Highlights: Delhi records jump in Covid-19 cases with 1,796 new infections

Amid rising COVID cases, Tamil Nadu Govt announces new restrictions effective till Jan 31 -- malls, jewellery & textile shops, malls, theatres, beauty parlours, showrooms, amusement parks, and metro trains to operate at 50% capacity.

Maharashtra Minister Yashomati Thakur says she has tested positive for Covid-19. The minister says she is asymptomatic and requests all who came in contact with her to get tested.

Maharashtra reports 8,067 fresh Covid-19 cases, including 4 Omicron cases; 1,766 recoveries, and 8 deaths today.

Active cases stands at 24,509 while the total recoveries are 65,09,096.

Sikkim announces new restrictions till January 10, 2022 amid Omicron threat.

Pubs, discos, cinema halls, restaurants, fast food centres, bakeries, gymnasiums, barbershops, spas, and salons to operate with only 50% of seating capacity.

34 fresh COVID19 cases reported in Dharavi in the last 24 hours, active cases in the area rise to 95, says Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

"23 new cases of Omicron confirmed in Karnataka today, of which 19 are international travellers from USA, Europe, Middle East and Africa," says state health minister Dr Sudhakar K.

There is no proposal to extend the date for income tax return filing, says Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj, Govt of India

The GST Council meeting has decided to retain the status quo on GST rate on textile to 5% and not raise it to 12%. The issue of GST rate on textile will be sent to the tax rate rationalization committee which will submit its report by February, announces FM Nirmala Sitharaman. Read more

Kerala records 44 fresh confirmed cases of Omicron, taking total cases of the coronavirus variant to 107 in the state, says Kerala Health Minister Veena George.

Restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC extended in Mumbai till Jan 15. Mumbai Police prohibits citizens from visiting beaches, open grounds, sea faces, promenades, gardens, parks, or similar public places, from 5pm to 5am.

The GST council has decided to defer the hike in GST rate on textiles from 5% to 12%.

Serum Institute Of India has applied to the country's drug regulator and the health ministry for full approval of its Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, the company's chief executive said on Friday.

An official told news agency AFP on Friday that Omicron is the main Covid-19 variant in France. 

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday Covid-19 is weakening in the state and urged people to not worry about the coronavirus pandemic situation. Read more

The Puducherry government said on Friday that a night curfew has been imposed in the Union Territory till January 31. 

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday chaired the 46th meeting of the Central Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in New Delhi. Read more

The national capital's air quality slipped to the very poor quality on Friday. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the AQI was at 308 during morning hours. 

Bihar has reported its first Omicron case in a 26-year-old man as the coronavirus variant continues to spread at an alarming rate across India. Read more

The protesting doctors belonging to the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) called off the strike following a meeting with the police, reports ANI. 

“We had a meeting with Joint CP last night. Withdrawal of FIR process started (in connection with ITO protest). After 12 pm today we will call off our strike against the delay in NEET 2021 counselling,” said Dr Manish, president of FORDA. 

He also said that patients were suffering and many surgeries have been deferred due to which the strike has been called off.

The number of Covid-19 cases pertaining to the Omicron variant in the country stood at 1,270, according to the Union health ministry. Maharashtra and Delhi with 450 and 320 cases respectively, added the most to the national tally.

India's daily tally of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) surged for a third straight day after 16,764 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, pushing the caseload to 34,838,804. 

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Friday chair the 46th meeting of the GST Council in Delhi. The meeting will be attended by MoS finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, and finance ministers of States and Union Territories (UTs).