Not Possible To End This Virus; Pandemic Viruses End Up Becoming Part Of Ecosystem: WHO Official
It is not possible to end the COVID-19 virus as such viruses never go away and end up becoming part of the ecosystem, a top WHO official said on Tuesday but asserted that it is possible to end this year the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 with a collaborative approach to fix inherent inequities in the system, PTI reported.
Haryana Govt Extends Covid Restrictions Till Jan 28
The Haryana government on Tuesday extended Covid restrictions in the state till January 28 but allowed gyms and spas to operate with 50 per cent capacity while liquor vends can now open till 10 pm.
Karnataka CM Held A Virtual Meeting With Officials To Review Progress Of Covid Vaccination
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting via video conferencing with DCs, CEOs of Zilla Parishads and other officials of 18 districts today and reviewed the progress of Covid-19 vaccination.
'Immediately Increase Testing In A Strategic Manner': Health Ministry To States/UTs
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare asks all States/UTs "to immediately increase testing in a strategic manner keeping in view the trend of case positivity in specific areas in the States/UTs."
'Misinformation On Covid-19 Shared On Media Will Be Deemed As Offense,' Says Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Services
Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Services on Tuesday said that few medical practitioners while communicating to the public on various media platforms, are giving incomplete, inaccurate & unsubstantiated information about covid-19. The Health services while issuing a warning has said, "Any misinfo/non-factual data on #COVID19 shared on any media/social platform would be deemed as an offence & necessary action would be initiated as per Sec 54 of Disaster Mgmt Act, 2005 & Sec 4(k) of Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India Reports 2.3L Covid-19 Cases, Omicron Tally Stands At 8,891
India reports 2,38,018 fresh Covid-19 cases, which is 20,071 less than yesterday. 8,891 total Omicron cases have been detected so far, an increase of 8.31% since yesterday.
So far, 310 deaths and 1,57,421 recoveries were recorded in the last 24 hours. Active case in India stands at 17,36,628 while daily covid positivity rate is at 14.43%.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: No Decision On Vaccination For Children Of Age Group 12-14 Years
Quoting Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Dr NK Arora, reports surfaced that the covid vaccination drive for age group 12 to 14 years can start as early as last week of February or by the first week of March.
Now, ANI quoting official sources report that no decision yet by the union health ministry on covid-19 vaccination drive for children of age group 12-14 years.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: 39 Omicron Cases In Manipur
The number of those affected by Omicron cases in Manipur jumped to 39 on Monday from only seven a day ago, a health department bulletin said.
Manipur director of health services, K Rajo Singh said in a release that 32 Omicron cases were detected in various districts of the state. He urged the people to adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour and take both jabs of the vaccine.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Chandrababu Naidu Tests Covid Positive With Mild Symptoms
Former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu has tested positive for covid-19. In a tweet, Chandrababu Naidu informed he is COVID-19 with "mild symptoms."
Coronavirus LIVE: Bengal Reports Below 10,000 Covid Cases After 12 Days
The number of West Bengal's daily Covid-19 cases came down to less than 10,000 after 12 days on Monday, when 9,385 new infections were recorded, according to the health department data.
The number of fresh cases on Monday is 5,553 less than Sunday's as the tally went up to 19,07,084. Altogether 33 fresh fatalities, down from the previous day's 36, took the death toll to 20,121, the health department said in a bulletin.
The state had registered 19,064 new infections and 39 deaths on Saturday
Coronavirus LIVE: 4th Vaccine Shows Limited Results With Omicron, Says Israel Study
An Israeli hospital on Monday said preliminary research indicates a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine provides only limited defence against the omicron variant that is raging around the world.
Sheba Hospital last month began administering the fourth vaccine to more than 270 medical workers — 154 who received a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 120 others who received Moderna's.
All had previously been vaccinated three times with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The clinical trial found that both groups showed increases in antibodies “slightly higher” than following the third vaccine last year. But it said the increased antibodies did not prevent the spread of omicron.
“Despite increased antibody levels, the fourth vaccine only offers a partial defense against the virus,” said Dr Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the hospital's infection disease unit.
“The vaccines, which were more effective against previous variants, offer less protection versus omicron."
The preliminary results raised questions about Israel's decision to offer a second booster shot — and fourth overall — to its over-60 population. The government says over 500,000 people have received the second booster in recent weeks.
Background
Coronavirus Highlights: India, on January 16 completed a year of administering Covid-19 vaccines to its citizens. India has registered 156 crore vaccine doses so far.
India is undergoing a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases since the dawn of the new year. New Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities became the epicenters of Covid-19, but, apart from the cities, even J&K is facing ten times more Covid cases in the state.
The fresh covid-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours is 2,58,089. The active cases stand at 16,56,341.The recovery rate is currently at 94.27%. A total of 8,209 Omicron cases has been detected so far; an increase of 6.02% since yesterday.
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday on his official Twitter handle wrote, "Over 3.5 crore children between the 15-18 age group have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, since 3rd January."
Given the dynamic Covid-19 situation in the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released revised clinical guidelines for the management of adult Covid-19 patients.
Delhi saw a dip in Covid-19 cases on Monday, reporting 12,527new infections and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data shared by the health department.
Active Covid cases declined to 83,982 in the national capital while the positivity rate remained at 27.99 percent. Delhi had registered 18,286 fresh Covid cases and 28 deaths due to Covid-19 on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that the national capital would report around 14,000-15,000 cases today, much less than yesterday, news agency ANI reported.
India, on January 16 completed a year of administering Covid-19 vaccines to its citizens. India has registered 156 crore vaccine doses so far.
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