Covid Cases In India: The number of deaths climbed to 4,82,551 with 534 more fatalities, (File)
India reported 58,097 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, 55 per cent higher than yesterday's 37,379 cases. The government has been continuously speeding up vaccination drive across the country. Those in the age group 15-18 are being inoculated now.
The number of deaths climbed to 4,82,551 with 534 more fatalities, the data showed.
A total of 2,135 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 828 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry's data updated on Wednesday.
Several states have announced restrictions like night curfew as Covid cases continue to rise.
Soaring Omicron cases around the world could increase the risk of a newer, more dangerous variant emerging, the World Health Organisation, or WHO, said yesterday.
While the variant is spreading like wildfire around the world, it appears to be far less severe than initially feared and has raised hopes that the pandemic could be overcome and life return to more normality, the WHO has said.
But WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood sounded an ominous note of caution, telling news agency AFP that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
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Ensure Covid Duty Of Resident Doctors Don't Exceed 8 Hours, Medical Urges Centre, StatesThe Indian Medical Association on Wednesday requested the Centre and states to ensure that Covid duty of resident doctors do not exceed eight hours a day and after a week there should be a quarantine 10 to 14 day quarantine period in accommodations prescribed by the hospital, reported news agency PTI.
In the event of a Covid duty doctor falling ill, they should be hospitalised at the earliest. In a statement, the doctors' body said in case of untimely death, the status of Covid martyr and compensation as well as case-wise assistance should be arranged.
There should also be a provision for taking care of the mental health of doctors, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said.
Delhi Hospital Cancels Leave, To Engage Final Year Students In Covid Care
Delhi's GTB Hospital, one of the largest Covid hospitals in the national capital, has cancelled all kinds of leaves. Final year and nursing students will be engaged in Covid care, it said. All routine surgical procedures have been stopped with immediate effect and admissions of patients have been restricted.
Eight More Omicron Cases In GoaGoa on Wednesday reported eight new cases of the Omicron variant and five of the patients have no recent travel history, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said. With this, the number of Omicron cases in the coastal state has gone up to 19.
(PTI)
Leave Of Health Staff Cancelled Amid Surge In Covid Cases In Jammu
Amid a sudden spike in coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta today reviewed the situation and asked the health administration to scale up testing to reach a target of two lakh tests per day, reported news agency PTI.
J&K recorded 418 cases on Wednesday - a 100 per cent jump from Tuesday. The Jammu region saw a more than three-fold increase in the number of cases on Wednesday at 311 as compared to Tuesday and Monday.
Massive Covid Spurt In Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh has reported a massive surge in Covid cases in the last 24 hours with 594 cases and one related death. There are 1,544 active cases in the state currently. Indore reported a maximum 319 cases and one death in the last 24 hours. State capital Bhopal was second with 92 cases. The two cities accounted for 69.19 per cent of the fresh cases reported in the state in the last 24 hours.
Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty Tests Positive For Covid
Tamil Nadu Records Sharp Surge In New Covid CasesSeven districts, including Chennai, accounted for the majority of new coronavirus infections today as Tamil Nadu reported a massive surge with 4,862 fresh cases pushing the state's tally to 27,60,449, the health department said, reported news agency PTI.
Nine more people died, taking the death count to 36,814, the health department bulletin said. Those who tested positive include 38 returnees from domestic and overseas locations.
Meanwhile, 688 people recovered from the disease and were discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 27,07,058 recoveries. With this, the state has 16,577 active cases at present.
Bengal Logs 14,022 Fresh Covid Cases In 24 HoursWest Bengal's COVID-19 tally today climbed to 16,78,323 with 14,022 fresh cases, 4,949 more than the previous day, the health department said, reported news agency PTI. Kolkata accounted for 6,170 new infections.
The positivity rate rose to 23.17 per cent from Tuesday's 18.96 per cent, it said.
Night Curfew In Himachal Pradesh From 10 PM To 5 AM Amid Rising CasesHimachal Pradesh today decided to impose a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am to check the spread of coronavirus, an official spokesperson said, reported news agency PTI.
It has also been decided to shut indoor sports complexes and cinema halls in the state and allow only 50 per cent attendance at gatherings in marriage and banquet halls, he said.
