India

The Skanda Sashti will also be observed on Friday

India's tally of active Covid-19 cases climbed to 2, 85, 401, with five states --- Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Kerala --- accounting for 66.97 per cent of the 90,928 new cases.

Maharashtra reported 26,538 fresh COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Wednesday. Of the new cases, Mumbai reported the highest number of infections at 15,166.

US's CDC quoted studies that people with Covid-19 are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.

Bulli Bai App Case: Police said that the accused has been identified as Niraj Bishnoi, a second year B.Tech CSE from Vellore Institute of Technology in Bhopal.

The COSC, in the meeting, also took stock of the integrated capability development plan —a combined capability development plan of three defence services for a period of 10 years.

Uttar Pradesh BJP social media cell has made preparations for the e-rally of around 1.5 lakh people. Digital rallies will start if Covid cases keep on increasing even after January 10.

On the other hand, 16 patients of this coronavirus variant were discharged from hospitals, which took the total of Omicron infection recoveries to 112.

Of the 72 samples, whose reports arrived in the first three days of this year, 47 were found to be infected with the Omicron variant, while Delta and its sublineages were found in 20 samples.

The active cases have increased to 2,14,004, comprising 0.61 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.01 per cent, the health ministry said.

The government specifically asked to ensure supply of cough syrups, paracetamol tablets, Vitamin C, zinc tablets, azithromycin and ivermectin.

Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the WHO, warned that health systems could get overwhelmed amid a 'sudden and huge' surge in coronavirus cases.

The ministry asserted that the Centre has released 50 per cent of the funds earmarked for states and Union Territories and not 26.14 per cent as claimed in the news report.

Hundreds of villagers who gathered around the spot alleged that the man was involved in the illegal felling of trees for stealing wood.

In Uttar Pradesh, 572 fresh cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours with zero deaths.

Omicron, the latest variant, is fast spreading across the country, with all major cities of India affected by it.