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Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot tested COVID-positive with mild symptoms on Thursday, 6 January.
Meanwhile, Mumbai reported 20,181 new COVID-19 cases and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the city's active caseload to 79,260.
As COVID-19 cases in India continue to show an upward trend, India reported 90,928 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a massive jump from the 58,097 cases on Wednesday.
India also reported 325 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,85,401.
The country's Omicron tally stands at 2,630, with Maharashtra and Delhi reporting the highest number of cases.
India's first Omicron-related death was reported from Rajasthan, the Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday
Several states have announced COVID curbs in light of the rise in cases
Delhi reported 15,097 fresh cases and 6 deaths in the last 24 hours on Thursday – the highest single day spike in COVID cases in the national capital since May.
"With the shutting of Delhi govt schools due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, an order has been issued to distribute dry ration kits amongst all the students of state govt schools, in the form of mid-day meals", Delhi government was quoted saying by ANI.
Chandigarh Administration says that all non-essential activities are prohibited between 10pm-5am.
Further, educational institutions and sports complexes to remain closed, and 50% of staff of government and private offices will work from home.
Cinemas, malls, restaurants, etc. to operate at 50% capacity and all gatherings restricted to 50 persons indoors and 100 persons outdoor.
The BMC releases new guidelines for the home care and isolation for patients with asymptomatic or mild case of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, those with severe symptoms or comorbidities will be hospitalised upon a medical evaluation.
Read the full guidelines here:
"With the rise in COVID-19 AND Omicron cases, Odisha government has issued a new guideline. Night curfew will be imposed from 9pm to 5am, starting tomorrow. A total of 100 guests allowed in weddings and 50 at funerals", ANI quoted Police Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack SK Priyadarsi as saying.
Maharashtra detected 36,265 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths and, 8,907 discharges in the last 24 hours. The state also reported 79 cases of the Omicron variant today, taking the tally to 876.
West Bengal reported a daily total of 15,421 cases. The positivity rate in the state stands at 24.71%.
Mumbai reported 20,181 new COVID-19 cases and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the city's active caseload to 79,260. This about 25 per cent higher than the number of fresh cases reported in the city yesterday.
As per the BMC, the positivity rate is at 29.90% today with 20,181 samples testing positive out of all 67,000 samples.
Kerala detected 4,649 new cases, and 17 deaths in the last 24 hours. "204 deaths were added to the death tally as per the new guidelines of the Central government", ANI quoted the Kerala government as saying.
Government of Puducherry introduced new COVID-19 restrictions till January 31. As per the official order, malls and markets will be allowed to operate at not more than 50% capacity.
Further, Intra & inter district public transport, cinemas, gyms, salons, parlours and auditoriums will operate at 50% capacity.
All the travellers de-boarding at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, except those in transit, will need to undergo RTPCR test for COVID-19 at the airport's testing facility, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has said.
Karnataka government has said that International arrivals from both 'At-risk' countries and 'Non-at-risk' countries who test positive for Covid-19 at airports, but are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, will undergo 7-day institutional quarantine and a further 7-day home quarantine.
"21 more Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus workers test positive for COVID. Total 87 positive, of which 22 discharged," ANI reported BEST PRO, Mumbai as saying.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot tested COVID-positive on Thursday. The CM took to Twitter to say that he was experiencing mild symptoms, and urged people who have met him to isolate and get tested.
The Centre has written to states and asked them to ensure setting up of district and sub-district level control rooms for COVID management with adequate staff, doctors, infrastructure, monitoring of beds availability, outbound calls to patients in home isolation, ANI reported.
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya met with the doctors and health workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 in AIIMS Delhi on Thursday.
"Many of our doctors, health workers have been affected with COVID19 while serving patients, I pray for their good health," ANI quoted the Health Minister as saying.
He added, "I appeal to all citizens to follow COVID19 appropriate behaviour as cases are increasing in the country."
Earlier, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria had also urged citizens to follow COVID appropriate behaviour, including proper masking, washing hands, avoiding crowds and appealed for them to get vaccinated. "Don't panic, it's a mild disease, but stay alert," Dr Guleria stated, ANI reported.
