Coronavirus in India Live Updates: 7-day home quarantine for all international arrivals

"Lord Jagannath Temple of Odisha will remain closed for devotees from January 10 till January 31, in view of the #COVID19 situation", Puri Collector Samarth Verma informed. 

As India reached the 150-crore vaccination milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter, "A remarkable day on the vaccination front! Congratulations to our fellow citizens on crossing the 150 crore milestone. Our vaccination drive has ensured that many lives are saved. At the same time, let us also keep following all COVID-19 related protocols".

The government has informed that there is no need for a new registration to avail precautionary doses. Those who have taken 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can directly take an appointment or walk into any COVID19 Vaccination Centre. 

Schedules will be published tomorrow, Jan 8. The online appointment facility will also start by tomorrow evening. Vaccination with onsite appointment starts on Jan 10. 

Gujarat government has imposed new curbs amid increasing COVID cases in the state. According to the new guidelines, "Night curfew b/w 10 pm- 6 am in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Anand, Nadiad".  Political/social programs, weddings to have max 400 person capacity in open and 50% of space capacity in closed venues. 

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) writes to chief secretaries of Punjab, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur asking them to expedite vaccination of children in their respective States

Delhi has reported 17,335 fresh cases and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours.

As many as 364 resident doctors from different hospitals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra. 

Jammu and Kashmir has reported 542 new COVID positive cases in the last 24 hours.

Punjab has reported 2901 new COVID cases with 135 recoveries and 1 death in the last 24 hours.

The Rajasthan government said those organizing events in violation of COVID-19 guidelines will be penalized. The state's Home Department in an order stated that organisers of public or private events with more than 100 attendees need to inform the authorities concerned well in advance and take necessary permissions.

These events include weddings, rallies, and processions among others. The event organisers are required to apply for permission specifying all details on the government portal http://covidinfo.rajasthan.gov.in or on Helpline Number 181, failing which a fine of Rs 10,000 will be levied, as per the notification. 

Mumbai has reported 20,971 new cases with 8,490 recoveries and 6 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Assam government has imposed new COVID-19 restrictions. According to the new guidelines, "Night curfew 10pm-6am; Restaurants, hotels, Dhabas and other eateries to operate at 50% seating capacity; All schools up to Class VIII in Kamrup-Metropolitan district and up to Class V in all other districts to remain closed".

India achieved over 150 crore COVID19 vaccinations, said Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. "90% of our adult population vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine dose", the minister added.

Considering the COVID situation, the High Court of Gujarat will function in virtual mode only till further orders. 

Karnataka has reported 8449 new COVID cases with 505 recoveries and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Mumbai's Dharavi has reported 150 fresh COVID cases in the last 24 hours. 

Goa has reported 1432 new cases with 112 recoveries and 2 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the preparedness status of oxygen infrastructure including PSA plants, oxygen concentrators, and oxygen cylinders, ventilators with States/UTs. 

Centre emphasized that the primary and critical responsibility of States/UTs is to ensure all oxygen equipment, till the field level at all health facilities is tested and kept in a functional state to meet any emergent situation. States/UTs urged to ensure full utilization of ECRP-II funds. 

"Chief Minister thinks that no lockdown should be imposed. But, people are still not serious & are not wearing masks. People must follow all COVID-19 SOPs. Today, there could be a decision on seating capacity to be allowed for restaurants, hotels, etc", Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar informed. 

The Centre has released the list of ‘at-risk’ countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing. 

Mumbai Police informed that 93 policemen have tested positive for COVID in the last 24 hours. The total tally is now 9657. 

"As far as the number of hospital beds is concerned, Assam is in a good condition. We have over 8700 beds with 2633 oxygen beds, and 1000 ICU beds for COVID patients. By the time COVID peaks, we will have 25,000 hospital beds", Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed. 

"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 informed. 

Considering the COVID situation in the state, Assam Govt has released a new COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). 

• Testing will be increased.
• Fully vaccinated people can only travel while the 15+ age category will be compulsorily tested at Airport, Railway station on arrival. No compulsory testing for double dose vaccinated.
• The home testing kit will be available now.
• Curfew timing: 10 pm to 6 am from tomorrow, Jan 8.
• Shops will be closed at 9 pm, not beyond 9:30 pm.
• Only fully vaccinated will be allowed into Hotel, Restaurant, Cinema hall, Mall, Govt Offices except for the hospital.
• If anyone is allowed to enter, ₹ 25000 will be fined to the owner of the business premises
• Schools up to Class 5 to remain closed from tomorrow (Jan 8). In Guwahati, schools up to class 8 will remain closed. Classes of Std 9, 10 & 11 are to be held on a rotational basis. This will be in effect till January 30.
• In Marriage, function, meeting, etc, only 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed with effect from tomorrow (Jan 8) irrespective of doses of vaccination.

Union Health Ministry has announced that all international arrivals will undergo 7-day mandatory home quarantine. 

"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 said. 

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 & far from the truth: Union Health Ministry

"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," states Govt of NCT of Delhi. 

"There were 15,000 cases yesterday. According to me, there is a possibility of 17,000 new cases coming today. Possibility rate likely to be 1-2% higher than yesterday. Yesterday the positivity rate was around 15%, today it is likely to be 17-18%," added Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain:

"In view of surge in no. of COVID19 cases, especially of Omicron variant in Delhi-NCR, Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting y'day to review preparedness in Delhi NCR, which includes Delhi & nine bordering districts in the States of Uttar Pradesh & Haryana," MHA

"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," informed Union Health Ministry. 

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

In the last 24 hours, India has reported 1,17,100 fresh COVID cases, 30,836 recoveries, and 302 deaths:

"50-year-old woman, a resident of Agalpur in Bolangir district who had tested positive for Omicron variant of #COVID19, had died on Dec 27 last year in a Sambalpur hospital & her genome sequencing report was made available on Wednesday," added Bolangir CDMO Snehalata Sahoo. 

"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:

Odisha's first corona omicron death has been reported from Balangir district. As information given by CDMO  a  50 years old lady had been admitted to Balangir bhima bhoi medical college as a patient of brain stroke. And later she is shifted to Burla medical college

Where she is detected as corona infected. And the sample has been sent for a genome sequence test. And before that on 27th december she died. And now the genome report received and reported that she was omicron positive. 

On the other hand Balangir administration and health department rushed to the village of Agalpur Balangir. And the contract tracing and further testing is going on as said by CDMO  Dr snehalata sahu Balangir.

Omicron appears to be less severe than Delta variant but not 'mild', warns WHO chief.

Read full story here:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also confirmed that she will be attending the virtual meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday to discuss the matter. Notably, West Bengal recorded over 14,000 fresh cases in 24 hours on January 5. 

Read full story here. 

After 125 co-passengers of an international chartered flight from Italy tested positive for COVID on arrival at Punjab's Amritsar airport, 13 passengers have managed to give authorities the slip. While nine managed to flee from the airport, four have managed to flee from the hospital. 

The District Collector has directed SP Amritsar to register a case against 13 passengers who violated the COVID-related protocols. They have also been asked to immediately isolate themselves and report to the authorities otherwise their pictures and details would be made public.

According to VK Seth, Amritsar Airport director, "125 passengers of an international chartered flight from Italy have tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival at Amritsar airport. Total passengers on the flight were 179".

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

Mizoram reports 579 new cases; Active caseload stands at 3,018:

A total of 338 resident doctors from various hospitals have tested positive for COVID-19: