Omicron Variant Cases and Deaths in India Live, Covid-19 Booster Vaccine Registration Update: India reported 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 on Sunday, as Omicron and Delta variant cases rise alarmingly in the country.
The health ministry also reported 327 new deaths, taking the total to 4,83,790.
An increase of 1,18,442 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 10.21 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 6.77 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,44,53,603 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.36 per cent.
ALSO READ — 7-day home quarantine mandatory for all international arrivals
India Omicron Cases
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.
No plan to impose lockdown in Delhi yet, says CM Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that there is no plan to impose lockdown as of now and there will be no lockdown 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 is 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.
The CM said that he along with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and the Centre are keeping a close eye on the Covid situation. “Our attempt is to impose minimum restrictions so livelihoods are not affected,” Kejriwal said.
Watch out this space for news related to Covid-19 and Omicron variant from India and around the globe:
Amid an uptick in coronavirus cases, the Delhi government has taken action against 5,073 people for not wearing masks in public or work places. to p Covid-appropriate behaviour. According to official data, 61 FIRs were registered on Saturday against those not following Covid-appropriate behaviour and a fine of Rs.1.25 crores was collected from the violators. The data stated that 5,073 people were challaned for violation of masks, 74 for not maintaining social distancing and 51 people were fined for spitting in public places in its 11 districts. Enforcement teams of Revenue Department have formed flying squads to take action against big gatherings, and violations of social-distancing norms at restaurants, hotels, markets and other such places. Lt Governor Anil Baijal directed the police commissioner and divisional commissioner (revenue) to strictly ensure compliance with Covid-appropriate behaviour in line with the latest guidelines of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), officials had said. The intervention came in the wake of reports on overcrowding at the city's marketplaces. Police officers and field functionaries have been directed to immediately ensure strict enforcement of the DDMA order, they had said. (PTI)
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Active cases: 1,17,434 pic.twitter.com/GosXE9jMZu
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
The Delhi health department has directed all private hospitals and nursing homes to ensure that their health care staff treating non-Covid patients maintain coronavirus appropriate behaviour and are routinely checked for the infection. The health care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 should not be allowed to work till their RTPCR report is negative, it said. The directions come in view of a surge in Covid cases in ICUs, dialysis units and wards of hospitals. The department said infected health care workers and undiagnosed infected patients are likely the reason behind the spread of the infection in these areas. “Therefore, the authorities of all private hospitals and nursing homes are to ensure that the health care workers treating non-Covid patients, especially in ICUs, maintain COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and are routinely checked for SARS-CoV-2,” read an advisory issued by the health department. It may also be ensured that health care workers have received COVID-19 vaccination as per the guidelines issued by the Union health ministry, the department said. It has also asked the private hospitals and nursing homes to create an isolation area within intensive care units (ICUs) and wards to manage new patients till their RTPCR report is available. (PTI)
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/X3s94p1ecV#covid19 pic.twitter.com/0khCNYMOrJ
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 9, 2022
No Omicron case was reported in Gujarat on Sunday, keeping the tally of those infected with the new coronavirus variant unchanged at 236, while the day also saw 19 recoveries from it, an official said. The number of people who have recovered from the infection caused by the Omicron variant rose to 186, with the people discharged during the day comprising nine from Vadodara, six from Rajkot, three from Anand and one from Ahmedabad, he pointed out. Ahmedabad city leads with 105 Omicron cases and 75 recoveries, followed by 35 cases and 32 recoveries in Vadodara, 23 cases and 21 recoveries in Anand, among other districts, he said. So far, 15 out of the state's 33 districts have reported Omicron cases, the official added. (PTI)
Active cases: 2,02,259
Death toll: 1,41,639
Omicron cases in the state: 1216 pic.twitter.com/63KDaWGVIF
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
“The fitness industry is suffering a lot because of the closure of gyms. I would request our CM to permit us to run the gyms at 50% capacity, following all Covid guidelines,” says gym owner pic.twitter.com/LY3PsV57ZP
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Active cases: 78,111
Total recoveries: 16,57,034
Death toll: 19,901
Today's positivity rate: 33.89% pic.twitter.com/WTFrlfZn9L
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Total dishcarges: 8,24,163
Active cases: 27,913
Death toll: 10,128
Cases of Omicron: 236
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Active cases: 60,733
Total recoveries: 14,63,837
Today's positivity rate: 23.53% pic.twitter.com/v5IrsTmpLv
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
“It would go into effect from January 17,” COVID Crisis Management Center Spokesperson Sunita Nepal tells ANI
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Winter tourism activities in Ladakh, including the Chadar trek and the snow leopard sighting expedition, have been suspended in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the union territory, officials said on Sunday. Ladakh has recorded over 1,500 new Covid cases and 13 deaths linked to the disease since November last year, with a majority of the infections being reported in Leh. In January, the union territory has recorded 288 cases and two deaths.
Ladakh's COVID-19 caseload increased to 22,472 on Sunday as 59 more people tested positive for the virus, while the death toll stood at 221 — 163 in Leh and 58 in Kargil. District Magistrate, Leh, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse has ordered the suspension of the Chadar trek 2022, snow leopard sighting expedition and other winter tourism activities in the district till further orders in view of the Covid surge, the officials said. The Chadar trek or the Zanskar gorge is a winter trail in the Zanskar area of Leh. Traditionally, the only means of travel in the area during the harsh winter months, the trail has become popular with adventure tourists over the years. The officials said the district administration suspended the tourism activities after consultations with all stakeholders. They said Suse, who is also the chairperson of the district disaster management authority, has warned of punitive action if the directions are violated. (PTI)
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Nearly 80-85 per cent of the COVID-19 cases reported in Tamil Nadu were people who had 'S' gene drop in their samples, indicating contraction of Omicron variant of coronavirus while the remaining 15-20 per cent was Delta variant, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Sunday. Appealing people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus, the minister said it was satisfying to know that there were no fatalities among those who were detected with 'S' gene drop indicating they would have contracted the Omicron variant. Amid the full lockdown put in place on Sunday by the Tamil Nadu government following the spurt in new cases, Subramanian said nearly 90 per cent of those affected by Omicron have received both doses of vaccination and were asymptomatic. “Every one should receive double dose of vaccination against COVID-19. People should adhere to COVID-19 protocol like wearing a face mask among others,” he told reporters. (PTI)
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. One death took the toll to 3,532 and the recovery count stood at 1,77,168 with the discharge of 261 persons on Sunday, he said. The active tally in the coastal state is 9,209 and the number of tests conducted so far was 16,73,795, he added. Goa's COVID-19 figures: Positive cases 1,89,909, new cases 1922, death toll 3532, discharged 177168, active cases 9209, samples tested till date 16,73,795. (PTI)
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Working with reduced capacity is better than a complete shutdown as business suffered a lot in lockdown: Diksha Gurung, Manager, BeBonnie Hair&Skin Beauty Parlour in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/xlFWoBtDq7
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Active cases: 4118
Today's positivity rate: 7.79% pic.twitter.com/T3xd20hVXx
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 9, 2022
Active cases: 34,902
Death toll: 49,591
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/ICRoctuz4s
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Positivity rate in State: 6.33%
Active cases: 49,602
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2022
Germany's ruling parties are hitting the brakes on plans for compulsory coronavirus vaccinations, saying it may take months for lawmakers to properly debate the contentious measure in parliament. Berlin daily Tagesspiegel on Sunday quoted Dirk Wiese, a deputy parliamentary caucus leader for the Social Democrats, as saying the Bundestag should aim to complete its deliberations on the vaccine mandate during the first quarter of 2022. Green party caucus leader Britta Hasselmann told the Funke media group that the first debate could take place in late January. With few parliamentary sessions in February, this could mean the lower house won't pass a bill before the end of March. The Bundesrat, Germany's upper chamber, would then take up the matter in April, meaning the earliest it could come into force would be a month later. Tagesspiegel reported that implementation could be delayed until June to ensure the technical conditions, such as a nationwide vaccine register, are in place. A poll published Sunday by weekly Bild am Sonntag shows almost two-thirds of Germans support a vaccine mandate, with about a third against it. Among those who oppose it are some members of the Free Democrats, who are part of the ruling coalition, and Germany's former health minister who pledged last summer not to introduce a general vaccine mandate. Political leaders have agreed to let lawmakers vote according to their own conscience rather than along party lines on the issue. The looming mandate has also been a rallying point for vocal anti-vaccine campaigners who have taken part in protests against Germany's pandemic restrictions. Some recent demonstrations have turned violent, with protesters attacking police officers after being ordered to disperse. Almost 72per cent of Germans are considered “fully vaccinated,” while 42.3?per cent have received an additional booster shot.
Germany's disease control agency reported 36,552 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, and 77 deaths. (AP)
Covid ‘Precautionary dose’ vaccination: Healthcare, frontline workers and senior citizens above 60 can now book slots for ‘Covid-19 ‘Precautionary dose’ on the Co-WIN portal. The slot booking link is now live, informed Vikas Sheel, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission on Saturday. | Read More
A one-day complete lockdown to tackle the rapidly rising COVID-19 cases was enforced across Tamil Nadu on Sunday while police, local and health authorities stepped up measures to check violations.
Be it arterial roads, bylanes, markets or malls, public places in the state were deserted but for the movement of people, cargo trucks and other vehicles linked to essential services like milk distribution or in connection with purposes allowed by the government including health issues.
Healthcare professionals and workers, sanitary and civic personnel, continued their routine work.
Barring flights, suburban and other train operations, bus and other public transport services including the Metrorail here were suspended. Suburban trains were operated here with 50 per cent occupancy.
In view of the one-day lockdown, restaurants were allowed to offer only takeaway services (from 7 AM to 10 PM) and food delivery firms were permitted to work.
Police closed/regulated access to several flyovers, roads here and elsewhere and set up checkpoints on highways, key intersections and thoroughfares as part of measures to crack down on violators.
Similarly, civic and health authorities monitored effective implementation of lockdown across the state.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian, along with top civic, health and police officials made inspections here and checked the enforcement of lockdown norms and sensitised people travelling for essential purposes on the guidelines to be followed to prevent virus spread.
Greater Chennai police said 381 cases were booked on Saturday for violation of curbs and 53 for not maintaining physical distance.
As many as 761 vehicles were seized in connection with breaching COVID prevention norms, a release said. A fine of Rs 11,94,200 has been collected from a total of 5,971 people for not wearing mask, it added.
Vehicle checks were intensified in districts bordering neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry in view of curbs.
To tackle the rising coronavirus cases and considering Omicron strain's spread, Chief Minister M K Stalin had day ago ordered fresh curbs which includes state-wide night curfew between 10 PM and 5 AM with effect from January 6. Also, he had announced a shutdown on January 9.
Chennai Police said people may contact them at 94981 81236, 94981 81239, 72007 06492 and 72007 01843 for enquiries on norms being implemented as part of the night curfew and lockdown on Sunday.
Fresh virus cases breached the 10,000 mark in Tamil Nadu on January 8 as it added 10,978 infections.
Days ago, Minister Subramanian had said that the Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus were spreading like a 'tsunami' in Tamil Nadu and appealed to people to toe norms and get vaccinated to contain the spread. (PTI)
All schools conducting offline classes for students from grade 1 to 9 will remain shut from Monday in the Union Territory due to unabated rise in number of Covid 19 cases.
Home and Education Minister A Namassivayam said in a release that online classes would resume for students of Classes 1 to 9 as holiday has been declared for these classes from tomorrow until further orders.
Director of School Education P T Rudra Goud said all schools including the privately managed and government aided institutions would remain closed in view of 'surge in number of daily cases,' until further orders.
A spokesperson of the Department of Health had told PTI that the department had recommended to the government to declare holiday for the schools conducting classes for students of grade 1 to 9 in view of virtually alarming trend of occurrence of fresh cases.
The government reopened schools for classes 1 to 9 on December 4 with the pandemic situation showing signs of abatement.
But since last few days the new cases is on the increase and it touched 444 cases during last 24 hours ending 10 a.m. Sunday.
The government has already dispensed with physical conduct of the 25th National Youth Festival and has announced that it would be inaugurated on January 12 by Prime Minister through virtual mode from Delhi on January 12. (PTI)
Precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers, frontline workers and persons aged above 60 with co-morbidities will be rolled out from January 10, with a target of vaccinating about 21 lakh beneficiaries in the state, the Karnataka Health Department said on Sunday.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) who have completed 9 months or 39 weeks from the date of second dose vaccination as registered on the CoWIN portal are eligible for precaution dose vaccination.
Similar is the criteria for the persons aged above 60 with co-morbidities, and no medical certificate is required for eligible beneficiaries to avail precaution dose.
Precaution dose will be the same vaccine dose which was administered previously.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will launch this precaution dose vaccination on Monday at 10 AM at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Research Centre here, while all districts have planned for launch by in-charge Ministers and taluk launch by MLAs, the Health department's release said.
“Nine months/ 39 weeks completed 6 lakh healthcare workers, 7 lakh frontline workers and 8 lakh persons aged above 60 with Co-morbidities will be receiving precaution dose,” it said.
Beneficiaries who have received SPUTNIK as first and second dose are not eligible for precaution as of now, it added.
Noting that with existing vaccine stock all districts have geared up with micro plan, logistics, staff etc, the department said that the central government will dispatch required doses to the state, and the vaccination will be conducted free of cost at all government COVID-19 vaccination centres.
No new registration is required for precaution dose, it said, adding HCW and FLWs less than 60 years of age who have taken second doses from citizen category and not tagged on Co-WIN need to visit government COVID vaccination centres along with employment certificate in order to tag themselves in appropriate category before taking precaution dose after prescribed time interval.
With a target of 4.89 crore beneficiaries in the age group above 18 years, the State started COVID-19 vaccination from January 16, 2021 in a phased manner, and has vaccinated 4.8 crore (99 percent) beneficiaries with the first dose and 3.9 crore (81percent) beneficiaries with second dose, so far.
Vaccination for children in the age group 15-18 years has been rolled out in the state from January 3, 2022, and with the target of 31.75 lakh beneficiaries, and the state has vaccinated 15.5 lakh (49 per cent) beneficiaries with the first dose till now. (PTI)
The fine dining restaurants in the country's food capital – Kolkata – who have been seeing a steady decline in customers as the third Covid-19 wave hit the vibrant city soon after Christmas, are looking at making up part of their losses though home deliveries.
However, as Zomato and Swiggy and delivery champions come to their rescue, enthusiasm for the food trade in a city of foodies is not waning and new businesses are cropping up every day.
Sudesh Poddar, President of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India told PTI Wednesday there had been 60-70 per cent fall in the number diners across restaurants since Christmas week as Covid-19 infections surged.
“There was fantastic response, similar to pre-Covid times, till December 26 at almost all restaurants. However, people decided against eating out as crowds swelled on the streets and then Covid infections increased,” said Poddar.
Kolkata's restaurant trade is worth an annual turnover of Rs 10,000 crore in normal times with just the 9 days from Christmas Eve till New Year accounting for about Rs 1,200 crore in sales.
“I think the fall in number of diners across the fine dining restaurants can be between 60-70 per cent between the period of December 29 to January 7,” he said.
Dining out was also hit when the state decided to impose night curfew from 10 pm.
The restaurateur said he expects business to falter till February when the number of Covid cases are forecast to start coming down by health experts. “Once that happens people may return, taking all precautions,” he said.
The owner of iconic `Peter Cat' and `Mocambo' on Kolkata's happening Park Street, Nitin Kothari said “though my outlets have recorded full occupancy with 50 per cent seating allowed by the government even the day before, crowds have thinned considerably in all the outlets since Christmas.” “Sales have definitely dropped, by maybe 20 per cent after 2nd January. That's also because we have curtailed our seating from 70 per cent of capacity to 50 per cent as per Covid guidelines,” he said.
