Coronavirus India Latest Updates: Serum Institute Seeks Permission For Covishield Booster

India's active cases fell below one lakh as fresh infections stayed below 10,000 for the fifth straight day, at a time countries around the world impose travel curbs and take measures against the omicron variant.

As many as 8,954 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Dec. 1. That compares with nearly 10,207 recoveries during the period.

India's active caseload now stands at 99,023. Such cases fell below one lakh in 547 days, or since June 2, 2020.

Key Figures:

• Total confirmed cases: 3,45,96,776

• Total number of active cases: 99,023

• Total patients cured/discharged/migrated: 3,40,28,506

• Total deaths: 4,69,247

• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 8,954

• One-day recoveries: 10,207

• One-day deaths: 267

• Vaccines given in the last 24 hours: 80,98,716

• Total vaccines administered: 1,24,10,86,850

The Serum Institute of India has asked for permission to use its Covishield vaccine as a booster, citing adequate stock and emergence of new variants of the virus, the PTI reported citing unnamed sources.

The company, which makes and sells the Oxford- AstraZeneca Plc shot in India, filed the application with the Drug Controller General of India, the report said, pointing out that there was no shortage of vaccine in India. It also cited the example of the U.K. that has approved booster doses, the report said.

Serum Institute recently got permission to resume exports for Covax, the global distribution programme.

The Maharashtra government has issued revised guidelines in view of concerns around the emerging omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Key takeaways:

• All international passengers from risk countries will undergo self-paid post arrival Covid-19 test and compulsorily undergo institutional quarantine for one week. They also shall undergo Covid RT-PCR tests on 2nd, 4th and 7th day post-arrival.

• Domestic passengers landing in Mumbai must show a RT-PCR test with negative result taken within 72 hours of departure. In exceptional cases like family distress, etc, testing may be allowed on arrival at the airport.

• Domestic air passengers travelling within the state will either have to be fully vaccinated or compulsorily carry a RT-PCR test within 48 hours of the time of arrival.

• Passengers from other states, negative RT-PCR test within 48 hours of arrival will be compulsory without exceptions.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in a tweet, said that the resumption of international passenger flights is being reviewed. Earlier, the resumption was planned from Dec. 15.

“The situation is being watched closely in consultation with all stakeholders and an appropriate decision indicating the effective resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services shall be notified in due course," it tweeted.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest guidelines in view of the omicron variant, which has been now classified as Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization, come into effect starting today.

A gist of the new guidelines:

• All travellers should submit self-declaration form and a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test, conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey, on the Air Suvidha portal before the scheduled travel, including travel details of the last 14 days.

• Passengers originating or transiting from at-risk countries shall be informed by the airlines that they will undergo post arrival testing, quarantine if tested negative, stringent isolation protocols if tested positive.

• If tested negative passengers will follow, home quarantine for 7 days. Re-test on the eighth day of arrival in India and if negative, further self-monitor of their health for next 7 days.

• If such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network. They shall be managed at separate isolation facility and treated as per laid down standard protocol including contact tracing.

• Travellers from countries excluding those countries at risk, will be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival. A sub-section (2% of the total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival.

• The 2% of such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries).

List of countries declared at-risk:

• Countries in Europe including The United Kingdom

• South Africa

• Brazil

• Botswana

• China

• Mauritius

• New Zealand

• Zimbabwe

• Singapore

• Hong Kong

• Israel