Covid-19 HIGHLIGHTS: Bengal Sees First Covid-Related Death In Nine Months
Covid-19 News HIGHLIGHTS: Please follow this space for the latest updates on the rise of COVID-19 cases and related developments in the country.
After a span of nine months, Bengal reports the demise of a Covid patient.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj visited the LNJP Hospital on Thursday to take stock of its preparedness for COVID-19 and asserted that the facility is fully geared to deal with any exigencies.
Bharadwaj told PTI Video that arrangements for conducting RT-PCR tests have been made outside the hospital and there is modern equipment at the health facility. He said no Covid patient is admitted in the hospital at present.
"Following the oxygen shortage that was seen during the Covid wave in Delhi and across the country, the hospital now has piped oxygen supply through a centralised system," he said.
Asked if the Delhi government is planning to reserve any beds for Covid patients, the minister said only four people are currently hospitalised with the infection in the city.
"If you reserve beds, where will those patients who have surgeries planned or have suffered from strokes or heart attacks go? We are monitoring the situation and, if need be, will reserve beds. There are only four patients who have been hospitalised," he said. (PTI Input)
A total of 157 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been detected in the country, with Kerala reporting the highest number of 78, followed by Gujarat at 34, according to the INSACOG's data updated on Thursday.
Several states have been reporting an uptick in the number of Covid cases over the last few weeks and nine states and Union territories have so far detected the presence of the JN.1 sub-variant of the virus.
These states are -- Kerala (78), Gujarat (34), Goa (18), Karnataka (eight), Maharashtra (seven), Rajasthan (five), Tamil Nadu (four), Telangana (two) and Delhi (one), according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
The INSACOG's data showed 141 Covid cases recorded in the country in December had the presence of JN.1, while 16 such cases were detected in November.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a separate "variant of interest" given its rapidly-increasing spread, but said it poses a "low" global public health risk. (PTI Input)
The total number of Covid-19 cases in Odisha has risen to eight after three fresh infections were detected, public health director Niranjan Mishra said on Thursday.
All the eight patients are currently in home isolation, he added.
Mishra reassured the public that there is no need to panic as no one has been hospitalized in the state thus far.
He said, "All districts have increased Covid-19 testing. On Wednesday, a total of 690 samples were tested, with three testing positive." Citing national statistics, Mishra said 92 per cent of Covid patients are in home isolation, and only those with comorbidities are being admitted to hospitals. (PTI Input).
MoS Health Dr.Bharati Pravin Pawar says, "Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has held a meeting with all States on this. Testing and genome sequencing increased in states. Senior citizens should take precautions. There is no need to worry but precautions should be taken. We are monitoring the situation in Kerala where cases are high."
Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra says: "We have increased surveilance on testing, yesterday 690 samples were tested out of them 378 were RT-PCR. Out of them, we detected 3 positive cases. This month for December, we have 8 active cases in our observation, all are in home isolation, not requiring hospitalisation."
Actor-politicias and founder of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Vijayakanth has passed away in Chennai, reported PTI quoting hospital sources as saying. The news of his demise comes shortly after his party said on Thursday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was on ventilator.
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been put on ventilator due to breathing issues, said the party on Thursday.
The health department stated, "During the year-end festivities and New Year celebrations, Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) of social distancing, face masking, hand-sanitisation, and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette shall be adhered to." Persons experiencing respiratory symptoms should avoid places of celebration and recreational facilities (including swimming pools) and seek medical attention."
Delhi's Health Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, has sought to reassure the public following the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant of the Omicron strain in the capital. Highlighting its characteristics, Bhardwaj emphasized that JN.1 is associated with mild infections, corroborating reports of its prevalence in southern regions of India.
Delhi has identified its inaugural case of the JN.1 sub-variant of the Omicron strain. Delhi's Health Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, informed ANI that out of the three samples subjected to genome sequencing, one tested positive for the JN.1 variant, while the remaining two were identified as the standard Omicron strain.
READ | Covid Cases In India: Delhi Reports First JN.1 Variant Infection
Delhi's Health Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Saurabh Bhardwaj, provided an update on the city's COVID-19 situation, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat the virus's spread. Bhardwaj disclosed that Delhi has initiated a consistent RTPCR testing regimen, administering between 250 to 400 tests daily.'
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday appealed to the disgruntled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to make the documents public related to the alleged Rs 40,000 crore scam in Covid-19 management during the previous BJP government in the state.
The minister said Yatnal should at least hand over the details to the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission of Inquiry to probe into the coronavirus related irregularities. Kharge, who is the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, suspected the involvement of the Central government in the Covid scam.
