Coronavirus Highlights:The active cases have increased to 1,04,781. (File)
India reported 161 fresh Omicron cases, taking the total number in the country to 1,431, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.
The 1,431 cases of the new variant of the coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and union territories so far, and 488 of these have either recovered or migrated.
Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of 454 cases, followed by Delhi with 351, Kerala 118 and Gujarat 115.
The daily rise in COVID-19 cases crossed the 16,000-mark in the country after around 65 days, taking the infection tally to 3,48,61,579, while the count of active cases increased to 1,04,781, according to the data updated at 8 am.
India saw 22,775 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of deaths climbed to 4,81,080 with 220 daily fatalities, the data stated.
The active cases comprised 0.30 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.32 per cent, the health ministry said.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
France Sixth Country With More Than 10 Million Covid InfectionsFrance became the sixth country in the world to report more than 10 million COVID-19 infections since the outbreak of the pandemic, according to official data published on Saturday.
French health authorities reported 219,126 new confirmed cases in a 24-hour period, the fourth day in a row that the country has recorded more than 200,000 cases.
France joined the United States, India, Brazil, Britain and Russia in having had more than 10 million cases.
Covid update: Tamil actor Vadivelu discharged from hospital
Popular Tamil comedian Vadivelu was discharged on Saturday following complete recovery from COVID-19, a hospital here that treated him said.
Film actor Vadivelu recovered completely and his stay in the hospital was good and 'uneventful' with no setbacks, Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre said.
Bengal minister Aroop Biswas tests COVID positive, hospitalisedWest Bengal Power Minister Aroop Biswas was hospitalised on Saturday after he tested positive for COVID-19, an official said.
Biswas, who exhibited mild symptoms, tested positive for the infection and was admitted to a hospital in the southern part of Kolkata, he said.
India will fight Covid-19 pandemic with full caution, vigilance: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India will fight the Covid-19 pandemic with full caution and vigilance, and protect its national interests.
Speaking at a virtual event to release funds under the PM-KISAN scheme, Modi also highlighted the achievements made by the country in 2021 across various sectors, including, health, defence and agriculture.
He also lauded the India's achievement in providing over 145 crore doses of Covid vaccine.
The Prime Minister said coronavirus posed several challenges, but "Corona cannot stop India's pace".
Coronavirus Updates: Odisha logs 298 fresh COVID-19 cases, two more fatalities
Odisha reported 298 new COVID-19 cases On Saturday, the highest in more than a month, which took the tally to 10,55,132, the health department said in its bulletin.
The toll rose to 8,462 as two men, aged 40 and 65, succumbed to the disease in Cuttack district.
Fifty-three other COVID-19 patients have died due to comorbidities in the past, the bulletin said.
The state had logged 335 coronavirus cases on November 25 and the daily count did not exceed thereafter. On Friday, 225 fresh cases and a fatality were registered.
Over 10 Ministers, 20 MLAs In Maharashtra Test PositiveMore than 10 ministers and 20 MLAs in Maharashtra have tested positive for coronavirus so far, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said today, adding strict restrictions would be enforced if the COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the state.
Mr Pawar's warning came a day after Maharashtra reported 8,067 fresh coronavirus positive cases, as much as 50 per cent more than Thursday.
"We cut short the assembly session recently. So far, over 10 ministers and over 20 MLAs have tested positive for coronavirus. Everybody wants to be part of the celebrations of New Year, birthdays and other occasions. Keep in mind that the new variant (Omicron) spreads fast and hence caution is needed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed and some states have announced a night curfew. In Maharashtra, cases are increasing in Mumbai and Pune," he told reporters after visiting Jaystambh military monument in Perne village on the occasion of the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima.
Coronavirus Updates: Puducherry clocks 22 new COVID-19 cases, tally reaches 1,29,500Puducherry clocks 22 new COVID-19 cases, tally reaches 1,29,500
Puducherry recorded 22 fresh cases of coronavirus during the last 24 hours ending 9 AM on Saturday taking the total positives to 1,29,500.
The 22 fresh cases identified at the end of examination of 2,086 samples were spread over Puducherry 12, Karaikal 8 and Mahe 2.
The active cases were 136 and of them 33 were in hospitals while remaining 103 in home isolation, Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release.
No fresh fatality was reported in the last twenty-four hours in any of the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam and the toll remained 1,881.
The Department of Health has tested so far 20,50,045 samples and has found 17,39,022 out of them to be negative.
Coronavirus Updates: India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 145.16 crores
With the administration of 58,11,487 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 145.16 crores (1,45,16,24,150) as per provisional reports till 7 am on Saturday.
This has been achieved through 1,55,02,407 sessions, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The recovery of 8,949 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) to 3,39,88,797. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.32 per cent, added the press release.
Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs continue the trend of less than 50,000 daily new cases that are being reported for the last 187 days now
Night curfew implemented in Haryana on New Year eveNight curfew imposed by the government in Haryana between 11 pm and 5 am was strictly enforced by state authorities on New Year's Eve.
Haryana Police on December 31 got malls, bars and restaurants closed in the wake of the night curfew imposed in the state as COVID-19 Omicron threat loomed large over Delhi and suburbs.
"We had ordered the closure of malls and clubs in Gurugram at 10.30 pm so that our police force can vacate the places and implement night curfew by 11 pm", said Maqsood Ahmed, DCP, East Gurugram.
The DCP further added that violators of the night curfew and COVID-19 protocols would be dealt with strictly.
Registration Begins For Covid Vaccine For Teens Aged 15-18: Health Minister
Registration for vaccination against COVID-19 for teens between the ages of 15 and 18 is beginning today on the COWIN portal, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
Taking to Twitter, the Health Minister requested people to register eligible teens in their families for this.
"On the occasion of New Year, registration is being started on COWIN portal for immunization of children against #COVID19 in the age group of 15 to 18 years from today. I request the family members to register the eligible children for vaccination. #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine," Mr Mandaviya tweeted in Hindi.
Covid vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group will start from January 3.
Just In| 1,431 Omicron cases in India, most in Maharashtra (454); 22,775 fresh COVID-19 cases, 35% higher than yesterday
Coronavirus Updates: Eight new cases take COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to 7,728
Andaman and Nicobar Islands have reported eight new COVID-19 cases, five more than the previous day, with the tally rising to 7,728, a health department official said on Saturday.
Of the fresh patients, five have travel history and three were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Three more persons were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 7,585, the official said.
The death toll remained at 129 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported during the period, he said.
The Union Territory now has 14 active cases.
Coronavirus Updates: Australia starts 2022 with record COVID-19 cases
Australia started 2022 with a record number of new COVID-19 cases as an outbreak centred in the eastern states grew, and New South Wales eased its isolation rules for healthcare workers as the number of people hospitalised with the virus rose.
New South Wales, the most populous state, and Victoria both posted daily record case numbers of 22,577 and 7,442 respectively on Saturday, health department figures showed.
There were four deaths due to COVID in New South Wales and nine in Victoria, taking the national death toll from the pandemic to more than 2,250.
Including cases in Queensland, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, Saturday had already set a national record of 33,161 cases, topping Friday's 32,946, even before numbers from South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory were released.
COVID-19 vaccination: CoWIN registrations for 15-18 age group begins from today
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Christmas, registrations for vaccinating 15-18-year-old children against COVID-19 starts from Saturday on the Co-WIN portal.
"Let's get ready to ensure COVID vaccination of all eligible citizens. Registrations on #CoWIN for 15-18 year old children starts from 1st January 2022. #LargestVaccineDrive #Unite2FightCorona," tweeted the Ministry of Health on Friday.
As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2021, the vaccination for the age-group 15-18 years is scheduled to begin from Monday while administration of precautionary third dose for the vulnerable categories is to commence from January 10, 2022.
In the context of the vaccination of the age group 15-18 years, the Union Health Secretary informed the States/UTs that only 'Covaxin' is to be administered in this population category and additional doses of 'Covaxin' will be sent to all states and UTs.
COVID-19: Tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum to remain closed from today
In view of the current COVID-19 situation, the tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum will remain closed from Saturday.
"As a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19, tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum for the general public will remain closed from tomorrow (January 1, 2022) till further notice," the President's Secretariat informed on Friday in a press release.
The Change of Guard ceremony will also not take place till further notice, the official release said.
Covid Situation May Turn Explosive In Jaipur, Will Impose Curbs: Rajasthan Chief MinisterRajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said his government will impose more curbs to check the coronavirus spread in state capital Jaipur as the situation may turn explosive and can't be taken lightly.
At a review meeting which was telecast live on social media platforms, he directed officials to increase testing in the capital.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pratap Singh suggested closing of schools while close of religious places and curbs on gathering in weddings were also recommended.
Jaipur had reported 185 of 252 positive cases on Thursday. Of 773 active cases, 521 are in Jaipur.
Delhi Containment Zones Increase By More Than 8 times In December, Shows DataWith rapid rise in coronavirus cases in the national capital, the number of containment zones has also increased by more than eight times from the beginning of this month.
Delhi has been battling a rise in Omicron cases and currently has 320 cases with experts warning that the numbers are expected to soar with each passing day.
On December 1, when the national capital had logged 39 infections in a single day, the number of containment zones stood at 102. Cut to December 30, the number of containment zones has increased to 823, while single-day infections have risen to 1,313.