Covid India News LIVE Updates: Mandatory 7-day quarantine for all international passengers coming to India

Business News›News›Newsblogs›Covid India News LIVE Updates: Mandatory 7-day quarantine for all international passengers coming to India

LIVE BLOG

Economic Times | 07 Jan, 2022 | 04.37PM IST

India made seven-day home quarantine mandatory for all international arrivals and an RT-PCR test on the eighth day, as it issued revised guidelines for international passengers. The guidelines released on Friday come into force from January 11 and will remain effective till further government orders. The new order comes in the wake of coronavirus cases rising across the globe since the detection of the Omicron variant. Previously, travellers coming from countries specified as “at risk” had to submit sample for COVID testing post-arrival and were required to wait for their results at the airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight.

Other Top Headlines:

• Restricted registrations at AIIMS OPD, specialty clinics stopped

• A weekend curfew will be imposed in Delhi.
• All government officials except in essential services will work from home.
• 50% of the workforce of private offices will work from home.
• Shops are allowed to be open between 10 am to 8 pm on an odd-even basis- establishments will open on alternate days depending on shop numbers.
• Private offices function with 50% of staff between 9 am to 5 pm.
• Offices that fall under the exempted category are allowed to function with 100% attendance.
• Busses will operate at 50% capacity, the Metro will be 100% operative.
• Restaurants are only allowed 50% seating capacity from 8 am to 10 pm.
• Bars are allowed with 50% of seating capacity from 12 noon to 10 pm.
• Schools, cinemas, gyms, auditoriums, assembly halls, spas, yoga institutes, amusement and water parks have been shut in Delhi.
• Only outside yoga activities are allowed. Barbershops and salons are open.
• A night curfew will be imposed from 10 pm to 5 am in Delhi.

!1 New UpdateClick here for latest updates

110 patients admitted at CWG COVID-care centre under Dist Admin East, Delhi

It’s a 500-bedded oxygen facility for patients with mild symptoms. Those with severe symptoms visit hospitals, & role of such centers is to ensure that hospitals are not overburdened,” says Dr Rajat Jain.

There will be strict enforcement of presenting vaccination certificates, as a universal pass, before entering any public place, including markets, malls, pubs, bars, restaurants, etc

– Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar

As far as the number of hospital beds is concerned, Assam is in a good condition. We have over 8,700 beds with 2,633 oxygen beds, and 1,000 ICU beds for COVID patients. By the time COVID peaks, we will have 25,000 hospital beds

– Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Total 19 countries in the list of ‘At-risk’ countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing

Uttar Pradesh: Online registration for devotees made mandatory for ‘darshan’ at Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari temple

Rupee gains 12 paise to close at 74.30 (provisional) against US dollar

Assam: Night curfew timings changed to 10pm to 6am, starting from 6am on Jan 8

• Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter hotels, restaurants, government offices, shopping malls, multiplexes
• All schools up to Class VIII in Kamrup-Metropolitan district and up to Class V in all other districts will remain closed from Jan 8
• No physical classes are allowed till 30th January
• Restaurants are to be allowed to operate at 100% seating capacity with fully vaccinated persons
• No standing customer will be allowed
• Only COVID19 patients who fall under the BPL category will be provided free of cost treatment by Assam Government

Delhi records 20 Covid deaths in first 6 days of January

Sensex rises 142.81 pts to close at 59,744.65; Nifty advances 66.80 pts to 17,812.70

We constructed 43 new multi-super specialty hospitals, 16 mother and child centres. We have administered vaccine doses with record zero wastage, but we need more vaccines as 40% population still remains unvaccinated

– West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

India to become hub for Covid-19 antiviral generic drugs: Fitch

India will become the largest global hub for Covid-19 antiviral general drug production after the drug controller granted emergency-use authorisation to several pharmaceutical companies in the country to manufacture and market generic versions of molnupiravir, Fitch Solutions said Friday.

They (BJP) must stop playing politics. You will get a befitting reply here. All those talking about President’s Rule (in Punjab), are your (BJP) parrots

– Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in Chandigarh

No decision yet on weekend curfew. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a review meeting (via video conferencing) with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray this evening on the COVID-19 situation: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar.

Maharashtra Home Minister Patil’s tests Covid positive

21 staff members of Maharashtra Home Minister, Dilip Walse Patil test positive for COVID-19. Reports of other 15 staff members awaited.

Seven-day mandatory home quarantine for all international arrivals. Covid test on day 8.

Actor Kubbra Sait tests positive for Covid-19.

These reports have a very high tendency to start a misinformation campaign in the midst of a pandemic: Union Health Ministry.

Some media reports suggesting that Union Health Ministry in a meeting with ECI y’day suggested that “there is no cause of alarm or concern in view of very few cases of Omicron in the poll bound states”, is misleading and far from the truth: Union Health Ministry.

20 staff members of Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tested positive for COVID-19: State Home Minister’s Office

India stands committed to continue our special relationship with the people of Afghanistan & provide them humanitarian assistance. In this endeavor, we had recently supplied 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine & 1.6 tons of medical assistance to Afghanistan through WHO: MEA

As part of our ongoing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, India supplied the third batch of medical assistance consisting of two tons of essential life saving medicines to Afghanistan today. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul: MEA

Govt of NCT of Delhi: Shops in markets/complexes and malls dealing with non essential goods, shall be allowed to open on odd-even basis between 10 am to 8 pm. Only one authorized weekly market (up to 50% limit of allowed vendors at normal time) per day zone shall be allowed.

The OPD of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC) will shift to the 5th floor of Old RAK OPD in the main hospital with effect from January 8, 2022, 8 am.

AIIMS Delhi: OPD services in AIIMS Hospital and all Centres will continue to function with restricted registrations limited to only prior appointment patients (New and follow up). All specialty clinics to be stopped for the time being and specialty clinic follow up.

India has reached historic milestone of administering 150 crore vaccine today: PM Modi

Karnataka reported 107 Omicron variant of COVID-19 cases on Thursday taking the tally in the state to 333, informed state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar.

Ladakh reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, 9 recoveries

Ladakh recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 22,370, officials said on Friday. The number of active cases in the union territory has gone up to 269 — 232 in Leh and 37 in Kargil districts.

Centre tells Delhi, adjoining districts to ramp up health facilities

Amid a surge in Covid cases, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has asked Delhi and neighbouring districts to immediately strengthen health infrastructure, maintain buffer stocks of essential drugs and ensure that oxygen supply equipment is fully functional. At a meeting convened to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital and adjoining districts on Thursday, Bhalla also favoured ramping up of testing in all districts of Delhi-NCR where the number of tests is low. The home secretary stressed that the health infrastructure in all districts of Delhi-NCR should be immediately strengthened to be able to deal with any enhanced requirement, an official statement said.

22 employees of Jharsuguda District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) test Covid positive: Govt authorities.

Guidelines on Covaxin for under 18 don’t mention Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by WHO: Health ministry

The Union health ministry on Friday termed as “highly ill-informed” and “misleading” media reports suggesting that approval for the Covaxin vaccine in the 15-18 age group has been given despite the WHO not having accorded Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to its use in this age bracket.

Delhi may see 17,000 fresh COVID-19 cases today, 17% positivity rate: state Health Minister.

29 new cases take Arunachal’s COVID-19 tally to 55,436

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh rose to 103 after 29 more people, including five returnees from Goa, tested positive for the infection and only one patient recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Friday. The fresh infections raised the tally to 55,436, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla emphasized that it is necessary for all concerned authorities in Delhi and the NCR Region to come together to tackle the virus. He reiterated on the need to have a unified strategy in the Delhi-NCR Region to tackle the COVID19 pandemic: MHA.

Swara Bhasker testes positive for Covid-19 and took to Instagram to write that she is in quarantine.

In view of surge in no. of COVID-19 cases, especially of Omicron variant in Delhi-NCR, Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting yesterday to review preparedness in Delhi NCR, which includes Delhi and nine bordering districts in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana: MHA

Supreme Court allows 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10% for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in the All-India Quota (AIQ) seats for admission in the NEET for all medical seats as existing criteria this year.

Supreme Court allows NEET-PG Counselling for 2021-2022 based on existing EWS/OBC reservation.

Odisha Health Minister tests positive for Covid

I was tested asymptomatic Covid positive yesterday and now in home isolation. I request all those who have come in… https://t.co/zqMqTvCgvc

— Naba Kisore Das (@nabadasjsg) 1641530183000

Law firms to function at 50% capacity during weekends in Karnataka

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the government of Karnataka on Thursday informed that offices of advocates, lawyers, law firms are permitted to function with 50 per cent of their staff strength during weekends, strictly adhering to Covid appropriate behaviour. “It is clarified that Offices of Advocates, Lawyers, law firms are permitted to function with 50 per cent of their staff strength during weekends, strictly adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour. The movement of Advocates, lawyers and their staff is permitted on producing valid ID cards issued by their respective offices,” a circular released by the state government stated.

Odisha logs 2,703 new COVID-19 cases, biggest single-day spike in 6 months

Odisha on Friday registered its biggest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in six months as 2,703 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. The daily test positivity rate jumped to 3.92 per cent from 2.62 on the previous day. As many as 409 children are among the new patients, it said.

More than 154.32 crores vaccine doses were provided to States/UTs so far. Over 18.14 crores balance and unutilized COVID vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered: Union Health Ministry.

In view of rising Covid19 cases, Surajpur district health department has made functional about 600 oxygen beds, 60 ventilator beds. 20,000 medical kits for adults and 5000 for kids in stock. These are ready to be used when required: Gaurav Singh, District Collector.

3,007 Omicron cases have been reported in 27 States/UTs in India so far

A total of 3,007 Omicron cases were reported in 27 States/UTs of India so far. The number of persons recovered is 1,199, according to Union Health Ministry data.

After a span of 7 months, daily cases surge crossed 1 lakh. India reports, 1,17,100 new Covid cases, 302 deaths in last 24 hours. 30,836 recoveries in last 24 hours increases total recoveries to 3,43,71,845.

Odisha | 50-year-old woman, a resident of Agalpur in Bolangir district who had tested positive for Omicron variant of Covid-19, had died on December 27 last year in a Sambalpur hospital & her genome sequencing report was made available on Wednesday: Bolangir CDMO Snehalata Sahoo

Omicron may be less severe, but not ‘mild’: WHO

• The Omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to be a less severe disease than the Delta strain, but it does not mean it should be categorized as “mild”, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.

UGC requests all Academic Institutions to accept Degree, Mark-sheets & other documents available in issued documents in DigiLocker account as valid documents: University Grants Commission

UGC requests all Academic Institutions to accept Degree, Mark-sheets & other documents available in issued document… https://t.co/AVRVHgExBT

— ANI (@ANI) 1641525145000

Maharashtra | Four staff members of State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tested positive for COVID-19. Sample testing of people staying at the minister’s residence has been done, said the State Home Minister’s Office

Health workers don’t need to wear PPE kits: Experts

• Healthcare workers do not need to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while attending to Covid-19 patients in non-ICU areas. A well-fitting N95 mask and face shield are sufficient, says Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of AIIMS.According to Guleria, one may add gloves and gown for extra protection, but there is no need for a fluid resistant coverall (PPE kit). “All available evidence suggests that the virus that causes Covid-19 spreads when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and airborne particles containing the virus. Surface contact has a much lesser or no role to play in disease transmission,” he explained.

