A member of an NGO in Old city, Ahmedabad distributes face masks for people found on street without mask at Ratanpol on Sunday. Express photo by Nirmal Harindran,Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE News: Kerala on Monday reported 26,514 new Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths on Monday, a statement from the health department said. The test positivity rate surged to 47.72 per cent. A total of 55,557 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. There are 2,60,271 active Covid cases in the state.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday it would be dangerous to assume that the highly transmissible Omicron was the last variant to emerge and that the world was in the ‘end game’ of the pandemic. However, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was possible this year to exit the acute phase of the pandemic where Covid-19 constitutes a global health emergency if strategies and tools such as testing and vaccines are used in a comprehensive way. Speaking at the opening of Executive Board meeting, Tedros said, according to Reuters, since Omicron was first identified a little over nine weeks ago, more than 80 million cases had been reported to the UN agency, more than were reported in the whole of 2020. “Conditions are ideal for more variants to emerge,” he added.
India recorded 3,06,064 new Covid-19 cases and 439 related deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am, Monday. While the daily cases have dropped from that of Sunday’s (over 3.33 lakh cases), the positivity rate climbed to 20.75 per cent. According to the Union Ministry of Health, India’s active caseload currently stands at 22,49,335.
Omicron Covid-19 India Latest Update: Medics attend to patients at the Covid care centre in New Delhi on Thursday.
Despite having over 50,000 active cases across the state in the middle of a surging Omicron wave, daily hospitalisation in Karnataka remains low.
According to the state health department on Sunday, 5164 people sought admission to health care facilities of which 3386 were in government and 1,778 in private. Admissions for oxygen beds, ICU beds and ventilators were 1048, 421 and 129 respectively. Hospitalisations showed a drop from January 20 when 5,344 people were admitted as against 5529 on Jan 21 and 5237 on Jan 22. Read More
The Assam government on Monday issued an order tightening restrictions to contain spread of Covid-19 in the state and banning entry of non-vaccinated people to public places, except hospitals. It also directed authorities to shut schools for up to class 8 students. The government asked citizens to carry proof of vaccination while going to public places. These restrictions will come into effect from 6 am of January 25, the order said.
"The status of Covid-19 in the state has again been reviewed and it has been observed that the number of Covid-19 cases has been gradually increasing over the last few days thereby increasing the positivity rate," Officiating Chief Secretary P K Borthakur said in the order.
Accordingly, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) issued a new set of guidelines, which are to be followed to arrest the spread of Covid-19, and it will remain in force until further order. (PTI)
Maharashtra on Monday reported 28,286 new Covid cases, which is 12,519 less than Sunday. 86 fresh Omicron infections were also detected in the state. Maharashtra also recorded 36 related deaths on Monday.
😷 Today’s Covid numbers: Delhi (5,760 cases), Mumbai (1,857 cases), Bengaluru (21,569 cases), Chennai (6,296 cases) and Kolkata (496 cases)
Mumbai reports 1, 857 new Covid cases, 503 recoveries and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Kerala on Monday reported 26,514 new Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths on Monday, a statement from the health department said. The test positivity rate surged to 47.72 per cent. A total of 55,557 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. There are 2,60,271 active Covid cases in the state.
Pune reports 7,984 new cases and 14 deaths today.
Delhi on Monday reported 5,760 new Covid cases and 30 deaths in the last 24 hours. The active cases stand at 45,140. Today's test positivity rate went down to 11.79%.
The head of the World Health Organization on Monday urged countries to work together to bring the acute phase of the pandemic to an end, saying they now have all the tools available to do so.
"The Covid-19 pandemic is now entering its third year and we are at a critical juncture," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference alongside Germany's development minister Svenja Schulze.
Schulze said the top priority of Germany, which took over the G7 Presidency, is to end the pandemic worldwide and called for a "massively accelerated, truly global vaccination campaign". (Reuters)
Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gurjar said on Monday that no decision on the reopening of schools in the state was taken yet but may consider it in the coming days if there is a decline in Covid-19 cases.
