422 Omicron cases in India, most in Maharashtra followed by Delhi

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 26, 2021: The number of cases of fast-spreading Omicron variant has risen to 422 in India, with Maharashtra reporting 108 new infections. The western state is followed by Delhi, which has 79 cases (of which 23 have recovered). Gujarat has 43 cases and 10 people have recovered so far.

In the south, Telangana has reported 41 cases (and 10 recovered patients) of the new variant while Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu have 38 (one recovered patient) and 34 cases (O recovered patient) respectively. Karnataka has 31 cases and 15 people have recovered from the new strain in the state so far, according to the Health Ministry data released this morning.

West Bengal has six cases so far while Haryana, Odisha  and Andhra Pradesh have four cases each. Other states that have reported Omicron strain include Jammu and Kashmir (3 cases), Uttar Pradesh (2 cases) and Ladakh (one case). The union territories of Chandigarh and Ladakh have reported one case each.

Altogether, 130 people have recovered in the country from the new strain since it was first reported around late November.

In view of the new Omicron strain, India on Saturday announced  "precaution doses" for health and frontline workers and those above 60 from January 10. In a late night address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced vaccinations for children between 15 and 18 years from January 3.