The number of Omicron cases in India has surpassed 150; here is a list of the worst-affected states
Omicron is ‘raging through the world,’ according to India, which reported the 150th case of the new COVID-19 variant on Sunday (December 19, 2021). The country’s Omicron count has now risen to 153, thanks to ten new infections in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
While six people in Maharashtra tested positive for the highly mutated coronavirus, four people were found infected in Gujarat.
India has so far detected Omicron cases in 11 states and union territories namely Maharashtra (54), delhi (22), Rajasthan (17) and Karnataka (14), Telangana (20), Gujarat (11), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (1).
UPDATED: Technical Brief & Priority Actions for Member States on enhancing readiness for Omicron https://t.co/tOu6iIvFZP #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/AIq7knDT5K
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 19, 2021
The country’s first two cases were detected in Karnataka on December 2.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classified Omicron as a ‘variant of concern’ on November 26 after it was first reported in South Africa. This variant, which is currently wreaking havoc in the United States and several European countries, has been detected in 89 countries.
The WHO reported on Saturday that the number of Omicron cases in areas with community transmission is doubling every 1.5 to 3 days, and that much remains unknown about the variant, including the severity of the illness it causes.
In an effort to stem the spread, the Netherlands declared a state of emergency on Sunday, and several other European governments are considering additional measures.
In the United States, White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci has advised people visiting loved ones to get booster shots and to wear masks in crowded public places.
He claimed that Omicron was “raging throughout the world,” and that travelling increases the risk of infection even among vaccinated people.
According to reports, overall COVID-19 infections are increasing in as many as 64 countries and territories, with 12 of them, including the United Kingdom, recording more cases than at any other point during the pandemic.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the world has seen over 27 crore COVID-19 infections and over 53 lakh related fatalities.
The news comes as disease experts around the world predict that countries will start to emerge from the pandemic next year, following a series of surges caused by the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants of COVID-19. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant, however, has now dashed that hope.
Meanwhile, some experts believe that living with COVID-19 in 2022 will entail assessing local risks and protecting oneself through vaccination, masking, and social isolation.
