Coronavirus updates highlights: Himachal Pradesh to keep eye on tourist inflow in state using drones
Coronavirus news updates, December 25, 2022: India has made a negative RT-PCR test mandatory for passengers entering the country from China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea in wake of global infection spike.
With a global surge in Covid-19 cases in China and several other countries, India has begun to maintain a close watch on its pandemic situation, especially as the Christmas and New Year's holiday season kicks off on Sunday. Though the government - Centre or states - have not imposed any restriction on celebrations during the festive week, it has urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks in crowded places, physical distancing and also getting vaccinated.
India has also started random sampling of 2 per cent international arrivals at all airports in an attempt to check any infection spike in the country. The central government has made negative RT-PCR test report mandatory for individuals coming from five countries, including China and Japan. Furthermore, in a fresh advisory issued to all states and Union territories, the Centre asked to ensure that medical oxygen supply is adequate. A countrywide mock drill at all hospitals and healthcare centres will be conducted on Tuesday (December 27), a move also aimed at bettering Covid-19 preparedness amid a fresh outbreak in China, which is reportedly the worst in three years of the pandemic.
Experts have, however, assured that India's situation may not deteriorate like that of China's since the primary variant that's driving the spike in cases in the neighbouring nation is not a novelty here. The BF.7 variant - sublineage of Omicron BA.5 - was earlier detected in India and four persons were found to be infected with it as well, but they have since recovered.
Follow all the updates here:
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Dec 25, 2022 10:57 PM IST
'Safe to wear mask in crowded places': Tamil Nadu health min
"Wearing a mask, hand hygiene are already covered under COVID-19 protocols. We have not announced any kind of relaxation. All the COVID-19 standard operating procedures still remain. It is safe to wear a mask in crowded places like malls, air conditioned environments," Tamil Nadu health minister told reporters on Sunday.
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Dec 25, 2022 10:26 PM IST
Several regions in China face blood shortage amid surge in COVID-19 cases
China is calling on residents to actively donate blood under strict personal protection guidelines as they face a shortage of blood caused by many factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged cold weather, ANI reported.
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Dec 25, 2022 09:21 PM IST
Mumbai reports nine new COVID-19 cases; active tally at 50
Mumbai on Sunday recorded nine new coronavirus positive cases, which pushed the city's infection count to 11,55,093, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said. There are now 50 active cases in the metropolis, PTI reported.
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Dec 25, 2022 08:18 PM IST
China health body to stop publishing daily Covid-19 data amid backlash over inaccurate reporting
China’s National Health Commission will stop publishing daily Covid-19 case numbers, amid questions of its authenticity millions were infected nationwide and the official tally remained strikingly low, Bloomberg reported.
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Dec 25, 2022 07:36 PM IST
Himachal to map tourist inflow in state using drones
The Himachal Pradesh Police will use drones at the entry points including Shimla, Parwanoo and Pandoh for accurate estimation of the number of visitors entering the state.
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Dec 25, 2022 06:26 PM IST
Covid positive China-returnee isolated at home in Agra: UP official
“A 40-year-old man, who returned from China two days back, has tested positive for COVID-19 following which he has been isolated at his home in Agra, Uttar Pradesh,” said the chief medical officer of UP, PTI reported.
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Dec 25, 2022 06:11 PM IST
Agra health dept begin screening of foreign tourists at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Akbar's Tomb
The health department in Agra begins screening and collecting samples of foreign tourists at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Akbar's Tomb.
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Dec 25, 2022 05:26 PM IST
Covid concerns fail to dampen Christmas spirit
Hundreds thronged churches across Delhi for Christmas festivities on Sunday after two years of muted celebrations in the shadow of the Covid pandemic amid fresh concerns surrounding Covid-19, PTI reported.
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Dec 25, 2022 04:33 PM IST
China-returnee tests positive for Covid-19 in Agra; sample sent for genome sequencing
A 40-year-old man who returned from China on Friday tests positive for COVID at private lab in Agra on Sunday. He was working in China and came on leave to Agra and is asymptomatic at present and good in health at his house in Shahganj locality in Agra.
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Dec 25, 2022 04:17 PM IST
Delhi govt hospitals to be assessed for Covid preparedness starting Monday
"From Monday onwards, we are going to physically assess the situation at the government hospitals with regard to the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders, ventilators etc. These details will be available on a Delhi government portal for public viewing from Tuesday," another official said to ANI.
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Dec 25, 2022 03:43 PM IST
K'taka govt likely to decide on guidelines on Monday
Amid the Covid-19 scare, the Karnataka government on Monday is likely to decide on the guidelines to be followed ahead of new of celebrations.
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Dec 25, 2022 03:07 PM IST
Delhi zoo visitors advised to follow ‘Covid-appropriate behaviour’
For the people visiting Delhi Zoo, while they may not be asked to wear masks strictly but people visiting such public places are being advised to follow “Covid-appropriate behaviour” as preventative measures.
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Dec 25, 2022 02:33 PM IST
Bihar on alert: CM Nitish Kumar on Covid-19 scare
While talking to the media, Nitish Kumar said, “We are conducting COVID tests and administering vaccines. Every day almost 45,000-50,000 tests are being conducted,” as per ANI. "Bihar is on alert, and patients are being provided treatment. The Centre is also careful. We have to be careful with those coming from outside," he added.
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Dec 25, 2022 01:44 PM IST
110 RT-PCR tests at Delhi IGI on day 1 of random sampling
On the first day of random tests of 2 per cent international arrivals, 110 were tested at Delhi Airport on Saturday, Genestrings Diagnostic Center said. The Center is the official Covid-19 testing facility at IGI.
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Dec 25, 2022 12:54 PM IST
‘Covid is increasing in many countries, need to take precautions’: PM
In the last episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’ on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly in several countries and in wake of that, Indians need to be alert and take precautions such as wear masks and follow other appropriate behaviour to stay safe.
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Dec 25, 2022 10:41 AM IST
At 227, India's daily caseload sees jump for second straight day
India on Sunday saw yet another spike in daily Covid-19 case count after 227 people were found to be infected with the virus in the past 24 hours, the Union health ministry's 8am bulletin said. With this, the cumulative tally of the country stands at 4,46,77,106. The active caseload stands at 3,424, comprising 0.01 per cent of the total tally, the bulletin added. Sunday's fresh cases were 27 more than Saturday. The marginal increase comes amid a fresh outbreak in neighbouring China and other countries, which has seen India strengthening its surveillance and preparedness to combat any future crisis.
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Dec 25, 2022 08:32 AM IST
China's National Health Commission to stop releasing daily Covid data
China's National Health Commission said on Sunday that it will no longer release daily Covid-19 case figures, Reuters reported citing a statement. “Relevant Covid-19 information will be published by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for reference and research,” the NHC statement added.
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Dharmendra Pradhan reviews measures for mental wellness of students in educational institutions
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the steps being taken by educational institutions to ensure mental health wellness of students and zero tolerance towards discrimination
Centre may overhaul key PMSYM pension scheme
The PM Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM), launched in 2019, is a voluntary, contribution based pension scheme to offer assured pension of ₹3,000 a month for informal workers who have no safety nets.
Coded diary revealed PFI’s terror acts, funding: NIA charge sheet
A charge sheet filed by NIA in its larger probe into the activities of the PFI mentions the “recovery of a diary containing coded text in Malayalam on rioting, bomb blasts etc”.
In letter to Om Birla, Rahul Gandhi cites 2015 case to give reply in Lok Sabha
In his letter, Gandhi said the BJP was throttling the right to speak and said it would be fair if he was given time to speak too.
Welfare measures in focus as DMK govt presents budget
The budget pushed the envelope on welfare measures, a hallmark of Dravidian politics, while seeking to improve rather than worsen the state’s public finances.
Time to look at manufacturing aerospace products in India: Scindia
The Union minister said domestic airlines are together projected to have a fleet of around 2,000 aircraft in the next five to seven years. India currently has a fleet of around 700 planes.
Protests over action against Amritpal Singh erupt in 4 countries, India objects
In recent weeks, India has registered strong protests with Canada and Australia over activities of pro-Khalistan groups, including the holding of a so-called “Khalistan referendum”.
‘Averse to sealed cover notes’: CJI to govt over OROP arrears
During the proceedings on Monday, the bench returned the confidential documents submitted by the AG but allowed the Centre’s request for additional time to clear OROP arrears.
Strongly suspect ISI’s role in Amritpal’s ascent: Punjab Police
The crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his supporters began on Saturday when a police cavalcade intercepted his car near Mehatpur town.
Bishop’s remarks spark political slugfest in Kerala
Thalassery (north Kerala) Arch Bishop of Mar Joseph Pamplani had given an open offering on Sunday that if the Union government raises the natural rubber’s price to ₹300 per kilogram believers will help the Bharatiya Janata Party to elect its first MP from the state. It stirred a hornet’s nest after the Congress and CPI(M) joined hands to list out recent attacks on minority institutions and fate meted out to Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old Jesuit priest, who died in judicial custody two years ago.
TDP, YSRCP members come to blows in House
Speaker Tammineni Sitaram, who later suspended 11 TDP members for the day, ruled that hereafter any member who would storm the Speaker’s podium and “behave in an unruly manner” would be automatically suspended from the House.
T’gana orders detailed probe into paper leak case
Speaking to reporters, KTR, as the chief minister’s son is called, said the TSPSC had lodged a complaint with director general of police (DGP) Anjani Kumar to conduct a deep probe into the question paper leakage issue, as one of the accused who was arrested in connection with the incident turned out to be an active Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker.
Kerala HC annuls CPI(M) MLA’s election from Devikulam
Devikulam is a reserved constituency and the court observed that Raja is a Christian convert from the scheduled tribe community and he is ineligible to contest from the seat.
Hospital staff held for sexual assault of patient: Police
Police said the incident occurred on Saturday in the women’s surgical ICU of the hospital. The woman, who was semi-conscious when the incident took place, informed the duty nurse and doctors about this after she regained consciousness, police said, adding that the hospital immediately filed a police complaint.
