Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 1,247 cases followed by Rajasthan at 645, Delhi 546, Karnataka 479 and Kerala 350…reports Asian Lite News
India recorded 1,68,063 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 3,58,75,790 which includes 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The active cases rose to 8,21,446, the highest in 208 days, while the number of deaths climbed to 4,84,213 with 277 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
Of the total 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, 1,711 people have recovered or migrated so far.
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Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 1,247 cases followed by Rajasthan at 645, Delhi 546, Karnataka 479 and Kerala 350.
The active cases comprise 2.29 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate decreased to 96.36 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 97,827 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
Delhi’s private offices ordered to close
All private offices in Delhi will send employees into Work-From-Home in new Covid rules to tackle the surge in cases. Only offices considered essential services will be exempted.
Till now, offices had been asked to function with half their employees in office and the rest at home. Government offices in the city are working with 50 percent attendance.
Those exempted from the new rule include private banks, offices providing essential services, insurance companies, pharma companies, microfinance companies, lawyers’ offices and courier services.
The decision was taken by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Yesterday, Delhi shut restaurants and bars and said only takeaways and home delivery would be allowed.
Delhi reported over 19,000 new cases yesterday, marginally lower than Sunday’s 22,751. The positivity rate stood at 25 per cent yesterday, the highest since May 5. The city also reported 17 deaths.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said cases in the city are likely to peak “in one or two days, definitely this week”, and infections in the Third Wave will start dipping after that.
1,000 Delhi cops test positive
Around 1,000 Delhi Police personnel have got infected with Covid-19 since January 1, officials said on Monday.
A Delhi Police official said that all these police personnel are home quarantined and recovering well.
The affected comprise 18 IPS officers – a Joint CP, four Additional CPs, and 13 DCPs.
“As of now, no one has been hospitalised. Police Department is taking all the precautions to make sure virus doesn’t spread more. Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana is personally looking into the matter,” the official said, adding that they are providing all kinds of help to their affected personnel.
“This is the third wave of Covid. We have faced two waves, controlling law and order. But this time, we are suffering more,” said the police official.
The Delhi Police officials were the first to take Covid vaccines as frontline workers. The total strength of the Delhi Police, which is around 90,000, has been given both the doses of the vaccine
Not only the Delhi Police, but the Mumbai Police Department is also facing a tough time in the third wave, with at least 523 cases of coronavirus among its ranks, including 114 in the last 48 hours.
Meanwhile, DG Prison, Sandeep Goel said that 46 prisoners and 43 officials, across the three jails, tested positive for Covid.
MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt tests positive
After Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt also tested positive for Covid on Monday.
In a tweet in the evening, Bhatt said: “I have tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms. Have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch with me in the last few days, kindly isolate and get tested.”
Earlier, Rajnath Singh announced that he was Covid positive.
“I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” he had tweeted.
Responding, Bhatt said: “Get Well Soon @rajnathsingh ji. Prayers for your speedy recovery.”
Former Union Minister and Lok Sabha member Rajyavardhan Rathore also tested positive for Covid on Monday.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar had tested positive on Sunday. In a tweet, he had said: “And after succeeding in avoiding #COVID19 for last 21 months, it finally catches up wth me tdy as I tested +ve tdy.”
Recently several Union Ministers tested positive for Covid. These include Mahendra Nath Pandey, Raosaheb Patil Danve, Bharti Pawar, Nityanand Rai, and S.P. Singh Baghel.
BJP MPs Varun Gandhi and Manoj Tiwari also tested positive for Covid. Tiwari, however, has recovered from infection as a recent report on Saturday came negative.
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