India's Weekly COVID-19 Positivity Rate Rises By 11% Amid Concerns Over Global Increase In Cases

India has registered a total of 157 fresh COVID-19 cases, against the 196 reported the previous day, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

There were no COVID deaths reported in the same period. The active caseload currently stands at 3,421 cases, accounting for 0.01 per cent of the country's total positive cases.

Slight uptick in new COVID cases

The weekly and daily positivity rates stood at 0.18 per cent and 0.32 per cent, respectively.

AFP

While overall numbers remain very low, cases rose 11% from the previous week¡¯s tally of 1,103 to 1,219.

The slight increase in cases comes as the country has been preparing for a possible fourth wave of COVID-19.

Mock drills across India

On Tuesday, mock drills were conducted across India to assess COVID-19 management preparedness, in case of another wave of the pandemic.

Centre had asked all states and UTs to hold mock drills at all health facilities, including identified Covid dedicated health facilities across the country on December 27.

AFP

In a letter to the states, the Centre had directed that during this exercise, focus shall be on the geographically representative availability of health facilities covering all districts, bed capacities like isolation beds, oxygen supported isolation beds, ICU beds and ventilator supported beds and optimal availability of human resource.

"Today mock drills are being conducted across all Covid hospitals in the country to make sure that people get proper treatment. The Government is also preparing to fight the pandemic if cases surge in the country", Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya who visited Safdarjung Hospital to review the mock drill, said.

AFP

Guidelines for New Year celebrations

With the New Year, just days away several states have announced restrictions and guidelines for the celebrations.

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday said the BF.7 variant of COVID-19 is transmissible with low virulence, but emphasised that senior citizens, children and pregnant women must remain cautious.

Karnataka government on Monday mandated the use of masks at cinema theatres and educational institutions and asked sections of population including the elders to avoid crowded gatherings.

BCCL

Two doses of COVID vaccination is compulsory at bars, restaurants and pubs, which will operate only up to the seating capacity for the New Year celebrations that should end by 1 am on January 1, it said.

The Delhi government on Monday directed all public hospitals in the national capital to ramp up preparations and augment supplies in anticipation of rising infections in the coming days.

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