Centre asks states to buckle up amid Covid surge in 27 districts
A health worker collects swab samples from a traveller to test for Covid-19 at a railway station in New Delhi. Pic/AFP
The second case of the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus has been reported in the national capital. As per Delhi government sources, the person, fully vaccinated, came from Zimbabwe and had travelled to South Africa. The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, 2021.
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Surge in positivity rate
As many as 27 districts have registered a surge in the Covid-19 positivity rate in the past two weeks and are being monitored closely, the central government told the states. “With the recent trend of sustained and overall decline in Covid-19 cases in the country, we are critically placed in our fight against the pandemic. Eight districts in three states have been reporting more than 10 per cent positivity rates in the past two weeks. As many as 19 districts in seven states and union territories (UTs) have been reporting positivity rates between five and 10 per cent in the past two weeks. Thus, these 27 districts need to be monitored closely,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote in his letter to the states. “It is imperative for all states and UTs to maintain a strict watch on the situation with focused district level measures for containment of clusters of new positive cases as per guidelines,” the letter said.
KL: Both doses for 70 per cent
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that 70 per cent of the state’s population above 18 years has received both the Covid vaccine doses. “So far 96.87 per cent (2,58,72,847) of Kerala’s population above 18 years have taken one dose, of which 70.37 per cent (1,87,96,209) have taken both the doses,” she said.
India logs 7,992 new cases
In the past 24 hours, India registered 7,992 new cases and 393 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The recovery of 9,265 patients has taken the cumulative tally to 3,41,14,331. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.36 per cent, the highest since March 2020.
Devotees allowed dip at Sabarimala
The Kerala government on Saturday gave the green signal for all Sabarimala pilgrims to take a holy dip before going uphill for darshan of Lord Ayyappa at the Sabarimala temple from Sunday. The temple season began on November 16 and will end in the third week of January.
17,142 jobs lost amid pandemic in HP
Amidst the pandemic, a total of 17,142 people have lost their employment in the private sector in Himachal Pradesh, the state Assembly was informed on Saturday. Industries Minister Bikram Singh said the state government has provided employment to 17,033 people in the government sector.
3,46,82,736
Total number of cases in the country as of Saturday
4,75,128
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India
3,41,14,331
Patients Recovered and discharged in India as of Saturday
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