Indian PM Modi to chair Omicron review meeting

Amid the concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting to review the pandemic situation in the country.

PM Modi will hold the meeting at 6.30 pm on December 23.

India has reported 7,495 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, Indian Health Ministry informed on December 23. According to the Ministry, 236 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been reported in the country so far. Maharashtra topped the list with 65 confirmed cases, followed by Delhi with 64 cases and Telangana with 24. Of the 213 cases, 104 patients have recovered from the virus.

With the recovery of 6,960 patients in the last 24 hours, the cumulative tally of Covid recovered patients since the pandemic's beginning now stand at 3,42,08,926.

As many as 434 Covid deaths have also been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative death toll from the virus to 4,78,759.

Meanwhile, Indian Health Ministry on December 21 alerted States and Union Territories about the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. Based on current scientific evidence, Omicron is at least three times more transmissible than the Delta variant.

The ministry further added that greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision-making, and strict and prompt containment action are required at the local and district levels.

With the administration of 70,17,671 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 139.70 crores (1,39,69,76,774), Indian Health Ministry informed.

(ANI)