LIVE: Maharashtra reports 31 new Omicron cases; state tally reaches 141

Of these, Mumbai saw 27 cases, which raised the city's count of such cases to 73. Stay tuned for LIVE updates

11:59 PM

Kerala reports 19 new Omicron cases, tally at 57

With 19 new cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Kerala, the tally of a new variant in the state has reached 57, the Health Minister Veena George on Sunday.

 

The Health Minister said that of the 19 cases detected, 11 were detected in Ernakulam, six in Thiruvananthapuram and one each in Thrissur and Kannur.

 

"Persons reached from UK, UAE, Ireland, Canada, Spain, Qatar and Netherlands were confirmed Omicron in Ernakulam. The person reached from UK, Ghana, and Qatar have confirmed Omicron in Thiruvananthapuram," said George.

 

Meanwhile, Kerala reports 1,824 fresh infections, 16 deaths and 3,364 recoveries in the last 24 hours. There are 22,691 active cases in the state.

 

The state detected its first Omicron case on December 12 in Ernakulam district when a person who had returned from the UK tested positive.

 

Over 350 cases of Omicron have been reported in India so far.

10:04 PM

For now, Covaxin likely to be only Covid vaccine available for children of 15-18 yrs

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is likely to be the only COVID-19 vaccine available, for now, for children in the age group of 15-18 years, who will be inoculated from January 3, official sources said.

 

Also, healthcare and frontline workers and citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidities would be administered the third dose of the same vaccine they had been given before.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation on Saturday night, announced that vaccination against COVID-19 for children between 15-18 years will start from January 3, while "precaution dose" for healthcare and frontline workers would be administered from January 10.

 

The decisions came amid rising Covid cases linked to the Omicron variant of the virus.

9:44 PM

Algeria imposes vaccine pass to boost low inoculation rate

Algeria started requiring a vaccine passport Sunday to enter a broad range of public venues, in a bid to boost the country's low inoculation rate and overcome vaccine hesitancy that has left millions of vaccines unused.

 

The pass is now required for anyone entering or leaving Algeria, as well as for sports facilities, cinemas, theaters, museums, town halls and some other sites. It also applies to hammams the bath houses that are popular across the region.

 

Less than a quarter of Algeria's population has had even one vaccine dose, so the rule will be difficult to enforce. It was announced in a government statement Saturday night and came into effect Sunday, leaving Algerians and businesses no time to prepare.

9:10 PM

Two more Omicron variant patients in Chandigarh

Two more people were found to be positive for Omicron variant in Chandigarh out of samples of five family contacts of previous Omicron positive case sent for genome sequencing, doctors said on Sunday.

 

The total number of Omicron variant patients in the city has now risen to three.

 

One of the Omicron variant is an 80-year-old man, who is a patient of hypertension but is asymptomatic. He has been isolated in hospital, and will be re-tested again on January 1. The second is a 45-year-old male, who was reported as RT-PCR negative on December 24 and discharged.

9:05 PM

Gujarat sees 177 Covid-19 cases, tally now 8,29,359; no Omicron case

Gujarat reported 177 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, its highest single-day addition since June 20 when the count was 185, raising the tally to 8,29,359, a state health department official said. No new case of the Omicron variant was reported during the day, leaving the count in this segment at 49, he added.

 

However, three people detected with Omicron were discharged from hospital, raising the number of people who have recovered from the variant to 13, the official pointed out.

 

So far, 8,18,298 people have been discharged post recovery, including 66 on Sunday, leaving Gujarat with 948 active cases, of which 10 patients are critical, he said. The death toll remained unchanged at 10,113.

8:54 PM

Covid-19 pandemic: Jammu and Kashmir records 124 new cases, two deaths

Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday recorded 124 fresh coronavirus cases, raising the tally to 3,40,722, officials said. The union territory also reported two more deaths due to the virus, they added. Of the fresh cases, 31 were reported from the Jammu division and 93 from the Kashmir division, the officials said.

 

They said Srinagar district recorded the highest of 42 cases, followed by 17 cases in Jammu district.

