India reported 2.38 lakh Covid cases over the past 24 hours, 7 per cent lower than yesterday, as the positivity rate dropped from 19.65 per cent to 14.43 per cent.
A total of 8,891 cases of the fast-spreading Omicron strain, which is learnt to be driving the third wave of the pandemic across the world, have been confirmed so far an increase of 8.31 per cent since yesterday.
According to the bulletin issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare this morning, the country’s active caseload currently stands at 17.36 lakh and the recovery rate is over 94 per cent.
According to the government data, the country saw 1.57 lakh recoveries over the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to over 3 crore.
The country has recorded 310 deaths due to the infection over the past 24 hours — down from yesterday’s 385.
A total of 16.49 samples have been tested over the past 24 hours 3.35 lakh more than the previous day. This comes after the Indian Council of Medical Research, the government’s top medical body, said contacts of Covid patients, unless identified as high-risk, don’t need to be tested.
The advisory has sparked fears of underreporting of cases and instances of people being turned away from testing centres for being asymptomatic.
On the vaccination front, over 158 crore doses have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive.
The third wave of Covid infections in the country has pushed up daily case counts with Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata among the cities reporting very high number of cases.
The spike has forced governments to bring back curbs on public movement which had been eased after the second wave.
Amid this spike, the upcoming Assembly elections in five states have raised apprehensions of another surge in Covid numbers.
More about Omicron
The Omicron variant has been called a variant of concern by WHO based on studies that shows it has several mutations.
Still a lot of research is underway to evaluate its transmissibility, severity and reinfection risk.
The Omicron variant has been detected in several regions of the world. WHO reports that the likelihood of the Omicron variant spreading further globally is high.
It is not currently known if the Omicron variant is more or less severe than other strains of COVID-19, including Delta. Studies are ongoing and this information will be updated as it becomes available.
It is not yet clear whether Omicron can spread more easily from person to person compared to other variants, such as Delta.
However, being vaccinated and taking precautions such as avoiding crowded spaces, keeping your distance from others and wearing a mask are critical in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we know these actions have been effective against other variants.
Researchers are looking into any potential impact the Omicron variant has on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Although information is still limited, WHO believes it is a reasonable assumption that the currently available vaccines offer some protection against severe disease and death.
It is also important to be vaccinated to protect against the other widely circulating variants, such as the Delta one. When it’s your turn, make sure to get vaccinated. If your vaccination involves two doses, it’s important to receive both in order to have the maximum protection.
According to WHO, early evidence suggests that people who have previously had COVID-19 could be reinfected more easily with Omicron, in comparison to other variants of concern. Information is still limited though and we will share updates as it becomes available.
Source: UNICEFRead more Health News
Latest update Omicron
