Coronavirus Omicron variant Live Updates: India's records 8,503 new Corona infections; active case count rises to 94,943

Jaipur airport takes additional measures to implement new Covid guidelines

The Jaipur International Airport has put up additional facilities and arrangements to ensure strict implementation of the latest Covid-19 guidelines. "Four registration counters and four sampling booths have become operational. Moreover, the number of Rapid PCR machines has also been increased. A dedicated waiting area sufficient for 150 passengers has also been set up" a senior official of the airport said.

Five of 7 Omicron patients in Pune test negative for Covid-19: Ajit Pawar

Five out of seven Covid-19 patients in Pune district, who were earlier detected with Omicron, the new variant of coronavirus, have now tested negative for the infection, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Friday.

South Korea's New coronavirus surge exceeds 7,000 for 3rd straight day

New coronavirus infections in South Korea exceeded 7,000 for the third consecutive day on Friday in a record-breaking surge that has crushed hospitals and threatens the country's goals to weather the pandemic without lockdowns. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during a virus meeting that the country could be forced to take 'extraordinary' measures if the virus doesn't slow soon. Officials issued administrative orders requiring hospitals around the country to designate 2,000 more beds combined for Covid-19 treatment.

Kim said the government will also speed up the administration of booster shots by shortening the interval period between the second and third vaccine injections from the current four or five months to three months starting next week. The delta-driven spread in recent weeks has been accompanied by a spike in hospitalizations and deaths, many among people in their 60s or older whose immunities have waned after being inoculated early in the vaccine rollout that began in February.

Officials tightened restrictions starting Monday, banning private social gatherings of seven or more people in the greater capital area and requiring adults to verify their vaccination status at restaurants and other indoor venues. But Kim said such measures haven't yet showed an effect in slowing transmissions. (PTI)

Coronavirus Omicron variant Live Updates: Kolkata: One patient came from UK found positive for Covid. The specimen sent for genome sequencing, the patient initially kept at IDBG, later going to an Private Facility for Institutional quarantine. The condition of patient is stable.

Omicron variant in Andhra Pradesh: The Andhra Pradesh government headed by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has issued several key guidelines in the wake of the Omicron variant outbreak. The government has once again ordered strict enforcement of guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry and the World Health Organization. Read Full Story

3 new Covid-19 cases in Andamans, tally rises to 7,694

The Covid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 7,694 on Friday as three more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. All the new cases were detected during contact tracing, it said.

The Union territory now has six active cases, while 7,559 people have recovered from the disease, and 129 patients have succumbed to the infection to date, the bulletin said. The administration has tested over 6.42 lakh samples for COVID-19 thus far, and inoculated over 2.97 lakh people, of whom 2.71 lakh have been fully vaccinated. (PTI)

Two more people in Jamnagar tested Covid positive with omicron varient. They both are relatives of a 72 year old person who tested positive few days back

First Omicron patient of Pune city has tested negative in his RT-PCR test and is all set to go home today: Dr Sanjeev Wavare, assistant medical officer of Pune Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra

Woman contact of Omicron case in Rajasthan found Covid-19 positive in Delhi

A woman contact of an Omicron case in Rajasthan has been found COVID-19 positive in Delhi and is being shifted to the Lok Nayak Hospital, officials said on Friday. The woman tested Covid positive on Thursday. She did not travel to any foreign country. 17 members in her family have been also put under home quarantine, an official said. She is being taken to the LNJP Hospital and her sample has been sent for genome sequencing to the National Centre for Disease Control, the official said, adding her contacts are being traced.

131.18 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive