexes, cinema halls, multiplexes, stadia, swimming pools, gyms, langers; 50% gathering allowed at marriage/banquet halls. - ANI.

Liverpool shut training ground as Covid crisis deepens

Liverpool closed their training ground on Wednesday after "multiple new" coronavirus cases including a positive test result for assistant manager Pep Lijnders, throwing their League Cup semi-final at Arsenal into further doubt.

Manager Jurgen Klopp and three players -- Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino -- were already isolating before the latest wave of infections. - AFP.

100% lockdown not required as of now, says Maharashtra health minister; stresses on need to impose restrictions wherever there is crowding - PTI

Molnupiravir has major safety concerns including mutagenicity, muscle & bone damage. If this drug is given contraception has to be done for three months as child may have problems. So it is not included in national task got treatments: Dr Balram Bhargava

Poland's president tests positive for Covid-19, top aide says

Polish President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus, a top aide tweeted on Wednesday, after several people around him were infected.

"The President feels good, is not seriously ill and is under constant medical supervision," top aide Pawel Szrot said in a tweet. He said the president was in isolation.

Duda also caught coronavirus in October 2020. - Reuters.

No permission for Pongal related functions/gatherings. Public transport including bus, suburban trains and Metro to run at 50% seating. No permission to devotees in places of worship on Friday, Saturday and Sundays: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin

West Bengal government postpones 27th Kolkata International Film Festival

Those received Covishield will get a third dose of Covishield & those who got Covaxin will get a 3rd shot of Covaxin, as the MoHFW expands the vaccination campaign for healthcare & front line workers and senior citizens from January 10, says Dr VK Paul

Omicron is the predominant circulating strain in the cities in the country, mass gatherings to be avoided to lower the speed of this spread: Dr Balram Bhargava, DG-ICMR

Over 1 crore teens between 15-18 yrs receive 1st vaccine dose

With the vaccination drive for adolescents entering its third day, as per the Co-WIN portal 1,06,27,277 children in the 15 to 18 years' age group have been vaccinated with the first Covid-19 vaccine dose so far.

According to the government's Co-WIN portal, 1,33,64,030 children have registered so far for the first dose of vaccine. - IANS.

108 Omicron-related deaths reported globally so far: Ministry of Health

Coronavirus cases could peak between Jan 6-13 in Mumbai: TIFR scientist

As coronavirus infections surged in Mumbai, the city could witness a peak between January 6 to 13 and take a month for the cases to see a decline, according to researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

Sandeep Juneja, senior professor, School of Technology and Computer Science, at the TIFR, said the peak fatalities could be in February, but it is expected to be around 30 to 50 per cent less than what was recorded during the deadly second wave between March to May last year. - PTI.

7.40 crore children between 15-18 years eligible for Covid-19 vaccination: Ministry of Health

The states of concern are Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Gujarat where there has been a rise in cases. 28 districts in the country are reporting more than 10% weekly positivity: Ministry of Health

India has reported more than 6.3 times increase in cases in the last 8 days. A sharp increase seen in case positivity from 0.79% on 29th Dec 2021 to 5.03% on 5th January: Ministry of Health

25.2 lakh cases were recorded globally on 4th January, the highest ever since the onset of the pandemic. Approx 65% of cases in the week ending 4th Jan reported from the USA, UK, France, Italy & Spain: Ministry of Health

Chhattisgarh Health Minister T S Singh Deo requests Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to start a genome sequencing facility in the state

Tokyo may seek emergency measures as Covid cases rise

Tokyo authorities may ask Japan's government to reinstate emergency measures as a rise in Covid-19 cases spurs concern that the capital is experiencing a sixth wave of infections, the Sankei newspaper reported.

Tokyo metropolitan government officials are preparing to make the request for a declaration of what are known in Japan as quasi-emergency measures, the paper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources.

Such measures, which include restrictions on restaurant and bar opening hours, were lifted across Japan in September. - Reuters.

21 staff members test positive for Covid at Bihar CM's residence

Amid third Covid wave, the infection has reached Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna. On Wednesday, 21 persons including security personnel and other staff members tested positive for Covid-19. - IANS.

66 BEST staffers and officials test positive for coronavirus

At least 66 staffers and officials of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), which operates a fleet of public buses in Mumbai and extended suburbs, have tested positive for coronavirus in the last few days, an official said on Wednesday.

The Covid-19 cases in Mumbai have gone up significantly over the last week. The Maharashtra capital had on Tuesday reported 10,860 cases, the second-highest daily count after April 7, 2021. - PTI.

JP Nadda's visit to Kolkata postponed due to rising Covid cases

IMA Maharashtra announces Covid Task Force for state

Indore sees 23-time jump in Covid-19 cases in 10 days

With the addition of 319 new cases ofCovid-19 on Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh's Indore city as seen a 23-time jump in infections in the last 10 days, an official said on Wednesday. Indore, one of the worst affected regions in the state due to the pandemic, had recorded 14 cases on December 26 and the number has rapidly increased since, the official from the district administration said.

Nitish Kumar puts off programmes in view of Covid surge

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has put off his ongoing tour of the state and his weekly public interaction programme in the capital city in view of the recent spike inCovid-19 cases, an official release said on Wednesday. Missives have been shot off to all district magistrates

Sourav Ganguly's daughter, 3 other family members test Covid positive

Out of 60 Covid positive patients on a Cordelia cruise ship, 41 have been shifted to COVID-care center, hospital, and hotels: Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai

Bihar Cabinet approves an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives to Covid-19

Over 1 crore youngsters between 15-18 age group have received 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine

Bihar Govt cancels chief minister's 'Janta Darbar' and all events of 'Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan' due to rising cases of Covid-19

Hong Kong bans flights from 8 countries, including India, after Omicron outbreak

HongKongannounced Wednesday it was banning flights from eight nations after an outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant that began with aircrew and leaked into a city that is pursuing a strict zero-Covid strategy.

