Omicron Coronavirus News, Coronavirus Vaccination Statistics Latest Updates, Covid-19 Cases and Deaths in India Recent Updates, Covid Restrictions March 3 Updates: Citing the academic journal Science, Congress leader P Chidambaram took to Twitter on Thursday and said the official number of deaths due to Covid-19 in India is suspect. The reputed journal estimates that the Covid toll in India between “1-6-2020 and 1-7-2021 was 3,200,000 – eight times the official death toll of 400,000”, Chidambaram said on Twitter. “Of these deaths, 2,700,000 occurred in the months of April, May and June 2021,” he added.
Speaking of official numbers, India’s Covid case tally rose to 4,29,45,160 with 6,561 people testing positive for the infection in a day while active cases declined to 77,152, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll has climbed to 5,14,388 with 142 more people succumbing to the disease, the official data suggested. India has recorded less than one lakh daily COVID-19 cases.
As per a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization on Wednesday, global prevalence of anxiety and depression in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased by 25%. The brief is based on a comprehensive review of existing evidence about the Covid-19 impact on mental health. It shows that the pandemic has affected the mental health of youngsters and they are at risk of self-harming behaviour. It also says that women have been more severely impacted than men and that people with pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma, cancer and heart disease, were more likely to develop symptoms of mental disorders.
“The information we have now about the impact of COVID-19 on the world’s mental health is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is a wake-up call to all countries to pay more attention to mental health and do a better job of supporting their populations’ mental health.”
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Coronavirus Omicron Live News:
Assam reported six new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, three less than the previous day, taking the overall caseload to 7,24,150, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 6,639 with no fatality reported during the day while 1,347 COVID patients have died due to other ailments. The current death rate in the state is 0.92 per cent, the bulletin said. The day's positivity rate also declined to 0.20 per cent from 0.31 per cent on Wednesday. The number of samples tested during the day was 3,062 as against 2.897 on the previous day while the total samples tested so far in the state increased to 2,83,14,412. (PTI)
Gujarat recorded 128 new coronavirus positive cases and one death on Thursday, the state health department said. The addition in cases took the infection tally to 12,23,034, while the death toll reached 10,934, it said, adding that 305 patients recovered during the day, taking the recovery count to 12,10,850. The number of active cases in Gujarat now stands at 1,250. Of these, 12 patients are on ventilator support, while the remaining ones are stable, the department said in a release. (PTI)
A day after reporting zero COVID-19 death, Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 12 fatalities and 467 new cases, including 243 Omicron infections, the state health department said. With the addition, the state's coronavirus positive tally rose to 78,67,391 and toll to 1,43,718. On Wednesday, the state had recorded 544 coronavirus positive cases, but did not report any fatality. The last time the state recorded zero death was on April 1, 2020. “Today, 234 patients with Omicron infection were reported in the state. All these patients were reported by Kasturba hospital's laboratory,” the health department said in a statement. All 234 infections were reported from Mumbai. Till date, a total of 5,005 patients infected with Omicron variant have been reported in the state. Of these, 4,629 patients have been discharged following a negative RT-PCR test. (PTI)
Madhya Pradesh on Thursday recorded 141 new cases of COVID-19 and two more casualties due to the infection that raised its tally to 10,39,592 and toll to 10,732, an official from the state health department said. The COVID-19 positivity rate in the state has dipped to 0.4 per cent from 0.5 per cent recorded on Wednesday, he said. The recovery count rose to 10,26,627, after 654 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, he said. The state is now left with 2,233 active cases, the official said. (PTI)
Continuing to witness a downward trend in daily Covid-19 cases, Tamil Nadu on Thursday added 292 new infections, pushing the tally to 34,50,333, while the toll mounted to 38,010 with one more fatality. Recoveries outnumbered new cases with 778 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 34,08,373 leaving 3,950 active infections, a medical bulletin said. Chennai accounted for the majority of new cases with 83 followed by Coimbatore and Chengalpet logging 43 and 34 cases, respectively. The remaining was spread across other districts, of which Ariyalur, Dharmapuri, Kallakurichi, Karur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai added nil infections in the last 24 hours. The state capital also leads in the overall tally with 7,50,207 cases. (PTI)
The government on Thursday said that any decision on the mixing and matching of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines will be taken based on science. Addressing a press conference here, NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said studies are going on regarding the mixing and matching of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines and they are being “constantly reviewed”. “As per the new information and science and knowledge, a decision would be guided on (by) that,” he said. On the Corbevax vaccine, Paul said it will find a way into the national vaccination programme as an order has been placed and delivered for a certain quantity. A decision on how and when to use it will be based on scientific considerations. “As the emergency use authorisation (for Corbevax) has been given for general adult population and also for children, be rest assured that the data has been seen by the drug regulator (before giving the nod). (PTI)
