Covid LIVE: Delhi, Maharashtra, Bengal see big jump in cases

Mumbai sees 12% rise in daily Covid cases while Gujarat and Karnataka also see an uptick in cases

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Cases with fever, sore throat, breathlessness should be tested: Centre

Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Centre on Friday called upon states and union territories to consider anyone with fever, headache, sore throat, breathlessness, body ache as a suspect case of COVID-19 and conduct tests.

 

"lt is also emphasized that during the current upsurge of COVID-19 cases, any individual with fever with/without cough, headache, sore throat, breathlessness, body ache, recent loss of taste or smell, fatigue and diarrhoea should be considered as a suspect case of COVID-19 unless proven otherwise by confirmation of another etiology. All such individuals must be tested. While awaiting the test results, they should be advised to immediately isolatethemselves and follow the home isolation guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and UTs.

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IOC president confident of safe, secure Winter Olympics in Beijing

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach expressed confidence in a successful Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in his New Year message published on the IOC official website on Friday.

 

"We are looking forward to successful Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and we have great confidence, built on our experience, that we will stage safe and secure Olympic Winter Games for everybody," Bach said.

 

The IOC chief highlighted Beijing as the first city ever to host both summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games and acknowledged China's efforts to engage 300 million people in winter sports, reports Xinhua.

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76 Omicron cases indicate community spread: Tamil Nadu Minister

Tamil Nadu Minister Ma Subramanian said the 76 cases of Omicron on Friday was an indication of community spread of the coronavirus strain in the State and that vaccination was the only solution to prevent its further spread.

 

The Minister for Medical and Family Welfare, talking to reporters here, said 34 students, including 10 girls, have tested Covid-19 positive in Chennai and were under treatment at a Covid Care Centre.

 

"Today, we announced 76 new Omicron cases. This is an indication of the community spread of the virus. The satisfying news we receive is that those who are affected by Omicron have tested negative after four days of treatment and were discharged from hospitals after recovery," he said.

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COVID-19 vaccination: CoWIN registrations for 15-18 age group start today

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Christmas, registrations for vaccinating 15-18-year-old children against COVID-19 starts from Saturday on the Co-WIN portal.

 

"Let's get ready to ensure COVID vaccination of all eligible citizens. Registrations on #CoWIN for 15-18 year old children starts from 1st January 2022. #LargestVaccineDrive #Unite2FightCorona," tweeted the Ministry of Health on Friday.

 

As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2021, the vaccination for the age-group 15-18 years is scheduled to begin from Monday while administration of precautionary third dose for the vulnerable categories is to commence from January 10, 2022.

 

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PM Modi to release 10th installment for beneficiaries of PM-KISAN today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 10th instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on Saturday at 12

 

As per an official statement from the Prime Minister's Office, this is in line with the government's continued commitment and resolve to empower grassroots level farmers.

 

This will enable the transfer of an amount of more than Rs 20,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families, said PMO.