Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Skipper Yash Dhull, 5 Others Test Positive At ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Keep refreshing this space for all the accurate Covid-19 related news.
Assam on Wednesday reported the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row, with 8,339 people testing positive for the disease, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said, news agency PTI reported.
The tally in the northeastern state climbed to 6,70,128 with the detection of the fresh cases, according to official data.
COVID-19 breached the Indian women's football team's bio-security bubble here on Wednesday ahead of the AFC Asian Cup with two players testing positive for the virus, forcing the organisers to shift them to a medical facility for isolation, news agency PTI reported.
"Two members of the Indian Women's Senior National Team for the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 have tested positive for COVID-19, and are currently in isolation at a designated medical care facility," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) tweeted.
"The AIFF prioritises the health and safety of its players, and are following all," the organising federation wrote in another tweet.
Eighty-four IAS trainees at Mussoorie's Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration have tested positive for Covid-19, PTI reported. Those infected have been isolated and the rest quarantined at the academy, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Manoj Upreti said. Meanwhile, 25 personnel at the state police headquarters here have also tested positive for the infection.
The Odisha government has received 30,000 'OmiSure' RT-PCR test kits for early detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a senior health department official said.
Odisha's Director of Health Services Bijay Mohapatra said: "The trial run of the Omisure kits was in progress. It will be first used for internal study and the kits will then be dispatched to districts reporting a higher number of cases," he said.
Official sources said the state has received 30,000 'OmiSure' kits in the first phase-out of its order of 5 lakh such kits. He said the kits will first be used in four cities - Berhampur, Cuttack, Rourkela, and Bhubaneswar.
Odisha was the first state in the country to place an order for 'Omisure' kits after Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd (TATA MD) in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) developed it, the official said.
The 'OmiSure' kits can detect the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2 in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal specimens during the RT-PCR tests.
In Maharashtra, the number of daily new covid-19 cases is decreasing and the overall situation is under control. Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, hospitalisations are less in number and we are using our full potential to increase testing and vaccination coverage in the state.
Supreme Court summons Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar for non-payment of ex gratia compensation to the kin of the victims of COVID-19 despite the earlier orders of the court. Court asks them to be present before it through a virtual hearing at 2 pm today.
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 57,387 as 350 more people tested positive for the infection on Wednesday, 54 less than the previous day, a senior health official said. The northeastern state on Tuesday had reported 404 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike this month.
Of the 350 fresh cases, 115 were registered in the Capital Complex Region, 40 from West Kameng, Namsai (37), Papumpare (30), Changlang (27), East Siang and Lohit with 18 cases each and Lower Dibang Valley reported 17 cases, the official said.
India reports 2,82,970 fresh Covid-19 cases which are 44,889 more than yesterday. 441 deaths and 1,88,157 recoveries have been recorded in the last 24 hours.
In total, 8,961 total omicron cases have been detected so far in India. There is only a 0.79% increase in omicron cases since yesterday.
The active case tally stands at 18,31,000 while the daily covid-19 positivity rate is at 15.13%.
In Maharashtra, Mumbai Police informed 28 of its personnel tested positive for covid-19 in the last 24 hours. This takes the number of active cases in Mumbai Police to 1,273. While Pune Police said, 21 personnel tested positive for coronavirus yesterday. The number of infected police personnel in Pune city rises to 504.
Asymptomatic animal handlers at a private zoo in South Africa transmitted the Delta variant of COVID-19 to captive lions, who were placed in quarantine and developed symptoms like breathing problems, runny nose, and dry cough, according to a recent study by a team of scientists from the University of Pretoria.
The research report, published recently in the journal Viruses', also urged members of the public to be aware of the possibility of infecting their pet cats and dogs if they have COVID-19.
The team was led by Professor Marietjie Venter, Head of the Zoonotic, Arbo-and Respiratory Virus Programme at the university's Department of Medical Virology; and Professor Katja Koeppel, Associate Professor of Wildlife Health at the Faculty of Veterinary Science. They conducted a study on three sick lions at the zoo during South Africa's third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic late in 2021.
"Over 50% of youngsters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine," said Union Health Minister on Tuesday.
Background
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya said that more than 50 per cent of India's population in the 15-18 age group had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
"Big day for India's fight against COVID-19! Over 50% of our youngesters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of COVID19 vaccine. Well done, my Young Friends! Your enthusiasm for vaccination is inspiring people all over India," Mansukh Mandaviya said.
Nationwide vaccination for children in the age group of 15-18 years was rolled out on January 3. Over 3.71 crore children in the age group have so far received the vaccine.
READ | Health Ministry Flags Dip In Covid Testing, Asks States To Increase It
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has flagged a decline in Covid-19 testing in several states and Union Territories and asked them to enhance it in a strategic manner keeping in view the trend of case positivity in specific areas.
"In order to ensure that an effective track of the spread of the pandemic is kept and immediate citizen-centric action is initiated, it is incumbent upon all states/UTs to enhance testing," additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry Arti Ahuja said in a letter to states.
The ministry said testing remained a key and crucial component. "However, it is seen from the data available on the ICMR portal that testing has declined in many states and union territories," the letter said.
The ministry said the basic objective remained early detection of Covid cases for quick isolation and care.
In other news, Bharat Biotech has said it had received several reports that children in the 15-18 age group were being administered a different Covid-19 vaccine other than Covaxin.
In a statement, the Hyderabd-based Bharat Biotech said, "Requesting the health workers to be vigilant and ensure that only Covaxin is administered to that particular age group."
Keep refreshing this space for all the accurate Covid-19 related news.
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