India Covid Highlights: India reported two 'Omicron' cases detected in Karnataka.
India logged a daily spike of 9,216 Covid cases today, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,46,15,757. The active cases increased to 99,976, the Health Ministry data showed.
India also for the first time reported 'Omicron' cases with two cases being detected in Karnataka. The new strain of the virus has triggered a global alarm with several countries announcing restrictions to arrest the spread of the 'Variant of Concern', declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The variant was first detected in South Africa earlier this month. Since then, the new strain has already been detected in several European countries. 'Omicron' is said to be much more infectious than the Delta variant.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases:
Maharashtra To Test 28 High-Risk Nation Returnees For OmicronMaharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said the swab samples of 28 persons, who returned to the state from high-risk countries last month with nine of them already testing COVID-19 positive, have been sent for genome sequencing amid concerns over the new Omicron variant of the virus.
Mr Tope gave the information while talking to reporters in his home district Jalna.
"The international travellers who arrived in Mumbai from the high-risk countries have been identified and the swab samples of 28 such persons have been sent for genome sequencing. Out of them, nine persons have already tested COVID-19 positive. However, we are yet to establish whether they are carrying the new Omicron variant," he said.
In Last Few Weeks, India Supplied Vaccines To Several Countries: CentreThe government on Friday said that after putting on hold Covid vaccine export to cater to domestic demand, India now has supplied jabs in the last few weeks to several countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Iran, Paraguay and Indonesia.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that since the start of the Vaccine Maitri Programme in January, India has supplied 723.435 lakh doses to 94 countries and two UN entities in the form of grant, commercial export or through COVAX.
Tamil Nadu Adds 711 Covid-19 Infections, 9 DeathsTamil Nadu on Friday logged 711 new Covid-19 cases, including returnees from domestic and overseas, pushing the tally to 27,29,061, while the death toll rose to 36,513 with 9 more deaths, the health department said.
Recoveries outnumbered new infections with 759 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 26,84,450 leaving 8,098 active infections, a medical bulletin said.
Vaccines To Third Wave, Centre Answers Key Questions Amid Omicron FearsWhile there is no evidence to suggest that existing vaccines do not work on the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, some of the mutations reported may decrease the efficacy of the jabs, the Union Health Ministry said.
It, however, underscored that definitive evidence for the new variant's increased remission and immune evasion is awaited.
The ministry has issued a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Omicron variant of coronavirus which has been designated by WHO as a ''variant of concern''.
Two cases of the new variant were reported in Karnataka yesterday.
Central Drug Regulator Approves Shelf Life Of CoviShield, Covaxin, ZyCoV-D VaccinesThe Central Drugs Standard Organisation (CDSO) has approved the shelf life of COVID-19 vaccines Covaxin to 12 months, Covishield to nine months, and ZyCoV-D to six months from the date of manufacture, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
Regarding administration of booster doses, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) are deliberating and considering scientific evidences related to this aspect.
"If It Crosses Critical Point...": Karnataka Expert's Warning On OmicronFollowing the detection of two cases of Covid's Omicron variant in Karnataka, there is concern over what the state government can and should do next.
Among the two cases, one is a traveller from abroad and the other a Bengaluru-based doctor with no history of international travel.
Dr Vishal Rao, member of the Genomic Surveillance Committee of the Covid Task Force told NDTV that stricter restrictions may now be inevitable.
Only 2 States Sent Data On Covid Deaths Due To Lack Of Oxygen: CentreThe government had sought data from states and Union Territories on deaths of Covid patients due to oxygen shortage during the second wave and only Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh responded, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Punjab has sent an email, saying that four deaths suspected to be due to lack of oxygen have been reported in a private hospital in Amritsar district, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a written reply.
12 Suspected Omicron Cases In Delhi Hospital, Results Not OutTwelve suspected cases of Omicron have been admitted to hospitals in Delhi after they arrived on international flights over the past three days. Their samples have been sent for genome testing to confirm whether they are infected with the Omicron strain.
