Omicron in India: Rajasthan makes vaccination mandatory and 5 updates
The Ministry of Health confirmed on December 30 that India's Omicron tally has now reached 961. The Rajasthan state government has made vaccination compulsory, and Rs 86.33 lakh have been collected in fines for breaking Covid-19 rules in Delhi.
#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive#OmicronVariant ????? ?????https://t.co/rrT3krGD3S pic.twitter.com/WUlpXzU3BU
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) December 30, 2021
No deaths due to Omicron have yet been reported in India.
Here are the latest updates:
1. INDIA HAS 961 OMICRON CASES IN TOTAL NOW
Here's the state and UT-wise break-up:
Delhi - 263
Maharashtra- 252
Gujarat - 97
Rajasthan - 69
Kerala - 65
Telangana - 62
Tamil Nadu - 45
Karnataka - 34
Andhra Pradesh - 16
Haryana - 12
West Bengal - 11
Madhya Pradesh - 9
Odisha - 9
Uttrakhand - 4
Chandigarh - 3
Jammu and Kashmir - 3
Uttar Pradesh - 2
Himachal Pradesh - 1
Goa - 1
Ladakh - 1
Manipur - 1
Punjab - 1
2. VACCINATION COMPULSORY IN RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot announced on December 29 that Covid-19 vaccination is mandatory for all citizens entering public places. This rule comes in effect from January 31, 2022. The government said the decision was taken to expedite the state's vaccination drive.
The state government has also decided to impose a curfew in Rajasthan from 11 pm to 5 am. It has being called 'jan anushasan curfew'. Home delivery of food will be allowed for 24 hours and curfew on New Year's Eve will be shortened. It will be from 11 pm on December 31 till 1 AM on January 1.
3. THIRD WAVE HAS BEGUN: MAHARASHTRA TASK FORCE
In a conversation with India Today TV, Maharashtra Covid Task Force member Dr Shashank Joshi said that the third wave has begun in Mumbai, while Dr Hemant Thacker of Breach Candy, Jaslok, Bhatia and Reliance Hospitals said India may see an Omicron fall in six weeks.
Joshi also said that the doubling rate in cases is four days and all cases are mild. He also added that hospital infrastructure in Maharashtra isn't 'overwhelmed'. Joshi further said, "Let us hope Delta is fully replaced by Omicron that causes milder disease. The numbers are huge but we can still deal with it. The rise in cases is driven by Omicron. Genome sequencing will show Omicron in 80% of the cases. This is not Delta for sure. The third wave in Mumbai has started."
4. RS 86.33 LAKH FINE COLLECTED IN DELHI FOR BREAKING COVID RULES
Violation of Covid-19 rules has raised about Rs 86.33 lakh in fines in Delhi, and 69 FIRs have been lodged on December 28. Most cases of people not wearing masks were seen in North Delhi (739) and East Delhi (638). India Today reported that the Delhi state government has activated "Level-1" alert under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the decision to activate Level 1 was taken as the Covid-19 positivity rate in the city has crossed 0.5 in 48 hours.
5. CENTRE TO EXPORT 7 CRORE DOSES OF COVOVAX TO THE NETHERLANDS, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Officials confirmed on December 29 that the Indian government will be exporting 7 crore doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Covovax to The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. The vaccine is being produced by Serum Institute of India. This vaccine has yet not been approved in these countries.
Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII), Prakash Kumar Singh had submitted an application to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to export the vaccine. Post evaluation, the DGCI had 'no objection' in exporting 7 crore doses of Covovax.