COVID Updates: Restrictions Imposed; New Vaccines Got Approval

by Shatakshi Gupta

So far approximately 3.48 crore cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country. More than 4 lakh 80 thousand people have died. More than 650 people have also been found infected with the new Omicron variant. The threat from Omicron is even greater because of its high transmission rate. Last week, along with the approval of the booster dose, the government had also given the green signal for the vaccination of youth between the ages of 15 and 18.

Corona updates:

  • New cases of coronavirus are increasing rapidly in Mumbai and Delhi. On Tuesday, there has been a 70% increase in new cases in Mumbai compared to Monday, this figure is 50% in Delhi.
  • In view of the increasing cases of Omicron, the Punjab government has started imposing restrictions in the state. The government has announced not to give entry in buses, hotel-restaurants, gyms and cinema halls to those who have not taken both doses of the vaccine from January 15 in the state. In Chandigarh, a fine of Rs 500 has been declared for those who do not take both the doses of the vaccine in public places.
  • The union government on Tuesday approved the emergency use of anti-viral drug Molnupiravir, The company’s director D Srinivas Reddy said that this medicine will be available in the market in the next one or two days. The company has completed the third phase trial of Molnupiravir.
  • The first quarter of 2022 will see assembly elections in 5 states. In this context, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that the election personnel on duty in the states where elections are due will also be included in the category of frontline workers.
  • The GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) has been implemented in Delhi amid the increase in the cases of the Omicron variant of Corona. This means that the Yellow Alert has been implemented in the national capital. Under this, there will be a night curfew in Delhi from 10 pm to 5 am.  Delhi Metro, restaurants, bars will open with 50% capacity. Cinema halls, spas, gyms, multiplexes, banquet halls, auditoriums and sports complexes will remain closed with immediate effect.

Read more: Why The Existing Vaccines Are Not Effective On Omicron? Do We Need A New Vaccine?

  • The Health Department confirmed on Tuesday that seven more people have been found infected with Omicron in Kerala. With this, the total number of new variant patients of Covid-19 in the state has reached 64.
  • After Delhi, restrictions have now been imposed in Karnataka. According to new guidelines, curfew will be applicable in the state from 10 pm to 5 am from December 28 to January 7. 
  • The Health Ministry has approved the emergency use of two vaccines, Corbevax and Covovax. Health Minister Mandaviya tweeted that Corbevax is the first ‘RBD protein sub-unit vaccine’ made in India.  It has been prepared by Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E. So far three vaccines of Corona have been made in India. Two other vaccines that are made in India include Covaxin and Covishield.

Corona at a glance in India (data taken from mygov. in)

Total new cases came in last 24 hours: 6,358

Total deaths in last 24 hours: 293

Total recovered patients in last 24 hours: 6,450

Total people infected so far: 3,47,99,691

Recovered till now: 3,42,43,945

Total deaths so far: 4,80,290

Total active cases: 75,456

Total jabs given so far: 1,42,46,81,736

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