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload rose to 12,85,487 on Thursday as 138 more people tested positive for the virus, the health department said. The death toll remained unchanged at 9,085 with no reports of any more fatalities due to coronavirus. The state had registered 143 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths on Wednesday. Odisha now has 1,923 active cases, while 12,74,426 people have so far recovered from the disease, including 378 in the last 24 hours. The health department said 53 COVID-19 patients have died of comorbidities so far. (PTI)
Jammu and Kashmir recorded 46 fresh coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the infection count to 4,53,134, while no death due to the virus was reported in the past 24 hours, officials said. Out of the fresh cases, 29 were from the Jammu division and 17 from the Kashmir division of the Union Territory, the officials said. The officials said Jammu district recorded a maximum of 22 new COVID-19 cases, followed by 16 in Srinagar district. Fourteen of the 20 districts in the Union Territory did not report any fresh cases. (PTI)
Karnataka on Thursday registered 382 fresh coronavirus cases and 10 related fatalities, taking the aggregate to 39,41,835 and the toll to 39,979. There were 689 discharges, pushing the total number of recoveries in the state to 38,97,928, a Health bulletin said. Of the new cases, 239 were from Bengaluru Urban that saw 340 people being discharged and 4 virus-related deaths. The total number of active cases across the state stood at 3,890. While the positivity rate for the day is 1.04 per cent, the case fatality rate (CFR) was 2.61 per cent. (PTI)
Telangana on Thursday saw 164 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the cumulative positives to 7,89,401. However, no fresh fatalities due to the virus were reported in the last 24 hours and the toll remained 4,111. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) reported the highest number of 61 cases, followed by 13 in Medchal Malkajgiri district, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM today. A total of 385 people recovered from the infection today, taking the overall recoveries till date to 7,82,904. The active cases stood at 2,386, the bulletin said. (PTI)
COVID-19 cases in Sweden are falling sharply, the country's health agency said on Thursday, even as nearly all pandemic-related restrictions were lifted less than a month ago. The government removed curbs on restaurant opening hours and attendance limits for indoor venues on Feb. 9, in a move that drew criticism from scientists at the time. The number of cases is difficult to assess in Sweden given reduced testing, but the proportion of positive cases and the number of patients requiring hospital care have both declined. “There are no indications that the opening increased spread so we asses that it was relevant and correct,” Health Agency Director-General Karin Tegmark Wisell told a news conference. “We feel very comfortable with the situation, regardless of the spread, as we have such a level of vaccination and that the Omicron variant results in less serious disease,” she said. (Reuters)
Nagaland on Thursday reported one new COVID-19 case, two less than the previous day, taking the tally to 35,414, a health department official said. The state's coronavirus death toll remained at 756, with no fatalities reported in the last 48 hours. Nagaland had reported three COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The state now has 82 active COVID-19 cases, while 1,479 patients have migrated to other states. (PTI)
Andhra Pradesh registered 122 fresh cases of Covid-19, 236 recoveries and no deaths in 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday. According to the latest bulletin, the active cases came down to 1,543. The total positives touched 23,18,176, recoveries 23,01,904 and deaths 14,729, the bulletin said. West Godavari district reported 23 fresh cases, Guntur 18, Anantapuramu 16, East Godavari 15, Chittoor and Visakhapatnam 11 each. (PTI)
Kerala reports 2,222 new COVID cases, 4,673 recoveries, and 3 deaths in the last 24 hours (ANI)
All students coming from Ukraine must get vaccinated immediately if not already done so: Govt. (PTI0
Vaccine effectiveness in mortality prevention has been measured. The first dose is responsible for 98.9 % vaccine effectiveness and if both doses are given then it is 99.3 % effective: DG ICMR Dr. Balram Bhargava (ANI)
It is evident that vaccines and the wide vaccination coverage have played a very important role in protecting hundreds of lives. The vaccine has protected the nation from a surge in the number of Covid cases: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog (ANI)
More than 97% of the adult population received the first dose of the vaccine. Rapidly marching towards achieving 100% first dose mark, tweets Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (ANI)
