Breaking News: Over 9 lakh people receive ‘precautionary’ third dose on day 1

More than nine lakh healthcare, frontline workers and people aged above 60 with comorbid conditions receive their third Covid jab as the country began administering 'precautionary' doses today, reports PTI. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged eligible beneficiaries to get their third ‘precautionary’ vaccine dose and called vaccination as one of the “most effective means to fight Covid-19.”

Tamil Nadu extended existing Covid-19 related restrictions in the state till January 31. A full lockdown, allowing only essential services has been imposed on Sunday (January 16). 

All places of worship have been closed from January 14 to 18 during the Pongal festival. Meanwhile, buses have been allowed to operate at 75% capacity to facilitate ease of travel during the festival.

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BJP president JP Nadda tested positive for Covid-19. 

"I got my Covid test done after experiencing initial symptoms. My report has come positive. I am feeling fine now. On the advice of doctors, I have isolated myself.

All those who have come in contact with me in the last few days are requested to get themselves checked," he tweeted.

Maharashtra reported 31 new Omicron Covid-19 cases with Pune City alone adding 28 cases to the tally. Pune Rural added two cases and Pimpri Chinchwad reported one cases. With this, the state tally went up to 1,247.

With 33,470 new Covid-19 cases and eight deaths in the last 24 hours, Maharashtra's total caseload went up to 69,53,514 and the death toll reached 1,41,647.

In Mumbai 13,648 more people tested positive while five lost their lives, as the caseload and the total deaths in the city stood at 9,26,170 and 16,411 respectively.

In Assam, on the first day of administering ‘precaution dose' or the third dose for Covid-19, as many as 7,921 healthcare workers, frontline workers and citizens above 60 with comorbidities were administered the shot, reports ANI citing state government data. 

The Indian Council of Medical Research, in an advisory, said that the contacts of Covid-19 patients do not need testing unless identified as high risk based on age or comorbidities.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai tested positive for Covid-19 with “mild symptoms” and is under home quarantine. “I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” he tweeted. 

With 19,166 new Covid-19 infections and 17 deaths, the total caseload in Delhi 1,568,896 and the death toll mounted to 25,177. The daily positivity rate was at 25% and the active caseload stood at 65,806.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has ordered the shutdown of all restaurants and bars in the national capital and allowed only takeaway service to function, reports ANI. 

Dharavi in Mumbai reported 97 new Covid-19 cases and the active caseload there reached 943, reports ANI citing data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. 

Uttarakhand government has shut schools for all classes till January 16 due to the spread of Omicron Covid-19 variant, reports ANI. Online teaching will be continued, the government said. 

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently under home isolation, his office said. 

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a meeting with the health ministers of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Maharashtra, advised them to ensure that the Oxygen infrastructure be kept in a functional and operational state, reports ANI.

The ministry of external affairs said that India is closely following the recent developments in Kazakhstan, reports ANI. 

“We express our deepest condolences to families of innocent victims who have lost lives in the violence. As a close and friendly partner of Kazakhstan, we look forward to an early stabilization of the situation,” the ministry said. 

As many as 32 samples were tested for Covid-19 in the genomic sequencing lab, out of which 27 samples have tested positive for Omicron, four for Delta and one for an unknown variant of the virus, reports ANI citing the director of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna.

The Haryana government has decided to shut all schools and colleges in the state till January 26 due to the rising Covid-19 infections. 

Online teaching to continue during the time, state education Minister Kanwar Pal said.

The state had earlier declared winter holidays from January 3 to 12.

Kerala reported 17 more Covid-19 cases of the Omicron variant and the tally is now at 345, said state health minister Veena George.

The Chandigarh administration asked the principals of all government and private schools in the UT to inform their students, between 15 and 18 years of age, about the options for Covid-19 vaccination, reports ANI. 

It also said that appropriate action will be taken in case of noncompliance.

Union defence minister Rajnath Singh tested positive for Covid-19 with mild symptoms. “I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” he tweeted.

The 14th round of senior highest military commander level (SHMCL) talks between India and Chian will take place at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, on the Chinese side on January 12. The Indian side is looking forward to constructive dialogue to resolve the balance friction areas, reports ANI citing officials from the Indian Army.

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy announced a night curfew from 11pm to 5am in the State, in view of the rising Covid-19 cases, reports ANI citing the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Amid rising Covid-19 cases in the state, the Tamil Nadu government allowed the ‘Jallikattu’ event – traditionally held during the festival of Pongal – with restrictions on the spectator capacity.

Only 50% of spectators or 150 people – whichever is lesser – will be allowed. Also, all spectators should be fully vaccinated. 

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said that a few defections from the state BJP unit will not deter them from their agenda. 

“Bharatiya Janata Party is a big family that continues to serve the motherland with full devotion! A few defections, to fulfil the agenda of greed and personal interests cannot deter our agenda of Good Governance,” he tweeted.