India’s daily Covid-19 cases near 2 lakh

India's daily Covid-19 cases neared the 2 lakh mark (1,94,720 to be precise) and the cumulative number of Omicron patients inched towards the 5,000 figure (4,868), according to health ministry statistics.  

The daily positivity rate is 11.5 percent, the data this morning showed. At least 120 districts in 29 states and federally-run territories have reported a weekly positivity rate of 10 percent in the third wave of the pandemic, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

However, Jaiprakash Muliyil, epidemiologist and chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, was quoted by NDTV as saying that Omicron is "almost unstoppable" and everyone will eventually be infected with it.

He said booster vaccine doses would not stop the rapid spread of the virus.

''It makes no difference. The infection will occur. It has occurred all over the world regardless of this,'' he said about the booster doses.

Jaiprakash said 85% of India was already infected before the vaccines were introduced in the country and hence, the first dose was essentially a booster dose.