By Online Desk
Amid the Omicron outbreak and growing COVID-19 cases in country, Election Commission on Thursday dismissed possibilities of state elections getting delayed next year.
“Representatives of all political parties met us and told us that elections should be conducted on time following all COVID-19 protocols,” Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said.
“VVPATs to be installed at all voting booths. Live webcasting facilities will be available at around 1 lakh voting booths to ensure transparency in election process. 61% voter turnout was recorded in 2017 UP assembly elections. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, voter turnout in UP was 59%. It a matter of worry why voting percentage is less in the state where there is high political awareness among people,” he added further on UP elections.
“Voting during Assembly elections will be held from 8 am to 6 pm on the date of polling,” he informed the media.
India recorded the highest single day rise of Omicron infections with 180 fresh cases, taking the total tally of such infections in the country to 961, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The 961 cases have been detected across 22 states and UTs so far, and 320 people have recovered or migrated.
Delhi recorded the maximum number of 263 cases followed by Maharashtra at 252, Gujarat 97, Rajasthan 69, Kerala 65 and Telangana 62.
The daily rise in COVID-19 cases crossed the 13,000 mark after around 49 days, taking the total tally to 3,48,22,040, while the active cases increased to 82,402, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The death toll has climbed to 4,80,860 with 268 fresh fatalities, the data stated.
A total of 13,091 new coronavirus infections were reported in a span of 24 hours on November 11.
People above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities, and COVID affected people who are unable to come to the polling booth, the Election Commission will reach their doorsteps for vote: CEC Sushil Chandra on 2022 UP Assembly elections @NewIndianXpress @khogensingh1
— Namita_TNIE (@Namita_TNIE) December 30, 2021
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 63 days now.
The active cases comprise 0.24 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.38 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 5,400 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The active cases comprise 0.24 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.38 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 5,400 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.10 per cent.
It has been less than two per cent for last 87 days.
The weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 0.76 per cent.
It has been below one per cent for the last 46 days, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,42,58,778, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.38 per cent.
The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 143.83 crore.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.
It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
The 268 new fatalities include 211 from Kerala and 20 from Maharashtra.
A total of 4,80,860 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,41,496 from Maharashtra, 47,277 from Kerala, 38,324 from Karnataka, 36,758 from Tamil Nadu, 25,107 from Delhi, 22,915 from Uttar Pradesh and 19,745 from West Bengal.
The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.
“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
(With PTI and ANI Inputs)
