Omicron variant updates: J&K, Kerala, Gujarat report record high fresh Covid-19 cases

Pune district on Thursday recorded 14,424 new coronavirus cases, the highest in a day since the pandemic began in 2020, said a health official.
Nine patients died in the district during the day. The caseload in the district rose to 12,96,398 while death toll rose to 19,333. The district's positivity rate (cases detected per 100 tests) is over 35 per cent. Earlier, on April 18, 2021, Pune district had recorded 12,836 new cases, a record.

Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 46,197 fresh coronavirus cases, including 125 Omicron infections, and 37 more deaths, the health department said. The daily tally was 2,500 more than a day ago, when the state had reported 43,697 cases. The department said 52,025 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered cases to 69,67,432.

It said, "46,197 new cases in the state today. Thirty-seven COVID-19 deaths reported in the state today.” Currently, 24,21,501 people are in home quarantine and another 3,391 in institutional quarantine. On Omicron, the department said, “Today, 125 patients with Omicron infections have been reported in the state. Of these, 87 have been reported by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research and 38 have been reported by the National Chemical Laboratory (where genome sequencing of swab samples was done).” 

Gujarat on Thursday recorded 24,485 new cases, the highest single-day spike so far, pushing up its tally above the 10-lakh mark, while 13 patients succumbed to infection, the state health department said. With these additions, the state's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,01,563 cases, while the death toll increased to 10,199, said a health department release. The latest surge in new cases also pushed up the state's active tally above the 1- lakh mark, said the release.

The Kerala government on Thursday imposed fresh restrictions in the state as a preventive measure to contain the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

A high-level COVID review meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan virtually from the United States, decided that only essential services should be allowed on the next two Sundays --January 23 and 30.

The meeting also decided to allow working women with children below the age of two, cancer patients and seriously ill persons to work through the work from home system.

It directed institutions including businesses, malls, beaches, and other tourist places like theme parks, to ensure no gatherings take place and operate strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

Restrictions will be imposed at district level on the basis of the number of people admitted to hospitals, the government said and authorised the Disaster Management Authority to divide the districts into three groups, A, B and C.

In the districts fall under A category, all social, cultural, religious, political and public events and weddings and funerals can be attended by up to 50 people.

No such gatherings will be allowed in the B and C category districts. In such areas, religious worship should be conducted online only and a maximum of 20 people will be allowed for weddings and funerals.

Movie theaters, swimming pools and gyms are not allowed to function in C category districts.

All classes (including tuition centers) -- except undergraduate and postgraduate level final year classes besides 10 and 12 classes-- are allowed online only in C category districts. However, residential educational institutions are allowed to operate on a bio-bubble model.
The decision comes in wake of rising cases of infection in the state, which logged 46,387 fresh COVID-19 cases today, the highest ever single day spike in the infections.

Confirming that Kerala is witnessing a third wave of COVID-19, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has cautioned people against the "super-spread" of the pandemic and said both Delta and Omicron variants of the virus are contributing to the ongoing unprecedented surge in daily cases.

Seven people succumbed to COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, pushing the death toll to 3,899, while the state recorded 2,368 fresh COVID-19 cases that took its tally to 2,54,410, a health official said. Seven men between the age group of 56 to 88 succumbed to the virus on Thursday, he said, adding that three deaths were reported from Kangra, two from Shimla and one each from Una and Mandi districts. Nine of total 12 districts in the state reported 110 to 402 new cases. A maximum of 402 fresh cases were found in Sirmaur, followed by 371 in Kangra, 329 in Mandi, 229 in Shimla, , 227 in Hamirpur, 137 in Kullu, 131 in Una, 110 in Bilaspur, 64 in Chamba, 20 in Kinnaur, and 10 in Lahaul-Spiti, he added.

West Bengal on Thursday registered 10,959 new Covid-19 cases, 488 less than the previous day's count, pushing the tally to 19,39,920, the health department said in a bulletin. Thirty-seven more people also succumbed to the disease, pushing the death toll to 20,230. The state now has 1,44,809 active cases, 6,893 less than what the figure was on Wednesday. Altogether 17,815 people were cured of the disease during the day and the discharge rate now is 91.49 per cent, the bulletin said. A total of 17,74,881 people recovered from the contagion so far.

Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded 5,992 fresh coronavirus cases, its biggest single-day spike in infections so far, pushing the tally to 3,78,661, while seven deaths due to the disease were reported in the past 24 hours, officials said. The previous highest one-day jump in infections was recorded on Wednesday when 5,818 fresh cases were registered in the Union Territory. During the second wave of the pandemic, Jammu and Kashmir had on May 7 last year detected 5,443 new cases. Out of the fresh cases recorded on Thursday, 1,920 were from the Jammu division and 4,072 from the Kashmir division, the officials said. They said Srinagar district recorded a maximum of 1,306 new cases, followed by Jammu district which registered 1,217 such infections.

