Covid India Latest Updates: Delhi Imposes Weekend Curfew; More Information Inside

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has decided to implement a weekend curfew in the city to combat the Covid-19 surge. During the weekend curfew, no non-essential movement will be permitted.

According to instructions, government offices in the city must allow employees to work from home, while private companies must operate at 50% capacity on weekends. The decision was made during a meeting of the DDMA, which was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. The issue of implementing more restrictions in Delhi was raised during the meeting since the city has seen a large increase in Covid-19 infections in recent days.

 On Monday, Delhi reported 4,099 new Covid-19 cases, with the positive rate increasing to 6.46 percent. 

Top Updates on Covid-19/Omicron: 

• The prevalence of the Omicron variant is steadily increasing. In the last 8-10 days, Delhi has recorded over 11,000 positive cases, of which approximately 350 people are in hospital, only 124 patients require oxygen, and 7 are on a ventilator. 

• To reduce congestion outside metro stations and bus stops, buses and metro trains will once again run at full seating capacity.

• To combat the COVID surge, the DDMA has decided to implement a curfew in Delhi on Saturdays and Sundays.

• Except for those engaged in essential services, all government officials will work from home. 50% workforce of private offices will work from home.

• 33 COVID positive cases have been detected at Lucknow's Medanta Hospital - 32 hospital staff and 1 emergency doctor. All are asymptomatic; additional workers and physicians are being screened, and contaminated departments are being sanitized.  

• Punjab COVID-19 cases have been reported at the Government Medical College in Patiala. All of the cases are most likely of the Omicron type. The samples have been sent to be sequenced for the genome. The administration of Patiala has planned to shut all educational institutions.

• Three Bengal tourists tested positive for Omicron in Odisha's Puri. According to reports, the hotel has been designated as a micro-containment zone.

• Odisha saw the greatest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases in over three months on Tuesday, with 680 more people testing positive, according to the Health Department. 

• The daily positivity rate increased to 1.31 percent, with 119 youngsters among those tested positive in the past 24 hours.

• AIIMS, Delhi cancels the remaining part of winter vacation from January 5 to January 10; asks faculty members to join duty 'with immediate effect'.