The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
Stricter Covid Restrictions In Noida From Thursday As Active Case Tally Crosses 1,000
The number of active Covid cases has crossed the 1,000-mark in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar, the district administration said today as it announced tougher restrictions, reported news agency PTI.
The Uttar Pradesh government had ordered additional restrictions yesterday that are to be enforced in districts where the number of active cases crosses 1,000.
Currently Gautam Buddh Nagar, which includes Noida and Greater Noida, is the only district with over 1,000 active cases.
"There has been a rise in cases of coronavirus recently. The number of cases in Gautam Buddh Nagar has crossed 1,000 today. The restrictions mandated by the Uttar Pradesh government will be implemented here from tomorrow (Thursday)," District Magistrate Suhas L Yathiraj said.
4,801 Cases In Kerala In 24 Hours
Kerala today saw a further rise in Covid cases with the state reporting 4,801 new infections, taking the overall tally to 52,54,290, reported news agency PTI.
The state logged 258 related deaths, of which, 29 were recorded over the last few days and 229 were designated as Covid deaths after receiving appeals based on Centre's new guidelines and the Supreme Court's directions.
Rapid Antigen Test For Athletes On Arrival at Camps, Training Centres: Fresh SOP Amid Spike
Athletes will be required to undergo Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) upon arrival at national camps and training centres, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said today as it came up with a slew of measures to combat the renewed threat posed by coronavirus, reported news agency PTI.
Unlike the latest guidelines, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that SAI had issued before the Tokyo Olympics last year, required an athlete to take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours before arrival at camp with a negative report.
The SAI has issued the fresh SOPs to deal with the drastic rise in the positive cases, mostly owing to the Omicron variant, across the country.
28 Omicron Cases In Andhra Pradesh So FarThe total number of Omicron cases in Andhra Pradesh has risen to 28 after four people were found infected with the variant today, reported news agency PTI.
The State Public Health Director P Hymavathi said a 60-year-old person who arrived from US and a man and his son who came from the UK tested positive for Omicron.
A 14-year-old girl in Guntur district, a contact of a foreign traveller, also tested positive, P Hymavathi said. All contacts of the cases have been traced and tested and the positive samples sent for genome sequencing, she said.
Home Isolation Cut To 7 Days From 10 In Latest Covid GuidelinesThe centre has released revised guidelines for home isolation of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.
Patients under home isolation can end isolation after at least seven days have passed from testing positive and if there is no fever for three days in a row. They will continue to wear masks. There is no need for re-testing after the home isolation ends.
Earlier, home isolation ended after 10 days from onset of symptoms.
Till date every Omicron patient had to be hospitalised, sources have told NDTV. Since this is a new variant of the coronavirus, the National Centre for Disease Control is documenting every patient to understand the symptoms and severity.
Home Isolation Rules For Mild, Asymptomatic Cases Revised: Details HereThe centre has released revised guidelines for home isolation of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Over the last two years, it has been seen globally as well as in India that a majority of cases of COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. Such cases usually recover with minimal interventions and accordingly may be managed at home under proper medical guidance and monitoring, the Health Ministry said today.
The centre has thus issued and updated guidelines for home isolation from time to time to clarify selection criteria, precautions that need to be followed by such patients and their families, signs that require monitoring and prompt reporting to health facilities.
Herd Immunity? Omicron Sparks Growing But Cautious HopesWith new versions forcing vaccine makers to re-test jabs, the virus that causes Covid-19 has proven highly unpredictable.
But the latest variant to sweep the globe has persuaded some experts that long hoped-for collective immunity is in sight, and that the virus may be evolving into a relatively benign seasonal illness.
Omicron has proven particularly contagious, infecting people thought to have immunity conferred by vaccines or a bout with the disease itself.
But while Omicron it driving a record number of cases in countries around the world, the illness is generally less severe, compared to previous variants.
More people getting Omicron and recovering, combined with more vaccinations, could be the key to boosting collective defences against almost any form of Covid, some experts have said.
10,000 Covid Cases In Delhi Likely Today, 3rd Wave Has Set In: GovernmentDelhi is likely to report around 10,000 new Covid cases today, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said, as per news agency ANI.
