Coronavirus updates Highlights: Tamil Nadu steps up vigil, screens 37 international passengers for Covid
Coronavirus news updates Highlights, December 24, 2022: India has stepped up surveillance and asked its states to be alert in view of rising cases in China. Citizens have been urged to maintain Covid-appropriate behaviour, especially as the year-ending festive season approaches.
Amid concerns over a fresh outbreak of Covid-19 in neighbouring China and several other countries, India has strengthened its surveillance to keep any spike in infections at bay. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya - both of whom held separate review meetings this week - have reiterated that the pandemic is not yet over and urged citizens to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks and getting vaccinated, especially as the Christmas and New Year festive season knocks on the door.
The Centre has issued an advisory to check spread of the virus, which includes random sampling of 2 per cent of foreign passengers. This rule comes into effect from today onwards. Furthermore, mock drills will be conducted across India next week (December 27) to monitor the Covid-19 preparedness of heath care centres.
Despite the fresh scare in China, which is primarily being driven by BF.7 sublineage of Omicron BA.5 variant, experts have said that the situation in India will not deteriorate beyond repair. Four cases of BF.7 were reported in India but those happened in the past, and all the patients have since recovered.
Several states, meanwhile, have stepped up surveillance with officials being told to stay alert in view of the situation in China.
India's daily Covid-19 case count has been witnessing a decline week-by-week, Union health ministry said on Friday.
Follow all the updates here:
- Dec 24, 2022 08:31 PM IST
Fully prepared to deal with any eventuality, say Delhi hospitals amid coronavirus scare
Many hospitals in Delhi have instructed their heads of department to strictly follow Covid guidelines, including wearing masks and using sanitisers, amid concerns over surge in coronavirus cases in some countries
The hospital said they have braced themselves for any eventuality, PTI reported.
- Dec 24, 2022 08:29 PM IST
Covid concerns: Wear masks, Tuljapur temple authorities urge staff, devotees
The Osmanabad district administration has appealed to devotees and staff at the renowned Tuljapur Temple in Maharashtra to wear masks on the premises amid a scare from the BF.7 sub variant of Omicron and chances of a spike in Covid-19 cases, an official said on Saturday.
- Dec 24, 2022 08:24 PM IST
Union health secy asks states, UTs to conduct mock drills on Dec 27
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to state and union territorial health secretaries on Saturday about holding mock drills on December 27 at all health institutions (including recognised Covid-dedicated health facilities) across the country, news agency ANI reported.
- Dec 24, 2022 08:21 PM IST
Covid-19 vaccination drive gets on fast track in Surat
In view of the recent upsurge in cases of Covid 19 in some countries, the vaccination drive in Surat has got a fast track, said Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday.
- Dec 24, 2022 05:35 PM IST
Tamil Nadu steps up vigil, screens 37 international passengers for Covid
The Tamil Nadu government stepped up vigil amidst a sudden surge in Coronavirus cases in some parts of the world and on Saturday 37 passengers who arrived at the international airport here were screened for Covid 19.
- Dec 24, 2022 05:33 PM IST
Hong Kong announces planned border re-opening with China as Omicron surges at Christmas
China, grappling with a new wave of COVID-19 infections, took another step towards loosening its pandemic-related restrictions on Saturday when Hong Kong's leader announced it would aim to re-open its borders with the mainland by mid-January.
- Dec 24, 2022 04:48 PM IST
Indians have hybrid immunity against BF.7, travel ban not effective: Dr Guleria
Unlike China, India is safe from another wave of the Covid pandemic because of the hybrid immunity of the population, former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said amid apprehension triggered by China's unprecedented surge. Read more
- Dec 24, 2022 03:32 PM IST
Covid-19: Karnataka CM says no need to panic, but follow safety norms
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday appealed to the people not to panic but exercise caution, amid rise in Covid-19 cases in certain countries and said his government has taken adequate measures to manage the situation. Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said, “We will continuously monitor the situation, but there is no need to panic. Only thing is that people should be cautious. The government, people, organisations and the society have to face COVID together.”
- Dec 24, 2022 03:06 PM IST
Maharashtra: Amid Covid spike, Thane starts RTPCR and antigen tests in Jambli Naka market
Thane Municipal corporation has started Antigen Covid-19 test in Thane Jambli Naka market. Again in view of the crisis of Covid-19, Thane Municipal corporation has started Antigen Covid-19 test in Thane Jambli Naka market.
- Dec 24, 2022 02:50 PM IST
Nearly 250 million Covid-19 infections in China: Report
Almost 250 million people in China may have been affected by Covid-19 in just 20 days after the 'zero-covid policy' was diluted in the first week of the month, according to radio Free Asia citing leaked government documents circulating on social media, ANI reported.
- Dec 24, 2022 02:43 PM IST
Tamil Nadu health minister inspects Covid-19 testing booth outside Chennai International airport
Tamil Nadu health minister Ma. Subramanian inspects Covid-19 testing booth established outside the Chennai International airport.
- Dec 24, 2022 02:23 PM IST
Nearly 250 mn in China may have been affected by Covid in 20 days: Leaked documents
Almost 250 million people in China may have been affected by Covid-19 in only 20 days following the lifting of the country's stringent ‘zero-Covid policy’ in the first week of the month, ANI reported citing radio Free Asia that claimed leaked government documents circulating on social media said so.
- Dec 24, 2022 01:11 PM IST
Ensure medical oxygen supply: Centre to states amid Covid preps
The Union health ministry has written to all states and Union territories to ensure a “functional and regular supply of medical oxygen for Covid-19 pandemic management”.
- Dec 24, 2022 12:01 PM IST
Centre announces mandatory Covid test for foreign arrivals from China and 4 other nations
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Saturday that RT-PCR test to determine presence of Covid-19 in an individual will be mandatory for international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. On arrival, if any passenger from these countries is found symptomatic or tests positive for the virus, then he or she will be put under quarantine. Read more.
- Dec 24, 2022 10:39 AM IST
India sees spike in daily case count with 201 Covid cases
India on Saturday saw a jump in daily caseload after 201 people were infected with the virus, Union health ministry's 8am bulletin update said. The active caseload of the country currently stands at 3,397, accounting for 0.01 per cent of the total tally.
- Dec 24, 2022 09:48 AM IST
Chinese city reporting half a million Covid cases every day: Report
China's eastern city Qingdao, which houses nearly 10 million people, is reportedly witnessing half a million infections every day, a state-run news outlet said on Friday, according to Bloomberg. Senior health official Bo Tao reportedly said that the coastal city was seeing “between 490,000 and 530,000” fresh Covid-19 cases daily.
- Dec 24, 2022 08:54 AM IST
Centre junks news of mandatory Covid -ve test for foreign passengers
The Union health ministry on Saturday said on Twitter that a news circulating on social media platforms about India planning to make mandatory Covid-19 test report for passengers coming from high caseload countries is “fake and misleading”.
- Dec 24, 2022 08:50 AM IST
China reports zero Covid deaths for second straight day for Dec 23
Amid a deadly and fresh outbreak of Covid-19, China reported zero deaths due to the virus for December 23, National Health Commission said on Saturday. This is the same number as the previous day. The country logged as many as 4,128 new symptomatic Covid-19 infections for December 23, up from 3,761 a day earlier.
JU student death: Probe finds victim was chased naked along hostel corridor
A seven-member internal probe committee set up by the university to probe the student’s death has said that the victim had desperately tried to hide himself from the perpetrators
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