Unvaccinated individuals account for 92 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in India so far this year, the Health Ministry said Thursday, even as it asserted the country is in a “vaccine-enabled low coronavirus phase” now and it is “rational” to open schools, colleges, economic activities and normal affairs of society while taking necessary precautions. Addressing a press conference here, senior health ministry officials said 74 per cent of adolescents between 15-18 years of age have been administered their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 39 per cent given both doses. They said India witnessed considerably lower number of Covid deaths due to vaccine development, its rapid deployment, acceptance and wide coverage. They said the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine is 98.9 per cent effective in preventing mortality, while both doses are 99.3 per cent effective. They said that the efforts of healthcare, frontline workers coupled with vaccination coverage helped in effective containment of the recent Covid surge. V K Paul, NITI Aayog Member (Health), said, “We are in a vaccine-enabled low coronavirus phase. It is rational to open schools, colleges, resorts, economic activities and normal affairs of society. But we should be watchful and vigilant.” Presently, 29 districts across the country have over 10 per cent COVID-19 positivity rate, while 34 districts have a positivity rate between 5-10 per cent, the officials said. (PTI)
There has been a sharp surge in the number of Covid cases in many countries in the world. This notes an increasing trajectory of rising cases on a daily basis. Even today, around 15,00,000 cases are reported daily in the world: Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry (ANI)
A sharp reduction of Covid cases is observed in India. On average around 11,000 Covid cases are reported on a weekly basis in India. There has been a sharp reduction in the number of cases. Only 0.7% of global cases are reported in India: Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secy, Health Ministry (ANI)
South Korean star Park Seo-joon, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, has “fully recovered his health” after his release from quarantine last week. The 33-year-old actor, known for Oscar winning film “Parasite”, and K-dramas such as “Itaewon Class” and “What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?”, left for Hungary on Thursday to shoot his new movie “Dream” (working title). According to Korean website Soompi, Park's agency Awesome ENT said the actor is planning to return to Korea after wrapping up filming in March. “Park Seo Joon left for Hungary this morning to shoot the movie 'Dream'. After being released from quarantine last week, he fully recovered his health, so the filming is unlikely to be disrupted. (PTI)
A study conducted in urban slums of Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Telangana revealed that 67 per cent of girls attended online classes and 56 per cent did not get time for recreational activities during the Covid-induced lockdown in 2020. The study by NGO “Save The Children” in February last year also found that 68 per cent of girls, aged between 10 and 18 years, faced challenges in accessing health and nutrition services in these states. Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and Telangana represented the four geographical zones — east, west, north and south. (PTI)
Hong Kong's subway operator, bus and ferry companies, and one of its biggest supermarket chains, are cutting back services due to a worsening COVID-19 outbreak that has seen daily infections explode this year. Authorities reported a new daily record of 56,827 new infections and 144 deaths in the Chinese-ruled city on Thursday, an exponential rise from around 100 in early February and a clean three-month streak of zero cases at the end of 2021. (Reuters)
Hong Kong reported a record daily high of 56,827 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday and 144 deaths, as a worsening outbreak overwhelms healthcare facilities and sees authorities scramble to contain cases in the Asian financial centre. (Reuters)
A World Health Organization (WHO) panel on Wednesday backed the use of Merck & Co Inc's COVID-19 antiviral pill for high-risk patients. The expert panel conditionally recommended the pill, molnupiravir, for patients with non-severe disease who are at high risk of hospitalisation, such as the immunocompromised, the unvaccinated, older people and those with chronic diseases. (Reuters)
The union territory of Puducherry added seven new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,65,738, a senior Health department official said on Thursday. The seven cases were identified at the end of the examination of 608 samples and were spread over Puducherry (five) and Karaikal (two), Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release here. The other two outlying regions-Mahe and Yanam- however, did not report any fresh infections, he added. (PTI)
Ladakh reported 16 fresh Covid cases in a day which took the tally of infections in the Union Territory to 28,061 while the number of active cases has declined to 138, officials said on Thursday. No death was reported in the Union Territory in the last 24 hours. It has so far recorded 228 Covid-related deaths of which 168 were reported in Leh and 60 in Kargil, officials said. (PTI)
Limited supplies remain a problem, but experts say other challenges now include unpredictable deliveries, weak health care systems and vaccine hesitancy. Most countries with low vaccination rates are in Africa. As of late February, 13 countries in Africa have fully vaccinated less than 5% of their populations, according to Phionah Atuhebwe, an officer for the World Health Organisation's regional office for Africa. Other countries with extremely low vaccination rates include Yemen, Syria, Haiti and Papua New Guinea. (AP)
New Zealand police said Thursday they will review hours of cellphone footage taken by themselves, the media and the public to identify lawbreakers, while crews begin the cleanup of Parliament's grounds after a protest there against coronavirus vaccine mandates ended in violence. A day earlier, police moved in on several hundred protesters who had been camped out on the grounds and surrounding streets for more than three weeks. As protesters retreated, they set fire to tents, mattresses and chairs, and hurled stones and wood at officers. (AP)
