India's Omicron cases surge to 4461, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi worst hit

Delhi orders closing of restaurants, bars; industry says move a death knell for struggling sector
CNS Desk,11-Jan;  India registered 1,68,063 new COVID-19 cases, 6.4% lower than the previous day. Around 277 people succumbed to COVID-19 in the last one day, taking the tally to 4,84,213, revealed the country’s health ministry on Tuesday.

Currently, the active caseload of the country stands at 8,21,446 cases, which is 97,827 more than yesterday.

Around 69,959 people have been recovered so far in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate also stands at 96.36%, according to the data by the Union Health Ministry.

The Omicron tally in India also climbed to 4,461 cases reported in 28 states with Maharashtra remaining to be the worst-hit state with 1,247 Omicron cases, followed by Rajasthan with 645 cases and Delhi with 546 cases.

Meanwhile, the daily positivity rate currently stands at 10.64%, as the country is witnessing a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases.

India has inoculated 92,07,700 COVID-19 vaccination doses in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to more than 152 crore COVID-19 doses so far.

More than 17.11 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories to be administered, according to the health ministry as of Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, in a big blow to the hospitality industry, the Delhi government has decided to close down restaurants and bars amid spiking Covid cases and will allow take away services only.

In a tweet on Monday evening, Anil Baijal, the lieutenant governor of Delhi stated that in view of the increase in positive cases, it was decided to close the restaurants and bars and to allow 'take away' facilities only. He said it was also decided to allow operation of only one weekly market per day per zone. (CNS)