The North East District authority in Delhi has shut two markets-Sonia Vihar 2nd Pushta Market and Mukund Vihar Market in Karawal Nagar due to the violation of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour in these areas, ANI reported.
The Kerala Health department has said that 50 more cases of Omicron are confirmed in Kerala, of which 45 are from low risk countries and 5 are from high risk countries. No cases reported through contact tracing.
Total Omicron cases in the state are now 280.
The Sports Authority of India issued fresh SOPs to combat the surge in Covid cases.
As per the new rules, all athletes will undergo a mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) upon arrival to the training centres, and several other measures will be implemented at various National Centres of Excellence, and the ongoing national coaching camps, ANI reported.
Further, a repeat of RAT would take place on 5th day and those positive with COVID-19 will undergo a RTPCR test and be treated in isolation. Meanwhile, athletes testing negative will continue normal training, as per ANI.
It is to be noted that guidelines from State Govts will supersede these SOPs in the concerned states.
Odisha recorded the highest single day spike in COVID-19 cases in five months, reporting 1,897 fresh infections and one death on Thursday. The total tally in the state rises to 10.6 lakh and death toll touches 8,467.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says that the state of West Bengal recorded 14,022 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, and added that she will be increasing the restrictions in the state amid the rise in cases.
She also stated that she will attend a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.
"2,075 COVID-19 patients hospitalized; total 403 containment zones, positivity rate 23.17%, fatality rate 1.18%, 19,517 beds availability. RT-PCR must for interstate border area movement; next 15 days important, will increase restrictions and meet PM Modi tomorrow," she was quoted as saying by ANI.
"125 passengers of Air India's Italy-Amritsar flight have tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at Amritsar airport," Airport Director VK Seth was quoted as saying by ANI.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in a letter to 9 states – Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, and Bihar – asked them to ramp up their COVID-19 testing
"It has been observed that there has been a considerable decline in COVID-19 testing in these states and union territories amid rising cases and positivity, which is a cause of concern," Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry Arti Ahuja said in the letter, as per PTI.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has tested positive for COVID-19.
"No consideration of lockdown as of now. Maharashtra government will consider a lockdown or lockdown-like restrictions after medical oxygen demand for the state goes beyond 800 metric tonnes/day or more than 40 percent of COVID beds in hospitals are occupied," the Maharashtra Health Department said in a statement, ANI reported.
"This current surge (in COVID cases) may peak in mid February and may subside by mid March," the statement noted.
Delhi is expected to log over 14,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, Health Minister Satyender Jain was quoted as saying by PTI. No death due to Omicron has been confirmed in city, he added.
"As of now, it appears lockdown is not needed," Jain was quoted as saying.
Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati has been declared as a containment zone after 60 COVID-19 cases were detected on its campus.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday will brief officials of Election Commission of India (ECI) over the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Niti Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul will also be in attendance at the meeting.
Five states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, and Manipur – are slated to go to polls this year, even as the country sees a rise of COVID-19.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar has tested positive for COVID-19.
India reported 90,928 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, 6 January, a massive jump from the 58,097 cases on Wednesday. 325 deaths were also reported.
2,630 Omicron cases have been confirmed in India so far, from 26 states and Union territories.
While Maharashtra has topped the chart 797 Omicron cases, Delhi has reported 465.
Puducherry reported its first two cases of Omicron on Thursday.
30 more resident doctors tested COVID positive in Sion Hospital, Mumbai, as per the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors.
A total of 260 resident doctors in Mumbai have been tested positive.
"Following the increase in COVID cases, we have decided to close pre-primary, primary, classes from 1-8 and Anganwadi centres in Diu. We request the tourists to take all precautionary measures and keep themselves safe," Diu Collector Saloni Rai was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The Delhi government on Wednesday directed the nine government hospitals that fall under it to increased their bed capacity, from 3,316 to a total of 4,350 beds.
"Further, the MS/MD/Director of all concerned GNCTD hospitals must ensure that all preparations are made for engaging necessary manpower, equipment etc to meet up bed escalation operationalization," the state government order stated.
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