(Representative image: AP)
New Delhi: As the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is fuelling infections around the world, India's Omicron tally has risen to 358 cases after multiple states reported their first cases.
Among them, 114 have been discharged and most of the patients either had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic.
Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of Omicron cases at 88, followed by Delhi (67), Telangana (38), Tamil Nadu (34), Karnataka (31), Gujarat (30), Kerala (27), Rajasthan (22), Haryana (4), Odisha(4), Jammu and Kashmir (3), West Bengal (3), Andhra Pradesh (2), Chandigarh (1), Ladakh (1) and Uttarakhand (1).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 23 chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the COVID-19 situation in the country and the preparedness of healthcare systems, in view of the emergence of the fast-spreading new Omicron coronavirus variant.
In the meeting, PM Modi discussed the threat posed by Omicron, the state of public health response measures for containment and management of COVID19, availability of drugs, oxygen cylinders, and concentrators, ventilators, etc., availability of ICU/oxygen supported beds, the status of vaccination, etc.
Meanwhile India registered 6,650 new Covid cases and 374 deaths in 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family welfare on Friday morning.
The death toll has climbed to 4,78,759 with 434 fresh fatalities, the data stated.
The recovery of 7,051 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,42,15,977. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.40 per cent, highest since March 2020.
India's active caseload is presently at 77,516. Active cases constitute 0.22 per cent of the country's total positive cases, which is the lowest since March 2020.
Also in the same period, a total of 11,65,887 tests were conducted across the country. India has so far conducted over 66.98 crore cumulative tests.
Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate at 0.59 per cent has remained less than 1 per cent for the last 40 days now.
The daily positivity rate stands at 0.57 per cent, which has also remained below 2 per cent for the last 81 days and less than 3 per cent for 116 consecutive days now.
With the administration of 57,44,652 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage has reached 140.31 crore as of Friday morning.
More than 17.97 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories to be administered, according to the health ministry as of Friday morning.