Covid Third Wave in India: Nearly 2 lakh cases registered and 4 other updates
India has registered 1,94,720 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is 15.9% higher than new infections reported yesterday, January 11, 2022. Also, 165 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours.
#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive#OmicronVariant ????? ?????https://t.co/Ul4X5BPVd6 pic.twitter.com/TIP4MrJ0at
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) January 12, 2022
States across the country are still reluctant to impose lockdown despite India's Omicron tally reaching 4,868.
1. INDIA REGISTERS 4,868 TOTAL OMICRON CASES
Here's the state and UT-wise break-up:
Maharashtra – 1,281
Rajasthan - 645
Delhi – 546
Karnataka - 479
Kerala – 350
West Bengal – 294
Uttar Pradesh - 275
Gujarat - 236
Tamil Nadu – 185
Haryana - 162
Telangana – 123
Odisha - 102
Andhra Pradesh – 54
Bihar - 27
Punjab - 27
Goa – 21
Jammu and Kashmir - 13
Madhya Pradesh – 10
Assam – 9
Uttarakhand - 8
Meghalaya - 5
Chhattisgarh - 5
Chandigarh - 3
Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 3
Puducherry – 2
Himachal Pradesh - 1
Ladakh - 1
Manipur – 1
2. LAKSHADWEEP BECOMES FIRST TO VACCINATE ALL IN 15-18 AGE GROUP
All eligible children in the age group of 15-18 years have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Lakshadweep, making it the first among the Union Territories and the states to have achieved this goal. S Asker Ali, District Collector in Lakshadweep said, "With this, Lakshadweep has become the first among union territories and states to have achieved this feat."
3. DELHI HEALTH MINISTER SAYS THAT ALL COVID CURBS WILL BE REMOVED IF CASES FALL
On January 12, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that if Covid-19 cases were to fall in the next 2-3 days, the government would remove all Covid-19 curbs in the city. Delhi logged 21,259 new Covid-19 cases on January 11 and has a total of 546 Omicron cases.
If Covid cases come down in 2-3 days, restrictions will be lifted. Delhi likely to see around 25,000 cases today: Minister Satyendra Jain
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 12, 2022
4. NO RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION IN ODISHA ON MAKAR SANKRANTI
The Odisha government has prohibited all religious gatherings for Makar Sankranti and Pongal on January 14, 2022. Places of worship will not be open for the public on the day. Guidelines issued by the Special Relief Commissioner read, "People are advised to perform the rituals/puja on the occasion of Makar Sankranti/Pongal at home with family members only, avoiding mass gatherings and adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols such as physical distancing, use of face mask/covering and handwashing."
Odisha govt prohibits religious congregations on Makar Sankranti and Pongal on January 14 amid spike in COVID-19 cases in state; places of worship to remain closed on the occasion
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 11, 2022
On the other side of the world, the EU's drug watchdog on January 11 said that the 'Omicron variant is pushing Covid-19 towards being an endemic disease that humanity can live with, although it remains a pandemic for now'.