New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The Union Health Ministry on Friday evening informed that the Omicron cases in India climbed up to 358 after 122 new infections of the Omicron variant were reported from across the country during the last 24 hours. According to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry, Maharashtra (88), Delhi (67), Telangana (38), Tamil Nadu (34), Karnataka (31) and Gujarat (30) are among the top contributors of Omicron cases in the country.
As per the health ministry, out of these 358 Omicron cases in India, 114 people have been recovered from, or been discharged after being treated for, the new strain of the virus. Subsequently, there are 244 active cases of Omicron in the country, the health ministry said.
The health ministry further said that out of the total 358 cases, 183 were analysed and 121 of them were found to have foreign travel history. Of the 183 Omicron cases analysed so far, 91 per cent were fully vaccinated with three having booster shots, 70 per cent were asymptomatic, and 61 per cent were males.
Noting that the world is witnessing the fourth surge in COVID-19 cases, the government cautioned people against lowering the guard, particularly during year-end festivities. It urged people to avoid crowding and unnecessary travel and stressed on COVID-19-appropriate behaviour and expedited vaccination. The government said that the predominant strain in India continued to be Delta, including in recently identified clusters.
Citing the World Health Organisation's findings, the government said Omicron has a significant growth advantage over Delta and is spreading fast through communities with a doubling time of 1.5 to 3 days. The world is witnessing the fourth surge in COVID-19 cases and has an overall positivity rate of 6.1 per cent.
The government said the COVID-19 case positivity rate in Kerala and Mizoram is much higher than the national average and a cause for concern. It said 20 districts across the country were reporting a weekly positivity rate between 5 and 10 per cent and two districts over 10 per cent.
The government cautioned people against lowering the guard, particularly during Christmas and New Year festivities. It said about 61 per cent of India's adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 89 per cent have been administered the first dose. In view of the emergence of the Omicron variant, the government appealed to the private health sector to be ready as it has to play an important role in managing the pandemic.