LIVE: Kerala sees 9 more Omicron cases, 4 in Jaipur; India's tally now 226

Meanwhile, Haryana decides to allow only fully vaccinated people at public places; Delhi bans gatherings for Christmas, New Year celebrations

11:09 PM

14 more Omicron cases reported in Telangana

Fourteen more Omicron cases have been reported in Telangana, taking the total number of cases of the new coronavirus variant in the State to 38, the State Health Department said on Wednesday.

 

Of the 14 cases, 12 are passengers who arrived at the international airport from countries other than those declared at risk by the Centre, while two are from "at risk" countries, it said in a bulletin.

 

The bulletin said four samples are awaited with regard to their Omicron status.

10:52 PM

Woman who travelled from Canada to Faridabad tests positive for Omicron variant: Vij

A woman who travelled from Canada to Faridabad in Haryana has tested positive for Omicron variant, state Health Minister Anil Vij said on Wednesday. He added that the state government was taking all necessary steps to ensure all Covid-related guidelines are strictly followed in the state.

 

Vij, who was replying to a Calling Attention Motion in the assembly and later interacting with reporters outside the Vidhan Sabha complex, said the woman had returned from Canada on December 13 and tested positive for Covid a day later. She later tested positive for the Omicron variant on December 20, he said.

 

Her two primary contacts, mother and aunt have also tested positive for Covid and their samples have been sent for genome sequencing. All three have been quarantined at a private health facility in Faridabad, Vij said.

10:08 PM

Amid Omicron surge, Delhi bans gatherings for Christmas, New Year

In view of rising COVID-19 Omicron cases, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) issued orders to all District Magistrates and District Deputy Commissioners of Police to ensure that no cultural event, gatherings, and congregations are taking place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in Delhi.

 

The DDMA has also issued orders to enforce the 'No Mask, No Entry' rule at shops and workplaces.

 

The statement advised the residents to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. Meanwhile, Delhi reported 125 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike in the last six months. On June 22 this year, 134 Covid cases were reported in Delhi.

9:57 PM

Gujarat reports 91 Covid cases, two deaths in a day

Gujarat on Wednesday reported 91 new coronavirus cases and two deaths.

 

The rise in cases was highest in the last several months. Notably, on September 19 this year the daily tally had dwindled to singe-digit. The caseload in the state rose to 8,28,794 on Wednesday while death toll reached 10,106. One fatality each was reported from Surat and Devbhumi Dwarka districts. Against this, 41 patients recovered from the infection, taking the total of recoveries to 8,18,051.

9:50 PM

Cumulative vaccine doses administered in India reach nearly 140 crore: Health ministry

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country reached nearly 140 crore on Wednesday, the Union health ministry said. More than 62 lakh (62,70,380) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm on Wednesday. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, it said.

 

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.

 

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.

9:33 PM

People have become lax in observing Covid-appropriate behaviour: AIIMS chief amid Omicron scare

Amid the rise in cases of the Omicron variant in India, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday emphasised on adhering to Covid-appropriate behaviour while observing that people have become lax in following these norms.

 

Asserting that current data shows vaccines are effective and give protection against severe disease and death, he stressed that those eligible for vaccination should get the jabs promptly and those who have got the first dose should not miss out on the second shot.

 

"It is observed that laxity has crept in among people in observing Covid-appropriate behaviour.

 

"Omicron is highly transmissible and therefore adhering to Covid norms is very important. People should regularly wear masks, maintain physical distance and avoid gatherings which can become superspreader events," Guleria told PTI.

9:17 PM

Rs 31,298 cr supplementary demands tabled in House; Rs 1000 cr allotted for COVID-19 payout in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday tabled supplementary demands to the tune of Rs 31,298.26 crore for the current fiscal in the Assembly on the first day of winter session of the state legislature here with Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for compensation to the kin of people who died due to COVID-19 and Rs 1410.81 crore for monetary aid to rain-hit farmers.

8:12 PM

I-T sleuths find Akhilesh Yadav aide Jainendra has Benami properties

7:42 PM

4 new Omicron cases reported in Jaipur

Four more patients infected with Omicron variant of coronavirus have been found in Jaipur out of whom a foreigner is undergoing treatment in Delhi.

 

Principal of SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Dr Sudhir Bhandari told reporters here that genome sequence test has confirmed four people to be infected with the Omicron variant.

 

He said three of them have been admitted to the RUHS hospital here for treatment while the foreign national is undergoing treatment in Delhi.

7:42 PM

Nine more cases of Omicron detected in Kerala, tally now 24

Nine more cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus were detected in Kerala on Wednesday, taking the tally to 24, state Health Minister Veena George said.

