Omicron: states told to activate war rooms

Beneficiaries receive a dose of the Covid vaccine at a hospital, in Prayagraj on Monday. Pic/ANI

Asserting that Omicron is at least thrice more transmissible than Delta, the Centre on Tuesday asked states and union territories to "activate" war rooms, keep analysing even small surges. Earlier in the day, it said Omicron cases had crossed 200 in the country.

In a letter to the states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised implementing strategic interventions for containment like imposition of night curfew, strict regulation of large gatherings, curtailing numbers in marriages and funerals besides increasing testing and surveillance. The letter highlights measures that need to be taken in view of initial signs of surge in cases of Covid-19 as well as increased detection of the variant of concern Omicron in different parts of the country.

"At the district level there should be constant review of emerging data regarding the population affected by Covid-19, geographical spread, hospital infrastructure and its utilization, manpower, notifying containment zones, enforcement of perimeter of containment zones etc. This evidence should be the basis for effective decision making at the district level itself," said Bhushan.

PM pic on vax certificate to boost morale: HC

The PM is the leader of the nation and citizens "need not be ashamed" to carry a vaccination certificate with his photograph and "morale boosting message", the Kerala High Court said on Tuesday and dismissed a plea seeking removal of PM's photo from the Covid immunisation certificates.

"Nobody can say that a Prime Minister is a Congress Prime Minister or a BJP Prime Minister or the Prime Minister of any political party. But once a Prime Minister is elected as per the constitution, he is the Prime Minister of our country and that post should be the pride of every citizen," HC said. It fined the petitioner R1 lakh, saying it was "frivolous", filed with "ulterior motives".

3,47,52,164
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in India so far

4,78,007
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

79,097
Total no. of active cases in India