Covid-19 India Highlights: Several states, including Maharashtra, are reporting huge increases in cases

Here are the top Covid-19 developments from across the country.

Several states report a huge increase in cases in a day

Delhi and Rajasthan were among several states that reported a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases on Wednesday. Delhi reported 923 new cases on Wednesday, which marked a steep rise from the 496 recorded the day before. The positivity rate also increased to 1.29%. For the first time in nearly six months, Rajasthan reported a one-day increase of more than 100 cases.

Among other cities Mumbai saw a huge increase, Record of 2,510 cases. In addition, 400 infections were found in Bengaluru, 540 in Calcutta and 294 in Chennai.

Maharashtra reported 3,900 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, a steep increase from the 2,172 infections detected in the state the day before.

Of the new cases, 2,510 came from Mumbai, which is also a big jump from the 1,333 infections reported a day ago. The city also recorded one death from Covid-19. There are currently 8,060 active Covid-19 cases in Mumbai.

Clear data that prove Omicron’s very high immune escape potential: INSACOG

There are now clear experimental and clinical data showing very high immune escape potential for Omicron, but initial estimates show the disease severity is less than previous outbreaks, Indian SARS-COV-2 Genome said INSACOG consortium in its latest bulletin, citing global data.

Appropriate public health surveillance measures and investigations are in progress in India to monitor Omicron, INSACOG said, noting that the ability of vaccines or previous infection to protect against symptomatic infection by the Omicron variant is significantly reduced worldwide seems.

“While Delta remains the most widely used VOC in the world, the Omicron variant has completely supplanted it in southern Africa and is well on its way to becoming the dominant variant in the UK and elsewhere,” INSACOG said in its bulletin.

“However, initial estimates of disease severity were lower than previous outbreaks. It is not clear whether these first observations can be transferred to older non-immune test persons and the threat level is still considered to be high, ”it said.

Bengal CM urges officials to review the Covid situation and says schools and colleges will be closed if necessary

West Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called on officials concerned to review the general Covid-19 situation in the state as a possible third wave of the pandemic looms.

She asked officials to identify containment zones in the city where cases have increased. Banerjee also said during an administrative review meeting on Sagar Island that schools and colleges could be closed for some time if the situation warrants.

Offices could work with just 50 percent staff attendance when needed, she said.

“Covid-19 cases are increasing … there are also some Omicron cases. So check the situation in the state. We might consider closing schools and colleges for some time, ”Banerjee told officials at the meeting.

The CM, who is visiting the island to take stock of arrangements for the annual Gangasagar Mela, also said a decision will also be made on international air and local trains following a review of the state’s Covid-19 situation.

Meanwhile, at least five more people in West Bengal tested positive for Omicron on Wednesday, bringing the total number of patients infected with the new variant of the coronavirus in the state to 11, a senior health department official said.

Dealers in Delhi urge DDMA to abolish COVID restrictions under GRAP. to change

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CTI), an umbrella organization of various trade unions in Delhi, called on the DDMA on Wednesday to change the restrictions under the GRAP for Covid-19 and also to take into account two other indicators – the number of new cases of the infection and those of the occupied oxygen beds – before sounding a color-coded alarm.

CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said he wrote to the DDMA asking them to change the GRAP terms as traders face huge losses due to the restrictions.

“Currently, Delhi is not reporting 1,500 coronavirus cases per day, nor are 500 oxygen beds occupied. According to the KTI, there is a need to adjust the color code provisions. If all three conditions – the infection rate, the number of new cases and the oxygen bed occupancy – are met at the same time, the restrictions should be imposed under a GRAP color code, ”Goyal was quoted by the PTI news agency as saying.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has triggered a “yellow” alarm as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after the Covid positivity rate in the state capital was measured over 0.5 percent on two consecutive days.

On Tuesday, the DDMA ordered schools, universities, cinemas and gyms to be closed with immediate effect and blocked various restrictions on the functionality of shops and public transport.

Delhi health minister says cases will rise due to international flights

Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in the city, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said Wednesday that many international travelers who test negative at the airport will test positive after a few days and infect their family members during the period.

“The cases have increased due to international flights. Even during the previous wave, cases increased with incoming flights, ”the minister told reporters.

Delhi recorded 238 Omicron cases on Wednesday. The day before there were 165 cases of the new variant.

The state capital recorded a massive increase in daily Covid-19 with 496 new cases on Tuesday, the highest since April 4.

Increase in active Covid-19 Cases in Maharashtra “alarming”: Minister of Health Rajesh Tope

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday expressed concern about the rise in the number of new and active Covid-19 cases in the state, describing it as an “alarming situation”.

Speaking to reporters, Tope urged people and authorities to exercise caution. He said over the past 8-10 days, active cases in the state ranged from 5,000 to 6,000.

As of Tuesday, the state had 11,492 active cases. The number of active cases could rise to over 20,000 on Wednesday, he said.

A BMC health worker collects a swab sample from an outstation passenger for the COVID-19 test at Dadar Railway Station in Mumbai on Saturday, December 18, 2021. (PTI photo)

“The rise in active cases in the state is alarming,” said the minister. He also expressed concern about the rapid doubling of the number of cases in the state and the rising number of infections in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aditya Thackeray said Mumbai could start reporting more than 2,000 cases a day. “Last week we reported 150 cases a day, now we’re reporting around 2000 cases a day. Mumbai could exceed 2,000 cases a day today, ”he was quoted by the ANI news agency as saying.

Karnataka CM is likely to review measures to contain Covid

Karnataka Prime Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced on Wednesday that he is likely to review measures announced by his government to contain Covid-19, including the “night curfew,” following corporate opposition.

The 10-day night curfew announced by the government as part of its containment efforts to curb the further spread of Covid-19 went into effect across the state from Tuesday evening.

It applies daily from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until January 7th, during which time no activities are allowed.

“I’m watching them all, let’s see. After I go to Bengaluru tomorrow, I will make a decision on this, ”Bommai said in response to a question from reporters here about the resistance to the night curfew.

(With PTI inputs)