As India launched its coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination campaign for people aged 15 to 17 on Monday, a continued rise in Omicron cases has pushed states even further towards more brakes to contain the virus. While Delhi reported a peak of around 28% in new Covid cases, Health Minister Satyendra Jain revealed that 84% of infections recorded in the nation’s capital in the past two days were of the Omicron variant. The test positivity rate for Covid-19 has remained above 5% in Delhi for two consecutive days, which could prompt the authorities to issue a “red alert” as part of the Graduated Action Plan (GRAP). Meanwhile, Maharashtra has reported a marginal increase in daily virus cases.
Here is everything you need to know about the Covid situation in India and the measures taken:
- Delhi has registered 4,099 new confirmed cases of Covid in the past 24 hours, with more than 11,000 active cases.
- The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will meet on Tuesday morning to review the current Covid situation. It is likely that there is talk of the need for more curbs in the nation’s capital to contain the virus.
- The central government has limited the attendance of its employees below the Undersecretary level to 50 percent, directing all officers and staff residing in Covid containment areas not to come to the office while their location was not notified, PTI reported.
- Disabled people and employed pregnant women were exempted from physical assistance.
- Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the biometric presence of government officials and employees has been suspended with immediate effect.
- The Jharkhand government has announced that all educational institutions, high-traffic places like gymnasiums, parks, swimming pools and tourist sites will remain closed until January 15. He ordered markets to close after 8 p.m. except for medical stores, bars and restaurants.
- Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said 66 of the approximately 2,000 passengers on board the Cordelia cruise ship have tested positive for Covid-19. He added that the government will take appropriate measures to discuss disembarking passengers.
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said schools will remain closed for grades 1 to 9 in Mumbai until January 31 due to a worrying increase in Covid cases. Classes will continue as planned for grades 10 and 12.
- India administered more than 40 doses of lakh vaccine to people aged 15-18 until 8 p.m. on day 1 of the childhood immunization campaign.
- The Bengaluru civic body said 24/7 control rooms have been set up to provide all information regarding Covid-19 in the eight areas on the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike boundaries.
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