Delhi imposes curbs as Omicron spreads

At least 422 cases reported across the country

New Delhi: The first case of Omicron in Himachal Pradesh was reported in Mandi district a few days ago, State Health Secretary Amitabh Avasthi said Sunday.

A 45-year-old woman tested positive for the new Covid-19 variant on December 12. Her RTPCR test was conducted at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital.

With the COVID-19 positivity rate touching 0.55 percent, the Delhi government has decided to re-impose night curfew from Monday, according to sources.

Officials said the night curfew will kick in under the four-stage Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) if the positivity rate settles at 0.5 percent for two consecutive days.

Delhi reported 290 fresh coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest since June 10, and one fatality, while the positivity rate rose to 0.55 percent, according to data shared by the Delhi government’s health department here.

India reported 6,987 new Covid- 19 cases and 162 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The country has 76,766 active cases, while over 141 crore vaccine doses have been administered.

A total of 422 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported across 17 states and Union Territories, of which 130 people have recovered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 during his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat.’

He added that the country’s collective strength lies in self-discipline and self-awareness, which will eventually defeat the virus. Earlier on Saturday, Modi announced that vaccination against COVID-19 for children between 15-18 years will start from January 3, while “precaution dose” for healthcare and frontline workers would be administered from January 10, decisions that come amid rising Covid cases linked to the Omicron variant of the virus.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Centre has “accepted my suggestion” to allow the administration of booster doses of Covid vaccine and asserted that the protection of vaccines and booster shots has to be provided to every citizen of the country. —(Agencies)