A health official takes swab sample of a person on a street for COVID-19 test, amid concern over rising Omicron cases, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
Live news updates: A “grand statue” of Subhas Chandra Bose will come up at Delhi’s India Gate to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The granite statue would be symbol of India’s indebtedness to him, said Modi as he posted on social media a hologram image of the memorial.
India reported 347,254 new cases of Covid-19 and 703 deaths from the disease, said the health ministry on Friday.
Total cases increased to 38.57 million and pandemic deaths stand at 488,396. Active cases now comprise 5.23 per cent of the total infections and the national recovery rate has decreased to 93.50 per cent, said the ministry. The daily positivity rate is up from 16.41 per cent to 17.94 per cent.
Delhi’s government on Friday recommended lifting weekend curfews–from 10 pm Fridays to 5 am Mondays–as Covid cases decline. Shops and commercial establishments, which had been allowed to operate on the odd-even basis to limit crowds in public spaces, can now open on all days, said reports about the government’s proposal to Lt Governor Anil Baijal.