LIVE: Karnataka sees 32,793 cases, issues new rules for hospitalisation

Only sick patients requiring emergency care may visit hospitals and autonomous institutions for next two weeks, says Karnataka govt amid big Covid spike

9:01 PM

Tsunami advisory issued for the US West Coast

8:12 PM

5,705 new cases in Pune

7:12 PM

23,989 new cases and 11 deaths in Tamil Nadu

6:58 PM

Mumbai reports 10,661 new Covid cases

6:57 PM

Cricketer Virat Kohli steps down as India Test captain

6:50 PM

Only sick patients requiring emergency care may visit hospitals next 2 weeks: Karnataka govt

6:35 PM

Karnataka sees 32,793 new Covid cases

6:21 PM

No changes are required in ongoing guidelines and restrictions: Maharashtra Dy CM

6:12 PM

Kerala reports 17,755 new Covid cases

5:52 PM

Delhi reports 20,718 new cases

4:53 PM

Delta still dominant strain says Maharashtra health official amid Omicron scare

Amid the scare caused by the Omicron variant of coronavirus, a senior official of the Maharashtra health department has said that the Delta strain of the virus still accounts for the maximum number of infection cases in the state as revealed by the genome sequencing of the patients' samples.

 

Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary of the health department, in a letter written to his colleagues on Wednesday said that the Delta variant was found in 68 per cent samples, out of the over 4,200 analysed, while the remaining 32 per cent patients were found infected with the Omicron strain.

4:12 PM

Bengal extends COVID-19 restrictions till Jan 31; allows fairs, marriage functions

3:25 PM

Everyone purchasing self-test kits will have to provide their Aaadhar cards to the chemists: Mumbai mayor

2:39 PM

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi to contest from Chamkaur Sahib

2:24 PM

I had allotted 2 seats to Bhim Army chief: Akhilesh

1:32 PM

Peak arrived in Delhi, cases to slow down now, says Jain

1:26 PM

Cases' peak has arrived, let's see when the decline begins: Delhi health minister

Cases' peak has arrived, let's  see when the decline begins...seems like cases have begun to slow down: Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain

1:25 PM

Delhi Covid cases are expected to be reduced by 4,000- positivity rate will be around 30%: Satyendra Jain

Today, Delhi Covid cases are expected to be reduced by 4,000- positivity rate will be around 30%; hospital admission rate hasn't risen in past 5-6 days. This indicates that cases are going to be fewer in the coming days. 85% of hospital beds vacant:Delhi Health Min Satyendra Jain

1:24 PM

Election Commission to take call on holding poll rallies, roadshows today

Election Commission to take call on holding poll rallies, roadshows today

1:02 PM

Evidence of early community transmission of Omicron (B1.1.529) in Delhi: ILBS

Evidence of early community transmission of Omicron (B1.1.529) in Delhi: Department of Clinical Virology at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New 

Delhi

12:53 PM

Covid-19: Test positivity rate shoots up to 51.75 per cent in Pondy

Puducherry reported 1,213 fresh Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours ending 10 a.m. on Saturday pushing the cumulative positives to 1,36,550.

 

The test positivity rate shot up to 51.75 percent while fatality and recovery rates were 1.38 percent and 93.65 percent respectively. The new cases were identified at the end of examination of 2344 samples and the cases were spread over Puducherry 1100, Karaikal 93, Mahe 17 and Yanam three. Director of Health G.Sriramulu said in a release that the active cases were 6,785 of whom 123 patients were undergoing treatment in hospitals and remaining 6662 patients were in home isolation. He said 84 patients recovered and were discharged during last twenty- four hours while overall recoveries stood at 1,27,879. Two more patients, both hailing from Mahe, succumbed to the infection raising the toll to 1886. The Health Department has tested so far 20,92,714 samples and has found 17,74,724 to be negative. The department has administered so far 14,95,877 doses which comprised 9,05,903 first doses, 5,88,020 second and 1954 booster doses. Meanwhile, the celebration of Tiruvalluvar Day (on the occasion of Maattu Pongal) was virtually a low key affair in Puducherry because of prevalence of the pandemic.

