Breaking News Highlights: 8 New Omicron Cases Detected In Maharashtra, Covovax Gets WHO Approval For Emergency Use
Breaking News Highlights, December 17, 2021: This LIVE Blog brings to you the latest breaking news of upcoming polls, Parliament Winter Session, details on Covid variant Omicron & other news around.
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Breaking News Highlights, December 17, 2021: Hello and Welcome to the Daily Live Blog of ABP Live! We bring you the latest breaking news and updates from the day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet around 40 BJP MPs from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh over breakfast today at his official residence. This will be the prime minister's fourth such meeting with party MPs from different states during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, according to PTI.
It is being said that MoS Home Ajay Mishra 'Teni' is likely to be present during the meeting and his presence his significant beacuse opposition has been demanding his resignation in the Lakhimpur Kheri case for the past few days in Parliament.
So far, Modi has met MPs from all north-eastern states, southern states and Madhya Pradesh, the sources said.
On Friday, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet around 40 MPs from Uttar Pradesh and he will meet the remaining MPs from the state in another meeting, they said.
These meetings have been informal and not agenda specific, MPs have said.
During all the meetings, the prime minister suggested to party MPs to engage more with people, beyond political activities, and shun VIP culture, they said.
The seven-year-old boy, who is the first person of West Bengal to have tested positive for the Omicron variant of Covid-19, and his family members were discharged from a hospital in Malda district on Thursday after they tested negative for the virus, a health department official said.
The boy recently returned to West Bengal from Abu Dhabi via Hyderabad. He had left for a relative's place at Kaliachak in Malda district from Kolkata airport. He was admitted to the Malda Medical College and Hospital along with his sister and parents.
The seven-year-old child and all those who came in touch with him were found negative today. As per norm, the child and his sister, parents and grandmother have been discharged from the hospital. They will be kept in home quarantine for another week, he said.
Earlier in the day, a middle-aged man, who was found infected with COVID-19 in West Bengal after returning from Bangladesh, tested negative for the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
The patient contracted the Delta strain of coronavirus, the official said.
8 New Omicron Cases Detected In Maharashtra, State Tally Reaches 40
Eight new cases of new Covid variant Omicron have been detected in Maharashtra on Friday, taking state's overall tally to 40, Maharashtra Health Department informed.
Covovax Vaccine Gets WHO's Approval For Emergency Use
Covovax is now World Health Organization (WHO) approved for emergency use, informs Adar Poonawalla.
This is yet another milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Covovax is now W.H.O. approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy. Thank you all for a great collaboration, @Novavax @WHO @GaviSeth @Gavi @gatesfoundation https://t.co/7C8RVZa3Y4
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) December 17, 2021
Should Not Dismiss Omicron As Mild, New Mutant Spreading At Faster Rate: WHO's Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh
We should not dismiss Omicron as mild. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the number of cases could once again overwhelm health systems: Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia
"Based on current limited evidence, Omicron appears to be spreading fastest rate not seen with any other previous variant. Emerging data from South Africa suggest increased riks of reinfection with Omicron," she added.
SC Pulls Up Maha, Kerala, Rajasthan On 'Abysmal' Disbursal Rate Of Covid Compensation
The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up tje Kerala, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan governments for abysmal disbursal rate of compensation of Rs 50,000 ex-gratia to next of kin of Covid victims.
The bench noted that Maharashtra has recorded more than 1.41 lakh Covid deaths, but the state government has received merely 12,000 applications in connection with Covid compensation.
The bench also expressed dissatisfaction with the Rajasthan government's failure to submit data on various counts. It also asked the Kerala government to complete the Covid compensation payment within one week. (IANS)
Breaking News LIVE: Delhi Govt Issues 1 Cr Fine To NBCC For Violating Construction Ban
Currently, there is a ban on construction &demolition works in Delhi. Despite the ban, a construction project of NBCC was ongoing at Netaji Subhash Nagar. NBCC has been fined Rs 1 crore for violating the ban and the construction site sealed: Delhi Environment minister Gopal Rai
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