like every wave of the pastThe cases, fueled by the Omicron version of COVID-19, initially spread only in urban areas. However, many rural and semi-rural places recorded a sharp rise in infections in the past one week. Earlier this year, 50% of the cases were from urban centers like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. However, the stock declined to 35 per cent by Wednesday.
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you can track coronavirus Cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and state levels Here, a list of state helpline number also available.
here are the updates,
National
Daily increase in COVID-19 cases highest in 239 days
According to the Union Health Ministry, India witnessed a single-day jump of 2,64,202 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 239 days, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 3,65,82,129, including 5,753 of the Omicron version. cases are included. Data updated on Friday.
Omicron’s cases have increased by 4.83% since Thursday.
Active cases have risen to 12,72,073, the highest in 220 days, while the death toll has risen to 4,85,350 with 315 fresh deaths, data updated at 8 am.
The ministry said active cases comprise 3.48% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has come down to 95.20%. -PTI
Indonesia
Indonesia approves Merck’s COVID-19 pill for emergency use
The country’s Food and Drug Agency said in a statement that Indonesia has approved Merck & Co. Inc.’s COVID-19 antiviral pill molnupirvir for emergency use.
A batch of 400,000 bullets had arrived in Indonesia, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said this week. The pill was jointly developed by US-based Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. -Reuters
International
After six weeks of boom, Africa’s Omicron-driven fourth pandemic wave flattens out: WHO
Africa’s fourth pandemic wave, driven mainly by the Omicron version, has flattened after a six-week surge, the WHO said even as it insisted it was the smallest surge the continent has ever seen. “Steep and brief but no less volatile.” The new Omicron variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on 24 November. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a type of concern on 26 November.
“Early signs suggest that Africa’s fourth wave has been swift and brief but no less volatile. The badly needed pandemic countermeasures in Africa still stand, and that is rapidly and significantly increasing COVID-19 vaccination. The next wave may not be so forgiving,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. -PTI
International
WHO approves two new COVID-19 treatments
The World Health Organization on Friday approved two new COVID-19 treatments, increasing its arsenal of vaccines as well as tools to prevent serious illness and virus deaths.
The news comes as Omicron cases fill hospitals around the world, with the WHO estimating that half of Europe will be infected by March.
In their recommendation in the British medical journal BMJ, WHO experts said the arthritis drug baricitinib, used with corticosteroids to treat severe or severe Covid patients, improved survival rates and reduced the need for ventilators. -afp
International
Pfizer says it applied for Japanese government approval for oral COVID-19 drug
Pfizer Inc. said on Friday it has applied for Japanese government approval for its oral COVID-19 treatment.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last month he spoke with Pfizer CEO Albert Boerla to secure 2 million doses of Pfizer’s antiviral pill. -Reuters
Greece
Greece expands sanctions, calls in military on Covid tests
Greece’s health minister said on Thursday that the military would help boost COVID-19 testing after expanding entertainment restrictions to include the Omicron version.
In a radio interview, Health Minister Thanos Pleveris said 50 additional free testing places would be set up near army camps after long queues at pharmacies. -afp
America
Biden doubles free COVID-19 tests, adds N95s to fight O’Microon
President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the government will double down on rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to be distributed free of charge to Americans with most protective N95 masks, as he sought to “increase” resources to help. Highlight your efforts. The country weathers a spike in coronavirus cases.
Biden also announced that 1,000 military medical personnel would begin deploying nationwide from next week to ease staff shortages caused by overcrowded medical facilities caused by the highly permeable Omron variant. -ap
America
US Supreme Court suspends COVID-19 vaccine rule for businesses
The Supreme Court has blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a requirement that employees of large businesses be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing and wear masks at work.
Also, the court is allowing the administration to go ahead with a vaccine mandate for most health care workers in the US.
New Delhi
DDMA allows CA, Income Tax professionals to work from offices
Amid the rising number of COVID cases in Delhi, the DDMA on Thursday included the offices of Chartered Accountants (CAs) and Income Tax Practitioners in the ‘Exempted Category’ list, who were allowed to work from their offices.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), in an order on Tuesday, had directed the closure of all private offices except in the exempted categories as the national capital witnessed a sharp spike in coronavirus cases.
