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Economic Times | 24 Dec, 2022 | 11:20AM IST
Covid News LIVE Updates: India's state governments say "all is well," ramp up surveillance and vaccine drives
Covid News LIVE Updates: With rising number of coronavirus cases in some countries, including China, the Odisha government on Friday issued a fresh advisory to citizens to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, like wearing masks during Christmas and New Year.
The advisory was issued after a high-level meeting was held on the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
The state administration asked people to avoid crowded places and use masks, maintain social distancing, and go for tests if found symptoms.
Meanwhile, asserting that there is no need to panic in view of rising COVID-19 cases in neighbouring countries as no surge has been reported in the Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor's administration on Friday maintained that it is fully geared up to tackle the situation.
The officials said that genome sequencing facilities are being created in both capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and asked people to go for voluntary testing if symptoms occur.
In a meeting with health experts, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta called for preemptive measures so that the administration is fully prepared to meet any contingency.
On the other hand, Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao on Friday urged the Centre to supply COVID-19 vaccines to step up booster dose coverage in the state.
Rao, who attended a video conference held by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said Telangana has achieved 48 per cent booster dose coverage against national average of 23 per cent, an official release said.
The advisory was issued after a high-level meeting was held on the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
The state administration asked people to avoid crowded places and use masks, maintain social distancing, and go for tests if found symptoms.
Meanwhile, asserting that there is no need to panic in view of rising COVID-19 cases in neighbouring countries as no surge has been reported in the Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor's administration on Friday maintained that it is fully geared up to tackle the situation.
The officials said that genome sequencing facilities are being created in both capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and asked people to go for voluntary testing if symptoms occur.
In a meeting with health experts, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta called for preemptive measures so that the administration is fully prepared to meet any contingency.
On the other hand, Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao on Friday urged the Centre to supply COVID-19 vaccines to step up booster dose coverage in the state.
Rao, who attended a video conference held by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said Telangana has achieved 48 per cent booster dose coverage against national average of 23 per cent, an official release said.
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Covid News: Random testing of international arriving passengers begins at Delhi airport
Covid News: The random coronavirus testing of international arriving passengers started at Delhi airport on Saturday as the authorities step up measures to prevent possible spread of the infection in the country. Two per cent of passengers arriving in each international flight will be subject to random coronavirus testing at airports from Saturday. Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the airlines concerned and after submitting the sample, passengers will be allowed to leave the airport. Thermal screening will be done for all passengers at the point of entry and those found to be symptomatic during screening will be immediately isolated. The testing of the international arriving passengers started in the morning, according to an airport official.
Rising Covid cases: Exporters keeping fingers crossed
Covid News: Indian exporters are keeping their fingers crossed on account of rising Covid infections in China and other countries as it could again disrupt supply chains and affect demand for goods. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said that if the cases continue to increase in the coming days, it may have implications on imports."We are keeping our fingers crossed," he said.
Covid News: China's propaganda machine sputters in zero-Covid reversal
Covid News: China's state media is struggling and censors are working overtime as Beijing gropes for a coherent narrative in the wake of the sudden reversal of its hallmark zero-Covid policy. For years, the country's propaganda apparatus hailed zero-Covid as proof of the superiority of the Communist Party's authoritarian rule and the wisdom of powerful President Xi Jinping. But now its usual mouthpieces have been left to spin the decision to scrap strict travel curbs, quarantines and snap lockdowns as a victory even as cases soar.
Covid News: Hospitals in Surat gear up for Covid
Covid News: New Civil Hospital (NCH) has started preparation to keep 300 beds with 200 ventilators ready at the Covid-19 hospital on its campus. The hospital can be expanded up to 1,000 beds in the stem cell hospital building.A mock drill was carried out at NCH to test the oxygen tank and oxygen plant as per the government directives. Around 400 ventilators have been kept ready for use in case of emergency at the hospital.“We have started a process to increase the staff at the pathology laboratory in case of a rise in the number of RTPCR and genome sequencing tests. Currently, there is no case,” said a senior doctor at NCH.
Covid News: India records 201 new COVID-19 infections; active cases rise to 3,397
Covid News: India reported 201 new coronavirus infections, raising the tally to 4.46 crore, while the active cases increased to 3,397, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. The death toll stands at 5,30,691 with one fatality reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am by the ministry stated. The daily positivity was recorded at 0.15 per cent and the weekly positivity at 0.14 per cent. A total of 90.97 crore tests for detection of COVID-19 have been conducted so far, with 1,36,315 tests being conducted in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.