Hong Kong's ambition to become a hub for green and sustainable business is under threat as its persistent tough border controls against COVID-19 make the task of attracting senior specialists harder for financial institutions. Bankers and advisers said the risks of Beijing's “zero-COVID” policy, which has already caused a talent crunch in the Chinese territory, are growing as most other nations cut back coronavirus curbs. Flight bans, lengthy and expensive quarantine norms, limited access to public services and the threat of separation from family members who test positive have all spooked potential talent. (Reuters)
A South Korean pharmaceutical company manufacturing Russia's COVID-19 vaccine says it's bracing for business complications as the U.S.-led West escalates sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. Recently expanded U.S. sanctions include targeted measures against the Russian Direct Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund run by a close ally of President Vladmir Putin that globally markets the Sputnik vaccines. Kim Gi-young, an official from Seoul-based GL Rapha, said the sanctions won't directly impede its production of the shots as the measures aren't aimed at essential medical supplies. However, the company is concerned about potential problems rising from the financial side as South Korea joins the United States and many European countries in a move to cut off key Russian banks from global payment systems. “Right now, we are watching how the situation develops,” Kim said. (AP)
It is still too early for China to consider easing its stringent coronavirus restrictions, with the highly infectious Omicron strain still capable of causing large numbers of deaths, said Liang Wannian, head of an expert group on COVID-19 prevention. Describing China's so-called 'dynamic clearance' strategy as a “magic weapon”, Liang said in an interview with China's state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday that “coexisting” with the virus was still not an option. He said Omicron was still significantly more deadly than influenza and capable of putting great strain on the country's medical resources. (Reuters)
Japan set to extend coronavirus limits, ease border rules (Reuters)
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sought to cool simmering resentment over the slow unlocking of the country's pandemic restrictions on Thursday, a day after police cleared a weeks-long Canada-style protest outside parliament. Police in riot gear battled protesters late into the night on Wednesday, finally bringing an end to the occupation which, despite acts of violence and extremist elements, helped rally some support for its calls to end pandemic restrictions. In a special session of parliament to discuss the protest, the most violent in decades in the normally peaceful city, Ardern promised things would change, but gave no timeframe for easing curbs. “Our people are coming home. Soon, tourists will return. Vaccine passes, mandates, restrictions – they will all change. There is reason to feel hopeful,” she said. (Reuters)
➡️ More than 178.48 Cr vaccine doses provided to States/UTs.
➡️ More than 15.19 Cr doses still available with States/UTs to be administered.https://t.co/InYMLmsTCT pic.twitter.com/fn68HrnI6l
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 3, 2022
In view of less positivity rate #covid16 cases, the expert committee has advised resuming economic activities with 100% capacity. The govt will take the decision by tomorrow & will resume the activities including casinos: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (ANI)
With the addition of 34 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 7,08,366, an official said on Thursday. These new cases were reported on Wednesday, he said. The death toll remained unchanged at 11,876, he said, adding that the COVID-19 mortality rate in the district stood at 1.67 per cent. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 1,63,398, while the death toll stands at 3,392, another official said. (PTI)
Australia was fully open to vaccinated travellers after Western Australia on Thursday became the last state to lift border restrictions. Western Australia, which covers one third of the nation's land area, closed its borders to most international and interstate travelers in 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. But the state lifted restrictions on Thursday four months after Sydney began its staged reopening of quarantine-free travel and more than week after all vaccinated tourists became eligible for visas. (AP)
Hong Kong transport operators, supermarkets cut services as COVID cases surge (Reuters)
Australia was fully open to vaccinated travellers after Western Australia on Thursday became the last state to lift border restrictions. Western Australia, which covers one third of the nation's land area, closed its borders to most international and interstate travellers in 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. But the state lifted restrictions on Thursday four months after Sydney began its staged reopening of quarantine-free travel and more than week after all vaccinated tourists became eligible for visas. (AP)
COVID-19-related restrictions on people's movements and interactions may be linked to a sharp decline in cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever in 2020, offering new insight into how it might be controlled, according to a study. The study in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal found nearly 750,000 fewer cases of dengue than were expected occurred globally in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic began. The study's results are surprising, senior author Oliver Brady said, because they show a significant drop in dengue cases when people could not freely leave their homes to visit other places, such as schools. Dengue is not transmitted human to human, but only by the Aedes mosquito, which bites during the day. However, scientists had previously thought that most transmission happened in and around homes, rather than elsewhere. (Reuters)
