Coronavirus Updates: 85 Fresh Omicron Cases in Maharashtra Today; WHO Says Variant Leading to Tsunami of Infections

France’s Health Minister Olivier Veran announced that the country recorded a record high of 208,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. Speaking at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Veran said the new figure is equivalent to two French testing positive every second, a surge fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant. Veran warned those not vaccinated: There is really little chance that this time you can escape (COVID-19). The virus is spreading too fast. France has vaccinated 77 per cent of its population and is rushing out booster shots. But more than 4 million adults remain unvaccinated.

In view of Omicron, the Dehradun administration has mandated negative Covid certificate, not older than 72 hours, for entry into the district, ANI reported.

Gujarat reported 548 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, crossing the 500-mark for the first time after more than six-and-a- half months, raising its overall tally to 8,30,505, while one more patient succumbed to the infection in the state, the health department said. The state had last reported more than 500 cases at 544 on June 10. On June 9, 644 coronavirus cases were reported in Gujarat. Gujarat has witnessed a sharp jump in its daily COVID-19 cases over the last few days, recording 177 infections on Sunday, 204 on Monday, 394 on Tuesday and now 548.As against 548 new cases, only 65 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, which pushed up the state’s tally of active cases to 1,902, the department said.

Goa has announced fresh restrictions in the state. Casinos, cinema halls, auditoriums, river cruises, water parks and entertainment centres will operate at 50 percent capacity. Fully vaccinated people or those having negative Covid-19 certificate will get entry into the state.

Delhi reports 923 positive cases, zero deaths and 344 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Delhi’s daily cases is 86% higher than yesterday’s infections.

The personnel of the various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be administered the “precaution dose” of COVID-19 vaccines beginning January 10, officials said on Wednesday. They said the personnel of the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB are categorised as “frontline workers” and hence, official instructions have been issued to ensure that they get their third Covid vaccine jab, especially considering the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hinted at bringing back Covid curbs in the state amid the threat of a possible third wave of the pandemic looming large, including shutting down educational institutions and identifying containment zones. Banerjee, during an administrative review meeting at Sagar Island, asked officials concerned to review the overall pandemic situation in the state.

France’s government is forging ahead with efforts to increase pressure on unvaccinated people to get coronavirus jabs, as the omicron variant fuels a record surge in infections. At a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday afternoon, the health minister will defend a government plan to allow only the fully vaccinated to enjoy continued access to places such as restaurants, cinemas, theaters, museums, and sports arenas. The speeded-up introduction of the so-called vaccine pass forms part of a government strategy to use vaccinations, rather than new lockdowns, to try to soften the impact of the fast-spreading omicron variant on already overburdened hospitals.

Mumbai reports 2,510 new cases, one death and 251 recoveries today.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday announced no further Covid-19 restrictions will be imposed and the ‘yellow alert’ sounded in the national capital will continue. “It was decided to continue with the existing restrictions imposed recently in view of rising cases and to keep a close vigil on the ground situation,” an official statement read. The crucial meeting was held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at 4 pm to review the Omicron threat and discuss the Covid-19 pandemic situation in Delhi. The meeting also took stock of the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) sounded by the Delhi government on Tuesday.

Odisha’s Covid-19 tally rose to 10,54,381 on Wednesday as 221 more people were tested positive for Coronavirus, 65 more than the previous day, a health bulletin said. The death toll rose to 8,457 as a 42-year-old man from Khurda and a 61-year-old woman from Koraput succumbed to the disease. Fifty-three other coronavirus patients have died so far due to comorbidities, it said. Thirty-four children are among the new patients. The state now has 1,593 active cases, while 10,44,278 people have recovered from the disease to date, including 185 in the last 24 hours.

Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday said daily Covid-19 cases in Mumbai may cross the 2,000-mark during the day with the rising number of fresh infections being recorded over the past week. Thackeray made the statements after a meeting with civic officials to chart out a course. The Maharashtra Minister said he had asked all the covid care jumbo centres to be at stand by, at all readiness levels, along with basic facilities. He said that the state government is focussing on vaccination, for both adults and children.

Rajasthan recorded 23 fresh cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Wednesday, pushing the tally of such cases to 69 in the state. According to a spokesperson of the state medical and health department, of the fresh Omicron cases, 10 were reported from Ajmer, nine from Jaipur, two from Bhilwara and one each from Alwar and Jodhpur. Four of the 23 patients had returned from abroad, three got infected after coming in contact with foreign travellers and two returned from other states. All of them have been kept in isolation in a special ward for Omicron patients at the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) hospital.

NCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday said she has tested positive for COVID 19. Sule (51), Lok Sabha MP from Baramati and daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said her husband Sadanand Sule has also been detected with the infection. “Sadanand and I, both of us have tested positive for COVID-19. We do not have any symptoms. Requesting everyone who has come in contact with us to get themselves tested. Take Care,” she tweeted. Sule, Sadanand and their children live with her parents Sharad Pawar and Pratibha Pawar in their south Mumbai residence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the coronavirus pandemic cannot be controlled until the masses become aware and follow the guidelines issued by the government. He also appealed to those in the 15-18 age group to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest when their turn begins from January 3. Addressing a gathering through video conferencing after dedicating and laying foundation stones for various developmental works worth around Rs 50 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency of Gandhinagar, Shah also asked the administration to remain alert about the rising cases of coronavirus. “Coronavirus is once again rising after changing form. This time, all of us, be it municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats or state governments, will have to remain alert,” the Union Home Minister said.

Night Curfew will continue in Maharashtra on December 31st and January 1. People have been requested to stay home and celebrate. The authorities have requested people not to gather at any public places including Girgaum Chowpatty and Gateway of India. It has also appealed people to avoid gatherings at religious places.

With more Omicron cases being reported in neighbouring Kerala, the district administration is keeping strict vigil on border areas. As Kerala is also witnessing incidents of Bird flu for the last few days, checking intensified at the check posts, where those coming from that State are subjected to medical tests for fever, cough or other related symptoms at Walayar and Pollachi, official sources said.

Poland reported 794 COVID-related deaths on Wednesday, the highest number in the fourth wave of the pandemic, a deputy health minister said, adding the figure could be a result of delayed reporting due to the Christmas holidays. More than 75% of those who died were unvaccinated, Waldemar Kraska said. “I think we are currently experiencing a peak in the number of people who are dying,” he told private television channel Polsat News. Poland has been experiencing a persistently high rate of daily infections, though the Omicron variant has yet to gain a foothold there.

A woman tested positive for coronavirus at the Indore airport following which she was prevented from boarding the Air India’s Dubai-bound flight on Wednesday, an official said. The 44-year-old Dubai resident has already taken four doses of two different vaccines against COVID-19, the official said. “As per the standard practice, rapid RT-PCR tests are conducted during the weekly Indore-Dubai flight and as part of it, 89 passengers were tested today. A woman among them was found infected with the coronavirus, Indore health department’s medical officer Dr Priyanka Kourav told PTI.