As per the data updated by the Union Health Ministry, India has reported 2,58,089 cases in the past 24 hours. This surge in cases is due to the Omicron variant of the virus which is highly transmissible. Scientists across the world have warned that this might not be the last variant to spread all over.
385 death fatalities have been reported in India in the past 24 hours. The total number of Omicron cases has now gone up to 8209 which is 6.02 percent higher than yesterday. The active number of cases in the nation is 16,56,341 according to the data. Punjab has seen the highest number of deaths and the number of cases has also surged rapidly in the latter part of the week in the state.
Experts have stated that Mumbai and Delhi have peaked due to the restrictions imposed in the wake of the rise of cases. Although the national capital has recorded a drop in the number of infections, the state of West Bengal has started emerging as a hotbed of Coronavirus. The one lakh mark was crossed last week in the nation because of the spread of the Omicron variant.
The third wave of the deadly virus has seen mostly flu-like symptoms and people have been advised to maintain caution because the Delta strain has still not left the nation entirely. The dip in cases since yesterday implies that the virus has peaked but the scientists are not sure yet as many states are now reporting a high number of cases. Maharashtra is still leading the chart.
According to Dr N K Arora, Chairman of the working group of the National Advisory Group on Immunization has reported that the vaccination drive for children in the age group of 12-14 years will begin from March this year. Children in the age bracket of 15-18 years have already started getting their vaccination this month after it was approved by the government. Around 3 crore children in this age bracket have already gotten their first doses of vaccination within 13 days of the drive that began on January 3. The second dose for these children will begin after one month of the administration of the first dose. The vaccination drive for adults in the country is achieving impressive strides as well. Immunising the adults was a priority because they are more mobile as they go to educational institutes. They are at a higher risk of infection from the deadly virus.
Covaxin, which is developed by Bharat Biotech and is being administered to the children of 15-18 years has gotten the Centre’s Emergency Use Approval for the children in the age group of 2-17 years.