Bihar CM Nitish Kumar tests Covid-19 positive

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday tested Covid-19 positive and is currently under home isolation on doctor's advice, informed the Chief Minister's Office.

As per information provided by the Bihar Chief Medical Officer, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appealed to everyone to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Earlier on January 4, the Bihar Government imposed a fresh curb by implementing a statewide night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am from January 6 to 21. Also read | Amid Covid surge, Jaipur Literature Festival postponed As per an order by the Bihar Government, "Pre-school and classes 1 to 8 to remain close, online classes will continue. Educational institutions of classes 9 to 12 will function on 50 per cent capacity. Restrictions are to remain in effect from January 6 to 21." It further read, "Night curfew will be imposed from 10 pm to 5 am. Religious places to remain closed. Malls, cinemas, clubs, swimming pools, stadiums, gyms, parks will also remain close till January 21." Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday also tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently under home quarantine with “mild symptoms”. “I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” tweeted the Defence Minister. Meanwhile, India reported 1,79,723 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the daily positivity rate in the country to 13.29 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. A total of 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported so far. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases (1,216), followed by Rajasthan (529) and Delhi (513). As India witnesses a steep surge in Covid-19 cases and its Omicron variant, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Lav Aggarwal emphasised home isolation to deal with it and advised people to rely on only authentic sources of information and avoid creating a panic situation as the infection caused by Omicron variant is mild. Also read | Health ministry issues guidelines for Omicron patients; details inside Addressing a virtual meeting on Monday, Lav Aggarwal said, “One must only trust the authentic source of information, not any information that might create panic. We should become more responsible collectively.” -PTC News