LIVE: Maharashtra reports 2 more cases of Omicron; India's tally now 40
Maharashtra has so far reported 20 Omicron cases
Latest live news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is Varanasi, his constituency, for two days to inaugurate the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project, which will connect two landmarks, Kashi Vishwanath temple and Ganga ghats.
Modi visited the temple to inaugurate phase one of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, constructed at a cost of Rs 339 crore. As Uttar Pradesh preps for assembly elections next year, these works are seen as the ruling BJP’s attempt to showcase its achievements.
The Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms according to early data, the World Health Organization said Sunday.
Modi visited the temple to inaugurate phase one of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, constructed at a cost of Rs 339 crore. As Uttar Pradesh preps for assembly elections next year, these works are seen as the ruling BJP’s attempt to showcase its achievements.
The Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms according to early data, the World Health Organization said Sunday.
The Delta variant, first identified in India earlier this year, is responsible for most of the world's coronavirus infections. India’s Omicron cases increased to 38 after five people tested positive: one each in Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. For Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh, these were the first cases.
11:01 PM
Over 9,800 children orphaned since April last year during COVID-19, NCPCR tells SC
Over 9,800 children have been orphaned, 508 abandoned and 1.32 lakh have lost either of their parents between April last year to December 7 this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has told the Supreme Court.
The child rights' body has given the crucial information in an affidavit to the apex court which is hearing a suo motu case about children who have been adversely affected by the pandemic, by losing either one or both their parents.
The NCPCR, referring to the data uploaded on the Baal Swaraj Portal-COVID care, said that from April, 2020 onwards and up to December 7, 2021, 9,855 children have been orphaned, 1,32,113 children have lost either of their parents and 508 children have been abandoned.
10:19 PM
Air pollution: Delhi govt says ban on construction, entry of trucks to continue
Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said the ban on construction and the entry of trucks, barring CNG ones, e-trucks and those engaged in essential services, into Delhi will continue till further orders in view of a forecast about further deterioration of air quality in the city.
The government will review the construction ban on December 16, Rai told reporters after a meeting with officials of the concerned departments.
The minister said the environment department has sent to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) a proposal from the education department, seeking immediate reopening of schools and coaching centres for students of Class 6 and above, and in colleges.
For children of Class 5 and below, the education department has suggested reopening schools from December 20.
9:40 PM
Telangana clocks 190 new COVID-19 cases, one death
Telangana on Monday reported 190 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 6,78,478, while the death toll rose to 4,008 with one more fatality.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 70, followed by Suryapet district (10), a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM today.
The number of recoveries outnumbered fresh cases with 198 people recovering from the infectious disease. The cumulative number of recoveries till date was 6,70,633.
9:22 PM
Tamil Nadu records 657 new COVID-19 cases, 12 fatalities
Tamil Nadu on Monday logged 657 new COVID-19 positive cases and 12 fatalities, taking the caseload to 27,36,046 and death toll to 36,624.
A passenger who returned from UAE added to the 657 cases today, according to a bulletin from the State health department.
With 702 COVID-19 positive patients getting discharged after treatment, the total recoveries so far has mounted to 26,91,756. The number of active cases as of today remain at 7,666.
Chennai and Coimbatore reported 114 and 101 new infections respectively, while Ramanathapuram and Theni reported nil cases, the bulletin said. While Erode reported 53 new cases, 12 districts recorded cases below 50 and 21 districts reported cases in single digits.
8:27 PM
Maharashtra reports 2 more cases of Omicron
7:59 PM
Pictures from the spot of Srinagar terrorist attack
7:45 PM
Srinagar terror attack: Two police personnel succumb to injuries
7:16 PM
Residence of Kareena Kapoor has been sealed: BMC
7:15 PM
Rohit Sharma ruled out from the test series against South Africa
7:15 PM
PM Modi witnesses 'Ganga Aarti' in Varanasi
5:39 PM
First UK patient has died from Omicron variant
At least one patient has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.
"Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters.
"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set on one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."
4:24 PM
Actor Kareena Kapoor tests positive for Covid
3:49 PM
PM Modi takes a boat ride from Lalita Ghat to Ravidas Ghat
3:28 PM
PM Modi inspects Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi
3:11 PM
There is 'Virasat' and 'Vikas' in new India, says PM Modi in Varanasi
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Dec 13 2021 | 6:41 AM IST