Omicron Coronavirus Highlights, Covid-19 Cases and Deaths in India Recent Updates, Covid Restrictions Feb 24 Highlights: India on Thursday recorded 14,148 new Covid-19 cases and 302 deaths in last 24 hours, as per the official data updated by the Union Ministry of Health. The daily infections have remained below one lakh for 18 consecutive days now. The Ministry informed that the active cases comprised 0.35 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate has further improved to 98.46 per cent.
#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive#OmicronVariant
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 24, 2022
𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛https://t.co/4hpFY4MrnU pic.twitter.com/5hEQxvyyck
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) WHO epidemiologist Dr Maria Van Kerkhove has said that the decline in the number of Covid cases may not be real as the amount of testing has reduced significantly across countries. The world has seen a reduction of almost 20 per cent in new Covid cases as compared to last week, Kerkhove noted. She suggested that for countries to abandon their testing practices is not a smart move.
Kerkhove was speaking at a live question and answer session where she noted that. She further added that tracking and monitoring the virus is really important as it will continue to change and new variants will definitely emerge.
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Continuing to report a sharp decline on the new COVID-19 infections, Tamil Nadu reported 575 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the caseload to 34,47,581 while four more fatalities took the death toll to 37,997 the Health department said on Thursday.
Recoveries reached 34,00,144 as 1,913 people were discharged in the last 24 hours, leaving 9,440 active infections, a medical bulletin said.
Chennai accounted for the majority of new coronavirus infections with 144 cases reported in the last 24 hours followed by Coimbatore 81, Chengalpet 66 while the remaining was spread across other districts. The State capital also leads in the total cases among districts with 7,49,474 infections.
Thirupathur and Tenkasi, each, recorded nil new cases, while 21 districts added infections in single digits in the last 24 hours.
A total of 65,988 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 6,41,52,004.
Meanwhile, Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian and senior health department officials inspected the first batch of CORBEVAX vaccine that has been sent to the state by the Union Health ministry.
Briefing reporters, Subramanian said 21.66 lakh vaccines were allotted to the state, of which 3.89 lakh doses were received today and they would be administered to children between the age group of 12-15 years as and when the Centre issues necessary instructions. "There are about 10 lakh children who fall in this category (12-15 years). After receiving the necessary instructions and the details about the commencement of the vaccination, we will administer the doses to the children," he said.
"We have planned to inoculate the kids at their respective school, itself," he said responding to a query.
Subramanian said the Health department commenced the vaccination to 15-18 year olds on January 3 and of the 33.46 lakh eligible adolescents, 82.27 per cent people were administered with single dose while 37.64 per cent second dose.
On vaccination for people above the age of 18 years, he said the department has covered 97.39 per cent of people with single dose while 72.05 per cent received second dose of jabs.
The Minister said that the weekly conduct of Mega Vaccination Camp by the Health department would not be held this Saturday as health workers would be gearing to hold the Pulse Polio Vaccination Camp which would be held the next day -- February 27.
"It has been decided to postpone the mega vaccination camp to next Saturday, so that health care workers will be able to take part in the pulse polio vaccination camp which will be held on February 27, Sunday," he said.
Chief Minister M K Stalin would be inaugurating the pulse polio campaign on February 27 and it will be held across the state through 40,368 camps. Over 2.50 lakh healthcare workers would be involved in this exercise on that day, he said.
Subramanian also clarified that the government-run 24 hour healthcare facilities offering free vaccination to eligible individuals would function as usual on Saturday and requested those people who are yet to receive the vaccination to make use of the opportunity.
The DMK government in the state launched the mass vaccination exercise on September 12, 2021. (PTI)
Eight more COVID-19 related deaths were reported in Haryana on Thursday as 497 fresh cases surfaced, pushing the state's infection count to 9,80,360, according to a Health Department bulletin.
So far, 10,547 people have died from the infection in the state.
Gurugram district reported 214 fresh cases while 39 infections were from Faridabad.
The fresh fatalities included two from Jhajjar district and one each from Karnal, Panchkula and Palwal districts, as per the bulletin. (PTI)
The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh rose to 10,37,166 on Thursday after detection of 668 new cases, while the death toll increased to 10,724 as three patients succumbed to the infection, a health department official said.
The state's positivity rate dipped to 0.9 per cent from 1.2 per cent recorded the previous day, he said.
The recovery count stood at 10,21,272 after 1,124 people recuperated during the day.
There are now 5,170 active COVID-19 cases in the state, the official said.
Bhopal and Indore, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 122 and 50 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he said.
As 68,697 samples were examined during the day, the overall test count in the state went up to 2,76,34,326.
A government release said that 11,35,03,340 anti-coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the state so far, including 95,230 on Thursday.
The coronavirus figures in Madhya Pradesh are as follows: Total cases 10,37,166, new cases 668, death toll 10,724, recoveries 10,21,272, active cases 5,170, number of tests done so far 2,76,34,326. (PTI)
Goa on Thursday reported 45 new coronavirus positive cases, taking the toll to 2,44,906, a health department official said.
