LIVE: Delhi logs 180 fresh Covid cases in a day, highest since June 16

Delhi has witnessed an uptick in Covid-19 infections in the last few days. Stay tuned for LIVE updates

7:24 PM

Mumbai reports 683 new Covid infections

7:23 PM

Haryana govt considering night curfew

7:22 PM

Night curfew to be in force in 8 Gujarat cities

7:17 PM

Global airline carriers scrap more than 2,000 flights: Report

Global airline carriers have canceled more than 2,000 flights so far on Friday, the FlightAware website said, in an indication of how Covid-19 is affecting holiday travel. The website showed that as of 8:20 a.m. Eastern Time (1320 GMT, 1850 IST), 2,028 flights around the world had been scrapped, Reuters reported.

7:01 PM

People flowing like river in Delhi market, could lead to stampede: HC

Pictures of people "flowing like a river" in south Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar Market this week are "frightening", said the High Court on Friday, flagging its worries about Covid-19 infections or a stampede. It asked the Delhi Police and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to work out a movement plan for the public in the market. 

Crowded Sarojini Nagar market amid rising cases of Omicron variant of Covid, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

6:28 PM

US to lift travel curbs on eight African countries: Reuters

The US will lift travel restrictions on eight southern African countries imposed last month over concerns about the fast-spreading Covid-19 Omicron variant, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters. Foreign nationals who are barred from the United States because they have been in one of the eight countries within the prior 14 days will again be allowed on US-bound flights leaving after 12.01 am ET on December 31, the official added.

6:02 PM

Delhi reports 180 new Covid-19 cases, highest in 6 months

Delhi reports 180 new cases of Covid-19 overnight: the highest number in six months, says daily state health department bulletin.

5:14 PM

India's decision on Covid booster shots will be based on science: Govt

India government’s decision on starting booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines will be guided by "science and scientific evidence", says Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan at media briefing in Delhi.

4:40 PM

121 Omicron cases in India had foreign travel history: Govt

Of the 358 cases of Omicron variant detected in India, 183 were analysed and 121 of them had foreign travel history: Government briefing in Delhi.

4:38 PM

Omicron variant has growth advantage over Delta: India

Omicron variant of the coronavirus has significant growth advantage over Delta; it is spreading fast through communities with doubling time of 1.5 to 3 days: Indian government quoting WHO. Predominant strain in India continues to be Delta, it says.

4:27 PM

Active cases high in 5 states: Central govt

Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Karnataka are the top five states in active Covid cases, says Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in Delhi.

4:23 PM

India has 358 Omicron cases

India has 358 Omicron cases in 17 states and union territories. As many as 114 people have recovered from Omicron, says Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in Delhi.

 

4:14 PM

India mulls anti-dumping duty on caustic soda from 4 nations

The commerce ministry's investigation arm has recommended imposition of anti-dumping duty on caustic soda, used in diverse industrial sectors, for five years from Japan, Iran, Qatar and Oman, to guard domestic players from cheap imports. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended the duty after concluding in its probe that the product has been exported at dumped prices into India, which impacted the domestic industry, PTI reported.

4:10 PM

Odisha restricts public events from Dec 25 to Jan 2

Odisha has restricted public celebration of Christmas, New Year’s Day and other events from December 25 to January 2, citing the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the state. At most 50 participants can join Christmas mass by strictly following Covid-19 protocol and specific conditions imposed by the authorities, the government said on Friday.

3:50 PM

Bhutan starts giving Covid-19 booster doses

Bhutan started giving booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine to senior citizens and priority groups as the Himalayan kingdom counters the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Reuters reported quoting health ministry officials said on Friday. Those aged 65 and older, overseas travellers, health workers, sufferers from chronic medical woes, and all adults living in "high risk" areas were eligible.