Coronavirus: Mock drill across states, UTs on Tuesday

Mumbai on Monday reported five Covid-19 cases, which took the tally to 11,55,098, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,746, a civic official said.

Covid concerns: Working on 26 aspects to tackle any situation, says BMC

Amid the fear of a surge in Covid-19 cases, Mumbai's civic body on Monday said it was gearing up by creating special wards and replenishing medicine stocks as well as oxygen facilities. Nations like China, Japan and the United States of America are seeing a spike in cases, believed to be caused by BF.7, a sub variant of Omicron.

Delhi hospitals to conduct mock drills on Tuesday to check Covid readiness

Hospitals across Delhi will conduct mock drills on December 27 to assess their preparedness, including availability of beds and manpower, to deal with any increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Monday. The Centre issued an advisory to this effect on Monday amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases in some countries.

China to drop Covid quarantine rule for inbound travellers on January 8

China will stop requiring quarantine for inbound travellers starting on January 8, the National Health Commission said on Monday, dropping a rule in place since the start of the pandemic three years ago. China's management of Covid-19 will also be downgraded to the less strict Category B from the current top-level Category A, the health authority said in a statement.

Delhi authorities on Monday began physically visiting all government hospitals to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of the surge in Covid cases in some countries.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday to take stock of the mock drill to be conducted there.

Dr Mandaviya urged the doctors and members of IMA to continue to spread authentic information about Covid-19. “You have been our ambassadors during the country’s fight against Covid-19. I value your contribution and salute the selfless dedication and service of the healthcare professionals. I urge you to be our partners and ambassadors to prevent an infodemic by educating the public on various aspects of the Covid-19 disease and its prevention and management aspects”. He expressed confidence that doctors would continue to work dedicatedly in this fight, as they have been doing till now.

Teachers of Delhi government schools will be deployed at Delhi airport from December 31 to January 15 to ensure that Covid appropriate behaviour is followed by passengers arriving from abroad.

Union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya holds a virtual meeting with Indian Medical Association regarding Covid-19 situation and preparedness.

Xi urges steps to 'protect' lives as China lifts Covid curbs

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials to take steps to protect lives on Monday in his first public remarks on Covid since Beijing dramatically loosened hardline containment measures this month. Having been largely sheltered from the virus for much of the pandemic, China is now experiencing the world's biggest surge in infections after restrictions that torpedoed the economy were abruptly lifted.

The UK health authorities said on Monday that they will stop publishing their regular Covid-19 infections modelling data in the new year because it is seen as “no longer necessary” as the country moves to a phase of living with the virus with the help of vaccines and medicines. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that it will continue to monitor Covid like other common viral illnesses such as seasonal flu. Since April this year, the data on the reproductive rate, or the R value speed at which the novel coronavirus infects people, has been published fortnightly as a monitoring tool.

Random Covid-19 testing at various airports

West Bengal to hold meeting on state's Covid preparedness

West Bengal Health Department has scheduled a virtual meeting with all hospitals in the State on Monday, to assess their preparedness in tackling Covid 19 in case of a possible fourth wave in the country. Speaking on Covid-19 preparedness, Debjyoti Dey, Assistant Superintendent of Maniktala ESI hospital, said that the hospital is ready to fight against Covid. "We have isolation wards ready for the Covid Positive patients," Dey said.

Mock drill across states, UTs on Wednesday to ensure readiness of health facilities

A mock drill will be held on Wednesday across a number of health facilities in several states and Union territories to ensure their readiness to deal with any eventuality related to Covid-19, following an advisory by the Centre. The exercise will focus on parameters such as availability of health facilities (covering all districts), capacity of isolation beds, oxygen-supported beds, ICU beds and ventilator-supported beds, and optimal availability of doctors, nurses, paramedics, AYUSH doctors, and other frontline workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

Covid guidelines: People must wear masks while celebrating New Year, says Karnataka health minister

In view of rising Covid-19 cases in some countries, the Karnataka government on Monday said masks will be compulsory during the New Year celebrations. Celebrations on New Year's Day should last only till 1 am, health minister K Sudhakar said. On the vaccination front, the minister said the government has insisted that people should take the booster dose. He appealed to senior citizens, people with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children to avoid crowded places.

Covid preventive measures to be implemented step by step

"We will have to bring in preventive measures step by step, without hampering normal life and economic activities in any way," he said, adding for New Year celebrations there will be certain directions, in the wake of an increase in Covid cases in different parts of the world.

Covid guidelines won't impact normal life, business: Karnataka CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the guidelines which will be formulated to manage the evolving Covid situation in the state won't impact day-to-today life and business of the people. "The matter will be discussed in the cabinet. There is a need to create awareness among the people and administer booster doses. The mask should be worn compulsorily. The meeting will primarily focus on precautions and preventive measures," CM Bommai stated.