“Offices of advocates/lawyers/law firms are permitted to function with 50% of their strength during weekends, strictly adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour. Movement of advocates, lawyers & staff permitted on producing valid ID cards,” says Karnataka Govt in an official letter

“Offices of advocates/lawyers/law firms are permitted to function with 50% of their strength during weekends, stric… https://t.co/rCpyszkHmI

— ANI (@ANI) 1641522478000

Maharashtra | A total of 338 resident doctors from various hospitals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last four days, said President of Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Dr Avinash Dahiphale

COVID-19 | Mizoram reports 579 new cases; Active caseload stands at 3,018

Medical oxygen output ramped up to meet daily demand of 19,000 metric tonnes: Government

PM Modi to inaugurate the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) via video-conferencing today. The second campus has been built in line with the PM’s vision to expand & upgrade the health facilities in all parts of the country: PMO

In view of rising COVID-19 cases, government and sub-ordinate offices in the state will function with 50% staff attendance from January 7 to 31: Odisha Govt

In view of rising COVID-19 cases, government and sub-ordinate offices in the state will function with 50% staff att… https://t.co/dSFWG5hkHR

— ANI (@ANI) 1641509919000

Activate control rooms, monitor those in home isolation, says government

• Aiming to ensure strict monitoring of Covid-19 patients under home isolation, the Centre has advised states to activate all Covid control rooms at the district and sub-district level to collate the daily status report of patients under home isolation and submit a report to the district administration.

Omicron slams UK retail recovery

• Restrictions imposed in the wake of the Omicron coronavirus variant have “wiped out” much of a recent recovery enjoyed by UK bricks-and-mortar stores, the British Retail Consortium revealed Friday.
• Much of the progress made in late 2021 “was wiped out in December as surging Omicron cases and new work-from-home advice deterred many from shopping in-store, particularly in towns and city centres”, noted BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.

UN Security Council to meet Monday on North Korean missile launch

• The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors Monday to discuss the testing of what North Korea said was a hypersonic missile, according to diplomatic sources.
• The meeting was requested by the United States, France and the United Kingdom — three of the five permanent members on the Security Council — as well as Ireland and Albania, the sources said Thursday.

After 7 months, daily cases surge past 1 lakh, up from 10,000 in just 8 days

Centre has urged nine states and Union territories to ramp up Covid-19 testing to ensure that infected people do not spread the virus to others.