The positivity rate - the number of people testing positive for every 100 tests- is expected to surge to 10 per cent in the national capital, the Health Minister added.
The positivity rate yesterday stood at 8.3 per cent, which was also a significant increase from 6.46 per cent on Monday.
The third wave has set in India, Mr Jain said, adding, "For Delhi, it is the fifth wave."
334 new COVID-19 cases in Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh reported fresh 334 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest daily spike after November 10, 2021, said a state health bulletin.
The state reported one death and 95 recoveries on Tuesday. The total number of active cases in the state on Tuesday stood at 1,516.
The cumulative COVID-19 positive cases recorded so far stood at 20,77,942 while the total number of recoveries climbed up to 20,61,927. The cumulative death count so far stood at 14,499.
While, seven new Omicron cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 24 in the state.
Telangana reports 1,052 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hoursTelangana reported 1,052 COVID-19 positive cases and two deaths on Tuesday.
The state reported 10 new Omicron cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total cases of the new variant of COVID-19 to 94, informed the Telangana government.
Out of the 94 cases of Omicron reported, 37 have recovered till now. The number of recoveries recorded on Tuesday stood at 240 taking the cumulative recoveries to 6,75,132.
The death count due to COVID-19 stood at 4,033 while the cumulative COVID-19 positive cases stood at 6,84,023.
India reports 58,097 fresh COVID cases, 15,389 recoveries, and 534 deaths in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate: 4.18%
Active cases: 2,14,004
Total recoveries: 3,43,21,803
Death Count: 4,82,551
Omicron May Become Dominant Covid Strain In Singapore In 2 Months: ExpertsThe highly contagious Omicron variant could become a dominant coronavirus strain in Singapore in the next two months, completely replacing the Delta variant, a senior infectious diseases expert has warned.
The island-state has recorded 438 new Omicron cases on Tuesday, with the weekly infection growth rate going above one for the first time since Nov 12, The Straits Times reported.
"If the predictions are correct, we can expect high numbers with a mild disease, but we can't be sure of this yet," the report quoted Professor Dale Fisher, a senior consultant at the National University Hospital's infectious diseases division, as saying on Tuesday.
UK Fears Hospital Crisis As Covid Cases Cross 200,000 For First TimeBritish hospitals have switched to a "war footing" due to staff shortages caused by a wave of Omicron infections, the government said Tuesday, as the country's daily Covid caseload breached 200,000 for the first time.
The 24-hour tally, after chalking up multiple records in the run-up to New Year, hit 218,724 and another 48 deaths were reported in the latest government data.
Hospital admissions have not hit anything like the peaks of previous waves of the pandemic, and the number of people requiring ventilation has remained flat so far.
WHO Still Recommends 14-Day Quarantine For Covid Patients: ReportAlthough most people recover from COVID-19 within five to seven days of the onset of symptoms, the World Health Organization (WHO) still recommends a 14-day quarantine, an official from the organization told a press briefing on Tuesday.
However, said Abdi Mahamud from WHO's COVID-19 Incident Management Support Team, states must make decisions about the duration of quarantine based on their individual situations.
In countries with low infections, a longer quarantine time could help keep case numbers as low as possible, he explained. In places with runaway cases, however, shorter quarantines may be justified in order to keep countries running, he added.
Soaring Omicron Cases Could Lead To More Dangerous Variants, WHO WarnsSoaring Omicron cases around the globe could increase the risk of a newer, more dangerous variant emerging, the World Health Organization in Europe warned on Tuesday.
While the variant is spreading like wildfire around the world, it appears to be far less severe than initially feared and has raised hopes that the pandemic could be overcome and life return to more normality.
But WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood sounded an ominous note of caution, telling AFP that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect.
In Mumbai, RT-PCR Covid Tests Mandatory For All International PassengersAll international passengers landing in Mumbai will now be asked to take a rapid RT-PCR Covid test, say a set of fresh guidelines released Tuesday night, as the state recorded over 18,000 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, 50 per cent higher than Monday.
Those who test positive will then have to take a routine RT-PCR Covid test at the airport.