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India fights Covid: 2 new Omicron symptoms detected, vaccination begins for 15+

Ishita SrivastavaJanuary 3, 2022 | 13:49 IST

The Ministry of Health confirmed on January 3 that India's Omicron tally has now reached 1,700. While states across the country have ramped up restrictions, two new symptoms to detect Omicron have been detected.  

So far, India has not reported any deaths due to Omicron.

Here are the latest updates:

1. INDIA HAS 1,700 OMICRON CASES IN TOTAL NOW

Here's the state and UT-wise break-up:

Maharashtra - 510

Delhi - 351

Kerala - 156

Gujarat - 136

Tamil Nadu - 121

Rajasthan - 120

Telangana - 67

Karnataka - 64

Haryana - 63

Odisha - 37

West Bengal - 20

Andhra Pradesh - 17

Madhya Pradesh - 9

Uttar Pradesh - 8

Uttrakhand - 8

Chandigarh - 3

Jammu and Kashmir - 3

Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 2

Himachal Pradesh - 1

Goa - 1

Ladakh - 1

Manipur - 1

Punjab - 1

2. UK APP REVEALS TWO NEW OMICRON SYMPTOMS: LOSS OF APPETITE AND NAUSEA 

UK’s ZOE COVID app study has added two new symptoms for Omicron, which are loss of appetite and nausea. Here are all the Omicron symptoms: 

  • Mild fever
  • Scratchy throat
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Rigorous body pain
  • Fatigue
  • Night sweats
  • Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite 

Illustration: Seemon, DailyO

3. COVID VACCINATION BEGINS FOR 15+, 6 LAKH REGISTERED ON COWIN 

India has begun vaccinating 15 to 18-year-olds today, January 3, as the country is facing a sharp surge in Covid-19 cases, particularly of the Omicron variant.

The CoWIN app has recorded over six lakh registrations till the evening of January 2. The states will be adhering to the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry on December 27. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has advised states to provide separate 'vaccination centres, session sites, queues and different vaccination teams for the 15-18 year age group to avoid a mix-up'. The vaccine option for this age group is indigenously-developed Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

4. RESTAURANTS AND MARRIAGE HALLS TO OPERATE AT 50% IN CHANDIGARH 

Due to the rise coronavirus cases, the Chandigarh administration on January 2 ordered that 'marriage palaces, restaurants and other eateries will operate at half of their capacity'. The order will come into force immediately and breach will result in action under the relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code. The order also said that people who have been fully vaccinated or do not require a second dose of vaccine will only be allowed in the 50 percent. 

5. RAJASTHAN SHUTS DOWN SCHOOLS FOR CLASSES 1-8 

On January 2, the Rajasthan government announced new Covid-related curbs in the state which included shutting down schools for classes 1-8 in Jaipur from January 3-9. The new order has also made vaccination mandatory for students studying in universities and colleges. Students should be fully vaccinated by January 31. Starting January 7, no more than 100 people are allowed in 'marriages, fairs, processions, rallies' and only 20 people can attend funerals.

6. WEST BENGAL ANNOUNCES FRESH RESTRICTIONS

Starting January 3, the West Bengal government has temporarily suspended direct flights arriving from the UK to Kolkata. Flights from at-risk countries (as notified by GoI) will also not be allowed into the state. The state government said in a statement, "All passengers coming from non-risk countries will have to mandatorily undergo Covid test on arrival (Airline to select 10% of the total passengers for RT-PCR test and the remaining 90% to undergo RAT test on arrival)". 

The West Bengal state government has also announced that flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Kolkata will be allowed to only operate twice a week: Monday and Friday. This order will come to effect starting January 5. (FOR THE FULL LIST OF RESTRICTIONS IN WEST BENGAL: No movement of people after 10 pm, 50% attendance in offices: New Covid norms in Bengal | Details

7. COVID POSITIVITY RATE CROSSES 10% IN GOA 

Officials have confirmed that the Covid-19 positivity rate in Goa crossed 10 per cent (10.77%) on January 2. Out of the 3604 samples sent for testing, 388 turned out to be positive. The positivity rate previously was 2.33% as of December 26. The active Covid tally of the state is 1,671 and there is only one Omicron case in Goa. The reason for the jump in the positivity rate is due to the massive number of tourists that have been visiting Goa since late December for the Christmas-New Year festival season.

 

Last updated: January 03, 2022 | 15:06
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