LIVE: At least 23 countries have reported cases of Omicron, says WHO chief

Several WHO advisory groups have met over the last couple of days to evaluate the emerging evidence, says Tedros Adhanom

11:26 PM

Chhattisgarh records 20 new COVID-19 cases

Chhattisgarh's coronavirus case tally rose to 10,06,833 on Wednesday as 20 new infections came to light, a health official said.

 

No fresh fatality due to the viral infection was reported.

 

The number of recoveries rose to 9,92,924 after six people were discharged from hospitals while 16 others completed their home isolation during the day.

 

The number of active cases stood at 316 while death toll remained unchanged at 13,593. Durg and Bilaspur districts recorded three new cases each while Raipur recorded two cases and Bastar one case. No fresh cases were reported in 17 districts. With 18,252 samples tested during the day, the number of coronavirus tests conducted so far went up to 1,42,88,635. Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 10,06,833, New cases 20, Death toll 13,593, Recovered 9,92,924, Active cases 316, Total tests 1,42,88,635.

10:46 PM

UK speeds up COVID booster jabs to buy time against Omicron variant

The UK's health service on Wednesday began preparations to speed up the rollout of its COVID-19 booster vaccinations for the most vulnerable groups and eventually for all adults aged over 18 in the hope of slowing down the spread of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus and buying more time as further data emerges.

 

A total of 32 cases of the Omicron variant feared to be more rapidly transmissible than even the Delta variant have been confirmed in the UK so far. The British government has maintained that vaccines remain the best line of defence against all COVID variants as rules around face coverings in indoor settings and additional PCR tests for travellers entering the country have been put in place.

 

The National Health Service (NHS) is putting measures in place to enhance its vaccination programme, with an additional 1 million jabs a week required to meet the target of January 2022 set by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to cover all adults with a third dose.

10:18 PM

FIR lodged against illegal adoption of kids orphaned in Covid pandemic

An FIR was lodged in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district following an online report about illegal adoption of children, who were orphaned during the Covid pandemic, officials said here on Wednesday.

 

According to the officials, an online news article regarding alleged illegal adoption and "sale" of Covid orphans has come to the notice of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) Mission Director in J&K Shabnam Kamili, in which serious allegations have been made against two people by an NGO.

 

In this connection, the mission director has directed the authorities concerned to take action and an FIR has been lodged at Pampore police station against the culprits, they said.

9:57 PM

6 Covid cases detected on screening passengers from 'at-risk' nations: Govt

Six COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday after screening 3,476 passengers of 11 flights that arrived in India from "at-risk" countries and the samples have been sent for genomic sequencing, the Health Ministry said amid concerns over the 'Omicron' variant of coronavirus.

 

The Centre's revised guidelines for international travellers came into effect on Wednesday. The fresh guidelines have been issued because of the new SARS-Cov-2 variant which has been designated as a 'variant of concern (VOC)' by the World Health Organisation.

 

"On the first day of operation of the Guidelines for International Travellers issued by the Centre as public health response measures for control and management of the newly reported variant of coronavirus, which has been designated as a 'variant of concern' by WHO, six passengers were reported to be Covid positive," the Union Health Ministry said. READ MORE...

9:40 PM

Monitoring Omicron situation, decision on international flights soon: Govt

The Indian government, before taking any final decision on the resumption of international flight operations, is "closely monitoring" the situation emerging out of the detection and spread of coronavirus' Omicron variant.

 

According to civil aviation regulator DGCA, stakeholders are being consulted on the evolving situation.

 

"In view of the evolving global scenario with the emergence of new 'Variants of Concern', the situation is being watched closely in consultation with all stakeholders," the DGCA said in a circular issued on Wednesday.

9:27 PM

Nigeria says it found first case of omicron in November

Nigeria has detected its first case of the omicron coronavirus variant in travellers that arrived from South Africa in the past week, the country's national public health institute said Wednesday, correcting its earlier statement that it found the variant in samples taken in October.

 

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control said in a second statement that it was the delta variant not omicron as it had earlier stated that was detected in the samples from October. It said the omicron variant was first detected in three travellers who arrived in the country in the past week.

