BREAKING: Maharashtra reports 44,388 fresh Covid cases, 12 deaths in 24 hours

West Bengal on Sunday reported an all-time high of 24,287 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, the highest since the first wave of infections in 2020. 

The infections detected in the last 24 hours were 5,485 more than yesterday's, taking the tally to 17,55,046, the health department said.

The Union health ministry has applied filters on the Co-WIN platform to exclude Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo from the vaccine certificate to be issued in the five poll-bound states. Read more

Maharashtra reported a surge of 44,388 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative infections from the viral disease to 6,920,044. Of the total cases logged in the past 24 hours, 19,474 infections came to light from Mumbai.

After registering 12 Covid-19-related fatalities in the same time span, the death toll from the disease across the state jumped to 141,639. 

The Rajasthan government on Sunday announced closure of schools in urban areas, Sunday curfews, time limits on markets and a cap on occupancy at restaurants and movie theatres in view of a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Delhi has reported 22,751 fresh Covid-19 cases and 17-related deaths in the past 24 hours. Read more

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will interact with state health ministers on Monday over the Covid-19 situation, ANI quoted people familiar with the development as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a Covid-19 review meeting via video conference.

The Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday imposed more restrictions to check the Covid-19 spread.

>All government offices to remain closed on weekends, to work on weekdays at 50 per cent staff presence.

>All social/religious gatherings to be banned. DMs allowed to decide timing of shops/markets.

>The order will remain in effect in the state till January 24.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday expressed concern over the "increasing" use of religion in politics during elections and said the Election Commission must curb this “worrying” trend, reported news agency PTI.

A day after stating that gyms and salons will stay shut amid the Covid-19 spread, the Maharashtra government on Sunday issued revised restrictions for them.

As per the revised guidelines, gyms and beauty salons can stay open with 50 per cent capacity. Only fully vaccinated customers will be allowed and wearing of mask is compulsory. Read more

Congress on Sunday launched its 11-day padayatra seeking early implementation of Mekedatu drinking water project in Karnataka. Padayatra started from Sangam in Ramanagara district with a large number of Congress workers and leaders including CLP leader Siddaramaiah participating.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the NEET-PG counselling will commence from January 12. 

The Rajya Sabha secretariat restricted the staff attendace in view of the rising Covid-19 cases and asked 50% of officials and staff below the rank of under secretary or executive officer to work from home till the end of January, reports ANI. 

Arvind Kejriwal said that around 22,000 Covid-19 cases are expected in Delhi today, reports ANI. 

“Increasing cases concerning but need not be scared. I am saying so after analysing (comparing) data from the last wave,” he said.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that there were no plans for lockdown in Delhi but some restrictions would be implemented. 

BJP MP Varun Gandhi tested positive for Covid-19 with “fairly strong symptoms”, he said in a tweet. 

“We are now in the middle of a third wave and an election campaign. The Election Commission should extend precautionary doses to candidates and political workers as well,” he said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the country, reports ANI. 

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said he was “back at your service” after recovering from Covid-19. 

Aumkareshwar Thakur, creator of the ‘Sulli deals’ mobile app has been arrested. He was arrested from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

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The number of Omicron cases in India so far reached 3,623 and the variant has now been reported from 27 states and Union territories. Maharashtra accounted for 1,009 cases and Delhi added 513 cases to the tally. So far, 1,409 people have recovered.

India reported 1,59,632 new Covid-19 cases and 327 deaths in the last 24 hours with a daily positivity rate of 10.21%. The active caseload stood at 5,90,611 and the death toll climbed to 4,83,790.

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) of the US Department of State condemned the attack on a Sikh cab driver at the JFK International Airport. 

“We are deeply disturbed by reports of an attack on a Sikh cab driver at J.F.K. airport, captured on video last week. Our diversity makes the U.S. stronger, & we condemn any form of hate-based violence,” the SCA tweeted.

“We all have a responsibility to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable for their actions, no matter where such crimes occur,” it said. 

Some parts of Delhi witnessed a rainfall during the early morning hours of Sunday. 

“Light intensity rain/drizzle to moderate rain would occur over and adjoining areas of isolated places of North Delhi, South-East Delhi, NewDelhi… during the next 2 hours,” the India Meteorological Department said. 

The air quality in Delhi improved to 'Satisfactory' category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 90, reports ANI citing data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)-India.