India’s Omicron count crosses 150, Maha tops

New Delhi: India’s Omicron COVID count rose to 151 on Sunday after Maharashtra reported six more cases while a 45-yearold NRI and a teenage boy, who recently arrived in Gujarat from the United Kingdom, also tested positive for the variant.

According to central and state officials, omicron cases have been detected in 11 states and union territories -- Maharashtra (54), Delhi (22), Rajasthan (17) and Karnataka (14), Telangana (20), Gujarat (9), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (1).

On Saturday, Maharashtra had reported eight more cases, Telangana’s tally jumped from eight to 20, while Karnataka and Kerala reported six and four cases respectively.

In Gujarat, the non-resident Indian tested positive for the coronavirus infection in the RT-PCR test carried out at the Ahmedabad international airport soon after he arrived from the UK on December 15, a health department official said on Sunday. “The man’s sample was later found infected with the Omicron variant,” Anand district health officer Dr M T Chhari said. He was scheduled to reach the state’s Anand city from Ahmedabad. “But, after he tested positive for the coronavirus, he was taken to the Ahmedabad civil hospital from the airport. The patient is currently recovering at the Ahmedabad civil hospital,” Dr Chhari said. His co-passengers and other contacts have tested negative for the viral infection, the official said. A 15-yearold boy from Gandhinagar was also detected with the Omicron variant after returning from the UK. —(PTI)