"Passenger flights from these countries will not be allowed to land inHongKongand individuals who have stayed in those countries are not allowed to board flights toHongKong, including transit flights," chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters, adding the ban applies to Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, Philippines, UK and US.

India reports first death linked to Omicron variant

India on Wednesday reported its first Covid-19 death linked to the fast-spreading Omicron variant in the western state of Rajasthan, a federal health ministry official said.

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61 resident doctors found positive for Covid-19 at JJ Hospital in Mumbai (ANI)

Centre issues new home isolation norms amid Covid surge

Augmented restrictions in Maharashtra, no lockdown needed: Rajesh Tope

A staff member working at actor Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow 'Jalsa' has tested positive for Covid, is asymptomatic: BMC

Sonu Nigam and family test positive for Covid-19 in Dubai

Singer Sonu Nigam says he, along with his wife Madhurima and son Nevaan, has tested positive for Covid-19 and are currently under home quarantine in Dubai. The 48-year-old singer shared his diagnosis in an Instagram video posted on Tuesday night, adding he is doing well and is asymptomatic. Nigam said he was scheduled to travel to India for a show, the plans for which fell apart as he repeatedly tested positive for the virus.

In Mumbai, the cases are getting doubled but majority patients are asymptomatic, says Rajesh Tope

Delhi Govt has instructed private hospitals to increase the number of reserved beds for Covid patients to 40% from 10% of their capacity. Nearly 2% of beds are occupied in the government hospitals: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Covid-19 testing has been increased, around 90,000 tests conducted on Tuesday: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Genome sequencing of all Covid samples not possible now, only 300-400 samples being sequenced: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Delhi likely to report around 10,000 Covid infections today, with the daily positivity rate rising to nearly 10%: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

In Mumbai, 60 employees of BEST including bus drivers test positive for Covid-19, as per BEST PRO

Bihar Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad and Ministers Ashok Choudhary and Vijay Choudhary also test positive for Covid-19

Madhya Pradesh reports 594 positive cases in 24 hours, active cases at 1,544

Odisha's single-day case spike at five-month high

Odisha registered 1,216 new Covid-19 cases, its highest single-day tally in five months.

Maharashtra meeting ends, no decision yet on further curbs

Maharashtra government's meeting, chaired by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, on prevailing Covid-19 situation concluded with no decision on imposing lockdown yet.

Two Bihar ministers test positive for Covid-19

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi and State Minister Sunil Kumar were diagnosed with Covid-19.

(ANI)

Around 800,000 vaccine doses administered in Maharashtra on January 4

As many as787,273 vaccine doses were administered across Maharashtra on January 4, taking the total number of vaccine doses administered to135,610,522.

SAD (Sanyukt) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa tests positive for Covid-19

Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) president and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa tested positive for Covid-19 Dhindsa said he was on his way to Firozepur to attend PM Modi's rally but returned after receiving the test report.

Australian cricketer Maxwell tests positive for Covid-19

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Wednesday became the latest cricketer from the Big Bash League to test positive forCovid-19. Maxwell, who is the captain of Melbourne Stars in the BBL, became the 13th player from the franchise to test positive for the virus.

Arunachal's Covid-positivity rate surges to 5%

Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday reported a spurt inCovid-19 cases, with 23 people testing positive, a senior health official said.

Bharat Biotech gets nod to conduct Phase-3 trials of intranasal Covid-19 vaccine

DCGI's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) granted in-principle approval to Bharat Biotech for conducting 'Phase III superiority study & Phase III booster dose study' for its intranasal Covid-19 vaccine. The company has been askedto submit protocols for approval.

(ANI)

Over 150 doctors in Mumbai suburbs test positive for Covid-19

India logs 58,097 Covid-19 cases

India reported 58,097 cases and 534 deaths over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.

USA clocks 978,856 new Covid-19 cases in a day

The United States reported nearly 1 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, the highest single-day spike in any country and nearly double the previous US peak set a week ago, as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing. The number of hospitalisedCovid-19 patients has risen nearly 50 per cent in the last week and now exceeds 100,000, according to Reuters, marking the first time that threshold has been reached in a year.

Telangana High Court suspends in-person hearings amid Omicron concerns

Telangana High Court suspended in-person hearings over Covid-19 concerns. "However, the judges will have the discretion to hear the matters either physically or virtually," the court said in a notification.

Japan to declare quasi-emergency in Covid-hit Okinawa

Japan is preparing to declare a quasi-state of emergency in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa due to a spike in coronavirus cases, perhaps as early as this week, the Mainichi daily said Wednesday. It would be the first such declaration since September30, 2021, when Japan lifted all states of emergency and quasi-emergency that had been in effect for a large part of 2021.

Hong Kong starts tracking Covid-19 patient's contacts

Hong Kong health authorities on Wednesday began a city-wide search for the contacts of aCovid-19 patient and ordered a Royal Caribbean "cruise to nowhere" ship to return to port early. The global finance hub has stuck to a zero-Covidstrategy by largely isolating itself from the world and enforcing a draconian and costly quarantine regime.

Covid case counts may be losing importance amid Omicron

The explosive increase in US coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on Covid-19 hospital admissions. And those aren't climbing as fast.

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Karnataka imposes weekend curfew for 2 weeks to curb spread of Covid-19

Karnataka on Tuesday decided to impose a stay-at-home order on weekends and curb public gatherings amid a fresh surge of Covid-19 cases in what looks like the third wave of the pandemic.

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