"Yatnal has said that if he is expelled from the BJP then he will release all the documents (related to Covid mismanagement). I appeal to him through the media to please make the documents public, keeping in mind the people of Karnataka and to safeguard their interest. Or at least share them with Justice John Michael Cunha Committee Commission of Inquiry," Kharge, who holds IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj portfolios, told reporters. He said people know that Yatnal is upright but he has to bring his honesty before the commission. (PTI Input)
With 40 fresh cases of Covid sub-variant JN.1, the tally in the country has now risen to 109 amid a steady surge in coronavirus infections, news agency PTI reported quoting sources on Wednesday.
A total of 109 JN.1 COVID variant cases have been reported in the country till 26th December. 36 cases from Gujarat, 34 from Karnataka, 14 from Goa, 9 from Maharashtra, 6 from Kerala, 4 from Rajasthan, 4 from Tamil Nadu and 2 from Telangana, ANI reported, citing sources.
"Covid cases have slightly increased across India, with five states contributing to over 90% of the cases - Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Goa. Last month, we registered 11 cases (in Odisha), and this month, we have only 5 cases. We are closely monitoring the situation and have instructed the districts to enhance surveillance for influenza-like illness. So, there's no need for panic," says Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra on fresh Covid cases in the state.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said the national capital's Covid positivity rate is around 1 per cent and stressed that people should, instead of panicking, follow precautions during the winter festival season, as reported by news agency PTI.
Hyderabad reported eight new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and no fresh infections were reported in other districts of Telangana. The total number of cases under treatment/isolation stood at 59, a Health department bulletin said, as reported by news agency PTI.
A total of 1,333 samples were tested on Tuesday and reports were pending for 30, it said. Telangana recorded ten new COVID-19 cases on Monday with nine new infections reported from Hyderabad and one case was from Karimnagar. No fresh fatalities due to the virus were reported on Tuesday, it said.
Karnataka on Tuesday reported 74 fresh cases of Covid-19 and two coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours. This takes the total number of active cases in the state to 464, a Health bulletin said. With this, the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in the state after the recent spike in cases stands at 9.
According to the bulletin issued by the Health department, in the last 24 hours, as many as 44 patients have been discharged and a total of 6,403 tests have been conducted including 4,680 RT-PCR and 1,723 Rapid Antigen tests. Positivity rate stands at 1.15 per cent while case fatality rate stands at 2.70 per cent.
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has said that there are 34 cases of JN.1 variant of COVID-19 in the state but the government is well prepared and nothing is "alarming."
"430 cases are active out of which 400 are in home isolation and the remaining are in hospital. 7-8 patients are in ICU. As of now, things are okay. We have done genome sequencing. There are 34 cases of JN.1 variant of COVID. We are well prepared. Nothing is alarming. the majority of the cases are in Bengaluru," he told ANI.
Background
Covid News HIGHLIGHTS: Please follow this space for all the latest updates pertaining to Covid-19 cases in India.
Covid-19 cases have seen a rapid spike in the country, with infections being reported from various states since the emergence of the Omicron sub-variant JN.1. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also classified JN.1 as a distinct "variant of interest (VoI)," a shift from its previous designation under the A.2.86 sublineages.
WHO defines VoIs as variants with potentially increased transmission rates due to genetic alterations and potential vaccine evasion capabilities. However, WHO also noted that, based on current data, the global health risk from JN.1 remains low.
On Tuesday, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that Covid positivity rate in the city is around 1 per cent and emphasised that people should follow precautions during the winter festival season. Genome sequencing of samples testing positive for Covid-19 has been ramped up, he said. "The report of genome sequencing is awaited," Bharadwaj added.
Speaking on the situation in the national capital, Bharadwaj stated that 400 tests are being conducted every day and the positivity rate is around 1 per cent. He reiterated that the new JN.1 sub-variant of the Omicron strain is not life-threatening.
"The new variants are not dangerous but people should not become lax and (they must) follow precautions. People should not panic and think that the virus is spreading and people are dying. But people should be cautious during this time of the festival season," he added, as quoted by PTI.
With six more samples testing positive for JN.1, the number of infections of the new Covid-19 sub-variant reported in the country has risen to 69, PTI reported, citing official sources.
A total of 109 JN.1 COVID variant cases have been reported in the country till 26th December. 36 cases from Gujarat, 34 from Karnataka, 14 from Goa, 9 from Maharashtra, 6 from Kerala, 4 from Rajasthan, 4 from Tamil Nadu and 2 from Telangana, ANI reported, citing sources.
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