COVID-19 News Updates

With 6,531 people testing positive for coronavirus infections in a day India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,47,93,333, while the active cases declined to 75,841.

Dr NK Arora, chairperson of Covid-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI), has highlighted the benefits of starting immunization of adolescents in the 15-18 years age group, kicking off on January 3, 2022.

The second worst hit country in terms of cases is India (34,786,802 infections and 479,682 deaths)

China's disciplinary body announced the punishments of the officials on Friday, the latest state reprimands under Beijing's strict zero Covid approach.

Director of Health Services, Bijay Mohapatra said that already steps have begun for collection of district-wise data of the eligible population in the age group of 15 to 18 years.

On the ongoing RDA strike which has hit all the medical services in the national capital, the IMA said that the issue of expediting PG counselling is the need of the hour to increase manpower ahead of the looming third wave threat.

Odisha’s Omicron tally jumps to 8 after 4 more foreign returnees test positive for the new variant of Covid-19. Their positive samples were genome sequenced at Institute of Life Sciences in Bhubaneswar.

India charts a separate way. Addressing the nation on Saturday, PM Narendra Modi announced that children in the 15-18 years age group will now get COVID-19 vaccines starting 3rd January 2022. The government has also decided that precaution dose of vaccine will be started for frontline workers and healthcare workers and elderly with co-morbid conditions.

So far 17 states have reported cases of Omicron infection, the Union health ministry said.

The detection of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been reported to the State Health Department by the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) in Bhubaneswar which is conducting the genome sequencing of the positive cases of coronavirus infection.

US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 52,092,894 and 816,463, according to the CSSE.

PM Modi said global experience shows that following all preventive measures at personal level is a big weapon to fight Covid as he asked people to be alert and take all precautionary measures but cautioned against any panic.

The DCGI gave its approval Friday, the source said.

The vaccine has been approved for emergency use in 10 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Pakistan, where this current clinical trial took place.

India's Covid-19 caseload has surged to 3.47 crore with 7,189 cases in 24 hours.