COVID-19 News Updates

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.

In the case of a vaccinated person or one who has had a history of being infected by COVID-19, it will spread to fewer people, she said, adding that unvaccinated people will potentially spread the virus 100 per cent.

Neither the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) nor the Indian national Covid-19 task force have spoken about the presence of so-called 'Delmicron'.

The daily rise in new coronavirus cases has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 58 days now.

The study also showed the jab's ability to stop people from catching Omicron starts to wane 10 weeks after a booster dose.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 51,962,786 and 816,362, according to the CSSE.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday issued a list of guidelines to be strictly followed by people during the Christmas and New Year festivities in the light of Odisha government's fresh restrictions to check surge in cases of infections by Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1.

At the press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had a word of caution. "The world is witnessing the fourth surge of COVID-19 cases and the overall positivity is 6.1 per cent. Therefore, we have to be on guard and we can't afford to slacken," he said.

“The people of Odisha have co-operated the government during the first and second wave of Covid-19. People should continue follow Covid appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks, maintaining hand hygiene and other aspects,” said Mohapatra while urging people to avoid large congregations and gatherings.

Hours after imposing curbs on Christmas and New Year celebrations in view of the surging cases of Covid-19, especially the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2, the Odisha government on Friday evening effected fresh revisions in the guidelines.