According to the minister, a proposal was considered to reopen government schools, especially in areas like Morni in Panchkula where internet connectivity issues make online classes difficult. As per the proposal, 33 per cent of students were supposed to attend the school on Monday and Tuesday, another 33 per cent on Wednesday and Thursday, and the remaining on Friday and Saturday. Read More
In the pandemic, especially in the third wave, parents are worried about the health and well-being of their children. As cases pertaining to the Omicron variant rise, there is a need to understand how kids can be kept safe. Dr Sreenath Manikanti, senior consultant neonatologist at Kauvery Hospital, Electronic City, Bangalore says the new variant Omicron has been found to be highly transmissible, its doubling time is 1.5-3 days, as compared to 5 days with Delta variant.
“Does it make Omicron more dangerous than the Delta variant? No, overall Omicron has been found to be a milder variant and majority of the people who are affected in India have reported milder disease. It’s spreading rapidly across many states. So far it’s known to cause mild to moderate illnesses,” he says. Read More
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appointed 28 cabinet ministers responsible for handling COVID-19 management in each district in the state.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday it would be dangerous to assume that the highly transmissable Omicron was the last variant to emerge and that the world was in the 'end game' of the pandemic. However, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was possible this year to exit the acute phase of the pandemic where Covid-19 constitutes a global health emergency if strategies and tools such as testing and vaccines are used in a comprehensive way.
Speaking at the opening of Executive Board meeting, Tedros said since Omicron was first identified a little over nine weeks ago, more than 80 million cases had been reported to the UN agency, more than were reported in the whole of 2020. "Conditions are ideal for more variants to emerge," he added. (Reuters)
For two years, the Indian women’s football team had been preparing for its biggest tournament so far: the Asian Cup. However, after playing just one match, they had to withdraw from the continental championship on Sunday following a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad. Read More
In view of Covid pandemic, Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan has decided to postpone the ‘At Home Reception’ on 26th January 2022, Republic Day, a statement from Raj Bhavan said. "The Reception will be hosted in due course once the situation improves," it added.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu has urged the public to follow the Covid protocol and government instructions for the safety of all the citizens, it further said.
The latest round of genome sequencing carried out at the civic-run Kasturba Gandhi Hospital in Mumbai has detected the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in 88 per cent of the samples, indicating that the highly transmissible new variant has dominated over the Delta variant.
Out of the 363 samples sequenced, 320 (88%) showed the presence of the Omicron variant, 30 (8%) showed Delta derivatives, three (0.8%) had the Delta variant and 10 (2.7%) had others. This is in sharp contrast to the previous genome sequencing conducted last month in which the latest variant of concern was detected in just 55% of the samples. Read more
The Health Ministry’s revised guidelines for management of Covid-19 in children and adolescents below 18 years have advised against the use of antivirals or monoclonal antibodies, irrespective of the severity of infection. Children below five years need not wear masks, according to the guidelines.
The new guidelines issued on January 20 supersedes the previous version on June 16, 2021.
Covid-19 is a viral infection and antimicrobials have no role in the management of uncomplicated Covid-19 infection. Overall the management of children remains the same. Mainstay of treatment for fever is to give paracetamol 10-15mg/kg/dose which may be repeated every 4-6 hours. For cough, throat soothing agents and warm saline gargles in older children and adolescents have been advised. Read Anuradha Mascarenhas' Explained here
Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar has tested positive for Covid-19, he tweeted on Monday. “There is no cause for concern. I am following the treatment as suggested by my doctor,” he added.
The genome sequencing report of former Punjab chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal show that he has been infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19. He is admitted to the ICU of Ludhiana's Dayanand Medical College & Hospital (DMCH). He is stated to be stable.
The former CM had tested positive for Covid-19 on January 19.