dailyO
Variety

Covid third wave: No masks for children below 5, proposal to lift weekend curfew in Delhi. 6 points

Advertisement
Varsha Vats
Varsha VatsJan 21, 2022 | 14:19

Covid third wave: No masks for children below 5, proposal to lift weekend curfew in Delhi. 6 points

Covid cases in the country continue to rise sharply. Is Delhi ready to lift weekend curfew? Here are 6 updates you need to know.

India’s daily Covid numbers are rising at an alarming rate. As per the Health Ministry data, the country has reported 3,47,254 fresh Covid cases over the past 24 hours. The country’s Covid positivity rate has also gone up from 16.41% to 17.94%. A total of 491 people died of the infection on January 20.

Here are 6 latest updates on Covid-19 in India:

Advertisement

1. INDIA REPORTS OVER 3.47 LAKH CASES

India logged 9% more cases in the last 24 hours compared to the previous day, that is 3,47,254 new Covid cases. 491 people succumbed to the virus on January 20. The Omicron variant has infected 9,287 people in the country.

19,35,912 Covid tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

2. WEEKEND CURFEW LIKELY TO END IN DELHI

On Thursday, January 20, 2022, Delhi reported 12,306 new Covid cases and 35 deaths. The state's health minister Satyendar Jain said that the daily cases, as well as hospitalisations, have decreased in the national capital.

The Delhi government has now proposed to lift a few restrictions, starting with the weekend curfew. The removal of weekend curfew has been approved by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Approval from Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal is awaited.

Along with weekend curfew, the government also proposes the removal of the odd-even system at markets and allowing private offices to operate at 50 per cent capacity.

covid-jan-21-inside_012122015415.jpg
Illustration: Seemon, DailyO

3. REVISED TRAVEL RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS

The new travel guidelines for international passengers are as follows-

Arrival from at-risk countries-

Advertisement

A Covid-19 test will be conducted post-arrival. The travellers will be required to wait for their test results before leaving the airport.

If tested negative: Passengers have to quarantine for 7 days and shall undertake RT-PCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India. The results need to be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal and they will have to monitor their health for the next 7 days.

If tested positive: Passengers will be treated and isolated as per standard protocols. Their samples will be sent for genomic testing to INSACOG laboratory network.

Those who came in contact with positive passengers will be kept under home quarantine. The state government will monitor these contacts.

Arrivals from non-at risk countries-

2% of the flight passengers will be randomly tested for Covid.

If tested negative: Home quarantine for 7 days.

If tested positive: Treatment and isolation as per standard protocols. Their samples will be sent for genomic testing to INSACOG laboratory network.

For children: No test for children under 5 years of age. If symptomatic, test plus home quarantine should be followed.

All travellers have to quarantine themselves at home for 7 days and an RT-PCR test needs to be conducted on the 8th day. The results should be uploaded on Air Suvidha portal later.

Advertisement

4. WFH FOR WOMEN WITH CHILDREN AGED 2 OR YOUNGER IN KERALA

The Kerala government will allow operations of only essential services on two Sundays from January 23. Women with children aged 2 years or less will be allowed to work from home. People with severe illness and cancer patients will also be allowed to work from home.

The state reported 46,387 new cases of Covid-19 on January 20, 2022. 

5. NO MASK FOR CHILDREN BELOW 5 YEARS

As per new government guidelines, antivirals or monoclonal antibodies should not be used for those less than 18 years of age. Steroids should also be used in moderation.

The guidelines also suggest that there is no need for masks for children aged 5 and below. Children between the ages of 6-11 years may wear a mask under their parents' direct supervision.

6. SCHOOLS TO RE-OPEN IN MAHARASHTRA

Schools in Maharashtra are all set to reopen for all classes from Monday. The state government has asked all the schools to follow Covid protocols.

Last updated: January 21, 2022 | 14:39
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy