Coronavirus India LIVE Updates: India Reports 2.38 Lakh New Covid Cases, 310 Related Deaths

Covid-19 Cases India: The country has recorded 8,891 cases of the Omicron variant so far.

India's Covid curve showed marginal improvement today as the country recorded 2,38,018 new cases in the last 24 hours -- 7 per cent lower than Monday's reported 2.58 lakh daily cases, according to the Health Ministry.

310 people have died due to Covid during the past 24-hour period, taking the total death count in the country due to the infection to 486,761.

The country's caseload now stands at 3.75 crore. This includes 8,891 cases of the Omicron variant. The active cases now comprise 4.62 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has decreased to 94.09 per cent.

Meanwhile, the cumulative vaccination coverage across the country crossed 158 crore doses today.

Here are the LIVE Updates on coronavirus cases in India:

Jan 18, 2022 10:19 (IST)

Coronavirus News: China Disinfects Mails, Packages From Abroad Over Omicron Threat
China's postal service has ordered workers to disinfect international deliveries and urged the public to reduce orders from overseas after authorities claimed mail could be the source of recent coronavirus outbreaks.

China, where the virus first emerged in late 2019, has stuck to a strict policy of targeting zero Covid cases even as the rest of the world has reopened.

But the country is now battling multiple small outbreaks, including one in Beijing as the capital prepares to host the Winter Olympics.

Jan 18, 2022 09:54 (IST)

Avoid Steroids, Test If Cough Persists: Government's New Covid Treatment Guidelines
Doctors should avoid giving steroids to COVID-19 patients, the government has said in its revised clinical guidelines for coronavirus treatment, days after its task force chief expressed regret for the overuse of the drug during the second wave.

The revised guidelines said that drugs like steroids can increase the risk of a secondary infection like invasive mucormycosis or 'black fungus', when used too early, at a higher dose or for longer than required.

Spelling out the doses for the drugs if necessary for three kinds of infections - "mild, moderate and severe", the guidelines said that if cough persists for more than two-three weeks, patients should be tested for tuberculosis and other conditions.

Jan 18, 2022 08:39 (IST)

Hong Kong Police Arrest 2 Ex-Flight Attendants Over Breach Of Covid Rules
Hong Kong police said they have arrested and charged two former flight attendants over allegations they broke the city's coronavirus rules.

The statement, which was published late on Monday, did not name the airline but the announcement comes after Cathay Pacific said in January it had fired two aircrew who were suspected of breaching COVID-19 protocols.

Police said the two had returned to Hong Kong from the United States on Dec. 24 and 25 where they had "conducted unnecessary activities" during their home isolation period.

Jan 18, 2022 07:09 (IST)

Deadliest Day Of Pandemic In Australia As Omicron Drives Up Hospital Cases
Australia on Tuesday suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic as a fast-moving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalisation rates to record levels, even as daily infections eased slightly.

Australia is dealing with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, fuelled by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that has put more people in hospitals and intensive care than at any time during the pandemic.

Amid rising hospitalisations, Victoria on Tuesday declared a "code brown" in hospitals, typically reserved for shorter-term emergencies, that would give hospitals the power to cancel non-urgent health services and cancel staff leave.

Jan 18, 2022 05:51 (IST)

If We Fail To Vaccinate All ...: UN Chief Antonio Guterres's Covid Warning At Davos
UN chief Antonio Guterres told the all-virtual Davos forum on Monday that the world must vaccinate everybody against Covid-19 to ensure a way out of the pandemic.