Coronavirus LIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Chhattisgarh Registers Four New COVID-19 Cases; Active Tally Now 10

Coronavirus LIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this page for all the latest updates on coronavirus from India and around the world.

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Coronavirus LIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to ABP Live. Follow ABP Live's Covid blog to get the latest developments, breaking news, the latest updates, and other developing stories across the country and abroad.China's health officials on Friday discussed with the WHO experts on the current massive surge of the COVID virus in the country after the organisation's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asked Beijing to share more information and defended the decision of countries like India to screen travellers from the pandemic affected country.The Chinese officials and World Health Organisation experts exchanged views on the current COVID-19 situation, treatment, and vaccinations, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement after the online meeting.They agreed to continue technical exchanges to help end the epidemic worldwide as soon as possible, it said.Millions of Chinese were infected in the current surge of Omicron variants in China, causing alarm over the world.Earlier on Thursday, Tedros tweeted: “As I said at our most recent press conference -- in order to make a comprehensive risk assessment of the #COVID19 situation on the ground in #China, @WHO needs more detailed information." The WHO chief also defended various countries, including India, to take protective measures against people arriving from China to prevent the virus from spreading.“In the absence of comprehensive information from China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations," he said.“We remain concerned about the evolving situation and we continue encouraging China to track the Covid-19 virus and vaccinate the highest-risk people. We continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system,” he said.Meanwhile, Delhi logged nine fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday with a positivity rate of 0.22 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department here.No Covid-related fatality has been reported, it said.Delhi reported 11 COVID-19 cases on Thursday with a positivity rate of 0.29 per cent. The city recorded 13 coronavirus cases on Wednesday with a positivity rate of 0.33 per cent.In view of a reported surge in COVID-19 in some countries, the Kerala government strengthened measures to combat the virus. The government asked those above 60, those with co-morbidities and frontline health workers should take the vaccine.The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in which preparedness to deal with another outbreak, daily tests and the number of active cases were discussed, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

31/12/2022 23:34:46

Chhattisgarh Registers Four New COVID-19 Cases; Active Tally Now 10

Chhattisgarh recorded four COVID-19 cases on Saturday, with a positive rate of 0.31 percent, bringing the total to 11,77,758, according to a health official.

He stated that the death and recovery tolls remained unchanged at 14,146 and 11,63,602, respectively.

According to the official, the state's active caseload was ten.

With 1,274 samples evaluated during the day, the total number of coronavirus tests performed to date has increased to 1,88,40,321, he noted.

The coronavirus figures for Chhattisgarh are as follows: Positive cases: 11,77,758, new cases: 4, death toll: 14,146, recovered cases: 11,63,602, active cases: 10, today tests: 1,274, total tests: 1,88,40,321. (PTI Input)

31/12/2022 20:00:36

With Two More Cases Reported On Saturday, Mumbai's Total Stood At 11,55,124: BMC

With the addition of two additional coronavirus cases on Saturday, Mumbai's total number of cases stood at 11,55,124, according to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official.

According to a dispatch released by the civic authority, the death toll remained at 19,746, while the number of recoveries reached 11,35,338.

On Friday, Mumbai reported nine new COVID-19 cases with no fatalities.

This month, the city reported 215 cases and two fatalities, compared to 910 cases and six fatalities reported the previous month.

According to the report, the city presently has 40 active cases. (PTI Input)

31/12/2022 14:57:41

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: China Not Transparent About Covid Cases Or Deaths, Says British Virologist

Since China relaxed its controversial zero covid policy last month, the second-largest economy is struggling to deal with the meteoric rise in coronavirus cases throughout the country which is putting a burden on its healthcare system.
British virologist and biologist Jonathan Latham, Executive Director of the Bioscience Resource Project, a New York non-profit based in said that Beijing is clearly not being open and transparent about case numbers or deaths and that only accurate data can lead to good decisions in China and elsewhere.

"China is early not being open and transparent about case numbers or deaths. This is true for many countries though. It would be great to have truly accurate information on those points, however, since only timely and accurate data can lead to good decisions in china and elsewhere. Good data would also test the theory that newer variants such as omicron have a lower inherent death rate," said Jonathan to ANI.

"The pandemic response of authorities has generally been very poorly thought out and executed. It is doubtful that warnings from China would have made a difference, either today or back in 2019/2020. Even western warnings in late 2019 were ignored," he added.

31/12/2022 12:15:38

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India Reports 226 New Covid Cases In Last 24 Hours, Positivity Rate 0.12 %

India reported 226 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours with a daily positivity rate of 0.12 per cent, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

31/12/2022 12:14:45

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Negative Covid Report Must For Flyers From China To France

France is the latest country which joined several other nations in demanding negative COVID-19 tests from travellers from China, Reuters reported. France has made covid test results mandatory from travellers from China within 48 hours before departure, Reuters reported citing health and transport ministries.

All the flights coming from China, including the stopovers, must have a Covid test and the travellers need to wear masks. From January 1, France will carry out random PCR Covid tests on some travellers coming from China as the mandatory testing will take "a little while," according to Reuters.

The government also recommended that people with weak immune systems delay non-essential travel to China.

31/12/2022 12:09:38

UK To Make Covid Test Mandatory For Travellers From China: Reports

After India and Japan, the UK is also likely to make Covid-19 tests mandatory for travellers from China after the infection surged in the mainland, Reuters reported citing British media outlets. The travellers from China have to produce a negative Covid test report.

According to Reuters citing UK media reports, the UK government is all set to announce the new China arrival policy without providing specific details about the time. This comes at a time when the United States is considering imposing new Covid-19 measures on travellers coming from China amid the surge of new Covid cases, Reuters reported citing a US official.

31/12/2022 07:24:31

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: WHO Asks China To Share Real-Time Data On Covid Situation

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Chinese officials and again asked for specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation in China, according to the statement released by the WHO website.

In the high-level meeting, WHO asked for more genetic sequencing data, data on disease impact including hospitalisations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths -- and data on vaccinations delivered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and those over 60 years old.

WHO reiterated the importance of vaccination and boosters to protect against severe disease and death for people at higher risk.
China's National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration briefed WHO on China's evolving strategy and actions in the areas of epidemiology, monitoring of variants, vaccination, clinical care, communication, and R&D.

During the meeting, WHO called on China to strengthen its clinical management and impact assessment, and expressed willingness to provide support in these areas, as well as on risk communications on vaccination to counter hesitancy. WHO also invited Chinese Scientists to engage more closely in COVID-19 expert networks including clinical management. WHO has invited Chinese scientists to present detailed data on viral sequencing at a meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution on January 3, according to the statement.