All are at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital in Delhi. Eight were hospitalised yesterday after they tested positive for Covid. Four more were admitted today but their Covid tests are not out yet.
WHO Says No Reports Of Omicron Covid Deaths YetThe World Health Organization said Friday it had not seen any reports of deaths relating to the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The WHO said it was collecting evidence about the variant of concern (VOC), as countries around the world scramble to stop it from spreading.
But despite a growing number of countries registering infections with the new variant, no deaths have yet been reported to the UN health agency.
Omicron Patient "Escaped", Karnataka Tracking 10 Missing PassengersOne of the two persons found positive for Omicron in Karnataka "escaped" after taking a Covid negative certificate from a private lab, the state government said today. The state is also trying to track down 10 people who reportedly went missing from the airport.
"By tonight all 10 people who have reportedly gone missing should be traced and they should be tested. Travelers will not be allowed to leave the airport until their report is out," Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashok said after a top level meeting on Omicron.
Omicron Scare: Only Fully-Vaccinated Allowed In Karnataka Malls, Theatres People won't be allowed inside malls and theatres in Karnataka unless they are fully vaccinated. Karnataka today issued a fresh set of guidelines to combat the spread of Omicron in the state a day after the Centre confirmed the detection of India's first cases of the new variant from the state. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai chaired a high-level meeting today with officials over the new variant that has triggered a global alarm.
COVID-19 update: Samples of 12 patients in Delhi sent for genome testingGenome sequencing of the samples of twelve Covid patients, admitted in Delhi's Lok Nayak Hospital, is being tested to check if they have been infected with the Omicron variant.
South Africa hit by fourth wave of CovidSouth Africa is being hit by a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant which has been detected in seven of the country's nine provinces, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Friday.
Mizoram records 315 fresh COVID-19 casesAt least 315 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, raising the tally to 1,35,765, while the death count mounted to 503 with two fresh fatalities, a health department official said on Friday.
Thirty-three students were among the newly infected people, he said.
COVID-19 hits Junior Hockey World Cup, one person tests positiveCOVID-19 hit the ongoing FIH Junior Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar after an incident-free week with one positive case on Friday, reports news agency PTI.
Despite being held inside a bio-bubble and all media persons covering the event subjected to RT-PCR tests every 48 hours, one person, who has been accessing the media centre at the K
COVID-19 update: Two samples from Tamil Nadu sent for Genome sequencing
Two international air travellers, including a child, who had arrived in Tamil Nadu from Singapore and the United Kingdom have tested positive for COVID-19 and the government ruled out social media reports claiming they were cases of Omicron but said tests only would conclude if they are infected with the latest variant of the coronavirus.
Karnataka CM to hold meeting with experts today over Omicron variant cases reported in stateAs Karnataka reported two cases of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that the state government is being very cautious and it will prepare new Standard operating procedures (SoPs) to tackle the new variant.
The Karnataka CM also mentioned that he will hold a meeting with experts on Friday.
Booster dose of six Covid vaccines safe, increases immunity: StudySix different COVID-19 boosters are safe and elicit strong immune response in people who have previously received a two-dose course of AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, according to a study published in The Lancet journal.
The active cases comprise 0.29 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.35 per cent, the health ministry said.
An increase of 213 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
Just in: India logged a daily spike of 9,216 Covid cases today. The active cases increased to 99,976, the Health Ministry data showed.
Assam reports 124 new COVID-19 casesAssam reported 124 fresh COVID-19 cases and three deaths in the last 24 hours, the state health bulletin informed on Thursday.
With this, the total cases of Coronavirus rose to 6,17,163. Of these, 1,188 are active cases in the state. A positivity rate of 0.44 per cent was observed in the state.
COVID-19 updates: Karnataka records 363 new casesKarnataka has reported 363 new cases of coronavirus and 3 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 29,96,833 and the death count to 38,216, the health department said on Thursday.
The day also saw 191 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,51,845.