Business News›News›Newsblogs›Covid India News LIVE Updates: Mandatory 7-day quarantine for all international passengers coming to India LIVE BLOGEconomic Times | 07 Jan, 2022 | 04.37PM ISTIndia made seven-day home quarantine mandatory for all international arrivals and an RT-PCR test on the eighth day, as it issued revised guidelines for international passengers. The guidelines released on Friday come into force from January 11 and will remain effective till further government orders. The new order comes in the wake of coronavirus cases rising across the globe since the detection of the Omicron variant. Previously, travellers coming from countries specified as “at risk” had to submit sample for COVID testing post-arrival and were required to wait for their results at the airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight.Other Top Headlines:Restricted registrations at AIIMS OPD, specialty clinics stoppedA weekend curfew will be imposed in Delhi. All government officials except in essential services will work from home. 50% of the workforce of private offices will work from home. Shops are allowed to be open between 10 am to 8 pm on an odd-even basis- establishments will open on alternate days depending on shop numbers. Private offices function with 50% of staff between 9 am to 5 pm. Offices that fall under the exempted category are allowed to function with 100% attendance. Busses will operate at 50% capacity, the Metro will be 100% operative. Restaurants are only allowed 50% seating capacity from 8 am to 10 pm. Bars are allowed with 50% of seating capacity from 12 noon to 10 pm. Schools, cinemas, gyms, auditoriums, assembly halls, spas, yoga institutes, amusement and water parks have been shut in Delhi. Only outside yoga activities are allowed. Barbershops and salons are open. A night curfew will be imposed from 10 pm to 5 am in Delhi.!1 New UpdateClick here for latest updates110 patients admitted at CWG COVID-care centre under Dist Admin East, DelhiIt’s a 500-bedded oxygen facility for patients with mild symptoms. Those with severe symptoms visit hospitals, & role of such centers is to ensure that hospitals are not overburdened,” says Dr Rajat Jain.There will be strict enforcement of presenting vaccination certificates, as a universal pass, before entering any public place, including markets, malls, pubs, bars, restaurants, etc- Karnataka Health Minister Dr K SudhakarAs far as the number of hospital beds is concerned, Assam is in a good condition. We have over 8,700 beds with 2,633 oxygen beds, and 1,000 ICU beds for COVID patients. By the time COVID peaks, we will have 25,000 hospital beds- Assam CM Himanta Biswa SarmaTotal 19 countries in the list of ‘At-risk’ countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testingUttar Pradesh: Online registration for devotees made mandatory for ‘darshan’ at Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari templeRupee gains 12 paise to close at 74.30 (provisional) against US dollarAssam: Night curfew timings changed to 10pm to 6am, starting from 6am on Jan 8Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter hotels, restaurants, government offices, shopping malls, multiplexesAll schools up to Class VIII in Kamrup-Metropolitan district and up to Class V in all other districts will remain closed from Jan 8No physical classes are allowed till 30th JanuaryRestaurants are to be allowed to operate at 100% seating capacity with fully vaccinated personsNo standing customer will be allowedOnly COVID19 patients who fall under the BPL category will be provided free of cost treatment by Assam GovernmentDelhi records 20 Covid deaths in first 6 days of JanuarySensex rises 142.81 pts to close at 59,744.65; Nifty advances 66.80 pts to 17,812.70We constructed 43 new multi-super specialty hospitals, 16 mother and child centres. We have administered vaccine doses with record zero wastage, but we need more vaccines as 40% population still remains unvaccinated- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata BanerjeeIndia to become hub for Covid-19 antiviral generic drugs: FitchIndia will become the largest global hub for Covid-19 antiviral general drug production after the drug controller granted emergency-use authorisation to several pharmaceutical companies in the country to manufacture and market generic versions of molnupiravir, Fitch Solutions said Friday.They (BJP) must stop playing politics. You will get a befitting reply here. All those talking about President’s Rule (in Punjab), are your (BJP) parrots- Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in ChandigarhNo decision yet on weekend curfew. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a review meeting (via video conferencing) with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray this evening on the COVID-19 situation: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar.Maharashtra Home Minister Patil’s tests Covid positive21 staff members of Maharashtra Home Minister, Dilip Walse Patil test positive for COVID-19. Reports of other 15 staff members awaited.Seven-day mandatory home quarantine for all international arrivals. Covid test on day 8.Actor Kubbra Sait tests positive for Covid-19.These reports have a very high tendency to start a misinformation campaign in the midst of a pandemic: Union Health Ministry.Some media reports suggesting that Union Health Ministry in a meeting with ECI y’day suggested that “there is no cause of alarm or concern in view of very few cases of Omicron in the poll bound states”, is misleading and far from the truth: Union Health Ministry.20 staff members of Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tested positive for COVID-19: State Home Minister’s OfficeIndia stands committed to continue our special relationship with the people of Afghanistan & provide them humanitarian assistance. In this endeavor, we had recently supplied 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine & 1.6 tons of medical assistance to Afghanistan through WHO: MEAAs part of our ongoing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, India supplied the third batch of medical assistance consisting of two tons of essential life saving medicines to Afghanistan today. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul: MEAGovt of NCT of Delhi: Shops in markets/complexes and malls dealing with non essential goods, shall be allowed to open on odd-even basis between 10 am to 8 pm. Only one authorized weekly market (up to 50% limit of allowed vendors at normal time) per day zone shall be allowed.The OPD of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC) will shift to the 5th floor of Old RAK OPD in the main hospital with effect from January 8, 2022, 8 am.AIIMS Delhi: OPD services in AIIMS Hospital and all Centres will continue to function with restricted registrations limited to only prior appointment patients (New and follow up). All specialty clinics to be stopped for the time being and specialty clinic follow up.India has reached historic milestone of administering 150 crore vaccine today: PM ModiKarnataka reported 107 Omicron variant of COVID-19 cases on Thursday taking the tally in the state to 333, informed state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar.Ladakh reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, 9 recoveriesLadakh recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 22,370, officials said on Friday. The number of active cases in the union territory has gone up to 269 — 232 in Leh and 37 in Kargil districts.Centre tells Delhi, adjoining districts to ramp up health facilitiesAmid a surge in Covid cases, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has asked Delhi and neighbouring districts to immediately strengthen health infrastructure, maintain buffer stocks of essential drugs and ensure that oxygen supply equipment is fully functional. At a meeting convened to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital and adjoining districts on Thursday, Bhalla also favoured ramping up of testing in all districts of Delhi-NCR where the number of tests is low. The home secretary stressed that the health infrastructure in all districts of Delhi-NCR should be immediately strengthened to be able to deal with any enhanced requirement, an official statement said.22 employees of Jharsuguda District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) test Covid positive: Govt authorities.Guidelines on Covaxin for under 18 don’t mention Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by WHO: Health ministryThe Union health ministry on Friday termed as “highly ill-informed” and “misleading” media reports suggesting that approval for the Covaxin vaccine in the 15-18 age group has been given despite the WHO not having accorded Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to its use in this age bracket.Delhi may see 17,000 fresh COVID-19 cases today, 17% positivity rate: state Health Minister.29 new cases take Arunachal’s COVID-19 tally to 55,436The number of active COVID-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh rose to 103 after 29 more people, including five returnees from Goa, tested positive for the infection and only one patient recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Friday. The fresh infections raised the tally to 55,436, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla emphasized that it is necessary for all concerned authorities in Delhi and the NCR Region to come together to tackle the virus. He reiterated on the need to have a unified strategy in the Delhi-NCR Region to tackle the COVID19 pandemic: MHA.Swara Bhasker testes positive for Covid-19 and took to Instagram to write that she is in quarantine.In view of surge in no. of COVID-19 cases, especially of Omicron variant in Delhi-NCR, Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting yesterday to review preparedness in Delhi NCR, which includes Delhi and nine bordering districts in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana: MHASupreme Court allows 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10% for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in the All-India Quota (AIQ) seats for admission in the NEET for all medical seats as existing criteria this year.Supreme Court allows NEET-PG Counselling for 2021-2022 based on existing EWS/OBC reservation.Odisha Health Minister tests positive for CovidI was tested asymptomatic Covid positive yesterday and now in home isolation. I request all those who have come in… https://t.co/zqMqTvCgvc— Naba Kisore Das (@nabadasjsg) 1641530183000Law firms to function at 50% capacity during weekends in KarnatakaAs COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the government of Karnataka on Thursday informed that offices of advocates, lawyers, law firms are permitted to function with 50 per cent of their staff strength during weekends, strictly adhering to Covid appropriate behaviour. “It is clarified that Offices of Advocates, Lawyers, law firms are permitted to function with 50 per cent of their staff strength during weekends, strictly adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour. The movement of Advocates, lawyers and their staff is permitted on producing valid ID cards issued by their respective offices,” a circular released by the state government stated.Odisha logs 2,703 new COVID-19 cases, biggest single-day spike in 6 monthsOdisha on Friday registered its biggest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in six months as 2,703 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. The daily test positivity rate