Coronavirus in India updates: Over 9 lakh 'precaution doses' administered on first day

Senior CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and his wife Brinda Karat have tested positive for COVID-19, a party leader said.

Assam reports 2,198 new cases, 2 deaths, and 416 recoveries on Monday; Active cases at 6,867. Positivity rate at 4.49%.

Union Health Ministry has removed the photo of PM Narendra Modi from COVID-19 vaccine certificates in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur to comply with the Model Code of Conduct.

Jammu and Kashmir records 706 fresh COVID cases on Monday, taking active cases to 4024 in the UT: Administration

"I got my covid test done after showing initial symptoms. My report has come positive. I am feeling fine now. On the advice of doctors, I have isolated myself. All those who have come in contact with me in the last few days are requested to get themselves checked," BJP chief JP Nadda tweeted.

AIIMS Director Randeep Singh Guleria takes 'precautionary dose' as part of the nationwide drive for frontline workers, healthcare workers and senior citizens above 60 years of age with co-morbidities, that kickstarted on Monday.

Tamil Nadu announces a complete lockdown on January 16 (Sunday). The general public is not to be allowed in all places of worship between January 14-16. The Pongal special buses can operate at 75% capacity.

More than 9 lakh precaution doses administered were administered on Monday. India’s cumulative vaccination coverage has crossed 152.78 crore.

Gujarat reported 6,097 fresh COVID cases, 1,539 and two deaths in the last 24 hours. Total discharges are at 8,25,702. The Omicron cases in the state stood at 264.

Mumbai reports 13,648 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths in the past 24 hours.
 

Karnataka recorded 11,698 fresh COVID cases, 1148 discharges, and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Delhi reports 19,166 fresh COVID cases, 14,076 recoveries, and 17 deaths. The active cases stand at 65,806 while the total death toll has reached 25,177.

Tamil Nadu has reported 13,990 new cases, 2,547 recoveries, and 11 deaths, in the last 24 hours. The active cases in the state stand at 62,767.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed Public Health Preparedness to COVID19 and National COVID19 Vaccination Progress with 6 Western States/UTs. He reiterated the importance of Test, Track, Treat, Vaccinate and Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour against Covid-19

 “Let there be no Lapses in our Preparedness; Holistic Synergy between Centre and State vital for Seamless and Effective Pandemic management," he said.

706 new positive cases and 4 deaths reported in the past 24 hours across Union Territory.

Officers advised to strictly ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour followed by people in markets: Delhi LG Anil Baijal. The DDMA has also decided to close restaurants and bars & to allow 'take away' facility only. 

Mumbai's Dharavi reported 97 fresh COVID cases, taking total active cases in the area to 943: BMC

Multiple time world snooker and billiards champion Pankaj Advani has tested positive for COVID-19.  The ace cueist confirmed it to PTI on Monday.

Physical classes for students of up to 12th standard to remain closed till January 16 in Uttarakhand, online classes to continue: State Government

Today's DDMA meeting decided to close restaurants and bars & to allow 'take away' facility only. It was also decided to allow operation of only one weekly market per day per zone, the Delhi LG said.

"Delhi Health Department was advised to make adequate arrangements for additional manpower in hospitals and to scale up the vaccination efforts including for those in the age group of 15-18 years," Delhi LG said.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has tested positive for COVID-19. "On the advice of doctors, he has isolated himself at his residence," his office said.

During the meeting with health ministers of 5 States and one UT, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya advised them to ensure that all kinds of Oxygen infrastructure be checked such that it is in a functional/operational state, ANI said quoting its sources.

Kerala on Monday reported 5797 new COVID cases, 2796 recoveries, and 19 deaths. The active cases stand at 37, 736 while the death toll is at 49, 757.

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Haryana government has imposed fresh COVID-19 restrictions. The Schools and colleges have been shut till January 26, 2022.

146 new Omicron cases have been confirmed today taking the overall tally in Karnataka to 479: State Health minister Dr Sudhakar K

The Omicron tally in Kerala has reached 345 with 17 fresh cases reported in the state on Monday.

Around 1000 personnel of Delhi Police have contracted COVID-19 since January 1, 2022, the Delhi Police informed adding that all are in home quarantined and are recovering well.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has a total of 931 active COVID cases across all formations. Personnel have been either in-home quarantine or in COVID care units: Senior CRPF officer

Chandigarh administration has directed principals of all government and private schools to inform all students enrolled in their schools (in the age group of 15 years to 18 years) about available option of COVID vaccination.

"Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy announces night curfew from 11pm to 5am to be imposed in the State, in view of rising COVID19 cases," informed Chief Minister's Office

"We are following COVID -appropriate behaviour and taking necessary precautions. People allowed in adherence to guidelines," says a gym trainer

Following a COVID19 review meeting, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has announced to limit the no. of people who can attend weddings and funerals to a maximum of 50.

