Coronavirus Highlights: 3.47 Lakh New Covid Cases In Last 24 Hours, Positivity Rate At 17.94%

The Kerala High Court has banned gatherings of more than 50 people in the Kasargod district for one week. The court issued the interim order on a plea challenging the revocation of the Kasargod District Collector's order imposing restrictions in the wake of COVID-19.

A new study has found that non-neutralising antibodies may also be important in providing protection against COVID-19. The study has been published in the 'Frontiers in Immunology Journal'.

"Our results indicate that non-neutralising antibodies could also provide protection. This would mean that we have broader protection from antibodies than previously thought, making us less vulnerable to mutations of the virus. It warrants further investigation," said Pontus Nordenfelt who led the study and is a researcher at Lund University.

In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Gujarat government has announced night curfew for 17 more towns with high positivity rate and extended the implementation in eight metros and two cities till January 29. While the timing of the night curfew remains unchanged from 10 pm to 6 am, 17 more towns have been added to the list of places where it will be enforced from January 22 till January 29, a government release stated. At the same time, the government has relaxed home delivery services for hotels and restaurants to 24 hours, while permitting these establishments to operate with 75 per cent capacity till 10 pm, it was stated.

Tamil Nadu today reported 29,870 new positive cases of coronavirus as against yesterday's 28,561 cases, a rise of around 4.5 per cent. The positivity rate is 20.3 per cent. Besides, 33 virus-related deaths and 21,684 recoveries were also reported. Of the new cases, Chennai accounted for 7,038 new infections as against yesterday's 7,520 cases. Coimbatore reported 3,653 new cases, Kanyakumari 1,248, Salem 1,009, Thiruvallur 1,016 and Virudhunagar 629. Currently, there are 1,87,358 cases cases in the state.

Rajasthan on Friday recorded 16,878 fresh COVID-19 cases, the sharpest single-day rise in eight months, and 15 deaths due to the viral disease, according to a health department bulletin. While Jaipur reported 4,035 fresh cases, Jodhpur logged 2,222, Alwar 1,371, Bharatpur 898, Udaipur 857, Chittorgarh 682, Ajmer 657, Kota 594 and Pali 504, the bulletin stated. Of the latest deaths, three were reported from Jaipur, two each from Ajmer and Bikaner, and one each from Barmer, Bharatpur, Dausa, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sikar and Tonk, it said. So far, 9,059 people have succumbed to COVID-19 in Rajasthan. According to the bulletin, 84,787 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment in the state. As many as 10,175 more people have recovered from the viral disease.

The health ministry has issued new guidelines for international arrivals under which isolation facility is not mandatory for people arriving from 'at-risk' countries from Saturday. The guidelines further stated, "If tested negative they (international travellers) will follow home quarantine for seven days and shall undertake RTPCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India."

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has asserted that the danger of COVID-19 has subsided in the city and the situation is "quite under control". He said that the virus was the primary cause of death in only three of the 43 fatalities recorded the previous day. Delhi is expected to record 10,500 cases on Friday with a positivity rate of 17 to 18 per cent, Mr Jain said.

Generic drug manufacturers will make a more affordable version of Merck's anti-Covid pill for 105 of the world's poorer nations, a UN-backed organisation said on Thursday.

The global Medicines Patent Pool signed agreements with 27 manufacturers to produce the oral antiviral medicine molnupiravir, for supply in low- and-middle-income countries.

"This is a critical step toward ensuring global access to an urgently needed Covid-19 treatment and we are confident that... the anticipated treatments will be rapidly available in LMICs," said MPP executive director Charles Gore.

Merck granted a licence to the MPP in an agreement announced in October. The MPP, in turn, issued sub-licences to the generic drugs makers.

The weekend curfew in Delhi will stay for now, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal decided has after the Aam Aadmi Party government recommended lifting weekend curfews - ordered from 10 pm Fridays to 5 am Mondays - in view of declining Covid cases. 

The office of the Lieutenant Governor, it is learnt, has said that a decision on lifting weekend curfew will be taken once the pandemic situation improves further. He has also vetoed the recommendation to withdraw the odd-even rule of opening shops in markets.  

The Lieutenant Governor, however, has agreed to the government's recommendation to allow 50 per cent attendance in private offices. 

An American Airlines jetliner headed from Miami to London turned around in mid-flight Thursday because a passenger refused to wear a Covid mask, the airline said.

"American Airlines flight 38 with service from Miami to London returned to MIA due to a disruptive customer refusing to comply with the federal mask requirement," the airline said

Police were waiting when the Boeing 777 carrying 129 passengers and a crew of 14 landed back in Miami.

When the plane landed police escorted that passenger off the plane without incident, a police official told CNN.

China reported on Friday the lowest daily tally of local confirmed COVID-19 cases in nearly two months, after a national strategy to quickly curb flare-ups forced worst-hit cities to lock down affected communities and cut business activity.

China reported 23 domestically transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms for Thursday, official data showed, down from 43 a day earlier.

The Delhi government on Friday recommended lifting of weekend curfews - from 10 pm Fridays to 5 am Mondays - in the national capital in view of declining Covid cases.

In addition, shops and commercial establishments, which had been allowed to operate on the odd-even basis to limit crowds in public spaces, can now open on all days.

Also, private offices, which had been instructed to shift to WFH, or 'work from home', mode where possible, can now function with 50 per cent attendance.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala has imposed a series of new restrictions amid all-time high Covid cases that include allowing only essential services on two Sundays, starting January 23. The government has also announced work from home for mothers who have children less than 2 years of age, cancer patients or those with severe illness.

Strict anti-Covid protocols will have to be followed at shops, malls, theme parks, beaches and other tourist spots.

The decisions were taken at a review meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan virtually from the United States.

Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said that there is a possibility of an increase in the number of COVID-19 as the peak is yet to come in the state.

We have postponed all big public events during the winter, he informed.

"Everyone has to be very serious and no one can take coronavirus lightly. People should follow the guidelines issued by the health department. There is a possibility of an increase in the number of cases as the peak is yet to come in the state. So we need to be careful and we will overcome this situation also. We have postponed all big public events during the winter," Mr Thakur said.

Use of antivirals or monoclonal antibodies is not recommended for those less than 18 years of age, irrespective of severity of Covid infection, and if steroids are used, they should be tapered over 10 to 14 days, subject to clinical improvement, the government said on Thursday.

In the 'Revised Comprehensive Guidelines for Management of COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents (below 18 years)', the health ministry also said that masks are not recommended for children aged five years and below.

Those aged 6-11 years may wear it depending on the ability of the child to use a mask safely and appropriately under direct supervision of parents, it said.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic the coronavirus has reached an Argentine research base in Antarctica, causing the evacuation of nine unvaccinated staff who tested positive for Covid-19, an official said Thursday.

Twenty-four of the 43 scientists and military personnel resident at Argentina's La Esperanza base have been infected, Patricia Ortuzar of the government's National Directorate of the Antarctic told AFP.