Coronavirus News highlights: Lakshadweep vaccinates all eligible 15-18 years children

India logged 1,68,063 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 3,58,75,790 which includes 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant. Over nine lakh beneficiaries received their third dose of the Covid vaccine on the first day of the drive to administer the 'Precaution Dose' to the healthcare workers, frontline workers and sixty plus individuals. Meanwhile, the United States reported at least 1.1 million Covid cases in a day, shattering the global record. Stay tuned for latest updates on the coronavirus from India and around the world.

Lakshadweep vaccinates all eligible 15-18 years children

Lakshadweep vaccinates all eligible children in the age group of 15 to 18 years. With this, it has become the first among UTs and States to have achieved this feat: S Asker Ali, District Collector & Secy, UT Lakshadweep

India’s Covid vaccination coverage has crossed 153.70 crore with over 76 lakh doses administered till 7 pm today. More than 18 lakh 'Precaution Doses' administered so far: Government of India

Khelo India Youth Games Haryana 2021 postponed due to Covid-19 situation

Khelo India Youth Games Haryana 2021 scheduled to be held between February 5 and 14 have been postponed due to the current Covid-9 situation: Sports Authority of India

Goa reports 2,476 new cases & 4 deaths today; Active caseload at 12,019

Mumbai’s positivity down from 30% to 20 % in last 2 days

Mumbai’s positivity down from 30 per cen to 20 per centin the last twodays.

Daily cases are down from 20700 to 11647 in the last fourdays

80 per centhospital beds are vacant.

851 hospital beds occupied today in oneday but 966 beds got vacated today

46 deaths in 22 days of 3rd Covid Wave
Average 2 deaths per day
(since 3rd wave started on 21st Dec’21)

Test positivity rate in Karnataka crosses 10% as state sees 14,473 Covid cases

Test positivity rate in Karnataka crosses 10 per centas cases rise to almost 14.5K.
◾New cases in State: 14,473
◾New cases in B'lore: 10,800
◾Positivity rate in State: 10.30%
◾Discharges: 1,356
◾Active cases State: 73,260 (B'lore- 59k)
◾Deaths:05 (B'lore- 3)
◾Tests: 1,40,452

7 million new omicron Covid cases in Europe last week

There were more than 7 million new cases of the omicron variant ofCovid-19 across Europe in the first week of January, more than doubling in just two weeks, the World Health Organisation said. (AFP Photo)

The ICMR's National Task Force forCovid-19 has decided against including antiviral drug Molnupiravir in the Clinical Management Protocol forCovid-19 as of now, official sources said on Tuesday.

Poland has become the latest European nation to reach the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths related to the coronavirus.

WHO warns against treating Covid-19 like flu

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday warned against treatingCovid-19 as an endemic illness like flu, rather than as a pandemic, saying the spread of the Omicron variant has not yet stabilized.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday it may be time to change how it tracksCovid-19's evolution to instead use a method similar to how it follows the flu, because its lethality has fallen. That would imply treating the virus as an "endemic illness", rather than a pandemic. (Reuters)

Prohibitory orders issued for 50 tourist spots in Pune district amid rise in Covid-19 cases

In an executive order, district collector Rajesh Deshmukh stated that prohibitory orders have been issued under section 144 of CrPC for tourist spots in Maval, Mulshi, Haveli, Ambegaon, Junnar, Bjor, and Velha tehsils of the district. The order covers popular spots such as Bhushi dam near Lonavala, Lavasa, Temghar dam, Panshet, Khadakwasla dam, and forts including Sinhagad, Shivneri, Torna, Lohgad, and several other locations frequented by tourists, the official said. (PTI)

Spurt in Covid positivity rate in 11 Karnataka raising concerns

A sudden surge of Covid positivity rate in as many as 11 Karnataka districts, including capital Bengaluru, is raising concerns over the speed of infection in the state.The protest rally over the Mekedatu project by the Congress party in Ramnagar district where party workers from all over the state are participating has become a major concern as health experts predict that there is a high chance of this becoming the reason for a major spike in Covid cases across Karnataka especially in the southern part. (IANS)

WHO says Omicron growth rates have declined or stabilized in many countries but remain significantly higher than for Delta variant.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is isolating at home, is chairing a virtual meeting with officials and experts on the Covid-19 situation.

Instead of panic, need for precaution to combat Covid: Naqvi

Instead of horror and panic, there is a need for hope and precaution to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday as he took the "precautionary" vaccine dose against the viral disease.

India began administering the "precautionary" dose against Covid, a critical step that comes as cases spike alarmingly in the country, on Monday. The dose is being administered to healthcare and frontline workers and comorbid people aged 60 and above.

Asserting that 'Made in India' Covid vaccines are "absolutely safe", Naqvi said all those who are eligible for the "precautionary" dose should get vaccinated to make the country coronavirus-free.

Over 4,400 people challaned in Delhi for not wearing masks

Amid rise in the coronavirus cases, the Delhi government has taken action against 4,434 people on Monday for not wearing masks in public or work places, according to official data.

The data stated that 4,434 people were challaned for violation of masks, 107 for not maintaining social distancing, 17 people for spitting in public places and two for consumption of liquor/pan/gutkha/tobacco etc., in public places in its 11 districts.

The highest violation for mask was recorded in southeast district 780 followed by east 730, north 583 and southwest 559. The lowest was recorded in New Delhi district 156, it said.

Enforcement teams of Revenue Department have formed flying squads to take action against big gatherings, and violations of social-distancing norms at restaurants, hotels, markets and other such places.