He said restaurateurs have worked to make customers feel safe by strictly adhering to best practices, “with our staff using face shield, hand gloves, masks and ensuring there is significant gaps between seats.” Debaditya Chaudhury, Managing Director of restaurant chains like Chowman, Oudh 1590 and Chapter 2 said “it's true that our dine-in sale has gone down by 30 per cent but our delivery has come to our rescue with an increase (in sales) by 50-60 per cent.” Said food historian Ranjini Guha “Several new restaurants have started up despite the times being challenging – Craft Coffee, Bean Shot Café, Verandah café, to name just a few. Food businesses are betting that as we learn to live with Covid, they can carve a niche with healthier menus, more stress on hygiene, stricter protocols.” Surojit Rout whose restaurant Ekdalia Rd had to shut down in 2020, two years after launching and who moved on to running a cloud kitchen has re-started business with a new restaurant on Southern Avenue.
Apeksha Lahiri, Proprietor of The Yellow Turtle said “the number of patrons went down since December 27 as people covid cases rose and the December 31 turnout was nowhere as expected.” “We will have no other option than to focus more on take away and home delivery of our food, through our own delivery boys as well as through service providers like Zomato & Swiggy,” added Jayashri Chattaraj, Partner, Blu Orchid.
However, the timing of the night curfew at 10 pm with no relaxations has meant that even for deliveries the time window ends at 9.30 pm, as delivery boys are in a rush to wind up work to reach home before 10 pm. (PTI)
The Maharashtra government on Sunday revised the COVID-19-related restrictions for gyms and beauty salons, allowing them to operate at 50 per cent capacity from January 10 midnight. On Saturday, when the state reported over 41,000 new COVID-19 cases, the government had said gyms and beauty salons will remain closed, while hair cutting salons will function at 50 per cent capacity. | Read More
Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju tests positive for COVID-19, he confirms (ANI)
TV star Hina Khan said her entire family — except her — has tested positive for COVID-19.
The 34-year-old actor took to Instagram on Saturday and shared a note writing about the “harsh reality” of taking care of the family while also navigating the anxiety of COVID-19.
“These days life and instagram both are mostly about nice pictures with lovely visuals… When everyone in the family tests positive for COVID and you are the only negative in the house, you have to gear up with masks and sanitisers 24×7 and look after the entire family. Safe to say there will be marks behind .. just like the ones I got after wearing my masks 24/7,” she captioned a series of selfies.
Khan had tested positive for COVID-19 in April last year.
The “Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2” actor said she is fighting the current obstacle like a “ninja warrior”.
“And this post is to tell you that trying is enough.. It gets you to the other side just fine. Let us all try and fight it again… With scars and battle marks just like a warrior.. This too shall pass and remember when life gives you lemons make a bloody lemonade,” she added.
On Saturday, Mumbai reported 20,318 new coronavirus infections and five deaths. (PTI)
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. (PTI)
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 (ANI)
Puducherry clocked 444 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours as the test positivity rate shot up to 13.87 per cent, a top Health department official said on Sunday.
The 444 infections took the overall tally in the union territory to 1,30,722, Director of Health Department G Sriramulu said in a release here.
No fatality was reported in the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Sunday, he said, adding the death toll stood at 1,882.
He said the fresh cases were identified at the end of the examination of 3,202 were spread over Puducherry (350), Karaikal (84), Mahe (nine) and Yanam (one).
The number of active cases stood at 1,250 with 100 patients undergoing treatment in hospitals and the remaining 1,150 in home isolation.
While 19 patients recovered and were discharged during the last 24 hours, the overall recoveries climbed to 1,27,590, the Director said.
The test positivity rate was 13.87 percent while the fatality and recovery rates were 1.44 per cent and 97.60 per cent respectively, he added.