 Indonesia's leader said Thursday that his country, which holds the presidency of the Group of 20 biggest economies this year, sought to strengthen global partnership and inclusiveness to aid the economic recovery amid a resurging COVID-19 pandemic. In an online address to the World Economic Forum, Indonesian President Joko Widodo committed to making the G-20 presidency an important part of the response, with a focus on inclusive health care, the digital transformation and a transition to sustainable energy. He called for world economic leaders to cooperate on trade, industrialisation and technology to aid the pandemic recovery.

An increasing uptake of home tests for COVID-19 is being observed with two lakh of them used in the last 20 days while just 3,000 were utilised last year, the health ministry said. Addressing the weekly press conference, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said overall test performance in the country is being maintained at a level comparable with the second wave. "Testing commodities are in plenty, whether it be for RT-PCR, whether it be for rapid antigen tests or for home antigen tests, or ancillary equipment like viral transport medium or RNA extraction kits. What is important is that we have noted an increasing in uptake of home tests," he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir govt on Thursday extended the ongoing Covid-infused weekend lockdown. Now, restrictions on non-essential movement from Friday 2.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am.

Delhi Govt has fixed the maximum price for the RT-PCR COVID19 test at Private laboratories at Rs 300 and Rs 500 for RT-PCR samples collected from home. Rapid antigen test (RAT) to be done at Rs 100

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Sikkim on Thursday reported 368 new COVID-19 cases, which pushed the tally to 36,098, while two more fatalities raised the toll to 417, the health department said in its bulletin. East Sikkim logged 243 positive cases followed by West Sikkim at 68, South at 50 and North at seven.
Currently, the Himalayan state has 2,439 active cases. At least 503 COVID-positive people have migrated out, and 32,739 have recovered from the disease. As many as 2,97,778 samples have been tested in the state thus far, including 1,237 in the past 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate stood at 29.7 per cent and the daily recovery rate at 92 per cent.

62 more cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 confirmed in Kerala today, taking the case tally to 707: State Government

The Telangana government would undertake a door-to-door fever survey in the State from Friday as part of measures to check the spread of COVID-19.
The survey would help in controlling the spread by identifying those suffering from fever and others, State Health Minister T Harish Rao told reporters here on Thursday. Some people are asymptomatic despite testing positive for the infection, while some others are not getting themselves tested in spite of having symptoms like fever, he said. The survey would help address such issues. He said a home-isolation kit, comprising medicines and others, would be provided to those with symptoms.

With a host of quality players in their ranks, two-time defending champions Japan would look for all the points when they open their campaign against Myanmar in the AFC Women's Asian Cup here on Friday. The 13th-ranked Asian powerhouse will miss their star striker Mana Iwabuchi due to COVID-19 infection but they have plenty of other quality players and should not face much trouble against Myanmar, ranked 47th in the world, in the Group C march at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex.

The 2011 FIFA World Cup runners-up team has six players who ply their trade in top-flight professional league in Europe, including Iwabuchi and experienced captain and Bayern Munich defender Saki Kumagai, who has 120 international caps under her belt. Iwabuchi will, however, miss Friday's match and some of the later fixtures also after testing positive for COVID-19 on arrival in India on Tuesday. The Arsenal striker had reached India separately from Britain.

 A steep five-time hike has been registered in active cases in Himachal Pradesh in the last ten days, a senior health official said on Thursday.
There has been a consistent rise in the number of active cases since January 8, he added. The trend shows that the number of active cases has increased from 2,793 on January 8 to 14,918 as on January 19, he added. Out of a total of 19,24,051 active cases in the country, 14,918 cases were from Himachal Pradesh as of January 19, he added. The numbers of admissions of COVID-positive patients have also increased, he said, adding the bed occupancy has also increased by nearly five times in ten days.

 Germany's health minister expects the number of coronavirus infections in the country to keep rising for several weeks before peaking next month.
Karl Lauterbach told German public broadcaster ZDF late Wednesday that “the wave will reach its peak roughly in mid-February." Lauterbach warned that while hospitalisation rates are currently low, clinics could see a severe strain in the coming weeks, noting that the share of people over age 50 who aren't vaccinated is significantly higher in Germany than in other European countries, such as Italy and Britain.

