Coronavirus Live Updates: 39 international flyers test Covid positive; govt considers mandatory negative RT-PCR report for China arrivals

Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travellers from China due to the rapid spread of the virus in the country, Japan's FNN reported on Tuesday.The government hopes to introduce the measure as early as this week, FNN said.

China will no longer subject inbound travelers to quarantine from Jan. 8, putting the country on track to emerge from three years of self-imposed global isolation under a Covid Zero policy that battered the economy and stoked historic public discontent.

People arriving in China will only be required to obtain negative Covid test results within 48 hours of departure, according to a statement from the National Health Commission Monday. That compares with the current requirement of eight days isolation — five days at a designated quarantine hotel, or central facility, followed by three days at home.

In an initiative to prevent a shortage of oxygen, the Telangana government established oxygen production plants with a capacity of 324 tonnes in a government hospital in Hyderabad. A Golconda area hospital conducted a Covid mock drill after the state government held a zoom meeting and advised it. Shyam Rao, Golconda hospital technician, speaking to ANI, stated that the oxygen plant is under his management.

At a time when Covid cases are surging in several nations, Hyderabad-based Hetero Group has emerged as the first pharma player in the world to bag WHO’s prequalification of medicines programme for its generic version of oral Covid treatment, Nirmatrelvir, which along with Ritonavir is used in Pfizer’s oral drug, Paxlovid.

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.

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 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.

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.