One patient died due to the infection during the day, which raised the fatality count to 3,798.
The overall recovery figure in the coastal state rose to 2,40,701 after 94 of them got discharge on Thursday. There are now 407 active cases.
"As 1,607 tests were conducted on Thursday, the cumulative test count in the state went up to 18,74,278," he added.
Goa's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 2,44,906, new cases 45, death toll 3,798, recoveries 2,40,701, active cases 407, samples tested so far 18,74,278. (PTI)
Delhi reports 556 new COVID19 infections & 6 deaths; Active cases stand at 2,276 (ANI)
Kerala registers 4,064 new Covid-19 cases, 15 deaths, and 9,531 recoveries, today; 37 deaths which were not added due to lack of documentation & 160 deaths as per the new guidelines of central govt, have now been added. Active cases stand at 41,675 Total deaths 64,803 (ANI)
Though the scientific achievement with regards to tackling COVID-19 pandemic is commendable, there was no global coordination on some of the issue and several countries did not abide by the framework put out by the Word Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of WHO said on Thursday. Speaking in a panel discussion as part of BioAsia 2022, she said though several high-end countries have completed vaccination to the extent of 90 per cent some of the nations in Africa have completed only 10 per cent inoculation even as there was ease on vaccine supply side globally. "I think that while the scientific achievements have been absolutely outstanding, the fact that we have a vaccine in less than a year; where we fell short was on really global coordination and harmonised ways of approaching pandemic whether it is travel rules; that doesn't help actually in the pandemic," she said referring to the reaction to travel restrictions on South Africa when a new variant of COVID-19 was found. The WHO chief scientist further said though the world has passed over the face of acute supply shortage that was seen throughout 2021, the challenge is going to be massive as there are many countries which are not able to mount the kind of massive vaccination programmes. (PTI)
Kerala on Thursday recorded 4,064 fresh COVID-19 infections which raised the total caseload to 64,87,837 in the state. The southern state also reported 212 deaths which raised the total fatalities to 64,803, according to a government release. Of the deaths, 15 were reported in the last 24 hours, 37 were those which occurred in the last few days but were not recorded due to late receipt of documents and 160 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court, the release said. With 9,531 more people recovering from the virus since Wednesday, the total recoveries in the state reached 63,80,561 and the active cases dropped to 41,675, the release said. As many as 51,974 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. (PTI)
Queen Elizabeth has postponed two scheduled virtual audiences on Thursday but will continue with light duties, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said as the 95-year-old British monarch recovers from COVID-19. The queen, who has been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, tested positive for the disease on Sunday when she was said to be suffering from mild cold-like symptoms. While she has cancelled virtual engagements since then, she has continued to perform other official duties, such as speaking to Prime Minister Boris Johnson by phone on Wednesday, suggesting the world's current oldest and longest-reigning monarch was not seriously unwell. (Reuters)
Puducherry posted 18 new cases of coronavirus during the last 24 hours ending 10 a.m on Thursday pushing the total positives to 1,65,676. The 18 fresh cases identified at the end of examination of 2,000 samples were spread over Puducherry 12, Karaikal (five) and Yanam (one). Mahe an enclave of Puducherry in Kerala registered no fresh case of infection. No fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions and the toll remained 1,960. Director of Health G.Sriramulu said in a release that 52 patients recovered and were discharged during the last twenty-four hours and the overall recoveries so far were 1,63,489. (PTI)
Odisha recorded no new COVID-19 fatality on Thursday after more than a month, while 339 more people tested positive for the virus, pushing the tally to 12,83,978, the health department said. The coronavirus death toll stood at 9,045. The state had on January 12 reported no fresh fatality, it said. Odisha had logged 342 single-day cases and nine deaths on Wednesday. It now has 3,862 active cases, and 12,71,018 people have recovered from the disease so far, including 797 in the last 24 hours, the department said. (PTI)
Japan said on Thursday international travellers showing proof of a COVID-19 vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson shot would be allowed in and be eligible for a shorter time in quarantine when border controls are eased next month. The J&J shot, which has not been approved in Japan, will join a list of three other shots that have been approved by regulators as sufficient for non-residents to enter, after a nearly two-year ban on such travellers. (Reuters)
Mexico on Wednesday reported 449 new confirmed deaths from COVID-19, bringing the official death toll since the coronavirus pandemic began to 316,941, according to health ministry data. (Reuters)
Hong Kong rolled out vaccine passports on Thursday requiring people aged 12 and above to have at least one COVID-19 jab, and paved the way for mainland China manpower to help bring a worsening outbreak under control. The global financial hub reported a new record of 8,798 daily coronavirus infections, health authorities said, with 50 COVID-linked deaths in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
Hong Kong launched a vaccination requirement to enter shopping malls, restaurants and a host of other places on Thursday as it battles an expanding omicron outbreak and tries to overcome vaccine hesitancy in parts of its population. Businesses posted a QR code at their entrances for people to scan with a smartphone app to check their vaccine status before entering. Everyone aged 12 and over must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to enter these places. (AP)