jumped to 3.92 per cent from 2.62 on the previous day. As many as 409 children are among the new patients, it said.More than 154.32 crores vaccine doses were provided to States/UTs so far. Over 18.14 crores balance and unutilized COVID vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered: Union Health Ministry.In view of rising Covid19 cases, Surajpur district health department has made functional about 600 oxygen beds, 60 ventilator beds. 20,000 medical kits for adults and 5000 for kids in stock. These are ready to be used when required: Gaurav Singh, District Collector.3,007 Omicron cases have been reported in 27 States/UTs in India so farA total of 3,007 Omicron cases were reported in 27 States/UTs of India so far. The number of persons recovered is 1,199, according to Union Health Ministry data.After a span of 7 months, daily cases surge crossed 1 lakh. India reports, 1,17,100 new Covid cases, 302 deaths in last 24 hours. 30,836 recoveries in last 24 hours increases total recoveries to 3,43,71,845.Odisha | 50-year-old woman, a resident of Agalpur in Bolangir district who had tested positive for Omicron variant of Covid-19, had died on December 27 last year in a Sambalpur hospital & her genome sequencing report was made available on Wednesday: Bolangir CDMO Snehalata SahooOmicron may be less severe, but not ‘mild’: WHOThe Omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to be a less severe disease than the Delta strain, but it does not mean it should be categorized as “mild”, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.UGC requests all Academic Institutions to accept Degree, Mark-sheets & other documents available in issued documents in DigiLocker account as valid documents: University Grants CommissionUGC requests all Academic Institutions to accept Degree, Mark-sheets & other documents available in issued document… https://t.co/AVRVHgExBT— ANI (@ANI) 1641525145000Maharashtra | Four staff members of State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tested positive for COVID-19. Sample testing of people staying at the minister’s residence has been done, said the State Home Minister’s OfficeHealth workers don’t need to wear PPE kits: ExpertsHealthcare workers do not need to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while attending to Covid-19 patients in non-ICU areas. A well-fitting N95 mask and face shield are sufficient, says Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of AIIMS.According to Guleria, one may add gloves and gown for extra protection, but there is no need for a fluid resistant coverall (PPE kit). “All available evidence suggests that the virus that causes Covid-19 spreads when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and airborne particles containing the virus. Surface contact has a much lesser or no role to play in disease transmission,” he explained.”Offices of advocates/lawyers/law firms are permitted to function with 50% of their strength during weekends, strictly adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour. Movement of advocates, lawyers & staff permitted on producing valid ID cards,” says Karnataka Govt in an official letter”Offices of advocates/lawyers/law firms are permitted to function with 50% of their strength during weekends, stric… https://t.co/rCpyszkHmI— ANI (@ANI) 1641522478000Maharashtra | A total of 338 resident doctors from various hospitals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last four days, said President of Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Dr Avinash DahiphaleCOVID-19 | Mizoram reports 579 new cases; Active caseload stands at 3,018Medical oxygen output ramped up to meet daily demand of 19,000 metric tonnes: GovernmentPM Modi to inaugurate the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) via video-conferencing today. The second campus has been built in line with the PM’s vision to expand & upgrade the health facilities in all parts of the country: PMOIn view of rising COVID-19 cases, government and sub-ordinate offices in the state will function with 50% staff attendance from January 7 to 31: Odisha GovtIn view of rising COVID-19 cases, government and sub-ordinate offices in the state will function with 50% staff att… https://t.co/dSFWG5hkHR— ANI (@ANI) 1641509919000Activate control rooms, monitor those in home isolation, says governmentAiming to ensure strict monitoring of Covid-19 patients under home isolation, the Centre has advised states to activate all Covid control rooms at the district and sub-district level to collate the daily status report of patients under home isolation and submit a report to the district administration.Omicron slams UK retail recoveryRestrictions imposed in the wake of the Omicron coronavirus variant have “wiped out” much of a recent recovery enjoyed by UK bricks-and-mortar stores, the British Retail Consortium revealed Friday.Much of the progress made in late 2021 “was wiped out in December as surging Omicron cases and new work-from-home advice deterred many from shopping in-store, particularly in towns and city centres”, noted BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.UN Security Council to meet Monday on North Korean missile launchThe UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors Monday to discuss the testing of what North Korea said was a hypersonic missile, according to diplomatic sources.The meeting was requested by the United States, France and the United Kingdom — three of the five permanent members on the Security Council — as well as Ireland and Albania, the sources said Thursday.After 7 months, daily cases surge past 1 lakh, up from 10,000 in just 8 daysCentre has urged nine states and Union territories to ramp up Covid-19 testing to ensure that infected people do not spread the virus to others.