Germany's disease control agency reported 133,536 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, and 234 deaths. Omicron is less likely to cause severe illness than the previous delta variant, according to studies. Omicron spreads even more easily than other coronavirus strains, and has already become dominant in many countries. It also more easily infects those who have been vaccinated or had previously been infected by prior versions of the virus.

The surge in coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh continues, a bulletin said on Thursday. There were 12,615 fresh cases in 24 hours ending 9 AM today thereby taking the active cases past 50,000. According to the latest bulletin, the State reported 3,674 recoveries and five deaths in 24 hours.
The gross Covid-19 positives now climbed to 21,40,056. The number of active cases stood at 53,871 after a total of 20,71,658 recoveries and 14,527 deaths, the bulletin said. Chittoor district registered 2,338, Visakhapatnam 2,117, Guntur 1,066, Vizianagaram 1,039 and SPS Nellore 1,012 fresh cases.

• Covid: In Delhi, upper respiratory tract infection common symptom among those in 11-18 years.
• Around 99 pc adult Covid patients in Delhi have common symptoms of fever, cough, irritation in throat.
• Bed occupancy or hospitalisation significantly lower in third Covid wave in Delhi as compared to second wave.
• 94 pc of India's adults have been administered 1st dose of Covid vaccine; 72 pc are fully vaccinated.

Covid deaths significantly less in third wave of coronavirus in comparison to second wave: Govt

• Asia is showing a sharp surge in global contribution from 7.9% to approx 18.4% in 4 weeks. A sharp surge is also seen in COVID19 cases in India: Rajesh Bhushan, Health Secretary 

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  Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are among the 'States of Concern'. We have sent Central health teams to these States and are continuously reviewing the situation

   

   

 A day ahead of the Karnataka government deciding about the future of COVID-19 curbs that are in place across the state, Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Thursday said both lives and livelihood of the people will be considered, while arriving at any decision. Clarifying that there was no confusion within the government regarding the curbs, the Minister said views expressed by leaders of all political parties and several organisations will also be taken into account, before taking the decision. "Regarding COVID guidelines, the Chief Minister has called an important meeting at 1 PM tomorrow with senior Ministers. Opinions expressed by leaders of various political parties and organisations regarding the curbs that are in place, and the centre's guidelines will also be taken into consideration," Ashoka said.
 

From 24 (January) we will be reopening schools for classes 1-12th with COVID protocols; CM has agreed to our proposal. We have also decided to open pre-primary schools from January 24: Varsha Gaikwad, Maharashtra School Education Minister. 

Scottish researchers have developed new Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology based X-rays that can likely replace currently used PCR tests for detecting Covid-19 infections. The technology developed by experts at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), is capable of accurately diagnosing Covid-19 in just a few minutes -- far more quickly than a PCR test, which typically takes around 2 hours -- and with 98 per cent accuracy. It is hoped that the technology can eventually be used to help relieve strain on hard-pressed accident and emergency departments, particularly in countries where PCR tests are not readily available. The state-of-the-art technique utilises X-ray technology, comparing scans to a database of around 3,000 images belonging to patients with Covid-19, healthy individuals and people with viral pneumonia.

When the coronavirus pandemic was first declared, Spaniards were ordered to stay home for more than three months. For weeks, they were not allowed outside even for exercise. Children were banned from playgrounds, and the economy virtually stopped. But officials credited the draconian measures with preventing a full collapse of the health system. Lives were saved, they argued. Now, almost two years later, Spain is preparing to adopt a different COVID-19 playbook. With one of Europe's highest vaccination rates and its most pandemic-battered economies, the government is laying the groundwork to treat the next infection surge not as an emergency but an illness that is here to stay. Similar steps are under consideration in neighbouring Portugal and in Britain.

The State Election Commission (SEC) in Odisha on Thursday asked the DGP to ensure strict enforcement of Covid-19 guidelines as it expressed concerns over large public gatherings during the filing of nomination papers by candidates for the panchayat polls. In a letter to the state's DGP Sunil Bansal, SEC Secretary R.N. Sahu said the Commission has laid down Covid-19 guidelines to be enforced at different stages of the election process and DSP rank officers have been appointed as Covid observers in districts. "Now the nomination process is going on from January 17 to 21. It is being seen that people are gathering in large numbers for filing of nominations and are holding public meetings which contravenes the guidelines," he mentioned.

