Punjab, Delhi announce fresh curbs amid Covid surge; new variant ‘IHU’ identified: Top developments | India News
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Meanwhile, as the world grapples with the highly mutated Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, scientists have identified a new strain of the Covid-19 causing virus in Southern France.
Here are the top developments-
Omicron cases rise to 1,892 in India, Maharashtra worst-hit
With 192 new cases of highly transmissible Covid variant Omicron detected in the last 24 hours, India’s Omicron tally rose to 1,892 cases.
With 127 Omicron infected people discharged in the last 24 hours, a total 766 people have recovered from the new strain so far.
Maharashtra and Delhi continue to be the worst-hit states with this new variant.
Among total 23 states and union territories that have reported the Omicron infection so far, Maharashtra tops the list with 568 cases of this variant. Of them, 259 patients have been discharged as per the health ministry data on Tuesday.
New coronavirus variant ‘IHU’ identified in France
Known as ‘IHU’, the B.1.640.2 variant has been reported by researchers at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection in at least 12 cases, and has been linked to travel to African country Cameroon.
However, the researchers noted that it is too early to speculate on how this variant behaves as far as infection and protection from vaccines is concerned.
Night curfew imposed, educational institutions shut in Punjab
Amid the rising number of Covid-19 cases, the Punjab government on Tuesday decided to clamp night curfew, shut educational institutions and allow cinema halls and restaurants to operate at 50 per cent capacity.
Movement of individuals for all the non-essential activities shall remain prohibited between 10 pm to 5 am within municipal limits of all the cities and towns of Punjab, according to an order issued by the home affairs and justice department on Tuesday.
The district authorities have been asked to ensure strict compliance, it said. The restrictions in poll-bound Punjab will remain in force till January 15.
Weekend curfew to be imposed in Delhi amid Covid surge: DDMA
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) decided to impose weekend curfew in the national capital in view of the surge in Covid cases driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, sources said.
They said government employees, barring those engaged in essential services, will be asked to work from home.
Private offices will remain open with 50 per cent capacity.
Surge in number of cases indicative of third Covid wave in India: Expert
Noting that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus accounts for more than 50 per cent of cases in major Indian cities, Dr N K Arora, chairperson of the Covid working group NTAGI, says the massive surge in numbers indicates a third wave, but there is no need to panic.
The head of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), who said Omicron is being detected in most states in India, also analysed the Covid graph in South Africa, where Omicron originated, and spoke of the “epidemiological similarities” between the two countries.
“If we look at the behaviour of the Omicron wave in South Africa, where it rapidly increased, in two weeks, the number of cases started coming down and most of the cases were either asymptomatic or had a mild illness…,” Arora told PTI.
Covid antiviral drug Molnupiravir launched in India
Covid antiviral drug Molnupiravir was on Monday launched in India at Rs 1,399 for a five-day course for mild to moderate infection.
Amid rising cases of new Covid variant Omicron in the country, an expert panel of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation had recently approved antiviral drug Molnupiravir for restricted use in emergency situation.
Along with Molnupiravir, the CDSCO has also granted emergency use authorisation to the Serum Institute of India’s Covid vaccine COVOVAX, Hyderabad based Biological E RBD Protein CORBEVAX.
AIIMS Delhi cancels winter vacation, asks faculty to join immediately
In view of increasing Covid cases due to the Omicron variant of the virus, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi on Tuesday cancelled the remaining part of winter vacation from January 5 to January 10 and has asked the faculty members to join duty ‘with immediate effect’.
In a notice, AIIMS said: “In continuation of the office of memoranda…it is to inform that the Competent Authority has decided to cancel the remaining part of the winter vacation i.e. from 5th to 10th January, 2022 due to the ongoing Covid-19/Omicron Pandemic.”
Fully vaccinated asymptomatic Omicron patients can remain in home isolation in TN
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Tuesday said that Omicron patients can remain in home quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.
Speaking during the inauguration of Siddha Covid care centre at Thandai Periyar Thidal at Veppery in Chennai, Subramanian said, “The new variant of Covid-19 is spreading is fast across the world. The State is reporting hundreds of coronavirus cases daily. Last night, the state recorded 1,800 cases. According to the CM’s instruction, Siddha medicine is being provided to patients. During the second wave of Covid-19, there are 89 Siddha Covid care centres in the city with 7448 beds, where over 28,000 patients were treated in these centres.”
Lucknow: 33 Medanta hospital staff test positive
As many as 33 medical staff, including doctors, at Medanta hospital in Lucknow have tested positive for Covid-19, the hospital said on Tuesday.
Of the 33 new patients, 32 are hospital staff and one is a doctor, working at the emergency ward. All the patients are asymptomatic.
Recently, the hospital had collected 800 Covid-19 RT-PCR samples, of which 33 hospital employees contracted the disease.
60 students of Patiala Medical College test positive for Covid-19
As many as 60 students of Patiala Medical College have tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.
Following this, the Patiala district administration and health department held a meeting.
Sandeep Hans, Deputy Commissioner, said, “The Government has imposed night curfew in the state till January 15. The medical college will also remain closed till that date.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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