The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it has set up a hub in South Korea to train low- and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccines and therapies, and is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine project to a further five nations. The new training hub comes after the U.N. agency set up a technology transfer hub in Cape Town, South Africa, last year to give companies from poor and middle-income countries the know-how to produce COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA technology. (Reuters)
South Korean star Park Seo-joon, known for K-dramas like "Itaewon Class" and "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?", has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
According to Korean website Soompi, the 33-year-old actor's agency Awesome ENT announced the news on Thursday in a statement, saying Park tested positive on February 19. (PTI)
With the students of Class 1 to 7 all set to attend schools from February 28 after a gap of two years following improvement in the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Odisha government has drawn guidelines including a week-long rapport building exercise. Principal Secretary, School and Mass Education Department, B P Sethi said the exercise would take place after the reopening of schools at the elementary level. This is aimed at creating a stress-free and fun filled learning environment for school children. The children's emotional well-being needs to be taken care of by creating a happy learning environment in schools, he said. (PTI)
Scientists have identified a promising drug candidate for the treatment of a rare but severe, and potentially life-threatening condition in children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes COVID-19. Multi-inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) usually develops weeks to months after children have experienced a mild or even asymptomatic case of COVID-19, the researchers said. (PTI)
With the addition of 55 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 7,08,081, an official said on Thursday. These new cases were reported on Wednesday, he said. The virus also claimed the lives of three more persons, which pushed the death toll in the district to 11,869, he said, adding that the COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane is 1.67 per cent. (PTI)
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 64,372 on Thursday as 31 more people tested positive for the infection, a senior health official said. Twenty-four new cases were registered in Namsai, four in Lower Subansiri, and one each in Kamle and Lohit and the Capital Complex region. The death toll remained unchanged at 296 as no fresh fatality was recorded, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said. (PTI)
➡️ India’s Cumulative #covid19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 176.52 Cr (1,76,52,31,385).
➡️ More than 30.49 Lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours.
➡️ More than 1.95 Cr Precaution Doses administered so far.https://t.co/NETvX4QDmi pic.twitter.com/0lV3PCvCFR
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 24, 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was rushed out of a school event in Christchurch on Thursday after protesters opposed to COVID restrictive measures thronged the venue and chased her car, while daily infection numbers hit record levels. New Zealand reported over 6,000 new cases of COVID-19, with 250 hospitalisations, and the government expects the outbreak to peak in mid-March. (Reuters)
Extending the interval between the first two doses of the most widely used COVID-19 vaccines in the country to eight weeks for young men can reduce the rare risk of heart inflammation, U.S. health officials said. The side effect, which has been linked to both Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, is higher in 12- to 39-year-old men, and therefore the eight-week interval could be optimal for some people aged 12 years and older, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday. (Reuters)
High number of Omicron cases in Singapore indicates that the coronavirus wave due to the variant is likely to peak soon in the country, an infectious disease experts here has said. The daily cases of Omicron in the city-state have gone beyond 20,000 expected earlier to 20,312 new infections on Wednesday and 26,032 on Tuesday. "I suspect the peak will be soon (if it wasn't yesterday!)," said Associate Professor Alex Cook, an expert in healthcare modelling at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, on Wednesday. He expects the wave to peak within a fortnight, The Straits Times reported. (PTI)
India logged 14,148 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,28,81,179, while the active cases dipped to 1,48,359, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll climbed to 5,12,924 with 302 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. (PTI)
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 10,015 on Thursday as three more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. The coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 129 as no fresh fatality was recorded, it said. The Union territory now has 24 active cases, while 9,862 people have recovered from the disease so far, including eight in the last 24 hours. The administration has thus far tested over 6.97 lakh samples for COVID-19, and fully vaccinated more than 3.02 lakh people. (PTI)
Hong Kong rolls out a vaccine passport on Thursday that requires people aged 12 and above to have at least one COVID-19 vaccination and also tightened restrictions in a city that already has some of the most stringent rules in the world. Residents will have to show their vaccine record to access venues including supermarkets, malls and restaurants. They will also have to wear masks for all outdoor exercise and will not be allowed to remove masks to eat or drink on public transport. (Reuters)
Mexico on Wednesday reported 449 new confirmed deaths from COVID-19, bringing the official death toll since the coronavirus pandemic began to 316,941, according to health ministry data. (Reuters)
Thailand reported on Thursday a record daily increase of 23,557 new coronavirus infections, as the country deals with an outbreak driven by the Omicron variant. The Southeast Asian country also reported 38 new deaths, according to the country's COVID-19 centre. The daily death toll from the virus, however, was well below the 184 fatalities reported on Aug 13 last year, when Thailand recorded its previous daily record of 23,418 infections. (Reuters)