Puducherry clocks 655 new Covid-19 cases

Puducherry registered a spike in number of daily cases of coronavirus on Tuesday with 655 infections being added afresh to the overall tally which reached 1,31,866. The test positivity rate in the Union Territory however dropped to 16.51 percent against 31.15 percent recorded on Monday, a release from Director of Health and Family Welfare Services G. Sriramulu said.

Arunachal reports 134 new Covid-19 cases, highest one-day spike in Jan

Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday recorded 134 new Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day spike in January so far, pushing the tally to 55,692, a health department official said. Of the fresh cases, 63 were registered in the Capital Complex Region, 23 in Papum Pare district, 11 in Namsai and nine each in West Kameng and Lohit, he said.

As many as 40,000 patients can attend these online yoga classes. Only 15 patients will be in each classes so that they can talk to the instructor personally. Patients will receive links on their phones and the classes will begin tomorrow (January 12). The yoga exercises will improve immunity of the patients, says Kejriwal, who was tested positivefor Covid-19 himself recently.

To improve immunity, Kejriwal announces yoga classes for patients in home isolation

All those Covid-19 patients in home isolation will receiveonline yoga classes, says Kejriwal.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addresses media on Covid-19 situation

All private offices in Delhi to be closed except those under exempted category in view of rising Covid-19 cases, says DDMA.

120 policemen tested Covid-19 positive and 1 died in last 24 hours. Active cases tally at 643, says Mumbai Police.

Medics prepare to give medicines to Covid-19 infected children inside the Covid Care Centre of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) village, in New Delhi.

Credit: PTI Photo

Active Covid-19 cases in India highest in 208 days

India logged 1,68,063 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 3,58,75,790 which includes 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The active cases rose to 8,21,446, the highest in 208 days, while the death toll climbed to 4,84,213 with 277 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

Of the total 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, 1,711 people have recovered or migrated so far.

Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 1,247 cases followed by Rajasthan at 645, Delhi 546, Karnataka 479 and Kerala 350.

Covid curbs imposed on temples in Mathura-Vrindavan

In the wake of an ongoing Covid resurgence, fresh restrictions have been imposed at all temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.

The Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan has reintroduced online registration system in order to restrict the number of devotees.

It has also made an RT-PCR negative test report mandatory for visitors from other states.

Archana Singh, civil judge (junior division), has ordered the deployment of police and paramilitary force at the Banke Bihari temple for strict implementation of Covid-19 guidelines and has directed the temple management to set up a testing desk at the entry gate for thermal scanning, hand sanitising and to ensure that visitors wear masks.

Hong Kong to offer Covid-19 vaccine for children older than five

Hong Kong will start offering Covid-19 vaccines for children over the age of five, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday, as it tries to increase its relatively low vaccination rate amid an increase in coronavirus infections.

Lam, speaking at a weekly media briefing, said kindergartens and primary schools must stop face-to-face classes from Friday until after the Lunar New Year at the beginning of February to prevent transmissions of the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
Schools had mostly resumed in-person classes late last year after months of online teaching.

Children over five will be able to get the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, Lam said. Authorities have cleared the other vaccine available in Hong Kong, made by Germany's BioNTech, for children aged 12 and older.

"I am optimistic and confident we can overcome the situation," Lam said.

Hong Kong is far behind other developed cities with its vaccination campaign. Less than 75% of eligible people have had a first dose, while just under 70% have had a second one. About 8% have received a third.

With 1.68 lakh new Covid-19 cases, daily infections see dip

India on Tuesday reported a slight dip in daily Covid-19 cases with 1,68,063 fresh coronavirus infections and 277 fatalities in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry data showed.

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China orders suspension of some US flights after Covid-19 cases

China has ordered the cancellation of more than two dozen scheduled flights from the United States in recent weeks after numerous passengers tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in China.

China's aviation regulator has mandated the cancellations of eight total scheduled US passenger airline flights for Shanghai under its Covid-19 pandemic rules: four by United Airlines and two each from Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.

Delta said it canceled Detroit to Shanghai flights last Friday and Jan. 14 due to the Chinese rule requiring "all affected carriers", whose passengers test positive for Covid-19, "to cancel inbound service on certain China flights."

BBMP issuing 'outdated' home-isolation kits to patients

It has been over six months since Ivermectin and Doxycycline were dropped from India’s Covid-19 treatment protocol, but this has not stopped municipal authorities from dispensing these drugs to symptomatic people in home isolation.

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Contacts of Covid patients don't need to get tested unless they are in 'at risk' category: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday asked the contacts of Covid-19 positive patients not to test themselves unless they belong to the “at risk” category due to their age or comorbidities.

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Over 9 lakhs 'precaution' doses of Covid vaccine administered on first day

Over nine lakh beneficiaries received their third dose of the Covid vaccine on the first day of the drive to administer the 'Precaution Dose' to the healthcare workers, frontline workers and sixty plus individuals commenced on Monday across the country.

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Uganda Reopens Schools After World’s Longest Covid Shutdown

US reports at least 1.1 million Covid cases in a day, shattering global record

he United States reported at least 1.13 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, the highest daily total of any country in the world as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing.

The previous record was 1.03 million cases on Jan. 3. A large number of cases are reported each Monday due to many states not reporting over the weekend. The seven-day average for new cases has tripled in two weeks to over 700,000 new infections a day.

Not all states have yet reported on Monday and the final figure is likely to be even higher.

Mexican president announces he has Covid-19 for 2nd time