 

There are 1,350 active cases in the union territory, the officials said. The death toll due to the pandemic reached 4,523 as two more fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, they said. The number of recovered Covid patients was 3,34,849, the officials said. They said there were 50 confirmed cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) in the union territory and no fresh case was reported since Saturday evening.

8:50 PM

Mumbai reports 922 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths; active tally now 4,295

Mumbai on Sunday reported 922 new coronavirus positive cases and two deaths, taking the tally in the metropolis to 7,71,112 and the toll to 16,370, a civic official said.

 

The recovery count increased to 7,47,864 after 326 people were discharged during the day, leaving Mumbai with 4,295 active cases, he said.

 

With 34,819 samples being examined on Sunday, the number of tests in the country's financial capital went up to 1,34,48,858, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation data showed.

 

It also revealed that the case doubling time now stood at 1,139 days.

8:31 PM

Covid cases in Ahmednagar school rise to 51, campus declared containment zone

The number of coronavirus cases at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district has gone up to 51, which includes 48 students, a health official said on Sunday.

 

A few days back, 19 students from the residential school in Parner tehsil had tested positive for the viral infection. The school has over 400 students across classes 5 to 12.

 

All the students and staff members were subjected to RT-PCR tests, Parner taluka health officer Dr Prakash Lalge told PTI.

 

"So far, 51 people, including 48 students and three staff members, from the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya have tested positive for coronavirus. All of them have been isolated and hospitalised. Most of the students are asymptomatic and their health is stable," the official said.

8:26 PM

Maharashtra logs 31 new Omicron cases, count reaches 141

Maharashtra reported as many as 31 new cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus on Sunday, taking the tally of such patients in the state to 141, the health department said.

 

Of these, Mumbai saw 27 cases, which raised the city's count of such cases to 73, it said in a statement.

 

All these cases were found through the screening at the Mumbai international airport. Four of the patients hail from Gujarat, three from Karnataka, two each from Kerala and Delhi, one each from Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and from other parts of Maharashtra - Jalgaon, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Aurangabad -, while two are foreign nationals, the department said.

 

In Thane, two cases were reported on Sunday, and one each in Pune rural and Akola, it said.

 

Of the total 141 Omicron patients detected so far in the state, 73 are in Mumbai, 19 in Pimpri Chinchwad (near Pune city), 16 in rural parts of Pune district, seven in Pune city, five each in Satara and Osmanabad, three in Thane city, two each in Kalyan Dombivli (Thane district), Nagpur and Aurangabad, and one each in Buldhana, Latur, Ahmednagar, Akola, Vasai-Virar (Palghar district), Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayander (Thane district).

8:14 PM

Maharashtra reports 31 new Omicron variant cases; state tally reaches 141: Health dept

Maharashtra reports 31 new Omicron variant cases; state tally reaches 141: Health dept

8:02 PM

Night curfew in Delhi from Monday amid rising coronavirus cases

In the wake of the rising COVID-19 cases, the Delhi government has decided to re-impose night curfew from Monday, according to sources. Night curfew will commence from 11 PM and last till 5 AM.

 

Delhi reported 290 fresh coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest since June 10, and one fatality, while the positivity rate rose to 0.55 percent, according to data shared by the Delhi government's health department. On June 10, the national capital had reported 305 cases and 44 deaths.

 

The cumulative tally has now risen to 14,43,352 while the death toll is 25,105. The number of active cases stands at 1,103, of which 583 patients are in home isolation. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka have also reimposed night curfew.

7:58 PM

Delhi govt to impose night curfew from Dec 27 from 11 PM to 5 AM in view of rising Covid-19 cases

Delhi government to impose night curfew from Dec 27 from 11 PM to 5 AM in view of rising Covid-19 cases: Sources

7:50 PM

Omicron patient recovered without use of oxygen support, steroids, Remdesivir or ventilator: LNJP Hospital

Patients who were suffering from Omicron variant of COVID-19 have recovered without the use of oxygen support, steroids, Remdesivir or ventilator, said Dr Suresh Kumar, MD, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.

 

"Majority of the patients who have come to us were either asymptomatic or had minor symptoms. All the patients are recovering, not a single patient needed oxygen support, steroids, Remdesivir or ventilator," said Kumar.