 

Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travellers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with history of travel to South Africa, Nigeria CDC director-general Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said in the second statement.

9:25 PM

193 coronavirus cases, one death in Telangana

Telangana on Wednesday reported 193 new

 

COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 6,76,187, while the toll rose to 3,993 with one more fatality.

 

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation accounted for the most number of cases with 73, followed by Ranga Reddy (17) and Medchal Malkajgiri (14) districts, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM today.

 

It said 153 people recovered from the 

9:10 PM

Tamil Nadu logs 718 new COVID-19 cases; 11 fatalities

New COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Chennai as Tamil Nadu reported 718 infections on Wednesday, including returnees from Karnataka, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Bangladesh, taking the tally to 27,27,635.

 

Eleven people succumbed to the virus, taking the toll to 36,492 till date, a health department bulletin said.

 

Recoveries eclipsed new infections with 751 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 26,82,943, leaving 8,200 active infections.

 

Chennai and Coimbatore accounted for 117 and 118 cases respectively, while the remaining were scattered across other districts.

 

The state capital had reported 105 cases on Monday and 115 the next day, while Coimbatore logged 109 cases on Tuesday.

 

A total of 1,00,562 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 5,43,70,909.

 

As many as 24 districts reported below 10 COVID-19 infections, while Tenkasi and Theni both recorded zero new cases, the bulletin said.

9:03 PM

We expect number of Omicron cases to grow: Tedros

8:48 PM

Govt issues update on Omicron variant

8:24 PM

'128 international passengers were tested, no one tested positive in the RT-PCR tests'

6:27 PM

Bill cancelling 3 farm laws gets Presidental sign-off

6:26 PM

Chennai airport cuts Covid test prices

6:16 PM

Time to think about mandatory vaccination, says EU chief

The European Union should discuss whether mandatory vaccinations are needed to help fight the ongoing spike in Covid-19 cases, as well as the new omicron variant, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

 

“I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now -- how we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the European Union,” she said during a news conference. “This needs discussion. This needs a common approach. But it is a discussion that I think has to be led.”

5:52 PM

'Trying to give 75% reservation to all Haryana residents before Jan 15'

5:26 PM

India's plan for 'at-risk' arrivals can backfire, warns Biocon chief

4:41 PM

Mamata's intention is like-minded forces have to come together at national level: Pawar

4:40 PM

'There is no UPA,' says Mamata

4:26 PM

ICMR approves 9 systems for molecular testing of SARS-CoV-2 at airports

ICMR has approved nine systems for molecular testing of SARS-CoV-2 (all these systems are considered equivalent to RTPCR) at airports. All the labs who would conduct the tests would follow the ICMR/ MoHFW guidelines to ensure genome sequencing for all positive cases. Here are the systems: Open system RTPCR, TrueNat, GeneXpert, RTLAMP, CRISPR/TATAMD CHECK/FELUDA, Abbott ID Now, Accula by Thermofisher, Rapid RTPCR, CoviDx DirectPlex.

 

Airports have been directed by MoCA to facilitate the RT-PCR testing of passengers by extending the required facilities and logistics, says Ministry of Civil Aviation.

4:11 PM

Mamata meets Sharad Pawar

3:46 PM

A fully-vaccinated local domestic passenger can travel without RT-PCR: Maharashtra govt

3:40 PM

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned for day

3:02 PM

Maharashtra asked to align SoPs for international travellers with Central guidelines

2:48 PM

India delays resumption of regular international flights

2:25 PM

'We're awaiting genome sequencing results of 4 travellers'

2:13 PM

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 3pm

2:07 PM

If all regional parties come together, then it will be easy to defeat BJP: Mamata

1:53 PM

'4,557 Afghan nationals are staying in India on Stay Visa'

1:42 PM

Only 28 infiltration incidents were recorded this year (till Nov), says MHA in Parliament

1:18 PM

IMD predicts normal temperatures Dec to Feb

India’s northwest will likely have normal to above normal minimum temperatures from December to February, says the meteorological department.