Thane records one new COVID-19 case; active tally seven
Thane district of Maharashtra recorded one new coronavirus positive case, which took its overall tally to 7,47,388, a health official said on Saturday. With the addition of this case on Friday, there are now seven active cases in the district, he said, adding that the death toll remained unchanged at 11,967. The recovery figure stood at 7,36,179, the official said
China shifts how it counts Covid deaths as crematoriums fill up
Facing growing scepticism that it is downplaying Covid deaths, the Chinese government defended the accuracy of its official tally by revealing it had updated its method of counting fatalities caused by the virus, reported CNN.
According to the latest guidelines from the National Health Commission, only those whose death is caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure after contracting the virus are classified as Covid deaths, said Wang Guiqiang, a top infectious disease doctor.
He said those deemed to have died due to another disease or underlying condition, such as in the event of a heart attack, will not be counted as a virus death, even if they were sick with Covid at the time, reported CNN.
According to the latest guidelines from the National Health Commission, only those whose death is caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure after contracting the virus are classified as Covid deaths, said Wang Guiqiang, a top infectious disease doctor.
He said those deemed to have died due to another disease or underlying condition, such as in the event of a heart attack, will not be counted as a virus death, even if they were sick with Covid at the time, reported CNN.
Telangana Health Minister urges Centre to supply vaccines to administer booster doses
Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao on Friday urged the Centre to supply COVID-19 vaccines to step up booster dose coverage in the state.
Rao, who attended a video conference held by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said Telangana has achieved 48 per cent booster dose coverage against national average of 23 per cent, an official release said.
He asked the Centre to inform the states on various issues, including spread of virus, its impact and treatment in view of the rise in Omicron sub-variant BF 7 cases in different countries. This will help the states in improving their preparedness, he said.
Rao, who attended a video conference held by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said Telangana has achieved 48 per cent booster dose coverage against national average of 23 per cent, an official release said.
He asked the Centre to inform the states on various issues, including spread of virus, its impact and treatment in view of the rise in Omicron sub-variant BF 7 cases in different countries. This will help the states in improving their preparedness, he said.
Chhattisgarh sees three COVID-19 cases, active tally now seven
Chhattisgarh on Friday reported three COVID-19 cases at a positivity rate of 0.23 per cent, taking the tally to 11,77,748, a health official said.
The death toll and recovery count stood unchanged at 14,146 and 11,63,595, respectively, he added.
The active caseload in the state was seven, the official said, adding the new cases comprised two in Raipur and one in Durg.
The death toll and recovery count stood unchanged at 14,146 and 11,63,595, respectively, he added.
The active caseload in the state was seven, the official said, adding the new cases comprised two in Raipur and one in Durg.
New law ends COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US troops
US military forces around the world will no longer be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, after the mandate was lifted under an USD 858 billion defence spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law on Friday by President Joe Biden.
The Pentagon is now likely to strongly encourage troops to get the shot, but has 30 days to work out the details for rescinding the vaccine mandate.
Biden had opposed the Republican-backed provision, agreeing with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin that lifting the mandate was not in the best interests of the military, according to White House officials. But he ultimately accepted GOP demands in order to win passage of the legislation.
The Pentagon is now likely to strongly encourage troops to get the shot, but has 30 days to work out the details for rescinding the vaccine mandate.
Biden had opposed the Republican-backed provision, agreeing with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin that lifting the mandate was not in the best interests of the military, according to White House officials. But he ultimately accepted GOP demands in order to win passage of the legislation.
No need to panic, situation under control, says J-K adminstration
Asserting that there is no need to panic in view of rising COVID-19 cases in neighbouring countries as no surge has been reported in the Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor administration on Friday maintained that it is fully geared up to tackle the situation.
The officials said that genome sequencing facilities are being created in both capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and asked people to go for voluntary testing if symptoms occur.
In a meeting with health experts, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta called for preemptive measures so that the administration is fully prepared to meet any contingency.
The officials said that genome sequencing facilities are being created in both capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and asked people to go for voluntary testing if symptoms occur.
In a meeting with health experts, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta called for preemptive measures so that the administration is fully prepared to meet any contingency.
Odisha COVID-19 situation 'stable'
With rising number of coronavirus cases in some countries, including China, the Odisha government on Friday issued a fresh advisory to citizens to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, like wearing masks during Christmas and New Year.
The advisory was issued after a high-level meeting was held on the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
The state administration asked people to avoid crowded places and use masks, maintain social distancing, and go for tests if found symptoms.
The advisory was issued after a high-level meeting was held on the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
The state administration asked people to avoid crowded places and use masks, maintain social distancing, and go for tests if found symptoms.
