LIVE Updates: India recorded 7,350 Covid-19 cases and 202 fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to health ministry data. The cases, though lower than the number recorded on Sunday, come at a time India has recorded 38 cases of the Omicron variant. The new cases and fatalities have pushed India’s Covid-19 tally of cases to 3,46,97,860 and the death toll to 4,75,636. India’s active Covid-19 case count has declined to 91,456.
Omicron Virus
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has reported the first death of a person infected with the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The news was confirmed by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday.
In India, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Chandigarh reported their first Omicron case on Sunday, while Maharashtra and Karnataka each recorded one more case of the Covid-19 variant, taking the total tally in the country to 38. With this, Omicron has been detected in Maharashtra (18), Rajasthan (9), Karnataka (3), Karnataka (3), Kerala (1), and Andhra Pradesh (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (2), and Chandigarh (1).
India’s top technical advisory body on Covid-19 vaccination has suggested that the third or the booster dose, when administered, should be of a vaccine based on a platform different from that of the first two doses.
Delhi has so far reported two Omicron cases. It reported the first such case on December 5 when a 37-year-old fully-vaccinated man, who arrived in the city from Tanzania, tested positive for Omicron. The second case was reported last week when a fully-vaccinated individual with a travel history to Zimbabwe and South Africa tested positive for the new Covid variant.
"If need be, we will impose restrictions. At present, there is no need for restrictions. We are in constant touch with experts and if any restriction is to be imposed for the safety of the people of Delhi, we will do that," Kejriwal told reporters on the sidelines of an event where he launched the initiative. Asked about possible restrictions or crowd-control measures in view of Christmas and New Year, he said, "We will do that after consulting with experts. If there is a need to clamp restrictions, we will take a decision in accordance with the suggestions of the experts."The AAM AA DMI Party (AAP) leader said he has been closely monitoring the situation in the aftermath of the detection of the new coronavirus variant and adequate arrangements, including those related to hospital beds and medicines, will be made available. "The government is fully prepared. I have convened multiple review meetings regarding oxygen supply, beds and medicines. We do not want an Omicron crisis in Delhi but even if it comes, we are prepared," he said. (PTI)
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