The Health Department has so far tested 20,70,234 samples and has found 17,58,237 out of them to be negative.
The Department has so far administered 14,63,660 doses which comprised 8,84,314 first doses and 5,79,346 second doses.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Health Department told PTI Sunday that the number of fresh cases was likely to increase further. “We have recommended to the government to close schools now conducting classes for students of standards one to nine,” the spokesperson said.
“It has been found that by and large the ailment spreads from children to elders,” the spokesperson said and added that it had therefore been recommended to the government to cancel the classes until further orders.
Schools reopened on December 4 for classes for standards one to eight after clamping Covid protocols.
Since the current vaccination drive was covering those in the 15 to 18 years age-group, classes for students of standards X, XI and XII would be held for some days and if necessity arose, they too could be suspended until further orders.
The administration has already stepped up surveillance at the borders and only those who had had first vaccination would be permitted to enter Puducherry. Several strict measures have been launched to bring hotels, restaurants, and accommodation centres under the scanner. (PTI)
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.
The Airports Authority of India has also replaced the services of the Delhi-based laboratory with a local lab, officials said.
The probe had been ordered after several of the passengers who returned from Italy had alleged that their Covid positive report was not correct as they had tested negative hours before boarding the flight. They had raised questions on the testing practice adopted by the lab. Many among them had even created ruckus at the international airport here.
Some of the passengers who had arrived here at Shri Guru Ramdas International Airport had subsequently tested negative in a re-test later, officials said.
Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr. Amarjit Singh said on Sunday, “A probe has been initiated by the Airports Authority of India against the alleged errant working of the lab. The services of the existing Delhi-based lab has been suspended and new local lab has resumed its working at the airport.” He said the services of this Delhi-based lab were engaged on December 15, 2021 by the Airports Authority of India.
At least 173 passengers on a Rome-Amritsar chartered flight were found to be Covid-positive after being tested on arrival on Friday, officials said.
This is the second consecutive incident wherein a large number of passengers coming from Italy to Amritsar airport have tested positive for the coronavirus on arrival.
On Thursday, 125 passengers who were travelling from Milan in Italy on another charter flight were found positive after being tested on arrival at the Amritsar airport.
According to the rules of the Union Health Ministry, passengers coming from “at risk” countries to India have to compulsorily get tested for COVID-19 on arrival at the airport.
All European countries, including Italy, have been deemed as “at risk” countries by the Union Health Ministry. (PTI)
Ahead of budget session, over 400 Parliament staff test positive for COVID-19 (ANI)
More than 400 Parliament staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 just days ahead of the Budget Session, according to official sources quoted by news agency ANI.
Officials said that 402 staff members out of the 1,409 staff of Parliament tested positive from January 4 to 8 after which their samples were sent for genome sequencing to confirm the variant. | Read More
Those with disabilities & 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. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has reviewed the situation & directed that necessary measures be taken to contain the spread of the virus among the Secretariat officials & staff ahead of the Budget session which is to begin towards the end of this month (ANI)
In view of the rising COVID-19 cases, Rajya Sabha Secretariat restricts staff attendance. As per new directions, 50% of officials & staff below the rank of under secretary/executive officer are required to WFH till the end of this month (ANI)
More than 155.95 crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs so far through GoI (free of cost channel) & through direct state procurement category. Over 17.74 Crore balance & unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with States/UTs to be administered: Union Health Ministry (ANI)
Haryana | Till now, around 50 doctors have tested positive for COVID19. In view of that, we've decided to put some restrictions including closing OPD service from Monday. We are advising chronic patients to take prescriptions online only: Dr Ishwar Singh, PGIMS, Rohtak (ANI)
Covid-19 third wave: India entered the new year with the third Covid-19 wave on its toe, driven this time by the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. With most of the metropolitan cities experiencing an exponential surge in cases, it is an indicator that the country is already in the early throes of a third wave. But on the brighter side, experts predict that the peak of the ongoing wave will come early, hopefully by early next month and even earlier in Delhi-Mumbai after which there will be consistent fall in cases. | Read More
