Maharashtra announced a series of fresh restrictions amid rise in cases. (Representational)
India saw a single-day rise of 1,59,632 new coronavirus cases, raising the tally to 3,55,28,004, which included 3,623 cases of Omicron variant reported across 27 states and union territories so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra announced a series of fresh restrictions as it logged 41,434 new Covid cases Saturday -- marginally higher than Friday -- as the highly infectious Omicron variant continued its rampage through the country. Thirteen people died in the last 24 hours – five of them in Mumbai.
Delhi today reported 20,181 fresh Covid cases, the highest single-day rise since May last year. The capital city also reported 7 deaths over the last 24 hours.
Here are the highlights on coronavirus (COVID-19) cases:
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Gujarat Reports 6,275 New Covid Cases, Highest Since May Last YearGujarat on Sunday reported 6,275 COVID-19 cases, the highest since May 18 last year when the addition was 6,447, taking the state's tally to 8,62,204, an official said.
The death count remained unchanged at 10,128 and the recovery count increased by 1,263 to touch 8,24,163, leaving the state with an active tally of 27,193, with 26 patients being on ventilator support, he said.
Ahmedabad led with 2,519 cases, of which 2,487 were in city limits, followed by 1,879 in Surat, 398 in Vadodara, 254 in Rajkot, 206 in Gandhinagar. 118 in Navsari, among other districts, the official informed.
A release said 93,467 people were vaccinated against COVID-19, including 17,857 beneficiaries from the 15-18 age group, on Sunday, taking the total number of doses administered so far in the state to 9.31 crore.
3rd Covaxin Dose Holds Promise: Medical Body Ahead Of Booster Dose DriveThe third dose of Covaxin holds promise, the Indian Council of Medical Research said on Sunday just a day before the government plans to administer 'precaution' doses of COVID-19 vaccines to frontline workers, healthcare workers and senior citizens with co-morbidities.
"Third dose of COVAXIN holds promise," tweeted ICMR today. The medical research body in its tweet further highlighted the benefits of getting Covaxin's precautionary dose. It said, "Reassuring information on safety and immunogenicity of a booster dose of Covaxin administered six months after completion of a two dose primary vaccination series with Covaxin."
Sikkim Tourism Minister B S Panth contracts COVID-19ikkim Tourism Minister BS Panth on Sunday said he has tested positive for coronavirus and is in home isolation. In a social media post, the 69-year-old minister said, "I have tested positive for coronavirus. I have isolated myself at home." Meanwhile, the Himalayan state's COVID-19 tally rose to 32,719 on Sunday as 70 people, 25 more than the previous day, tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said.
Fifty-one cases were registered in East Sikkim, followed by 13 in West Sikkim and six in South Sikkim.
UP Sees 1,300% Jump In Daily Covid Cases In A Week Ahead Of PollsUttar Pradesh has reported a massive surge in Covid cases ahead of elections - the biggest figures came from state capital Lucknow and Noida near Delhi.
The 7,695 fresh cases reported over the last 24 hours is 13 times what was recorded last week. Last Sunday, the state had recorded 552 fresh cases.
The state also logged four deaths.
Both Lucknow and Noida recorded 1000-plus cases - 1149 in Noida and 1115 from Lucknow.
"No Corona Here": Karnataka Congress Holds Protest Despite RestrictionsA day after Karnataka reported 8,906 Covid cases - the most in a day since mid-June - the Congress launched a 10-day protest march - over a drinking water project - that drew a crowd of thousands in defiance of pandemic protocols, including the use of face masks and maintain social distance.
The march - titled 'namma neeru, namma hakku, or 'our water, our right' - was led by Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who told NDTV "there is no corona... no disease (in Ramnagara district, where the padyatra was flagged off)".
BJP MP Varun Gandhi Tests Positive, Says "Fairly Strong Symptoms"BJP MP Varun Gandhi today tweeted to say that he has tested positive for coronavirus with "fairly strong symptoms". The BJP leader said that he contracted the infection during a visit to Pilibhit, his Lok Sabha constituency, as he appealed to the Election Commission to extend precautionary doses to candidates and political workers involved in the assembly elections that will be held in five states next month.
