advertisement
Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, India reported 2,58,089 new infections (13,113 cases less than the previous day), 385 deaths, and 1,51,740 recoveries on Monday, 17 January.
Meanwhile, Delhi reported a dip in daily COVID-19 cases on Monday, with 12,527 new infections. Mumbai also traced a downward curve, with 5,956 new infections.
The number of active cases in the country stand at 16,56,341.
Meanwhile, a total of 8,209 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported so far.
Earlier, Delhi had reported 18,286 new COVID cases and a positivity rate of 27.87 percent.
The number of new COVID cases had dropped in Mumbai yesterday too.
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij blamed the high COVID infection rate in three districts of Haryana, adjoining Delhi, on the "uncontrolled" rise in cases in the national capital.
According to news agency ANI, Vij said, "Haryana is adversely affected due to its vicinity to Delhi, but there is no need to panic."
Pune based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has submitted phase two data of mRNA vaccine and has also completed the recruitment of phase three data.
Drugs Controller General of India's (DCGI) Subject Expert Committee (SEC) is expected to review the data soon, ANI reported citing offficial sources.
Furhter, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has also developed the mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant that will be tested on humans for efficacy and immunogenicity soon, sources were reported as saying.
Marriage registration service has been temporarily stopped due to the current COVID-19 situation in Mumbai.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that the service will be restarted soon with the facility of appointment, date and time. BMC added that they are exploring the provision of a video KYC option.
Union Health Ministry said that more than 158.12 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states/UTs. The ministry added that over 13.79 crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses are still available with states/UTs to be administered.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian told ANI, "100 percent of school students between 15 to 18 years in Tamil Nadu have been inoculated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine."
Speaking on Haryana Health Minister's claim that cases in Haryana's three districts were rising due to Delhi's "uncontrollable cases", Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, "These are political talks, I can also tell how many Haryana people are testing positive in Delhi. Over 1,000 COVID-19 cases are being reported from outside Delhi every day."
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said, "Delhi to report around 14,000-15,000 cases today, much less than yesterday. Around 2.85 crore doses have been administered in Delhi."
He added that 100 percent eligible population has been inoculated with the 1st COVID vaccine dose, 80 percent with the 2nd dose, and 1.28 lakh people have received the precautionary dose.
Puducherry reports 907 new COVID infections and three deaths on Monday. Active case stand at 8,359.
As per officials, about 2,500 Delhi Police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 since 1 January, and 767 of them have recovered, PTI reported.
Owing to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, Raj Bhavan in Goa will remain closed to visitors for a week, until 23 January, Joint Secretary to Governor Gaurish J Shankhwalker said in a written statement.
The Puducherry Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms issued instructions for government offices that will be in effect till 31 January.
As per the guidelines, Group 'A' officers from level of Under Secys to Govt and equivalent/other administrative heads will attend office with full strength. Meanwhile, officers in offices categorised as Group 'B' and 'C' shall attend office as per requirement with 50% staff strength.
Read the rest of the guidelines here:
"967 schools with above 500 student beneficiaries each shall be transformed into vaccination centres from 19 January for children between the age group of 15 to 18 years. A total of 8.14 lakh students will get vaccinated", Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty stated, ANI quoted.
"Over 3.5 crore children between the 15-18 Age group have received 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine, since 3rd January," Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted on Monday.
"India may begin inoculating children in 12-14 age group against COVID-19 in March as 15-18 population is likely to get fully vaccinated by then," ANI quoted Dr N K Arora, chairman of COVID-19 working group of NTAGI as saying.
Kerala's Culture Minister Saji Cherian indicated that the 26th International Film Festival of Kerala, scheduled to be held from 4th to 11th February, has been postponed considering the the current Covid19 situation in the state.
287 new Omicron cases were reported in Bengaluru today, taking Karnataka's overall tally to 766, State Health minister Dr Sudhakar K said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police of Bengaluru Kamal Pant indicated that all types of rallies and protests and marriage functions exceeding 200 people in open spaces and 100 people in closed places will be prohibited in Bengaluru city 31st January, 5 am, ANI reported.
Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting on the ongoing Covid situation and has written t the Centre, seeking to reduce the gap for administering 'precautionary dose' from the existing nine months to six months.
As per the CMO, Reddy has directed officials to focus on scaling up vaccination in five districts - East Godavari, Guntur, YSR Kadapa, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, ANI reported.
Delhi detected 12,527 fresh COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the positivity rate in the region to 27.99 per cent. Meanwhile, active cases decline to 83, 982.
This is a major drop in the daily number of cases recorded in the national capital.
A spokesperson from Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has said that the firm filed its phase 2 data with Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday.
"The Omicron specific variant of vaccine is under development and will be ready for human clinical trials, subject to regulatory approvals, " ANI quoted the company official as saying.
Kerala reported 22,946 new COVID cases and 5290 recoveries in last 24 hours, taking the active caseload in the state to 1,31,458.
Uttar Pradesh reported 15,622 new COVID cases and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Tamil Nadu recorded 4,108 new cases and 696 recoveries in the last 24 hours, taking the number of active cases in the state to 30,182.
An FIR has been lodged against BJP's Dadri MLA Tejpal Singh Nagar for allegedly flouting COVID-19 norms during a poll campaign for the upcoming UP assembly elections.
The COVID-19 National Task Force under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a circular underlining the revised clinical guidance for the management of adult COVID-19 patients, as per the categories of 'mild', 'moderate' and 'severe' illness.
Read the revised guidelines here.
Mumbai detected 5,956 new cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours. The active caseload in the city stands at 50,757.
The West Bengal government eased COVID-19 restrictions in the state, permitting gyms to operate with 50% capacity till 9pm.
Further, Jatra shall be allowed with 50% capacity till 9 pm and outdoor shooting for films and TV programmes will also be allowed in the state following COVID appropriate protocols.
Jammu and Kashmir reported a total of 2,827 new cases – 1,093 from Jammu and 1,734 from Kashmir – in the last 24 hours. Active cases in the UT are 17,928.
Karnataka reported 27,156 new infections, 7,827 recoveries and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours. The active caseload in the state is 2,17,297.
West Bengal detected 9,385 new cases of COVID-19 and 33 deaths with a positivity rate of 26.43 per cent in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra recorded 31,111 new COVID cases, 29,092 recoveries, and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases stand at 2,67,334.
Meanwhile, the state detected 122 patients with Omicron infection, taking the overall Omicron tally in the state to 1,860.
Haryana reports 9,204 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Active cases stand at 54,814.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)