12:50 PM

Omicron less severe even for unvaccinated, claims S African study

In a ray of fresh hope as the world grapples with the surge in Covid infections, a new South African study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, has claimed that the Omicron variant is even less severe for the unvaccinated.

 

According to the study, led by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in the country, unvaccinated people who were infected with the highly-infectious Omicron variant are less likely to fall seriously ill, require hospitalisation or die compared to the previous Covid strains.

 

The study comes at a time when the Omicron variant is spreading like a wildfire across the globe, including India. South Africa has witnessed the fourth wave which is now flattening. Read on...

12:25 PM

Start-ups are going to be the backbone of new India, says PM Modi

Start-ups are going to be the backbone of new India. When India completes 100 years of independence, start-ups will have an important role. Country's innovators are making the country proud globally: PM Modi

12:13 PM

Republic Day parade to see 24,000 people in attendance, foreign dignitary as chief guest unlikely

Approximately 24,000 people will be permitted to attend the Republic Day parade on January 26 this year given the Covid-19 situation in the national capital, PTI reported quoting sources in the defence establishment.

 

In 2020, before the pandemic struck India, around 1.25 lakh people were permitted to attend the parade, they noted.

 

Last year's Republic Day parade took place amid the Covid pandemic and close to 25,000 people were allowed to attend it, sources mentioned.

 

Like last year, this time too the parade may not have any foreign dignitary as the chief guest due to the pandemic, they said, adding India was planning to invite the leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan.

12:10 PM

Republic Day Celebrations will now begin every year from January 23 instead of January 24

Republic Day Celebrations will now begin every year from January 23 instead of January 24 to include the birth anniversary of Subash Chandra Bose, ANI reports quoting GOI sources.

12:09 PM

Omicron less severe even for unvaccinated, claims S African study

In a ray of fresh hope as the world grapples with the surge in Covid infections, a new South African study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, has claimed that the Omicron variant is even less severe for the unvaccinated.

According to the study, led by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in the country, unvaccinated people who were infected with the highly-infectious Omicron variant are less likely to fall seriously ill, require hospitalisation or die compared to the previous Covid strains.

The study comes at a time when the Omicron variant is spreading like a wildfire across the globe, including India. South Africa has witnessed the fourth wave which is now flattening.

12:05 PM

US to ban all flights to China ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics

The US will be banning all commercial flights to China from January 19 as Beijing tries to keep coronavirus infections at bay ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

 

Starting next week, there are likely to be no commercial flights bound for Beijing ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, reported CNN.

 

Beginning January 19 and continuing for at least two weeks, all flights from the United States to China have either been cancelled or are likely to be suspended because of Chinese aviation regulations, according to CNN Business research of government announcements and published flight schedules. Read on...

12:01 PM

Canada's Covid-19 cases surpass 2.7 million with 20,036 new infections

Canada reported 20,036 new Covid-19 cases Friday noon, raising its national total to 2,706,977 cases with 31,306 deaths, according to local media CTV.

 

Ontario, the most populous province in the country, reported 10,964 new cases and 42 deaths on Friday. Read on...

11:50 AM

Google now requiresfully-vaccinated workers to get weekly Covid tests

As Omicron-triggered Covid infections surge globally especially in the US, Google has said it will now require fully-vaccinated workers who are coming to offices to get weekly Covid tests.

 

Google will require anyone going to one of its US offices or facilities to have received a negative molecular test for Covid-19, reports CNBC citing an internal memo sent to employees.

 

The employees should also report their vaccination status and wear surgical-grade masks while at the office. READ ON...

11:48 AM

India emerged as 'global pharmacy' as world continues to real under COVID variants

While the world is still reeling under the Wuhan virus, India emerged as a 'saviour' by providing medicines globally across the continent, amply describing the epithet - the pharmacy of the world.

India has delivered 115.417 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 97 countries till December 31, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.