Delhi surpasses Maharashtra in Omicron caseload; India reports 214 cases
India has reported 214 cases of COVID19's Omicron variant so far. Delhi and Maharashtra are contributing more than half of the country’s Omicron cases. According to the Union Health Ministry, the new variant is at least three times more transmissible than the Delta strain.
The national capital has reported 57 Omicron cases. Photo: Pixabay
Delhi has surpassed Maharashtra in Omicron caseload as the national capital reported 57 cases of the new variant while Maharashtra reported 54 cases of Omicron.
So far, India has reported 214 Omicron cases. Delhi and Maharashtra are together contributing to more than half of the Omicron cases in the country.
In the wake of the rising Omicron cases in the national capital, Delhi government on December 20 announced that it will conduct a genome test of all COVID19 cases. Earlier, only samples of travellers from abroad were being sent for genome sequencing.
Omicron 3x times transmissible than Delta
On December 2, the country reported its first Omicron case in the southern state of Karnataka. The variant has spread to at least 13 states and Union Territories. The statewise data shows that Telangana has 24 cases of the Omicron variant followed by Karnataka (19), Rajasthan (18), Kerala (15), Gujarat (14), and Uttar Pradesh (2), Odisha (2), Jammu & Kashmir (3), while Chandigarh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have reported one case each. As per media reports, two cases of Omicron have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, taking India’s Omicron tally to 214.
In a letter to the states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is at least three times more transmissible than the Delta strain.
“Based on current scientific evidence, the VOC [Variant of Concern] Omicron is at least 3 times more transmissible than the Delta VOC. Besides, the Delta VOC is still present in different parts of the country. Hence, even greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision making and strict & prompt containment action is required at the local and district level,” read the letter dated December 21.
A new research shows that the Omicron variant is 70 times more infectious than the Delta variant which wreaked havoc during the second wave of coronavirus in India.
Also Read: COVID19’s Omicron variant infects 70 times faster than the Delta: Study
The health secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised that if the positivity rate of cases in a district is more than 10 per cent, or over 40 per cent of oxygen-supported and intensive care unit hospital beds are occupied for a week, the authorities should immediately enforce strict containment measures and restrictions.
In the wake of the rising Omicron cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a meeting to review COVID19-related situations in India tomorrow on December 23.
Meanwhile, India reported 6,317 new COVID19 cases and 318 deaths yesterday on December 22. As per the Union Health Ministry, the current recovery rate in India stands at 98.40 per cent. This the central government claims is the highest since March 2020.