 

Six people who reached Ernakulam and three who reached Thiruvananthapuram have been detected with the virus, the minister said.

 

Two from the UK, aged 18 and 47 years, a 43-year-old woman and a 11-year-old from Tanzania, a woman aged 44 from Ghana and a 26-year-old woman from Ireland are those found infected in Ernakulam.

7:16 PM

Haryana makes second dose of vaccine mandatory from January 1

6:27 PM

The crowd of shoppers swells at Sarojini Market in Delhi

5:57 PM

No salary without vaccination certificate, Punjab govt tells employees

5:40 PM

Those who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed at public places after January 1: Haryana

5:27 PM

Delhi sees 125 new Covid cases

4:55 PM

Security cover of former Bengal minister and TMC leader Rajib Banerjee has been withdrawn

4:23 PM

Delhi bans Christmas, New Year gatherings

4:15 PM

The discussion on anti-conversion bill will be taken up tomorrow: Karnataka Assembly Speaker

3:39 PM

Amazon to acquire full stake in joint venture Prione Business

E-commerce giant Amazon said on Wednesday it will acquire Prione Business Services, a joint venture firm with Catamaran, PTI reported. In August, Amazon and NR Narayana Murthy's Catamaran had announced that they will not continue their joint venture, Prione Business Services, beyond May 2022.

3:34 PM

Foxconn's India unit files for $663 mn domestic IPO

Hong Kong-listed FIH Mobile Ltd's India unit Bharat FIH Ltd on Wednesday filed for a domestic initial public offering of up to 50.04 billion rupees ($662.97 million), according to its draft prospectus. FIH Mobile is a unit of Apple Inc supplier Foxconn.

3:01 PM

4,690 arrested under UAPA, 149 convicted: Parliament told

As many as 4,690 people were arrested in different parts of the country under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the past three years, and 149 of whom got convicted, according to government figures. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha that 1,421 people were arrested in 2018 under the UAPA, 1,948 in 2019 and 1,321 in 2020, PTI reported.

2:22 PM

CISF provides security at 11 private establishments: Minister

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides security at 64 airports and 11 private establishments, including those of Reliance Industries, Tata Steel and Infosys, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The CISF is deployed based on threat perception and the commitment of the company’s management to bear the cost, PTI reported about the paramilitary.

1:56 PM

IT dept searches entities linked to Chinese mobile phone manufacturers

The Income Tax Department on Wednesday search places in the national capital region and southern states as it investigates entities engaged with Chinese mobile phone manufacturers charged with tax evasion, PTI reported quoting government sources. Some vendors and distribution partners of these firms are being searched and more details are awaited, said the news agency.

1:35 PM

Covid always comes with mild symptoms: Niti Aayog member

Covid always comes with mild symptoms in the initial stages. We're watching any change in the pattern of the presentation of the emerging cases very carefully, says Dr VK Paul, Member-Health in Niti Aayog, referring to the virus’s Omicron variant.

1:17 PM

Income Tax department conducts raid on some Chinese companies in Delhi-NCR, reports ANI

 Search is on Oppo mobile company and its vendors since yesterday. Earlier in August, Chinese government-controlled telecom vendor, ZTE was searched. More details awaited, reports news agency ANI.

12:47 PM

Singapore Airlines will stop accepting new bookings for all Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights

From midnight today, Singapore Airlines will stop accepting new bookings for all Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights into Singapore scheduled between 23 Dec 2021 & 20 Jan 2022, following the Singapore govt’s directive, says the airline.

12:46 PM

Goa elections 2021: Don't think TMC stands anywhere in the race, says Arvind Kejriwal

You might give a lot of importance to TMC but I don't think it stands anywhere in the race: Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, in Panaji, Goa 

12:02 PM

Parliament Winter session: Both houses adjourned sine die ahead of schedule

Koo App

Lok Sabha adjourned ’Sine Die’

 

- Lok Sabha (@LokSabhaSectt) 22 Dec 2021

11:07 AM

Massive fire breaks out at Vaishno Devi shrine forest area

A massive fire broke out at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine forest area on Tuesday.

 

However, the fire has been brought under control by the team of the shrine board and the forest department.

 

Meanwhile, the yatra to the holy shrine in Trikuta hills remained unaffected, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board informed.

11:06 AM

Intel to put unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave

Chip-maker Intel has reportedly notified employees that those who are unvaccinated will have to get the jab or submit an exemption by January 4, else they will be put on unpaid leave.

 

According to a report in The Oregonian, the tech giant told workers that those who don't receive an exemption for religious or medical reasons will be on unpaid leave, beginning in April.

 

"It told employees that they had a January 4 deadline to be vaccinated or seek an exemption, citing a government mandate for federal contractors," the report mentioned late on Tuesday.