COVID: 2.86 Lakh New Cases in India; Delhi Reports Drop With 4,291 New Cases

While the number of active cases stands at 22,02,472, the daily positivity rate has risen to 19.59 percent.

Meanwhile, Delhi reported 4,291 new coronavirus cases on Thursday.

• India on Wednesday reported 2,85,914 new COVID-19 cases and 665 deaths, taking the positivity rate to 16.16 percent.
• Kerala reported 49,771 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, while Karnataka saw 48,905 new infections.
• The UK has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, including the wearing of masks in indoor places, effective from Thursday.

Union Health Minister To Interact With Southern States on COVID Situation

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will interact with health ministers of southern states tomorrow on COVID vaccination, health infrastructure, and Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package, ANI reported citing official sources.

West Bengal Reports 3,608 New Cases

West Bengal reported a total of 3,608 cases with a daily positivity rate of 9.02 perent on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Reports 28,515 New Cases

Tamil Nadu reported 28,515 new COVID-19 cases and 53 deaths on Thursday. Number of active cases stands at 2,13,534.

Assam Reports 3,677 New Cases

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that the state recorded 3,677 new COVID-19 infections and 20 deaths on Thursday.

Overall positivity rate is at 8.28 percent, while the recovery rate is at 93.95 percent, he added.

Karnataka Reports 38,083 New Cases

Karnataka reported 38,083 new COVID cases, 67,236 recoveries, and 49 deaths on Thursday. Number of active cases stands at 3,28,711. Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate is at 20.44 percent.

Gujarat Reports 12,911 New Cases

12,911 new cases, 22 deaths and 23,197 discharges recorded in Gujarat on Thursday. Number of active cases stands at 1,17,884.

Maharashtra Reports 25,425 New Cases

Maharashtra reported 25,425 new COVID cases, 36,708 recoveries, and 42 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases currently stands at 2,87,397.

Tamil Nadu Schools To Reopen, Night Curfew To Be Lifted

Tamil Nadu government announced reopening of physical classes for students of Classes 1 to 12 from 1 February. The government has also decided to lift the night curfew from 28 January.

Delhi Reports Drop With 4,291 New Cases

Delhi reported 4,291 COVID cases, 9,397 recoveries, and 34 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases currently stands at 33,175, and the daily positivity rate is at 9.56 percent.

J&K Reports 4,959 New Cases

Jammu and Kashmir reported 4,959 new COVID cases and 7 deaths on Thursday. The number of active cases currently stands at 46,657.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar Tests COVID-Positive

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has tested positive for COVID-19.

Taking to Twitter to inform the same, he said, “Urge all those who have come in recent contact to take suitable precautions.”

Andhra Pradesh Reports 13,374 New Cases

Andhra Pradesh reported 13,374 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases is currently at 1,09,493.

Maharashtra Minister Ashok Chavan Tests COVID-Positive

Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan has tested positive for COVID-19. He took to Twitter to inform the same and asked those who had come in contact with him to take precautions.

Omicron Sub-Variant BA.2 Is More Prevalent in India: NCDC Director

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director stated on Thursday that the Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is more prevalent in India now.

‘First Dose Vaccination Coverage at 95 Percent’: Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health informed on Thursday that as of 27 January, there were 22,02,472 active cases in India, and the case positivity rate was at 17.75 percent (in the last week).

Further, while 11 states have more than 50,000 active cases, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala have more than 3 lakh active cases, it said.

On COVID vaccination, the ministry said that the first dose vaccination coverage was at 95 percent, while the second dose coverage was at 74 percent. Meanwhile, 97.03 lakh eligible population has received the ‘precaution dose’ so far.The ministry also informed that there were 16 States/UTs with COVID-19 vaccination coverage of those between 15 and 18 years more than the national average of vaccination.

Conditional Market Approval for Covishield & Covaxin Granted

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted conditional market approval for Covishield and Covaxin, news agency ANI reported.

While the vaccines will not be available in medical stores, hospitals and clinics can purchase them. Further, vaccination data will have to be submitted to DCGI every six months and be updated on the CoWIN app as well.

Delhi Lifts Weekend Curfew & Opens Restaurants; Night Curfew to Remain

Delhi on Thursday decided to lift the weekend curfew as well as the odd-even restrictions for shops, news agency PTI reported, quoting Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) officials.

However, the night curfew will remain in place.

At a DDMA meeting held on Thursday, it was decided that schools will remain closed in the national capital and that the issue would be discussed in the next meeting.

Further, 200 people will now be allowed in marriage functions in Delhi, while bars and restaurants will open with 50 percent capacity, the officials added.

Additionally, government offices in Delhi will be allowed to function with 50 percent of staff, the report said.

Delhi To See Less Than 5k New COVID-19 Cases Today: Health Minister

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that Delhi was likely to see less than 5,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday.

“The COVID situation is in control. Today Delhi will report less than 5,000 cases and the positivity rate will also come down from the existing 10 percent,” Jain was quoted as saying by ANI.

India Sees 2.86 Lakh New COVID-19 Cases, 573 Deaths

UK Lifts All COVID-19 Restrictions, Including Wearing of Masks

England on Thursday lifted coronavirus restrictions imposed to tackle the Omicron variant.

Face masks will no longer be required for entry into enclosed spaces and vaccine documentation does not have to be presented for visiting public places such as nightclubs, football grounds, and large-scale events.