New Delhi: In the last 24 hours, India has reported 578 cases of the new COVID strain Omicron.
Delhi has recorded the most cases of Omicron in the country (142), followed by Maharashtra (141), Kerala (57), Gujarat (49) and 43 (Rajasthan), the Health Ministry said in a bulletin.
Overall, the country reported 6,531 COVID cases over the past 24 hours, 6.5 percent less as compared to yesterday. The country’s active COVID caseload currently stands at 75,841.
Omicron cases have been rising in the wake of the wedding and festival season, prompting authorities to bring back curbs that had been eased after case counts dropped.
Delhi has activated the graded action plan prepared earlier this year to tackle surges in infections. From 11 pm today, a night curfew will remain in place in the state.
Essential services and movement of food supplies, transport from and to airports, railway stations and bus depots and e-commerce deliveries are among services exempted from the night curfew.
The decision to bring back the night curfew was taken after Delhi reported 290 cases yesterday. If the spike continues, a yellow alert will kick in.
If the yellow alert comes into force, operational timings of shops and malls selling non-essential goods and services will be restrained. Curbs will be put in place for restaurants and bars. Cinema halls and multiplexes, which have opened after long, will be shut again.
Alarmed by the spike in cases, the Allahabad High Court has urged Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India to delay Uttar Pradesh elections and stop rallies.
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