Karnataka eases Covid curbs; complete lockdown in Kerala & Tamil Nadu on Sunday: Key points

NEW DELHI: India's daily Covid cases neared the 3.5 lakh mark by the last count. Daily deaths too have been on an uptick over the last few weeks.
However most of the infections have been mild with lower rates of hospitalisation. No crisis of beds or medical essentials like drugs or Oxygen have been reported from any part of the country.
Some states are moving to relax curbs imposed to contain the current wave of infections.
Daily cases highest since April-May surge
India on Friday logged 3.47 fresh Covid cases, a figure last seen in mid May, when the second wave was in its receding phase after hitting a peak early that month. The number of active cases too have matched the figures last seen in end-May.
However unlike last time, hospitalisations have been relatively low and most patients are reporting milder symptoms. Many of those getting hospitalised in the current phase are reported to have other existing ailments.
The number of daily fatalities due too have seen a steady rise. India recorded 703 deaths on Friday a surge of over 40% surge from Thursday.
Karnataka to open schools, end weekend curfews
The Karnataka government has decided to withdraw the statewide weekend curfew with immediate effect. Hoewver the night curfew, from 10pm to 5am, will be in force.
However the government said that the curbs could be brought back if the state's hospitalisation rate exceeds 5 per cent.
The government also decided to reopen schools and colleges from Monday in all districts, barring Bengaluru. But in the case of about seven students testing positive on campuses, the institution will remain closed for three days.
Complete lockdown in Tamil Nadu, Kerala on Jan 23
Tamil Nadu has announced complete lockdown on Sunday, january 23 amid rising Covid cases. In a release, the state government said the restrictions and relaxations like the operation of essential services imposed on January 16 will be in place.
Kerala too has decided to keep January 23 and 30 (both Sundays) as a near lockdown with only essential activities permitted.
Delhi LG turns down proposal to end night curfew
The Delhi government had said that the Omicron wave is past its peak in the national capital. On Friday it proposed withdrawing the night curfew currently in force.
However Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal rejected the government's proposal. Baijal agreed to 50 per cent attendance in private offices but said that the status quo be maintained with regards to weekend curfew and opening of markets.
6 people per mobile number on CoWin for jabs
The Union health ministry on Friday said that six people can now be registered for Covid vaccination on Co-WIN using one mobile number. Earlier, the limit was four.
It also said that with a new utility under the “Raise an Issue” section of Co-WIN, a beneficiary can revoke the current vaccination status from fully vaccinated to partially vaccinated or unvaccinated status and also partially vaccinated to unvaccinated status.
It said that after submitting the online request through “Raise an Issue”, the change may take three to seven days to appear.
The ministry asserted that no data has leaked from the Co-WIN portal and the entire information collected is safe and secure. The digital platform does not collect either the address of a person nor the RT-PCR test results for Covid vaccination, it clarified.