Many Indian States announce restrictions as COVID infections rise
INDIA, GERMANY, US, SWEDEN: India’s cumulative COVID-19 tally saw yet another massive surge after as many as 58,097 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the morning bulletin shared by the Union health ministry. The latest figures are a massive 20,718 more from Tuesday when 37,379 new infections were recorded in the country.
The cumulative Omicron tally rose to 1,892 cases as reported from 23 States and Union Territories so far.Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Omicron cases (568), followed by Delhi (382), Kerala (185), Rajasthan (174), Gujarat (152) and Tamil Nadu (121).
The active cases rose to 171,830 and the cumulative toll to 482,017, with 124 more fatalities reported in the past 24 hours.
Maharashtra reported a whopping 18,466 cases to take the active case tally to 66,308. With Mumbai recording the highest cases in the State and the country, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar hinted at the possibility of a lockdown if the daily COVID-19 surge crossed the 20,000-mark.
The Punjab government on Tuesday ordered a series of restrictions, including curfew in all towns and cities from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. till January 15.
Andhra Pradesh reported a spike reporting 334 cases in the past 24 hours. This is the highest daily case figure to have been reported in the past 55 days.
Karnataka reported 2,479 cases and four COVID-related deaths in the past 24 hours. Bengaluru Urban reported 2,053 cases and three deaths.
Odisha on Tuesday registered a 60% jump in the daily cases (680) compared to Monday’s 424.
In Gujarat too, COVID-19 cases seemed to show a spike with the State reporting 2,265 new infections, taking the active cases to 7881.
The Kerala Government on Tuesday issued orders limiting the number of persons attending indoor events to 75 and that of outdoor events to 150 in anticipation of increased COVID-19 transmission fuelled by the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, Police in Germany have reported sporadic violence at demonstrations against the country’s pandemic restrictions, with one protester in the eastern town of Lichtenstein biting an officer and another attempting to steal a service weapon.
Tens of thousands of people in total took to the streets in scores of German towns and cities for weekly marches that have organizers have labeled “strolls” in an attempt to bypass restrictions on public gatherings.
Meanwhile, the Omicron variant accounted for 95 per cent of new coronavirus infections last week, according to US health officials’ latest estimates.
The latest estimates from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggest a dramatic swing – in just one month – in which version of the coronavirus is most abundant. The CDC said more than 99.5 per cent of coronaviruses were delta as recently as the end of November.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the palace said in a statement today.
“The King and Queen, who are fully vaccinated with three injections, have mild symptoms and are feeling well, given the circumstances,” the palace said in a statement.
– THE HINDU, THE PIONEER, INDIA TODAY