Covid updates: Health min reviews screening, testing at Delhi's IGI airport
Coronavirus news updates, January 2, 2023: The BF.7 sub variant - sub lineage of Omicron variant BA.5 - that is primarily driving the surge in cases in China was already detected in India in four patients in 2022, with all since recovered.
With China's Covid-19 cases spike, India and multiple countries have stepped up their entry restrictions and measures. The Union health ministry in a fresh advisory last month directed airports and all other entry points of the country to strengthen surveillance, conduct genome sequencing and stay alert. In this regard, a fresh advisory was issued that mandated RT-PCR test for travellers from China and five other nations, and random sampling of 2 per cent of all international passengers. Not just India, several other countries such as the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Japan and Australia, among others, have imposed the same (Covid-19 test on arrival) entry requirement on travellers from China in view of a fresh, deadly outbreak in the Asian nation.
The health ministry has also tightened measures within the country, bringing the focus back on Covid-appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining physical distance. Last month, a nationwide mock drill was conducted at all hospitals and health care centres, with Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya visiting Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, in order to gauge their preparedness for Covid-19. The central government has also directed hospitals and clinics to make sure that adequate supply of medical oxygen and beds is available.
More than 50 international travellers have so far tested positive for Covid-19. Health officials aware of Centre's action plan on the global infection spike earlier told HT that early detection of new variants of the virus and their containment are among the key surveillance measures the government is focussing on.
The BF.7 sub variant - sub lineage of Omicron variant BA.5 - that is primarily driving the surge in cases in China was already detected in India in four patients in 2022. These people have since recovered, and experts have said as long as a new variant doesn't emerge, there is no need to worry.
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Jan 02, 2023 10:55 PM IST
Covid-19 clean slate: No case, death, recovery reported in Chhattisgarh
No Covid-19 case or death was reported in Chhattisgarh on Monday, which kept the tally and toll unchanged at 11,77,758 and 14,146, respectively, a health official said. There was no rise in the recovery count either, which stood at 11,63,603, leaving the state with nine active cases, he added. So far, 1,88,42,571 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the state, including 1,882 during the day, a government release said. Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 11,77,758, new cases (zero), death toll 14,146, recovered 11,63,603, active cases 9, today tests 1,882, total tests 1,88,42,571, reported PTI.
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Jan 02, 2023 09:57 PM IST
Union health minister Mandaviya reviews screening, Covid testing facility at Delhi's IGI Airport
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Monday reviewed the screening and Covid testing facility at the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport amid a rise in coronavirus cases in some countries, including China.
The government has made random Covid tests mandatory for two per cent of passengers arriving on each international flight irrespective of their port of departure. Besides, passengers arriving in India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand are being mandatorily required to provide Covid negative reports from January 1, reported PTI.
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Jan 02, 2023 06:01 PM IST
Covid situation in UP is normal: CM Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the state at a high-level meeting with officials, and said that the situation in the state is normal amid the rising cases in various countries.
He also directed the officials to closely monitor the "changing trends" of coronavirus and to conduct genome sequencing of the new cases, reported PTI.
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Jan 02, 2023 04:25 PM IST
India mandates Covid-19 -ve report from passengers transiting through high risk nations
India makes uploading of Covid RTPCR negative report mandatory 72 hours prior to boarding for international passengers even transiting through 6 high risk countries. Earlier it was mandatory only for those passengers arriving from these countries.
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Jan 02, 2023 03:54 PM IST
Qatar to require all travelers from China to have a Covid test
Qatar will from Tuesday require travelers arriving from China to provide a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 48 hours of departure, Qatar's state news agency QNA said on Monday.
The testing requirement is imposed on all travelers regardless of vaccination status, the agency added, reported Reuters.
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Jan 02, 2023 02:10 PM IST
UP CM holds review meeting on Covid-19
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday held a review meeting with the officers of Team-9 on the current scenario of Covid-19 in the state, an official statement from the chief minister's office said. He directed them that ICU should be operational in all districts of the state and there should be no dearth of medicines, technicians and specialists, ANI reported.
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Jan 02, 2023 11:14 AM IST
Over 10 nations have so far imposed entry curbs for Chinese travellers
More than 10 countries have so far imposed entry restrictions on passengers from China in wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the Asian country. The list includes India, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Japan, the US and the UK, among others. Canada and Australia have become latest entrants in the list.
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Jan 02, 2023 09:36 AM IST
People in major Chinese cities return to regular activity
Despite a rise in Covid-19 cases and biting cold, some people in key Chinese cities such as Beijing, Wuhan and Shanghai returned to regular activity, Reuters reported. This comes as the Asian nation dropped its strict ‘Zero Covid’ policy on December 7 and is expected to open borders on January 8.
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Jan 02, 2023 09:16 AM IST
India reports 173 new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours
India on Monday recorded as many as 173 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total tally of the country to 44,678,822, according to an 8am bulletin update by the Union health ministry. The active count stands at 2,670, and the death toll has reached 530,707 with one reported from Karnataka.
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Jan 02, 2023 09:06 AM IST
China's Covid-19 death toll rises to 5,250 after one fatality in mainland
China's death toll reached 5,250 on the first day of 2023 with one patient succumbing to the virus, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday, according to Reuters.
Shah inaugurates temple in Kashmir, lauds Modi for restoring peace
Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the Mata Sharda Devi temple near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Punjab, Haryana pass resolutions against Himachal Pradesh’s water cess
The Punjab and Haryana assemblies on Wednesday unanimously passed separate resolutions against a move by the Himachal Pradesh government to impose water cess on hydropower projects in the hill state.
Khalistan supporters again stage stir at Indian mission in London
he over three-hour protest had a tense moment when protestors turned aggressive and violent, throwing water bottles and a smoke flares at the main gate of the high commission.
Modi holds review meeting on influenza, Covid cases
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on Covid-19 and influenza to review the country’s response and preparedness to deal with a rising number of cases of influenza and a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Supreme Court to hear pleas seeking to criminalise marital rape on May 9
The Union government on Wednesday sought a week to clarify its stand on making marital rape a criminal offence even as the Supreme Court fixed May 9 as the date to commence extensive arguments on a clutch of petitions demanding a change in the legal regime.
Regulatory body cancels Marion Biotech’s licence
The Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority has cancelled the manufacturing licence of Noida-based pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech, whose cough syrup was linked to the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan in December.
Barring married cadets from applying for JAG in army a reasonable restriction: Centre to Delhi high Court
The Union government told the Delhi high court that confining the recruitment for the Judge Advocate General (JAG), the legal officer in the army, to unmarried men and women is a “reasonable restriction placed in public interest and the interest of national security”
BJP alleges corruption in Kochi waste dump fire, demands CBI investigation
The massive fire that started on March 2 was controlled by March 14 and the city was filled toxic fumes and gas forcing more than 1400 people to seek medical aid. Later HC had registered a case suo motu and the National Green Tribunal had slapped a fine of ₹100 crore on the Kochi Corporation
Will frame policy on advisors’ appointment: Andhra to HC
As the engagement of advisors is based on time and need requirement of the ministers, care shall be taken to ensure that such engagements are narrowly carved out to meet specific requirements. There shall be a periodic review about that need and suitability of the engaged person, the official said
Kerala sounds alert amid slight increase in daily Covid infections
The minister said Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam districts reported maximum cases. “We have alerted all 14 districts. We are keeping a strict tab on the situation. If needed, we will conduct genomic sequencing tests in affected areas,” she said, adding all hospitals have also been alerted
Tirupati seeks to earn ₹4,411 crore in FY24
TTD hopes to raise ₹990 crore on interest of deposits made in commercial banks, ₹500 crore through sale of “prasadam,” ₹330 crore through sale of special darshan tickets, ₹140 crore through Arjitha Sevas (paid services to the god), ₹129 crore through hiring of Kalyana Mandapams
National leaders to attend inaugural ceremony of Karunandhi: Stalin
A “Kalaignar Kottam, a museum and a marriage hall will be inaugurated by “national leaders” at Tiruvarur, according to the resolution passed by the meeting. Leaders of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance will speak during the day while the “national leaders” will speak in the evening
9 killed in explosion in TN firecracker factory
The owner of the private licenced factory Naren Fireworks Godown in Kuruvimalai village was later arrested.
Don’t overlook or withhold names recommended for appointment as judges: Supreme Court collegium to govt
The collegium’s resolution, published on the court website, underlined that selective appointment of judges from a list of names recommended by the collegium leads to loss of seniority of the candidates, which is not only “unfair” but also “against the settled convention”
HC reserves order on OPS petition against AIADMK resolutions
On Friday, the AIADMK had called for nominations and on Saturday EPS filed its nomination papers. Going by the history of the AIADMK, the procedure is a mere formality as the majority of the party wants EPS as the general secretary and he is the only person to have filed the nomination
