A look at the top Covid-19 developments of the day:

  1. Kerala reported 9,066 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Mathrubhumi. The single-day caseload was 56.39% higher than Monday’s tally of 5,797 infections. The state health department added 277 deaths to the toll under the government’s revised rules to certify Covid-19 fatalities. On Tuesday, the toll stood at 50,053.
  2. Delhi reported 21,259 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, while 23 patients died due to the disease in the last 24 hours, government data showed. The positivity rate rose to 25.65% from 25% on Monday. The number of active cases in the city stood at 74,881. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has issued an advisory asking all hospitals to ensure that coronavirus patients with comorbidities are treated by specialists, reported PTI. The advisory noted that the city had reported 70 deaths from medical facilities since the last week of December.
  3. The Karnataka government extended the coronavirus restrictions imposed in the state till January end, reported The Indian Express. The decision was taken at a meeting between Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, members of the Technical Advisory Committee and other officials. It was also decided that deputy commissioners have been authorise to decide on closing of schools in their districts, the chief minister’s office said.
  4. Another first information report has been filed against Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and 40 other party leaders for taking out a rally in violation of coronavirus restrictions, reported PTI. The case was registered for defying restrictions on Monday when party leaders and workers marched about 15 km from Shivakumar’s native Doddalahalli village to Kanakapura.
  5. The United States on Monday recorded 14.8 lakh new cases of the coronavirus disease, the highest single-day count in any country, according to Johns Hopkins University. With this, the total cases count in the country has increased to 6,15,58,085. With 1,906 deaths being reported on Monday, the toll increased to 8,39,500.
  6. The new guidelines on international passengers making it mandatory for those arriving in India to undergo a 7-day quarantine came into effect on Tuesday. Those who test negative for the RT-PCR test conducted at the airport will have to quarantine, while passengers who test positive will be accommodated at an isolation facility. Their samples will be sent for genome sequencing.  
  7. Dr NK Arora, the chairperson of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, said that Merck’s anti-viral pill molnupiravir should be given to senior citizens, particularly those with comorbidities, reported ANI. The pill reportedly reduces the risk of hospitalisations and deaths.
  8. Employees of all private offices in Delhi will work from home as the city’s disaster management authority announced new curbs on Tuesday to curb the rising coronavirus cases. However, firms that fall under the “exempted category” can continue to operate.
  9. Singer Lata Mangeshkar has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 92-year-old has been admitted to intensive care unit of Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital and is being treated for mild symptoms.
  10. India registered 1,68,063 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday morning, taking the overall tally to 3,58,75,790 since the pandemic began in the country in January 2020. The number of new cases was 6.93% fewer than Monday’s count of 1,79,723 cases. The active cases increased to 8,21,446 – the highest in 208 days. The daily positivity rate stood at 10.65%.