India saw a single-day surge of 702 COVID-19 cases,&nbsp;with the number of active cases rising to 4,097, the health ministry said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 28).

Six deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours: two from Maharashtra and one each from Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and Delhi, news agency PTI reported citing health ministry's data updated at 8 am local time.

The country had recorded 752 new cases on Dec 22.

The number of daily cases had fallen to double-digits at the beginning of this month. However, they shot up again after the emergence of a new coronavirus variant and cold weather conditions.

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<h2>Genome sequencing ordered for detection of JN.1 variant, says Delhi health minister</h2>

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said that he has restated directions to carry out genome sequencing of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in order to detect the JN.1 variant.

He said that the government had accelerated Covid testing with 636 tests conducted on Wednesday. "I have reiterated the directions for genome sequencing of all the positive cases so that the number of cases of new variants can be confirmed. Yesterday, three were confirmed, of which two were of the old Omicron variant and the new one is the JN.1 variant. The good thing is that the patient diagnosed with the new variant, who was hospitalised, has been discharged," he told PTI Video.

He said that four patients were at present admitted to the hospital.

India's capital Delhi, meanwhile, reported its first case of the JN.1 variant.

With this, the total count of COVID-19 cases detected in India since its outbreak in Jan 2020 has reached 4,50,10,944, with an increase of 702 cases in a span of 24 hours.

The total death toll due to coronavirus cases in India has risen to 5,33,346, reflecting an increase of six deaths in the last 24 hours.

(With inputs from agencies)

India saw a single-day surge of 702 COVID-19 cases, with the number of active cases rising to 4,097, the health ministry said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 28).

India saw a single-day surge of 702 COVID-19 cases, with the number of active cases rising to 4,097, the health ministry said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 28). Six deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours: two from Maharashtra and one each from Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and Delhi, news agency PTI reported citing health ministry's data updated at 8 am local time. The country had recorded 752 new cases on Dec 22. The number of daily cases had fallen to double-digits at the beginning of this month. However, they shot up again after the emergence of a new coronavirus variant and cold weather conditions. Also read: Actor, DMDK founder-leader Vijayakanth dies after testing positive for Covid Genome sequencing ordered for detection of JN.1 variant, says Delhi health minister Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said that he has restated directions to carry out genome sequencing of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in order to detect the JN.1 variant. He said that the government had accelerated Covid testing with 636 tests conducted on Wednesday. "I have reiterated the directions for genome sequencing of all the positive cases so that the number of cases of new variants can be confirmed. Yesterday, three were confirmed, of which two were of the old Omicron variant and the new one is the JN.1 variant. The good thing is that the patient diagnosed with the new variant, who was hospitalised, has been discharged," he told PTI Video. He said that four patients were at present admitted to the hospital. India's capital Delhi, meanwhile, reported its first case of the JN.1 variant. With this, the total count of COVID-19 cases detected in India since its outbreak in Jan 2020 has reached 4,50,10,944, with an increase of 702 cases in a span of 24 hours. The total death toll due to coronavirus cases in India has risen to 5,33,346, reflecting an increase of six deaths in the last 24 hours. (With inputs from agencies)

India Covid update: 6 deaths, 702 new cases in 24 hours, total active cases at 4,097

India has recorded its highest daily Covid tally in three months with 8,329 cases being detected in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said in its data.

This is the highest tally since February 28, when 8,013 cases were reported. The death toll also saw a marginal increase with 10 new fatalities being recorded, taking the toll due to the disease to 52,4757.

Among the countries where the new fatalities have been recorded are—Kerala (5), Delhi (2) and one each from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

The active cases now comprise 0.09 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.69 per cent, the ministry said.

An increase of 4,103 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, the data showed.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,26,48,308, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent.

The cumulative number of doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 19.4 billion.

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The surge in active cases has triggered concerns about a fourth wave in the country while new variants are being reported across the world.

However, a top official from the Indian Council of Medical Research has said that there is still no need to panic about the possible fourth wave of coronavirus hitting the country soon.

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“It's wrong to say the 4th wave is coming, we need to examine district-level data. A high number of cases in a few districts can't be considered as a uniform increase in cases across the whole country,” Samiran Panda, ADG, ICMR said, according to ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)

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India has recorded its highest daily Covid tally in three months with 8,329 cases being detected in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said in its data. This is the highest tally since February 28, when 8,013 cases were reported.

India has recorded its highest daily Covid tally in three months with 8,329 cases being detected in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said in its data. This is the highest tally since February 28, when 8,013 cases were reported. The death toll also saw a marginal increase with 10 new fatalities being recorded, taking the toll due to the disease to 52,4757. Among the countries where the new fatalities have been recorded are—Kerala (5), Delhi (2) and one each from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The active cases now comprise 0.09 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.69 per cent, the ministry said. An increase of 4,103 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, the data showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,26,48,308, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent. The cumulative number of doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 19.4 billion. Also read | Now, India can safeguard animals against Covid with its own jab, Anocovax The surge in active cases has triggered concerns about a fourth wave in the country while new variants are being reported across the world. However, a top official from the Indian Council of Medical Research has said that there is still no need to panic about the possible fourth wave of coronavirus hitting the country soon. Also read | Covid-19: Moderna vaccine effective and safe for kids under the age of 5 “It's wrong to say the 4th wave is coming, we need to examine district-level data. A high number of cases in a few districts can't be considered as a uniform increase in cases across the whole country,” Samiran Panda, ADG, ICMR said, according to ANI. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India records massive jump in Covid cases with over 8,300 infections; highest in 3 months

