India sees massive jump in Covid tally with 58,097 fresh cases, Omicron tally rises to 2,135

New Delhi: India on Wednesday reported 58,097 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, 55 per cent higher than yesterday's 37,379 cases.

The number of deaths climbed to 4,82,551 with 534 more fatalities, the data showed.

Meanwhile, India's Omicron tally went past the 2000-mark on Tuesday with 153 more cases taking the total number of patients to 2,043.

Maharashtra reported the highest Omicron cases, with 75 fresh Omicron cases, the total tally climbed to 653. Mumbai reported 40 new Omicron cases for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, taking the city's total count to 408. Of the total Omicron cases in the state, 259 have been discharged following a negative RT-PCR test.

Several states have announced restrictions like night curfew and shut the schools as Covid cases continue to rise.

The government has been continuously speeding up vaccination drive across the country. Those in the age group 15-18 are being inoculated now.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation, or WHO, on Tuesday said that the soaring Omicron cases around the world could increase the risk of a newer, more dangerous variant emerging.

While the variant is spreading like wildfire around the world, it appears to be far less severe than initially feared and has raised hopes that the pandemic could be overcome and life return to more normality, the WHO has said.

But WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood sounded an ominous note of caution, telling news agency AFP that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect.