New Delhi: India reported 1,94,720 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, 15.8 per cent higher than yesterday’s 1.68 lakh cases. The daily positivity rate – or number of people infected per 100 tests – is 11.5 per cent, this morning’s government data shows.
The country has so far reported 4,868 cases of Omicron infection, the highly transmissible coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa. Maharashtra has the most Omicron cases with 1,281, followed by Rajasthan with 645 cases.
Over 153 crore vaccine doses have been administered in India since the time inoculation started, making a significant milestone in the fight against COVID-19.
India is giving booster dose to frontline medical workers and those above 60 with comorbidities. Despite this, the Omicron variant is “almost unstoppable” and everyone will eventually be infected with it, a top government expert told NDTV yesterday.
Booster vaccine doses won’t stop the rapid spread of the virus, said Dr Jaiprakash Muliyil, epidemiologist and chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, adding that Omicron presents itself just like the cold.
Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian said that there is no need for a lockdown in the state even though the number of cases is increasing on Tuesday. He said that the existing restrictions are enough for now. “There is no need for full lockdown as of now. CM has asserted that the economy should not be affected, restricted lockdown enough for now,” Subramanian told reporters. The restrictions imposed by the state government include a 10pm to 5am night curfew, prohibition of devotees in places of worship and total lockdown on Sundays.
All these curbs have been extended till January 31, in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases. The Tamil Nadu government has also directed the special inter-district buses for Pongal to run at 75 per cent of seating capacity. According to the state government circular, devotees will not be allowed in all places of worship between January 14 and January 18. The direction of the state government comes after chief minister MK Stalin chaired a meeting to review the Covid-19 and Omicron situation across Tamil Nadu earlier in the day.
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