Omicron variant: Puducherry schools for classes 1 to 9 to remain closed for physical classes

Goa reports 1,922 new cases, 261 recoveries, and one death in the last 24 hours. Active cases 9,209

Uttar Pradesh recorded 7,695 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths that raised the infection tally to 17,37,550 and the fatality count to 22,928 in the state, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.

A death reach due to the virus was reported from Meerut, Prayagraj, Bulandshahr and Budaun, the state government statement said.

So far, 16,88,648 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the disease and have been discharged.

The count of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 25,974, the statement said.

West Bengal BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar tests positive for COVID

Maharashtra: Pune reports 4,029 fresh COVID cases today, taking active cases in the city to 14,890

Amid rising cases of COVID-19, all physical classes for students of classes 1st to 9th to remain closed, online mode of study to continue in Puducherry: Govt

Goa on Sunday added 1,922 COVID-19 cases to its tally, which touched 1,89,909, with the positivity rate being 24.76 per cent, up from 23.25 per cent a day earlier, an official said. The cases detected during the day were from coronavirus testing of 7,761 samples, he pointed out.

Kerala reports 6238 new COVID cases, 2390 recoveries, and 30 deaths today  Active cases: 34,902 Death toll: 49,591

Uttarakhand reports 1413 COVID cases, 482 recoveries, and one death today

Karnataka reports 12,000 fresh COVID cases (9,020 in Bengaluru) today, says State Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K  Positivity rate in State: 6.33% Active cases: 49,602

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to interact with state health ministers tomorrow over the COVID-19 situation: Govt Sources

BSF suspends weekend beating retreat ceremony at Suchetgarh Border Out Post in view of rising COVID cases

Varun Gandhi, BJP's Lok Sabha MP from Pilibhit, says he has tested positive for Covid.

Chhattisgarh Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Guru Rudra Kumar on Sunday said he has tested positive for coronavirus and is in home isolation.

With this, two state cabinet ministers have so far contracted the viral infection this month. "On noticing the symptoms of Covid, I got myself tested for the infection. My report came out positive. I am fine as of now and undergoing treatment in home isolation on the advice of doctors,” Rudra Kumar tweeted.

“I appeal to all those who came in contact with me in the recent past to get themselves tested,'' he added. On January 2, state Health Minister T S Singh Deo had tested positive for the infection. Chhattisgarh on Saturday reported 3,455 new COVID-19 cases, raising the state's infection tally to 10,20,811, while four deaths took the toll to 13,613, an official earlier said.

Since January 1 this year, the state has reported 12,624 new cases of the viral infection, as per official data. In view of the sharp rise in coronavirus cases, night curfew has been imposed in several districts of Chhattisgarh, including capital Raipur, while rallies, processions and other public events have been banned across the state.

Delhi: Production units bear losses due to COVID restrictions. About 5 crore production loss in 2 days. Our labourers have returned home, it is not easy to find new labour. Government should let us operate at 50% capacity like private offices: Charanjit Singh, General Secretary, Flatted Factory, Okhla.

Despite a fully vaccinated workforce, we don't understand why we are asked to shut every time; already tired of 2 lockdowns, now leaving Delhi seems like the only option. Government should think that we are not a big industry. We fear that labourers will go home if the situation persists; have to pay to our permanent labourers, and are worried about casual labourers leaving. They are daily wagers, might leave in a situation (of no pay): Anil Gupta, Chairman, Jhilmil Friends Colony Industrial area.

In view of the rising COVID-19 cases, Rajya Sabha Secretariat restricts staff attendance. As per new directions, 50% of officials and staff below the rank of under secretary/executive officer are required to WFH till the end of this month. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has reviewed the situation and directed that necessary measures be taken to contain the spread of the virus among the Secretariat officials and staff ahead of the Budget session which is to begin towards the end of this month. Those with disabilities and pregnant women are exempted from attending office. Starting and closing timings of the Secretariat are staggered to avoid crowding. All official meetings will be held virtually.

Migrant labourers, who during the previous coronavirus-induced lockdown, ran out of food, struggled to access healthcare and faced acute livelihood problems, are once again returning to their home states fearing that the weekly curfew may be converted into a lockdown as Covid surge continues. Fearing lockdown in the national capital, migrant labourer Hemant Maurya has already left for his home state. "Last time, I got stuck in the national capital with my family. Duration of lockdown was extended gradually and I faced a lot of hardship. That's why when this time I heard of curfew, I left the national capital," Maurya said. He further said: "If the curfew is not extended, we will come back. Fearing lockdown, I left for home on January 6. Will face problem due to unemployment, but if life will be saved, will find some work. This time I was accompanied by four fellow labourers." Hemant is not the only one, 33-year-old Raju, resident of Gonda district, also returned home. Raju said: "In the previous lockdown, my kids were staying with me. We did not have money and had to survive without food for one day. After borrowing money from my friend, I returned home. This time, I did not wait for anything. If curfew will not be extended, we will return." "One of my villagemen Vinod has also returned along with me. Covid cases are increasing. We will think about going back when the situation becomes normal," Raju further said. Delhi's daily Covid tally has crossed over 20,000 cases in a day. Due to surge in infection, lockdown is likely to be imposed, which is a cause of concern for the migrant labourers.

