India’s omicron COVID count crossed the 100-mark on Friday after the new version recorded the highest single-day rise of 24 fresh cases, even as the Center asked people to avoid non-essential travel and mass gatherings. Advised to avoid and keep New Year celebrations at a low intensity.
The Omicron tally stood at 111 from 11 states and union territories, just 15 days after the first case of the potentially more infectious COVID type was detected in Karnataka, with 20 new cases reported from Maharashtra (8) and Delhi (12). 40 and 22 in total, respectively. Telangana and Kerala reported two more cases to take the tally to eight and seven respectively.
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 latest developments,
WHO approves Novavax vaccine for emergency use against COVID
The World Health Organization has given emergency approval to a coronavirus vaccine made by US-based Novavax and Serum Institute of India, paving the way for poor countries around the world to join a UN-backed program to receive such vaccines. It is done.
The vaccine, known as CovavaxTM, is the ninth to be granted emergency use authorization from the United Nations health agency, marking a vote of confidence for Novavax, which could also mean that the shots are not accepted by some countries. Will only accept travelers who have been vaccinated with WHO-supported jobs.
The Serum Institute is producing the vaccine developed by Novavax and a big question is how much it can supply, and when. The vaccine was long anticipated to help increase global vaccine supplies, as the shots only require refrigerated storage – an attractive option for low-income countries compared to other vaccines that require very cold storage. is required. , AP
Switzerland
Swiss introduce new restrictions amid rise in COVID infections
The Swiss government said on Friday it will require proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 for access to restaurants, cultural or sporting events and all other indoor events as the country faces a new surge in coronavirus cases .
The Executive Federal Council announced a number of new measures to take effect from Monday after coordinating with regional leaders. Tension is rising in Swiss hospitals after the total number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units exceeded the critical threshold of 300.
“The epidemiological situation is extremely worrying; The number of hospitalizations continues to rise and some areas have very high numbers of intensive care units,” the government said in a statement. , AP
France
France urged for vaccines, bans New Year’s concerts
French officials on Friday urged people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus ahead of holiday festivities as infections rise and the government tries to avoid another lockdown.
“The fifth wave is here and it is here in full force,” Prime Minister Jean Casteux told a news conference, adding that the fast-spreading Omicron variant is expected to dominate infections in France in early January.
To prevent the spread of the virus during the holidays, the government banned public gatherings and fireworks displays at New Year’s celebrations and called on people to avoid large gatherings and limit the number of family members at Christmas. , AP
America
New York rises to record number of COVID-19 infections
New York state reported on Friday that just over 21,000 people had tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day, the highest single-day total for new cases since testing became widely available.
A one-day snapshot of virus data may be an unreliable way to gauge trends, but the new record halts a steady rise that began in the western part of the state in late October, and began in New York City last week. happened. The Omicron version expands.
“It’s changing so quickly. The numbers are increasing rapidly by the day,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a Friday appearance. CNN, , AP
Date | time
ICMR approves indigenously developed kit to detect current COVID-19 variants
The indigenously developed CoviDelta diagnostics kit by Pune-based Genepath Diagnostics has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), company sources said on Friday. Dr Nikhil Jakatdar, CEO, GenePath Diagnostics said that the kit detects all existing variants of COVID-19 and flags delta and omicron variants in a single test.
“This kit is capable of detecting all significant COVID-19 variants described to date worldwide, including the currently dominant Delta and Omicron variants. This Made-in-India kit is quick and cost-effective and has been approved by ICMR as being capable of detecting COVID-19 variants with high sensitivity and specificity,” he said.
Dr. Nikhil Phadke, Founder and Chief Science Officer, GenePath Diagnostics, said that the ‘Covidelta Kit’ helped mark the presence of the first Omicron case in Pune city, which was later carried out by the Union Health Ministry’s Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics. Confirmed. Consortium (INSACOG).
Date | time
Two more Omicron cases in Kerala
Two more cases of COVID-19, caused by the Omicron virus, have been confirmed in the state, taking the total number of such cases to seven, Health Minister Veena George said here on Friday.
Omicron’s confirmation came in a husband-and-wife pair, aged 68 and 67, who flew from Sharjah to Kochi on December 8.
As per the Centre’s directive, the UAE is not on the list of “high-risk” countries and hence, the couple was allowed to be on self-observation instead of quarantine.
Date | time
Omicron count rises to eight in Telangana
At a time when the pandemic seemed to be under control in Telangana, the state has been receiving omicron cases from abroad, taking the tally to eight on Friday.
The infected persons had come from Kenya (3), Abu Dhabi (2) and from Dubai, Sudan and the UK (1 each). Two of them were from ‘at risk’ countries and six from ‘not at risk’ countries. Another boy who was at a transit halt at the Hyderabad International Airport tested positive, but the genome sequencing result was revealed after he traveled to Kolkata.
Of the eight infected persons in the state, seven were from Tolichowki in and around Hyderabad and a woman, Hanamkonda. She tested negative on arrival from the UK, but the genome sequencing result on Thursday evening confirmed a positive case.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu will seek Centre’s nod for 7-day home quarantine for all international travelers
Health Minister Ma will seek permission from the Tamil Nadu central government to introduce seven-day home quarantine for all international travelers, including those coming from non-risk countries. Subramaniam said.
Currently, all passengers from 12 countries deemed at risk are subjected to RT-PCR tests at the state’s international airports. Two per cent of travelers from non-at-risk countries are randomly tested as per existing guidelines.
The move to seek a seven-day home quarantine came after travelers from non-at-risk countries such as Nigeria and Congo were randomly tested on arrival, and analyzed samples taken from them and their COVID-positive contacts. An S-gene dropout was found, which is a marker for the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. So far, Tamil Nadu has a confirmed case of the Omicron variant in a 47-year-old man who had traveled from Nigeria to Chennai via Doha.
Karnataka
Ghanaian traveller, 7 students test positive in Mangaluru
A passenger who arrived at Mangaluru International Airport from Ghana, a high-risk country, has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner KV Rajendra, the passenger, who is asymptomatic, was admitted to the isolation ward of Government Wenlock Hospital in the city on Thursday night. He said on Friday that the throat and nasal swab samples of the passenger have been sent to Bengaluru for genomic sequence analysis.
Mr Rajendra held a meeting with airport and health department officials at the airport on Friday and said that there were 27 passengers on board, including three in the front row and three in the back row. have been identified as primary contacts and quarantined after conducting RT-PCR tests.
,