India’s Omicron tally rises to 1,525; Covid cases jump too

NEW DELHI, 2 Jan: A total of 1,525 cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and union territories so far, out of which 560 have recovered or migrated, according to the union health ministry’s data updated on Sunday.

Maharashtra recorded a maximum of 460 cases, followed by Delhi with 351, Gujarat with 136, Tamil Nadu with 117 and Kerala with 109.

India’s Covid tally rose to 3,48,89,132 with 27,553 fresh cases, while the active cases have increased to 1,22,801, according to the data updated at 8 am.

The death toll has climbed to 4,81,770 with 284 more fatalities, the data stated.

The active cases have increased to 1,22,801, comprising 0.35 percent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.27 percent, the ministry said.

An increase of 18,020 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.55 percent.

The weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 1.35 percent, according to the ministry.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,42,84,561, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.38 percent.

The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive have exceeded 145.44 crores.

India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh mark on 7 August, 2020, 30 lakhs on 23 August, 40 lakhs on 5 September and 50 lakhs on 16 September. It went past 60 lakhs on 28 September, 70 lakhs on 11 October, crossed 80 lakhs on 29 October, 90 lakhs on 20 November and surpassed the one crore mark on 19 December.

India had crossed the grim milestone of two crores on 4 May and three crores on 23 June.

The 284 new fatalities include 241 from Kerala and nine from West Bengal. A total of 4,81,770 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 1,41,533 from Maharashtra, 48,035 from Kerala, 38,340 from Karnataka, 36,784 from Tamil Nadu, 25,108 from Delhi, 22,915 from Uttar Pradesh and 19,773 from West Bengal.

The ministry stressed that more than 70 percent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. (PTI)