The Omicron Covid-19 variant may be 105 per cent more transmissible than Delta, according to a research by French scientists. The study, published on the medRxiv site and yet to be peer-reviewed, analysed 131,478 tests in France from October 25 to December 18, 2021. The team applied statistical models to variant-specific screening tests and full genome sequencing. They compared the number of infections with the Omicron, Alpha and the Delta variants over a 21-day period. The difference in rate of transmissibility in people with the Delta and Omicron was approximately 105 per cent. "We estimate that the transmission advantage of the Omicron variant over the Delta variant is more than 105 per cent," said Samuel Alizon, from Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB) France. Further, the results showed that tests consistent with the presence of the Omicron variant exhibit significantly higher cycle threshold Ct values, which could indicate lower amounts of virus genetic material. "Epidemiological modelling indicates that even if the virulence of the Omicron variant is reduced compared to that of the Delta variant, the increase in reproduction number we estimate from the data can has the potential to maintain critical Covid-19 activity at a high level in French hospitals, if not overloading them," Alizon said adding that "swift mitigation of the epidemic wave" is essential. The results also showed that in young people, the prevalence of infection with the Omicron variant or the Alpha variant was higher than that of the Delta variant.

COVID-19 review meeting tomorrow, January 10 with DDMA: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Maharashtra: Out of 500 workers of railway workshop in the Mahalaxmi area, a total of 62 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the last four days. Sample testing of other workers is underway: Western Railway PRO. 

COVID cases are rapidly rising. About 22,000 cases are expected in today's health bulletin. Increasing cases concerning but need not be scared. I am saying so after analysing (comparing) data from the last wave: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

We don't want to impose lockdown, we won't if you wear masks. No intent for lockdown as of now: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses media on COVID situation after recovering from coronavirus pandemic. 

More than 155.95 crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs so far through GoI (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category. Over 17.74 Crore balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with States/UTs to be administered: Union Health Ministry. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday (January 9) said that he has recovered from Covid and is back in the service of the public. The CM had tested positive on January 4 and had isolated himself at home. He had mild symptoms. “I am back in your service after recovering from Corona,” Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi on Sunday morning. Kejriwal had tested positive a day after holding a rally in Dehradun on January 3. Last year in April, Kejriwal's wife Sunita had tested positive for COVID-19. Though Kejriwal had then developed symptoms, he had tested negative. Last year, most of the ministers in his Cabinet including his deputy Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and Environment Minister Gopal Rai had tested Covid positive.

Odisha reported 4,714 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, 28 per cent more than the previous day, and the highest single-day spike in nearly six months, the Health Department said. The daily positivity rate jumped to 6.72 per cent from 5.15 on Saturday. As many as 416 children were among those infected, a bulletin said. The toll stood at 8,468 as there was no death. These deaths are confirmed due to COVID-19 after an audit. Fifty-three other COVID-19 patients have died due to comorbidities so far, it added.

India logged 552 new cases of Omicron, taking the total tally of such infections to 3,623 across 27 states and UTs so far, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. Out of the total Omicron cases, 1,409 people have migrated or recovered. Maharashtra recorded  the maximum number of 1,009 cases followed by  Delhi at 513, Karnataka 441, Rajasthan 373, Kerala 333 and Gujarat 204. A total of 1,59,632 new coronavirus infections were reported in a day, the highest in 224 days, while the active cases increased to 5,90,611, the highest in around 197 days, according to the data updated at 8 am. The death toll climbed to 4,83,790 with 327 fresh fatalities,the data stated. A total of 1,65,553 infections were reported on May 29 last year.
  

Tamil Nadu: Chennai observes complete lockdown today in view of rising number of COVID-19 cases. 

COVID-19: A total of 3,623 Omicron cases were reported in 27 States/UTs of India so far. The number of persons recovered is 1,409, informs Union Health Ministry.

India reports 1,59,632 fresh COVID cases, 40,863 recoveries, and 327 deaths in the last 24 hours

READ MORE HERE:  Coronavirus pandemic LIVE Updates: India logs over 1.59 lakh new cases, 327 fatalities in last 24 hours

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, West Bengal is now amongst the list of top two States with the highest active cases.The active cases of the state have contributed to over 51,000 cases or 10.88 per cent of the cases in India. As per the Union Health Ministry, West Bengal has 51,384 active cases.West Bengal ranks second after Maharashtra, which has an active caseload of 1,45,198. Bengal has been amongst the top three states with Maharashtra and Kerala since last month, contributing to the highest active COVID-19 cases in India at over 91,000 or 12.98 per cent.