 

"So far 51 Omicron patients have come to LNJP hospital, out of which 40 patients have been cured and discharged. 11 are currently being treated here," he said. "Today, 10 more suspects have come from the international airport, we have sent their samples for genome sequencing," he added.

7:38 PM

DU decides to increase university development fee

The Delhi University has decided to increase the annual university development fee charged from students in view of reduction in capital grants by the UGC, according to official documents.

 

This move will lead to a steep hike in fee of students, a section of teachers said.
 

 

The university development fee (UDF) is a component of the annual fees charged from students. The varsity had constituted a university development fund committee to consider allocation of funds for various activities like construction of new buildings and procurement of laboratory equipment.

7:28 PM

Covid-19 recoveries breach 27-lakh mark in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu added 610 fresh coronavirus infections on Sunday, pushing the total caseload to 27,44,037 while the toll mounted to 36,735 with 10 more deaths. Recoveries outnumbered new infections with 679 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 27,00,673 leaving 6,629 active cases, a medical bulletin said.

 

A total of 1,00,284 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 5.69 crore. The state capital, which has been witnessing an upward trend in daily cases, accounted for the majority of new infections among districts with 171 cases. Chennai was followed by Coimbatore 89, Chengalpet 48 and Erode 45 while the remaining was scattered across other districts.

7:25 PM

Delhi records 290 more coronavirus cases in a day

Delhi reported 290 fresh coronavirus cases and one fatality, while the positivity rate rose to 0.55 percent, according to data shared by the Delhi government's health department here on Sunday.

 

With this, the cumulative tally rose to 14,43,352 while the death toll rose to 25,105. The number of active cases stands at 1,103, of which 583 patients are in home isolation.

 

There has been an uptick in the number of cases in the last few days, amid a threat of the Omicron variant of the virus.

7:20 PM

Japan keen to work with Haryana on climate change, environmental issues

Japan has shown a keen interest to provide technical support and collaborate with the Haryana government on climate change and environmental issues, an official statement said on Sunday.

 

Secretary, Environment, Embassy of Japan, Yuki Yoshida, along with Haryana officials, on Sunday visited Aravalli mountains at Bhondsi in Gurgaon to explore the potential of setting up a center of excellence related to climate change, waste management, e-vehicles, air pollution, biodiversity conservation, land degradation, desertification and other allied areas, it said.

 

Advisor to Haryana chief minister for Foreign Cooperation Department Pawan Chaudhary and Managing Director and ex-country representative, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Dr Vivek Saxena discussed the potential areas of partnership and collaboration, it further said.

7:17 PM

Centre to constitute panel to look into withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland: CM

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday said that the Centre has decided to constitute a five-member committee to look into the withdrawal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA from the northeastern state.

 

The committee will be headed by the Ministry of Home Affairs additional secretary (Northeast), and will include the chief secretary and director general of police of Nagaland, besides inspector general of Assam Rifles (North) and a representative of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),

 

The panel will submit its recommendations within 45 days, based on which the decision on whether to continue designating Nagaland as a "disturbed area" or withdrawing AFSPA from the state will be taken, a joint statement issued by Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and Leader of Naga Peoples' Front Legislature Party T R Zeliang here said.

7:13 PM

PM Modi to inaugurate completed section of Kanpur Metro on December 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the completed section of Kanpur Metro rail project on December 28.

 

He will also inaugurate the Bina-Panki multiproduct pipeline project and attend the 54th convocation ceremony of IIT Kanpur.

6:53 PM

Andhra reports 2 more Omicron cases, adds 82 fresh cases to Covid tally

Andhra Pradesh on Sunday reported two more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, taking the tally to six.

 

The two new cases were reported from Anantapuram and Prakasam districts, and both persons arrived from foreign countries, the Director of Public Health said in a statement.

 

A 48 year-old male who recently came from South Africa to Hyderabad and then to Ongole on December 16 tested Covid-19 positive on December 20. His samples were sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, for genome sequencing, it said.

6:39 PM

Kerala coronavirus update: 1,824 fresh Covid-19 cases, 268 deaths reported

Fresh Covid-19 cases in Kerala dropped below the 2,000-mark on Sunday reporting 1,824 new infections which took the caseload to 52,23,293 till date.

 

Also, the State reported 268 deaths which raised the toll to 46,586 so far, an official press release said.

6:26 PM

Karnataka CM Bommai rules out reconsidering fresh Covid-19 curbs

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday ruled out reconsidering the government's decision to impose night curfew and curbs on New Year celebrations in the State in the wake of fresh COVID-19 concerns.

 

Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry and hotel and pub owners have requested the government to reconsider its decision.

6:04 PM

UP polls: Pradhan holds brainstorming session with party's Brahmin leaders

The BJP's Uttar Pradesh poll in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan Sunday held a brainstorming session with the party's Brahmin leaders from the state with an aim to maintain the caste equation in the party's favour, sources said.

 

The over-three-hour meeting at Pradhan's residence here was attended by the party's all prominent Brahmin leaders from the state which, among others, included Jitin Prasada, Ramapati Tripathi, several MPs, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, state cabinet ministers Shrikant Sharma and Brijesh Pathak.

5:52 PM

RBL Bank does not anticipate big short-term capital needs: Rajeev Ahuja

India's RBL Bank said on Sunday the private bank's business fundamentals were intact with scope for tremendous improvement, a day after its top executive stepped down and the central bank appointed an executive to its board.

 

Rajeev Ahuja, the bank's newly-appointed MD and CEO, told reporters the bank does not anticipate major capital needs in the short term, countering fears of problems in management.

5:49 PM

UP elections: Goons making an exodus under Adityanath govt, says Amit Shah

Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said criminals in Uttar Pradesh are making an exodus now, while earlier it was common man who was forced to flee by them.

 

Shah praised UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his governance saying people were not afraid anymore to send their children to school.

 

"Earlier, the law and order situation was so bad, people used to hesitate in sending their children to schools. But in five years of Yogi Adityanath government, all goons have made an exodus from UP," he said while addressing a Jan Vishwas Yatra' in Kasganj here.

 

The union minister also accused the BSP and the SP of playing caste politics and not working for development when they governed the state.

 

Speaking about the recently inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Shah said the holy site used to wear a deserted look, before it was beautified under the watch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

5:39 PM

Over 44.3 mn income tax returns filed till December 25 for 2020-21

Over 4.43 crore income tax returns (ITRs) for the 2020-21 fiscal have been filed, which includes over 11.68 lakh returns filed on December 25, the I-T department said on Sunday.

 

This comprises over 2.41 crore ITR-1 and 1.09 crore ITR-4 getting filed for FY2020-21 (Assessment Year 2021-22) till December 25, 2021.

 

"A total of 4,43,17,697 #ITRs have been filed up to 25.12.2021 including 11,68,027 #ITRs having been filed on the day itself," the department tweeted.

5:26 PM

Over 21,900 vaccine doses administered to inmates of three jails in Delhi

Over 21,900 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to the inmates of three jails in the national capital so far, the Delhi Prisons Department said on Sunday.

 

According to the officials, 21,970 doses -- 15,152 first and 6,818 the second shot -- have been administered till December 25.

5:09 PM

Scientist says China's 'Zero Covid' policy won't work against Omicron

The scientist who warned the world about the Omicron Covid-19 variant has told China its 'Zero Covid' police won't work against the super-transmissible mutant strain, the Daily Mail reported.

 

The Chinese city of Xian's 13 million residents were ordered on Thursday into a draconian stay-at-home lockdown because of 250 cases.

 

4:55 PM

Centre to institute five-member committee to look into withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland: CM Neiphiu Rio

4:44 PM

Need to bring back Covid curbs in Kolkata in light of X-Mas crowds: Experts

A day after the city saw huge crowds of mid-night revelers thronging the eastern metropolis's busy Park Street to celebrate Christmas, health experts and doctors cautioned the state government against allowing more such gatherings especially during the New Year festivities, pointing to the rising number of Covid cases in the country and emergent threat from a more virulent Omicron strain.

 

Experts pointed out that the state authorities which had earned kudos for managing crowds during Durga Puja two months back, should not have relaxed their guard during the Christmas festival which is also a popular festive occasion given the fact that people are suffering from "Covid fatigue" and were likely to dispel with safety norms.