"No time limit set on the operationalisation of Covid Vaccination Centres. The session timings subject to demand & requirement at a particular CVC," says Dr Manohar Agnani, Additional Secy, Ministry of Health to States/UTs

"Around 1000 Delhi Police personnel, including Public Relations Officer and Additional Commissioner Chinmoy Biswal have tested positive for COVID19. All infected personnel are under quarantine," added Delhi Police. 

Dr Sandeep Nayar, HOD, Respiratory diseases BLK Hospital asserted, "COVID cases rising for last 8-9 days (nationally); cases in Delhi, Mumbai almost 4-5 times more. Hopefully, a sharp decline will be there in peak as we saw in South Africa when cases soared suddenly & then declined". 

In view of rising COVID19 cases, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to close 67 SAI Training Centers across the country:

Video of Karnataka Congress event shows dozens of children packed together without masks with DK Shivakumar at the centre:

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra receives 'precaution dose' of COVID-19 vaccine in Jaipur:

"FIR has been registered against 30 people for violating Covid19 protocols. Ramanagara district administration has taken action as per the law. We will not spare anybody who violates the law," added Karnataka Home minister Araga Jnanendra on Congress' Mekedatu padayatra.

Booster doses of COVID19 vaccine for frontline workers, healthcare workers and senior citizens over 60 with underlying conditions, at PHC Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar. 

Watch visuals here:

"This shows his culture; he is not bothered about the health of other people also," added Karnataka CM Bommai:

Administration of 'Precaution dose' of COVID19 vaccine to healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60+ with co-morbidities begins in Kerala today.

Watch visuals from Govt General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram:

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to meet health ministers, officials from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Maharashtra at 3:30 pm today to discuss COVID-situation in these states:

"As per preliminary data, cases (nationally) will peak by the end of this month & are likely to cross second wave numbers. But the decline of cases will be equally sharp. By March, it (peak) will be almost over," added Manindra Agrawal, IIT Kanpur professor on the third wave. 

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai launches rollout of 'Precaution dose' COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers, frontline workers and persons aged above 60 with co-morbidities at Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College in Bengaluru:

"Currently, there are 33,900 active cases in the state. 90% of these patients are asymptomatic, under home isolation. Integrated Covid Control Centre in every District keeps in touch with COVID19 patients and provides them with medical kits," says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

Delhi begins administering COVID-19 vaccine 'precautionary dose' to frontline workers and senior citizens above 60 years of age with co-morbidities.

"We feel fine. There are no side-effects, everyone should take the jab," people said

Watch visuals here:

COVID19 vaccine 'Precaution dose' being administered to senior citizens above 60 years of age with co-morbidities at Govt Unani Hospital in Hyderabad. Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao present:

Tamil Nadu begins administering COVID19 vaccine 'Precaution dose' to frontline workers and senior citizens above 60 years of age with co-morbidities. Watch visuals here:

India reported 1,79,723 fresh COVID-19 cases & 146 deaths in the last 24 hours.  Active case tally reaches 7,23,619. Daily Positivity rate at 13.29% Omicron case tally at 4,033:

"Healthcare and frontline workers and people in the age group of 60+ to provide doctor consultation #PrecautionDose program is starting from today across the country. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji, the government is committed to provide additional security cover to healthcare and frontline workers on priority," tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in Hindi.

India will start administering the precaution dose of Covid vaccine to healthcare and frontline workers and comorbid people aged 60 and above from today:

Delhi police have informed that over 300 Delhi Police personnel, including the Public Relations Officer (PRO) & Additional Commissioner Chinmoy Biswal have tested positive for COVID-19:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a high-level review meeting on COVID-19 where he discussed the ongoing preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, the status of the vaccination campaign amongst other developments in wake of rising in COVID cases fueled by the Omicron variant. During the meeting, the PM urged officials to ensure adequate health infrastructure at the district level, accelerate vaccine drive for adolescents as well as continue scientific research in testing, vaccines and genome sequencing. 

Read full story here.

Maharashtra on Sunday continued to witness an alarming surge in cases of COVID-19 after it clocked more than 44,000 new cases in a span of 24 hours.

Meanwhile, West Bengal also registered an alarming increase in its daily case tally after it added 24,287 new COVID cases in a span of 24 hours on Sunday. 

In a key development, sources informed that Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will convene a meeting with Health Ministers of States and Union Territories on Monday. Earlier on Sunday, Health Minister Mandaviya held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the COVID situation, and preparedness of health systems across the country.

"Healthcare & frontline workers, & those above 60yrs of age with comorbidities, will benefit from the booster dose rollout starting Jan 10, as shown by data & studies. Booster doses are important as we're already into the third wave," informed Dr. Nikhil Modi, Pulmonologist, Apollo Hospital:

Barricading & checking were seen going on by Mumbai Police at the Western Express Highway-Andheri on Sunday night: