COVID-19 LIVE Updates: The number of Omicron patients in India ticked up to 38 (File)
New Delhi:
The Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms according to early data, the World Health Organization said Sunday.
The Delta variant, first identified in India earlier this year, is responsible for most of the world’s coronavirus infections.
But South Africa’s discovery of Omicron — which has a large number of mutations — last month prompted countries around the world to impose travel bans on southern African countries and reintroduce domestic restrictions to slow its spread.
The WHO said Omicron had spread to 63 countries as of December 9. Faster transmission was noted in South Africa, where Delta is less prevalent, and in Britain, where Delta is the dominant strain.
The number of Omicron patients in India ticked up to 38 as five fresh cases surfaced — one each in Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. For Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh, these were the first cases.
Here are the LIVE Updates on Coronavirus cases in India:
Arunachal Pradesh on Monday registered a single fresh case of COVID-19, raising the tally to 55,306. The death count remained at 280 as no fresh fatality was reported in the past 24 hours.The northeastern state now has 29 active cases, while 54,997 people have recovered from the disease so far.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Puducherry Logs 7 New Covid Cases, Zero Fatalities
The union territory of Puducherry witnessed a steep fall in number of fresh coronavirus cases with only seven being reported in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases stood at 183 which included 45 patients undergoing treatment in hospitals and remaining 138 in home isolation. As many as 32 patients recovered and were discharged during the last 24 hours pushing the overall recoveries to 1,27,164.
“Tidal Wave” Of Omicron Is Coming, Warns UK PM, Sets Booster Target
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned of a looming “tidal wave” of Omicron, and brought forward a target to give over-18s a booster jab by one month to the end of December.
“No-one should be in any doubt: there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming,” he said in a televised address, after the country’s medical advisers raised the Covid Alert Level due to a “rapid increase” in infection from the variant.
Johnson, under pressure because of claims he and staff flouted Covid restrictions last Christmas, called the spread of the mutation “an emergency”, as Omicron was doubling every two to three days.
India’s Active caseload currently stands at 91,456; lowest in 561 days
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.26%; Lowest since March 2020
Recovery Rate currently at 98.37%; Highest since March 2020
7,973 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,41,30,768
7,350 new cases in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate (0.86%) less than 2% for last 70 days
Weekly Positivity Rate (0.69%) less than 1% for last 29 days
Omicron Cases in India: Update
The number of Omicron patients in India ticked up to 38 as five fresh cases surfaced — one each in Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. For Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh, these were the first cases.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and is receiving treatment for mild symptoms, the presidency said in a statement.
Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, began feeling unwell after leaving a state memorial service for former deputy president F W de Klerk in Cape Town earlier in the day but was in good spirits and being monitored by doctors, it said.