Omicron Coronavirus India Live Updates: Schools, cinemas, gyms shut in Delhi, shops in malls to operate on odd-even basis

Schools, cinemas, gyms shut in Delhi, shops in malls to operate on odd-even basis

Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday ordered closure of schools, colleges, cinemas and gyms with immediate effect and put various restrictions on the functioning of shops and public transport as a yellow alert was sounded under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The ‘yellow’ alert restrictions stipulate that shops and establishments of non-essential goods and services and malls will open based on odd-even formula from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The timing of night curfew imposed from Monday night has also been extended by an hour and it will now begin at 10 pm. The night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am will remain in force till further orders, stated the order issued by the DDMA.

Puducherry reports first Omicron cases

The Union Territory of Puducherry reported its first two cases of Omicron variant on Tuesday.

According to Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr G. Sriramalu, while one of the patients is an 80-year-old person from Kandacrathottam, the second is a 20-year-old woman from Navarkulam, Lawspet, on the border of Puducherry and Villupuram.

"Such persons are expected to obtain the advice of their doctor before deciding to avail of precaution dose," Union Health Ministry added.

All persons aged 60 years and above with co-morbidities will not be required to produce/submit any certificate from the doctor, at the time of administration of precaution dose: Union Health Ministry

South Africa study suggests Omicron enhances neutralising immunity against Delta

Union Health Ministry advises States/UTs to train vaccinators for the administration of vaccines to 15-18yr olds. The Ministry says dedicated centres can be established for the same, and only Covaxin will be administered with a proper training: Sources

As the COVID19 positivity rate has been above 0.5% for the past few days, we are enforcing Level-I (Yellow alert) of the Graded Response Action Plan. A detailed order on restrictions to be implemented will be released soon: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (ANI)

Sourav Ganguly, BCCI President, got admitted at Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital on Dec 27 with Covid status. He received monoclonal anti-body cocktail therapy and is currently stable: Dr Rupali Basu MD & CEO, Woodlands Hospital, Kolkata

Maharashtra school education minister, Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, tests positive for Covid-19. Has mild symptoms. (ANI)

Omicron case tally stands at 653.