India has reported 14 more positive cases for the variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus from UK here on Wednesday. This takes the total number of positive cases for the new variant to 20 now.
Meanwhile, India has extended the suspension of flights to and from U.K. till January 7. The ban was set to expire at December 31 midnight.
So far, the presence of the new U.K. variant has been reported by the U.S., Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are live updates:
Suspension of India-U.K. flights extended till January 7
The temporary suspension on flights to and from the U.K. has been extended till Jan 7, 2021, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri said on Twitter.
"Thereafter strictly regulated resumption will take place for which details will be announced shortly," he added.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation had on December 21 announced its decision to ban all flights to the U.K. from December 22 midnight until December 31 in an effort to keep out a new highly infectious coronavirus strain that is rapidly spreading in England .
India reports 20,549 new cases
India's COVID-19 caseload increased to 1,02,44,852 with 20,549 new infections being reported in a day while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98.34 lakh pushing the national recovery rate to 95.99 %, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll increased to 1,48,439 with 286 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98,34,141 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.99%, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45%.
The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh for the ninth consecutive day.
There are 2,62,272 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 2.56% of the total caseload, the data stated. - PTI
First reported U.S. case of COVID-19 variant found in Colorado
The first reported U.S. case of the COVID-19 variant that’s been seen in the United Kingdom has been discovered in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis announced.
The coronavirus variant was found in a man in his 20s who is in isolation southeast of Denver and has no travel history, State health officials said on Tuesday.
The Colorado State Laboratory confirmed the virus variant, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was notified.
No ‘COVID leave’ without proof in Delhi police
“Coming in contact with a COVID-positive patient” may no longer be a valid reason to avail of leave for Delhi policemen.
Call it a sign of normalcy returning to the city or a depleted force trying to optimise the available human resource, leave requests that were being granted on this precautionary ground for the past few months will have to go through a stricter scrutiny now. Only those who are confirmed COVID-19 positive and have the documents declaring the same can take pandemic-related medical leave.
An order issued by the office of a senior police officer has instructed all police districts and other units to allow leave only to those police personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19.
