Covid cases spike in Maharashtra, Delhi; states enhance surveillance amid Omicron threat

New Delhi: Maharashtra and Delhi are once again recording a steep spike in Covid-19 cases amid fresh concerns caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Amid the surge in cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting on the COVID-19 situation in the country on Thursday. Official sources said Modi will take stock of the pandemic situation across the country.

India has so far recorded close to 250 cases of Omicron across 15 states and union territories even though at least 90 of the infected people have either recovered or migrated.

While Delhi has over 50 cases of Omicron, during the day, nine cases were recorded in Kerala, four in Rajasthan and two in Andhra Pradesh among others.

A number of states enhanced surveillance to trace, track and quarantine contacts of COVID-19 positive persons while Delhi began genome sequencing of samples of all infected people and has prohibited Christmas and New Year gatherings.

In a communication to the states and Union territories on Tuesday, the Centre said the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is at least thrice more transmissible than its Delta variant and asked them to "activate" war rooms, keep analysing even small trends and surges and keep taking strict and prompt containment action at the district and local levels.

Maharashtra reports 1,201 Covid cases

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 1,201 new coronavirus cases, a sharp rise of 376 from a day ago, and eight fresh fatalities, the state health department said.

With these additions, the state's COVID-19 caseload increased to 66,52,166, while the death toll rose to 1,41,375, the department said in a bulletin.

It said the state did not report any fresh case of the Omicron variant of SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

There are 7,350 active COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra now after 953 patients were discharged from hospitals following recovery in the last 24 hours.

Kejriwal to review Delhi's situation

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has directed district magistrates to ensure no Christmas and New Year gathering takes place in the national capital.

However, restaurants and bars will continue to operate with up to 50 per cent of the seating capacity. Marriage-related gatherings are permitted with a maximum of 200 people in attendance.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said genome sequencing of samples of all Covid-infected people in Delhi has begun to ascertain if Omicron variant has spread in the community.

Amid a rise in the number of Omicron cases in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting to assess the preparedness and management as regards the new variant of the coronavirus on Thursday, according to officials.

Delhi has recorded the maximum number of 57 Omicron cases in the country. The national capital logged 125 COVID-19 cases in a day, the highest since June 22, with a positivity rate of 0.2 per cent, while no fresh death due to the viral disease was recorded, according to data shared by the Delhi health department on Wednesday.

Two doses must for all in Haryana

Eligible people who are not fully vaccinated will not be permitted inside crowded places like malls, cinema halls, restaurants and grain markets in Haryana from January 1, state Health and Home Minister Anil Vij said on Wednesday.

According to an official order, no individual, including government servants, is allowed to visit government offices without being fully vaccinated.

Entry at places like sabzi mandi, bar, restaurants, hotels, grain markets, department stores, liquor and wine shops, malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls, haats, local markets and other places of public gathering should be allowed only to fully vaccinated people, the order read.

Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to travel from bus stand, railway stations.

Both private and public sector banks will allow only fully vaccinated people.

Karnataka enhances surveillance

In the wake of 19 Omicron cases being detected in the state, the Karnataka government has directed district authorities and health officials to enhance surveillance and designate contact tracers and quarantine observers to curb the spread.

In a circular principal secretary, health and family welfare, T K Anil Kumar said primary and secondary contacts should be identified within 24 hours of reporting of COVID positive case. The primary contacts should be tested on the first day and again on the eight day and home quarantined for seven days from the date of COVID positive reporting.

Similarly the international travellers from high risk countries need to be quarantined for seven days from the date of their arrival, until the follow-up and repeat RT-PCR test on the eighth day, according to the circular.

Regarding surveillance, he said healthcare personnel such as public health inspecting officers, community health officers and ASHA workers or such other persons who are doing these activities of contact tracing, quarantine and home isolation watch should continue to do them.

Odisha CM appeals for caution

A day after Odisha reported its first Omicron case, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to people to strictly follow the COVID-19 appropriate behaviour to defeat the new variant of coronavirus.

The state government convened a meeting of senior officials to discuss additional measures to be taken in view of the Omicron variant. The meeting resolved to increase surveillance and vaccination activities and also expand genome sequencing tests.

Contact tracing on in Rajasthan

A foreigner was among four people found infected with the Omicron variant in Jaipur. With the latest cases, a total of 22 people have so far been infected by the Omicron variant across the state.

Jaipur Chief Medical Health Officer Dr Narottam Sharma said contact tracing of those who have been infected with the new variant is going on.

Nine more cases in Kerala, two in Andhra

In Kerala, nine more cases of the Omicron variant were detected, taking the tally to 24, state Health Minister Veena George said.

Andhra Pradesh reported its second positive case of Omicron after the samples of a 39-year-old woman who recently arrived from Kenya was detected to have carried it.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta chaired a meeting to review the public health system's preparedness for the new variant.

Three cases of Omicron variant were reported in Jammu on Tuesday, all of whom are without any travel history and are now being monitored.

Mehta directed the district administration to enhance testing and contact tracing for positive patients and closely trace the infection trajectory to establish micro-containment zones at an early stage.

No space for laxity: AIIMS Director

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday emphasised on adhering to Covid-appropriate behaviour while observing that people have become lax in following these norms.

Asserting that current data shows vaccines are effective and give protection against severe disease and death, he stressed that those eligible for vaccination should get the jabs promptly and those who have got the first dose should not miss out on the second shot.

"It is observed that laxity has crept in among people in observing Covid-appropriate behaviour.

"Omicron is highly transmissible and therefore adhering to Covid norms is very important. People should regularly wear masks, maintain physical distance and avoid gatherings which can become superspreader events," Guleria told PTI.

(With PTI inputs.)