Lucknow has reported 876 new Covid cases, taking the total number of active cases in the state capital to 2,573 which is the highest in the past eight months. Among the new cases, 253 were the contacts of patients diagnosed with the virus earlier, while 167 had travel history to other states or countries. At least 133 had got themselves tested after developing mild symptoms. Besides, 19 people were found to be infected in routine testing done before admitting them to various hospitals for surgeries related to other diseases. The highest number of cases were reported from the Chinhat area where 166 people tested positive for infection followed by 120 in Aliganj, 77 in Indiranagar, 74 in Alambagh, 71 in Old City, 60 in Sarojini Nagar, 53 in Nawal Kishore Road and 47 in Kaiserbagh.

Registration for the 'precaution dose' of COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with co-morbidities started on the CoWIN portal on Saturday evening. The exercise of administering the precaution dose to these category of beneficiaries will begin from Jan 10. Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Vikas Sheel on Saturday said in a tweet, "The feature for online appointments for precaution dose for HCWs/FLWs and Citizens (60+) is now live on Co-WIN. To book an appointment, please visit https://cowin.gov.in There is no need for new registration of those taking the precautionary dose and they can directly take an appointment from Saturday or walk-in, the Union Health Ministry had said. All people aged 60 years and above with co-morbidities will not be required to produce or submit any certificate from their doctor at the time of administration of the precaution dose, the Centre informed states and UTs recently.

Bengaluru's daily Covid-19 cases have jumped to 7,113 taking the tally of total active cases to 32,157 on Saturday, according to statistics released by the department of Health and Family Welfare. The number of discharges stood at 323, while three deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. The number of tests done by the authorities in Bengaluru during the day was 72,594. Meanwhile, the total active cases in Karnataka stands at 38,507, with 8,906 new Covid positive cases reported in the state. The positivity rate of the state stands at 5.42 per cent. In Bengaluru city, as many as 207 children aged between 0 to 9 years and 725 aged between 10 to 19 years have also tested positive for Covid-19, making parents worried. Zonal data of the city shows Mahadevapura stands top in the city with 12,021 cases. The zone houses the most number of IT companies and lakhs of technical professionals stay in the area. Total active micro containment zones swelled to 346 in Bengaluru and authorities have deactivated 1,640 micro containment zones. Bommanahalli zone tops the list with 497 micro containment zones. As many as 353 international passengers have arrived in Bengaluru and among them 7 have tested positive in the last 24 hours.

Kerala reported 23 new cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus on Saturday, said the state health department. With this, the count of Omicron cases in the state has gone up to 328. Kerala reported 5,944 new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours, said the state government on Saturday. During the last 24 hours, 60,075 samples were tested. 2,463 people recovered from the infection during the last 24 hours while 33 people lost their lives to the deadly virus within the same time frame. Additionally, 209 more deaths were designated as Covid-19 that occurred before June 2021 but were not initially added to the state death tally after receiving the new guidelines of the Centre. There are currently 31,098 active COVID-19 cases in the state.

Vietnam has reported 16,553 new Covid-19 cases, including 16,513 locally transmitted and 40 imported, according to its Ministry of Health. The Vietnamese capital Hanoi remained the locality with highest number of infections on Saturday with 2,791 cases, followed by central Khanh Hoa province with 798 cases and northern Hai Phong city with 748 cases, Xinhua news agency reported. The infections brought the country's total tally to 1,876,394 with 34,117 deaths. Nationwide, as many as 1,488,038 Covid-19 patients have so far recovered, up 8,990 from Friday. Some 159.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including 70.8 million second shots and 10.2 million third shots, have been administered, according to the ministry. Vietnam has by far gone through four coronavirus waves of increasing scale, complication and infectivity. As of Saturday, the country has registered over 1.87 million locally transmitted Covid-19 cases since the start of the current wave in late April last year, the ministry said.

Spain's confirmed COVID-19 cases has passed the 7 million benchmark and the death toll is likely to reach 90,000 soon, according to the latest figures published by the Ministry of Health. The data, which was published late on Friday night, showed 7,164,906 people have been infected by COVID-19, with 2,42,440 new cases reported in the 48-hour period between 14:00 on Wednesday until the same time on Friday. The same period also saw the confirmation of 97 more deaths in the country due to the virus, lifting the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 89,934. Spain is suffering the sixth wave of infections due to the Omicron variant, with the last million cases confirmed in just 10 days since the country crossed the 6-million cases mark on December 28 and with a 46 percent increase in cases over the past week. The 14-day incidence of the virus continued to rise and hit a new high of 2,722 cases per 1,00,000 inhabitants on Friday. Children returned to school on Jan. 10 with the Health Ministry on Friday agreeing that if five COVID-19 cases are detected in a class, then all the children in the class will be subject to quarantine.

Ladakh: We have decided to suspend the Chadar Trek. The decision has been taken after considering the suggestions of all the stakeholders. We have suspended such winter tourism activities in view of the increase in COVID cases, says Leh DM, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse. 

Haryana: Till now, around 50 doctors have tested positive for COVID-19. In view of that, we have decided to put some restrictions including closing OPD service from Monday. We are advising chronic patients to take prescriptions online only, says Dr Ishwar Singh, PGIMS, Rohtak.