BREAKING: In fresh curbs, Maharashtra imposes night curfew; gyms, beauty salons to remain closed

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in India continued the upward trend on Saturday with fresh infections crossing the 1.40-lakh mark. The cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, being said to be driving the current surge of infections across the country, climbed to 3,071. Read more

Uttarakhand on Saturday reported 1,560 coronavirus cases, recording the highest single-day spike in infection cases in the state since May 29 last year when 1,687 people had tested positive.

Meanwhile, no fresh Covid-19-related death was reported in the state.

In fresh curbs to contain the spread of Coronavirus, Maharashtra on Saturday imposed a night curfew in the state from 11pm. 

Check list of restrictions below:

Schools and colleges to remain closed till February 15

Private offices asked to allow maximum 50 per cent attendance

Restaurant/shopping malls/auditorium etc to open with 50 per cent capacity

Gyms, beauty salons to remain closed

Maximum 50 people allowed for a wedding, 20 for funeral

Read more

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 133 fresh cases of Omicron, taking the state's tally of infections from the new variant of Coronavirus to 1,009. 

Further, the state has reported 41,434 fresh Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, of which 20,318 cases were reported in Mumbai alone. 

Mumbai logged 20,318 Covid-19 cases and five related deaths on Saturday.

Active cases: 1,06,037

Bed occupancy: 21.4%

Delhi has reported 20,181 fresh Covid-19 cases and seven related deaths in the last 24 hours. As many as 11,869 people recovered from the viral disease in the same time span. 

Active cases: 48,178

Daily positivity rate: 19.6%

Death toll: 25,143

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be successful in forming the government in the state in the upcoming polls with overwhelming majority for the second consecutive term. “There should be no doubt about it,” Adityanath added, exuding confidence.

Uttar Pradesh to go to polls in 7 phases from February 10 to March 7; Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on February 14 and Manipur will vote on February 17 and March 3.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

The Election Commission of India is addressing a presser to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

IPS Viresh Kumar Bhawra has been appointed as the new DGP of Punjab, reports ANI.

Councillors of the Aam Aadmi Party created a ruckus inside the assembly hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation after the Bharatiya Janata Party won the mayor elections, reports ANI.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said that the city is likely to record over 20,000 Covid-19 cases today and the positivity rate is expected to be around 19%, reports PTI. 

Also, he said that no Omicron-related deaths were recorded in Delhi.  Of the nine people who died on Friday, most had comorbidities, he added. 

The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule for stat assembly elections in Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh at 3.30pm today, reports ANI. 

An all-party meeting chaired by chief minister MK Stalin began in Tamil Nadu at the state Secretariat in Chennai to discuss the future course of action on the state's demand for exemption from the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET), reports ANI. 

The 18th Covid-19 vaccination camp began in Tamil Nadu today as state health minister Ma Subramanian, health secretary J Radhakrishnan and Chennai Corporation commissioner GS Bedi reviewed the drive in Chennai. 

Subramanian said that 77.3% of eligible population vaccinated with the first dose while 61.46% have been given the second dose, reports ANI.

The National Investigation Agency nominated IGP Santosh Rastogi to assist the Registrar General of Punjab and the Haryana High Court to secure and seize records related to PM Modi's visit to Punjab on January 5 from state and central agencies. NIA DG issued an order regarding the same on Friday. However, there will be no probe, the agency said, reports ANI. 

The number of cases due to the Omicron Covid-19 variant in the country reached 3,071, of which 1,203 people have recovered so far, the Centre said.

India reported 141,986 new Covid-19 cases and 285 related deaths as the total confirmed infections reached 35,368,372 and the death toll mounted to 483,463.

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Srinagar Airport authorities has delayed all operations and said that the snowfall is expected to continue till 11am and has reduced the visibility at the airport currently, reports ANI. 

Uttarakhand government has shut down schools and banned political rallies and protests in the state in view of the rising Covid-19 infections till January 16, reports ANI.

Delhi's air quality improves to 'moderate' from the 'poor' category with Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 132, reports ANI citing data from SAFAR-India.