The union territory of Puducherry recorded 2,783 fresh Covid-19 infections during the last 24 hours as the overall tally went up to 1,45,342 and the active cases broke the 13,000 mark, a senior Health department official said on Thursday. The test positivity rate (the number of cases per 100 tests) shot up to 43.19 per cent in the last 24 hours ending 10 AM on Thursday as against 30.23 per cent recorded on Wednesday. A 95-year old woman succumbed to the virus pushing the death toll in the union territory to 1,897, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services G Sriramulu said in a release.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister MA Subramanian on Thursday said that after the Pongal festival and movement of people from cities to villages, the possibilities of Covid-19 spread is high. He also called upon the people to wear masks, ensure physical distancing and sanitise and wash hands regularly to keep the virus at bay. The Minister told IANS that the state already has 3,787 containment zones, and Chennai alone has 9,237 streets with active cases. Even though the Test positivity rate (TPR) of the state is only 20 per cent, people must be cautious of the spread as the neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka are recording higher number of cases and TPR. He said that the only solution is to adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour. If there are any attempts of private hospitals fleecing money by admitting patients with minor symptoms to hospitals for hefty charges, complaints can be lodged on the state medical helpline 104, the Minister added.

Ladakh has reported 185 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 23,885 while the active cases in the union territory has gone up to to 1,020, officials said. The union territory has recorded 222 Covid-related deaths- 164 in Leh and 58 in Kargil- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, they said. There was no death reported from union territory on Wednesday, they said. With the discharge of as many as 130 patients from hospitals in Ladakh, the total number of cured patients has surged to 22,643, they said. Of the total of 185 fresh cases from Union territory, 158 such cases were reportfrom Leh district and 27 from Kargil district, they said.

A third dose of COVID-19 vaccine increases the level of antibodies that can effectively neutralise the Omicron variant of coronavirus, according to a study published in The Lancet journal. Researchers from Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UK, found that antibodies generated in people who had received only two doses of either the AstraZeneca or the Pfizer vaccine were less able to neutralise Omicron as compared to Alpha and Delta variants. They also found that antibody levels dropped off in the first three months following the second dose but a third ‘booster’ dose raised levels of antibodies that effectively neutralise the Omicron variant.

Kerala, which grabbed global attention with its deft handling of Covid-19 pandemic by the then Health Minister KK Shailaja, is facing a grim situation after recording a huge spurt in the infection putting journalist-turned-health minister Veena George in a tight spot. It all began in 2020 when the state registered the first Covid case in the country and by March, it came into limelight when it declared a lockdown. Soon, a nationwide lockdown followed. At a time when countries like Italy, the UK and even the US was groping in the dark, Shailaja was making waves for the manner she was managing the health crisis in her state. Every morning and evening, she would brief the media about the pandemic situation. The popularity she enjoyed, according to many, made Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan little insecure as whispers of Shailaja standing a chance to be decorated with the Nobel prize grew loud.

Arunachal Pradesh reported 435 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest single-day spike so far this month, as the tally climbed to 57,822, a senior health department official said. The northeastern state had Wednesday logged 350 infections. Out of Thursday’s count, 138 cases were registered in the Capital Complex Region, 40 from West Kameng, Changlang (37), Namsai (35), Lower Dibang Valley (31), Lohit (28), Papumpare (26), Lower Subansiri (23) and East Siang (22), he said. The death toll remained at 282 as no fresh fatality was reported in the past 24 hours. Arunachal Pradesh now has 1,938 active cases, while 55,602 patients have recovered from the disease thus far, the official said. The Capital Complex Region, comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas, has the highest number of active infections at 686, followed by West Kameng (233), Changlang (186), Namsai (125), Lower Dibang Valley (121) and Lohit (101). A total of 12,21,290 samples have been tested for COVID-19, he said, adding, the positivity ratio stood at 26.75 per cent. 

According to a new study, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may cause fetal inflammation even in the absence of placental infection.The study has been published in the 'Nature Communications Journal'.Pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19. Infection increases the risk of preterm birth, stillbirth, and pre-eclampsia.The study reported that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may cause inflammatory immune responses in the foetus, even if the virus does not infect the placenta.The study, conducted by Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, PhD, associate professor of the WSU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and section head of the Maternal-Fetal Immunobiology Unit, and Roberto Romero, MD, D.Med.Sci., chief of the NIH's Perinatology Research Branch, based at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and professor of Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics at the WSU School of Medicine, details changes in antibodies, immune cell types and inflammatory markers in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and placental tissues."We found that in pregnant mothers who contract the virus, SARS-CoV-2 induces a foetal immune response even in the absence of placental infection or symptoms in the newborn. The potential long-term effects of this inflammatory process on infants require further study," Dr Gomez-Lopez said.

Puducherry reports 2,783 new COVID-19 cases, 1073 recoveries and 1 death in the last 24 hours.