Considering a letter from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Ministry of Finance, CAs and income tax practitioners were given exemption to work from their offices, requesting exemption. -PTI
Hungary
Hungary to introduce fourth virus jab as Omicron spreads
Hungary said on Thursday it would offer citizens a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose after a doctor’s consultation amid a rapid rise in cases of Covid-19 infection.
Denmark is the first EU country to give citizens a fourth dose. -afp
Haryana
Haryana curbs Kovid across the state
Amid a spurt in COVID cases, the Haryana government on Thursday extended various restrictions across the state.
The Haryana State Disaster Management Authority (HSDMA) said the restrictions imposed by the January 5 order in “Group A” districts, which had seen a large increase in cases, will now be imposed in all districts. -PTI
New Delhi
Delhi govt suspends routine, elective surgeries in LNJP, GTB hospitals
Officials said the Delhi government has suspended routine and elective surgeries at LNJP and GTB hospitals to deal with the rising cases of coronavirus in the national capital.
According to health department data, Delhi on Thursday recorded 28,867 COVID-19 cases, the sharpest one-day spike and 31 deaths since the pandemic began, while the positivity rate rose to 29.21 per cent. Delhi’s previous biggest daily jump of 28,395 cases was recorded on April 20 last year. -PTI
Kerala
Most of the COVID patients in Ernakulam in the age group of 30-45
According to the health department, people in the age group of 30-45 have been found to be more infected in the latest spike in COVID-19 cases in Ernakulam.
The increase in cases in this age group may be due to their frequent movement in public places as compared to other age groups including the elderly. District Medical Officer Dr. V. Jayashree said that most of them have taken two doses of the vaccine, they must have gone to crowded places or attended public events, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
New Delhi
70 out of 97 COVID deaths were unrelated people: Delhi Govt. statistics
According to Delhi government data, of the 97 COVID-related deaths in the capital between January 9 and January 12, nearly three-fourths were of unvaccinated people.
Of the 97 people who died, seventy had not been vaccinated and 19 had received only one dose of the vaccine, while only eight had received both doses.
Karnataka
Karnataka seeks central assistance to increase the number of oxygenated beds and oxygen plants
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday sought central assistance to increase the number of oxygenated beds and oxygen plants in the state.
Bommai sought assistance today while participating in a video conference organized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Ministers of various states on the situation of COVID-19 in the country. -PTI
Maharashtra
MH seeks more Covaxin doses for precautionary shot
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said the state has sought additional stock of Covaxin for providing precautionary or booster doses to co-morbid people, health and frontline workers above 60 years of age.
Mr Tope, who participated in a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the current COVID-19 situation in the country, later told reporters that the state has asked for 40 lakh doses of Covaxin. -PTI
Karnataka
Bengaluru civic body issues fresh advisory for apartment complexes
With apartment complexes mainly in containment zones, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Thursday issued a new advisory urging residents to avoid gyms, swimming pools and other sports facilities. Events and gatherings in clubhouses or community halls should be avoided
The containment strategy has also been clarified in the advisory. If there is a single case on any floor, the individual flats on that floor will be declared as a containment zone. If there are three cases in one floor, then the entire floor will be a containment zone.
If there are 10 cases in a tower, either on a single floor or on multiple floors, then the entire tower will be considered as a containment zone. In cases where apartment complexes of 50-100 houses have 50 cases, or premises with less than 100 houses have less than a hundred cases, the entire premises will be declared a containment zone.
Karnataka
In the third wave, doubling of cases are being reported every two days.
The COVID-19 virus has been spreading rapidly during the third wave of the pandemic, with cases doubling every two days. The first wave took about 10-12 days, while the doubling time during the second wave was eight days.
Health and Family Welfare Minister K Sudhakar said on Thursday that cases are doubling every two-and-a-half days in the third wave.
Karnataka
‘Children out of school will also be vaccinated’
Along with the vaccination drive for the 15-18 age group, the government is looking at measures to ensure that eligible beneficiaries who are out of school are also covered.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh said here on Thursday that steps like organizing camps to vaccinate children who do not go to school due to various reasons would be taken.
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