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a coronavirus (COVID-19) review meeting on Thursday (January 13) amid a sharp increase in the number of virus cases in the country after the emergence of the Omicron variant.&nbsp;

The Indian Prime Minister will interact with the chief ministers of all states at 4:30pm (local time) via video conferencing to assess the COVID situation.&nbsp;

The meeting scheduled for Thursday is this year's first meeting of the Prime Minister with the chief ministers.&nbsp;

It is expected that PM Modi will discuss state-specific scenarios, best practices and the public health response to counter the Covid threat.&nbsp;

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As per the data on Thursday, India registered 2,47,417 fresh COVID-19 cases (27% higher than yesterday) and 84,825 recoveries in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;

The active cases in the country are 11,17,531 and the daily positivity rate is at 13.11 per cent. The confirmed Covid cases caused by the Omicron variant are 5,488.&nbsp;

Dr VK Paul, who is a NITI Aayog member, had cautioned on Wednesday that the infection caused by the Omicron variant of coronavirus should not be considered common cold and people should not take it lightly.&nbsp;

"Omicron is replacing Delta variant of COVID-19 as it is highly transmissible. It should be considered as the common cold. Normally, the transmission or expansion of the pandemic would take longer but this time it has been very rapid because of the high transmissibility," he said at the Health Ministry media briefing.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a coronavirus (COVID-19) review meeting on Thursday (January 13) amid a sharp increase in the number of virus cases in the country after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a coronavirus (COVID-19) review meeting on Thursday (January 13) amid a sharp increase in the number of virus cases in the country after the emergence of the Omicron variant. The Indian Prime Minister will interact with the chief ministers of all states at 4:30pm (local time) via video conferencing to assess the COVID situation. The meeting scheduled for Thursday is this year's first meeting of the Prime Minister with the chief ministers. It is expected that PM Modi will discuss state-specific scenarios, best practices and the public health response to counter the Covid threat. ALSO READ | At UNSC, India calls for release of its nationals on board UAE-flagged vessel seized by Houthis As per the data on Thursday, India registered 2,47,417 fresh COVID-19 cases (27% higher than yesterday) and 84,825 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The active cases in the country are 11,17,531 and the daily positivity rate is at 13.11 per cent. The confirmed Covid cases caused by the Omicron variant are 5,488. Dr VK Paul, who is a NITI Aayog member, had cautioned on Wednesday that the infection caused by the Omicron variant of coronavirus should not be considered common cold and people should not take it lightly. "Omicron is replacing Delta variant of COVID-19 as it is highly transmissible. It should be considered as the common cold. Normally, the transmission or expansion of the pandemic would take longer but this time it has been very rapid because of the high transmissibility," he said at the Health Ministry media briefing. ALSO READ | Who is S Somanath? Here’s all you need to know about newly appointed ISRO Chairman ×

Amid rise in COVID-19 cases, PM Narendra Modi to chair meet with chief ministers

India on Saturday recorded 10,929 fresh coronavirus cases that took its infection tally to 3,43,44,683, while 392 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,60,265, according to Union health ministry data.

The number of active cases came down to 1,46,950 from 1,48,922 on Friday, the data updated at 8 am showed.

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The daily rise in COVID-19 cases has been below 20,000 for 29 straight days. Less than 50,000 daily cases have been reported for 132 consecutive days now.

The active cases comprise 0.43 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March last year. The national recovery rate stands at 98.23 per cent, the highest since March last year, the ministry said.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.35 per cent. It has remained below 2 per cent for the last 33 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.27 per cent. It has remained below 2 per cent for the last 43 days, the data stated.

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India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

India's caseload crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.&nbsp;

India on Saturday recorded 10,929 fresh coronavirus cases that took its infection tally to 3,43,44,683, while 392 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,60,265, according to Union health ministry data.

India on Saturday recorded 10,929 fresh coronavirus cases that took its infection tally to 3,43,44,683, while 392 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,60,265, according to Union health ministry data. The number of active cases came down to 1,46,950 from 1,48,922 on Friday, the data updated at 8 am showed. Also Read | Pfizer's experimental Covid pill reduces hospitalisations and deaths, company claims The daily rise in COVID-19 cases has been below 20,000 for 29 straight days. Less than 50,000 daily cases have been reported for 132 consecutive days now. The active cases comprise 0.43 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March last year. The national recovery rate stands at 98.23 per cent, the highest since March last year, the ministry said. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.35 per cent. It has remained below 2 per cent for the last 33 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.27 per cent. It has remained below 2 per cent for the last 43 days, the data stated. Also Read | Britain becomes first country to approve Merck's anti-COVID-19 pill India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India's caseload crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

India adds 10,929 COVID-19 cases, 392 deaths

A Indian govt appointed committee claims that India's COVID-19 outbreak seems to have peaked. The govt led scientific committee claims that the outbreak is now on decline in the country.

Govt panel: COVID-19 outbreak now on decline in India