Active cases 13,053

Test positivity 43.19%

India reported 3,17,532 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, a substantial rise of around 12 per cent from the previous day, said the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Thursday. On Wednesday, India had reported 2,82,970 new Covid cases, a rise of over 18 per cent from the previous day's count, and on Tuesday, 2,38,018 new infections were registered. A total 491 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours on Thursday taking the toll to 4,87,693. The active caseload has jumped to 19,24,051 which constitutes 5.03 per cent of the country's total positive cases. The Omicron infection tally has risen to 9,287 across the nation, an increase of 3.63 per cent from Wednesday. The recovery of 2,23,990 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,58,07,029. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 93.69 per cent.

Germany has registered 133,536 new coronavirus cases within the past 24 hours, marking thus the largest daily increase since the start of the outbreak, Robert Koch Institute said on Thursday.

India logged 3,17,532 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 249 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,82,18,773, which includes 9,287 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The active cases rose to 19,24,051, the highest in 234 days, while the death toll climbed to 4,87,693 with 491 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. There has been a 3.63 per cent increase in Omicron cases since Wednesday, the ministry said. Experts said it is not possible to undertake genome sequencing of each and every sample but stressed that the current wave is largely being driven by Omicron. The active cases comprise 5.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 93.09 per cent, the ministry said.

At a time when clamour for lifting of the weekend and night curfew is growing in the state, especially in Bengaluru, and the government seems all set to ease by this weekend, the number of Covid cases have dipped in the capital city. Against 24,135 fresh Covid cases reported, 18,081 persons have been discharged. The number of Micro Containment Zones have come down to 444 and authorities have deactivated 2,109 such zones in the last 24 hours. According to statistics, the districts barring Bengaluru are seeing a more than 200 per cent rise in the last six days while cases in Bengaluru jumped to 72 per cent. Many districts of the state which recorded Covid cases in single digits last week, have crossed four digits.

India reports 3,17,532 new COVID cases, 491 deaths, and 2,23,990 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

Active case: 19,24,051
Daily positivity rate: 16.41%

9,287 total Omicron cases detected so far; an increase of 3.63%  since yesterday

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A total of 70,93,56,830 samples tested up to January 19; of which 19,35,180 were tested on January 19: Ministry of Health. 

Amid an ongoing resurgence across the world, the global coronavirus caseload has topped 337.1 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.56 million and vaccinations to over 9.71 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. In its latest update on Thursday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 337,112,379 and 5,563,776, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered has increased to 9,710,746,441.

Mexico has confirmed 60,552 new coronavirus cases within the past 24 hours, marking thus the largest daily increase since the start of the pandemic, the national Ministry of Health said.

For the first time, people across the US can log on to a government website and order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. But the White House push may do little to ease the omicron surge, and experts say Washington will have to do a lot more to fix the country's long-troubled testing system. The website, COVIDTests.gov, allows people to order four at-home tests per household, regardless of citizenship status, and have them delivered by mail. But the tests won't arrive for seven to 12 days, after omicron cases are expected to peak in many parts of the country. The White House also announced on Wednesday that it will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and community health centres. Both initiatives represent the kind of mass government investments long seen in parts of Europe and Asia, but delayed in the U.S.

Poland has reported 30,586 new Covid-19 infections, the highest number since the spring of last year. Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said during a press conference on Wednesday that nearly 20 per cent of new cases are of the Omicron variant, and the spread of it has "officially become a fact", Xinhua news agency reported. "The situation is dramatic," he said, adding that the expected daily number would exceed 50,000 next week. "We have decided to introduce compulsory working from home for all civil servants," he said, asking businesses to follow suit and let their employees work from home whenever possible. The Polish Health Ministry has also reported 375 more deaths over a period of 24 hours. With a vaccination rate of around 56 per cent, Poland is lagging behind other European Union countries. Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, Poland has registered about 4.3 million cases of Covid-19 infection. A total of 103,062 people in the country have died as a result of the pandemic.

A vaccine adapted to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 could be available in the Netherlands by the end of April, Dutch Health Minister Ernst Kuipers wrote on Wednesday in a letter to the parliament. In his letter, Kuipers responded to a question from Democrats 66 Member of Parliament Jan Paternotte regarding whether pharmaceutical companies Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are working on an Omicron-adapted vaccine.

Jharkhand reported 2,617 fresh COVID cases, 3,769 recoveries, and 12 deaths on Wednesday. 

Kerala reported 54 new cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. According to the state government, the total count of Omicron cases in the state has gone up to 645. Out of these cases, 434 patients had come from low-risk countries, 107 from high-risk countries, 80 patients through contact tracing and 24 persons from other states. Kerala reported 34,199 new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours. The state has 1,68,383 active COVID-19 cases.