Covid-19 HIGHLIGHTS: Maharashtra Reports 40,925 New Cases Along With 20 Deaths
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: In a fresh all-time one-day high, Mumbai, on Thursday reported 20,181 new cases of COVID-19 taking the overall tally to 8,53,809.
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Background
India continues to witness a massive surge in Covid cases as the country's daily spike in infections has reached around 1 lakh on Thursday. India recorded 90,928 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours which is a 56% rise than Wednesday, that saw close to 50k cases.
India's Omicron tally also reached 2,630 in the last 24 hours.
Overall, there is a massive surge in the number of cases, not just in India, but worldwide. World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the new Omicron variant is also affecting a lot of people and that 'a tsunami' of cases is expected to come along.
"While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as mild," Tedros told a press conference.
Also Read | Mumbai Reports 20,181 COVID Cases, Highest Single-Day Rise. Delhi Logs 15,097 Infections
"Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people," he explained.
The national capital on Thursday reported 15,097 new Coronavirus cases, along with six deaths and 6,900 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Delhi's fresh spike of 15,097 cases is its highest since May 8, 2021. Meanwhile, active cases rise in the city have risen to 31,498. The Positivity rate has reached 15.34 per cent.
With Covid-19 on a rise, The Election Commission reviewed the situation and held discussions with the Health Ministry, ICMR and AIIMS director regarding the upcoming elections in five states.
The poll body emphasised the need for vaccination of all eligible people in five poll-bound states.
West Bengal's COVID cases rise to 18,213 in a single day
Kolkata, Jan 7 (PTI): West Bengal reported 18,213 fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday, a four-fold rise since the beginning of the year and 2,792 more than the previous day, a bulletin released by the state health department said.
Kolkata city itself accounted for the bulk of new infections reporting 7,484 fresh cases, some 14 per cent more than Thursday. The death toll in the state mounted to 19,864 with 18 more fatalities, the heath department's bulletin said.
However the state government has decided to go ahead with the Gangasagar Mela, a religious gathering at an island where the Ganges river enters the Bay of Bengal. The High Court of Kolkata today allowed the Mela to be held subject to stringent conditions which include declaring Sagar a notified area.
Other conditions include setting up of a committee which may recommend to the state a ban on entry to Sagar Island if there is any violation of health safety norms and the Government advising people through advertisements that they "stay safe and desist from visiting the Gangasagar Island during this period." The state now has 51,384 active cases, while 7,912 patients have recovered from the disease in the past 24 hours.
Since Thursday, 69,158 samples were tested in West Bengal. The positivity rate rose up further to 26.34 per cent compared to 24.71 per cent reported on Thursday.
The North 24 Parganas district accounted for 3,118 new cases, while Howrah (1,360) and Paschim Bardhaman (1,043) were other districts with large numbers of cases.
Out of the 18 deaths -- seven were in the city of Kolkata and three in North 24 Parganas district while the rest were from other districts -- in the last 24 hours.
UP reports 4,228 fresh COVID-19 cases, active case count now 12,327
4,228 fresh COVID-19 cases in UP, maximum of 721 new cases from Gautam Buddh Nagar; one fatality raises state's death toll to 22,918, active case count now 12,327: Health department bulletin informed, as report
173 passengers of chartered flight test COVID-19 positive at Amritsar Airport
Out of the 285 people, 210 reports were generated & 173 people were found #COVID19 positive. Reports of 75 people were inconclusive & so they will be retested: V.K. Seth, Director, Amritsar Airport, Punjab
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2022
'Remarkable day': PM Modi On India's milestone of administering 150 cr vaccine doses
India is grateful to all those who have been working to make our vaccination drive a success. We thank our doctors, scientists, innovators and the health care workers who are vaccinating the people. I urge all those eligible to get their shots. Together, let’s fight COVID-19.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 7, 2022
DDMA Meeting On Monday
A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is scheduled to be held on January 10, Monday, in view of the rising COVID19 cases.