"After being in Pilibhit for 3 days, I have tested positive for COVID with fairly strong symptoms. We are now in the middle of a third wave and an election campaign. The Election Commission should extend precautionary doses to candidates and political workers as well," Mr Gandhi tweeted.
Over 400 Parliament Staff Test Positive For Covid Ahead Of Budget Session: ReportAhead of the Budget Session of the Parliament, more than 400 Parliament staff members were tested positive for COVID-19, according to official sources.
The officials told ANI that 402 staff members were tested positive out of the 1,409 staff of Parliament for the virus from January 4 to 8 after which their samples were sent for genome sequencing to confirm the variant.
"Close to 402 staffs were tested positive for COVID-19 from January 4-8 and all samples have been sent to genome sequencing for Omicron variant confirmation," an official told ANI.
Lab Faces Probe After Hundreds Positive On Italy-Amritsar Flights: ReportA probe has been ordered against a private laboratory after a number of flyers who reached Amritsar in Punjab from Italy recently tested positive for COVID-19 amid allegations by several of them that their test reports were incorrect, health officials said today.
The Airports Authority of India has also replaced the services of the Delhi-based laboratory with a local lab, officials said.
Probe ordered after large number of passengers test Covid positive at Amritsar international airport
A probe has been ordered against a private laboratory after a number of flyers who reached here from Italy recently tested positive for COVID-19 amid allegations by several of them that their test reports were incorrect, health officials said on Sunday.
No plan to impose lockdown in Delhi yet: Arvind KejriwalDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said there is no plan to impose a lockdown as of now in the city, and that there will be no need for it if people wear masks.
He said that on Sunday, the city is likely to report 22,000 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. He appealed to the public to wear masks and not panic. "Rising COVID-19 cases are a matter of concern but there is no need to panic. Very few people are getting hospitalised. Wearing mask is very important. There will be no lockdown if you continue to wear mask. There is no plan to impose lockdown as of now," Kejriwal said in a virtual press conference.
Covid updates: 59 new cases recorded in LadakhLadakh's COVID-19 caseload increased to 22,472 on Sunday as 59 more people tested positive for the virus, officials said.
All the new cases were reported from Leh district, while no fresh death was reported in the Union Territory, the officials said.
Arunachal's COVID-19 positivity rate jumps to 9.40%Arunachal Pradesh reported 59 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, which is 33 more than the previous day, taking the Northeastern state's active tally to 186, a senior health official said.
Among the newly-infected patients are eight students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here who returned from other states after vacation, he said.
1,59,632 New Covid Cases In India, Positivity 10.21%India saw a single-day rise of 1,59,632 new coronavirus cases, raising the tally to 3,55,28,004 crore, which included 3,623 cases of Omicron variant reported across 27 states and union territories.
"Well Done": PM Modi Lauds Vaccination Of 2 Crore Children In 15-18 Age GroupLauding the feat of over two crore youngsters in the 15-18 age group getting vaccinated against COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for continuing the momentum.
He tweeted, "Excellent! Well done my young friends. Let us continue this momentum. Urging everyone to follow all COVID-19 related protocols and get vaccinated, if you haven't already." He was reacting to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's tweet regarding the feat.
Maharashtra's New Curbs As State Sees Exponential Rise In Covid CasesMaharashtra announced a series of fresh restrictions as it logged 41,434 new Covid cases today -- marginally higher than yesterday -- as the highly infectious Omicron variant continued its rampage through the country. Thirteen people died in the last 24 hours - five of them in Mumbai. The country's financial capital reported 20,318 cases in the last 24 hours -- a shade lower than yesterday's 20,971.
The health department had earlier said a lockdown will be considered when the demand for medical oxygen crosses 800 metric tonnes per day, or more than 40 per cent of hospital beds for Covid patients are occupied.
Delhi Records 20,181 Covid Cases, Positivity Rate At 19%
Delhi today reported 20,181 fresh Covid cases, the highest single-day rise since May last year. The capital city also reported 7 deaths over the last 24 hours. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain had predicted that the city will cross the 20,000-mark in Covid cases today.