Omicron found in 84% of Covid-19 samples in Delhi

India's national capital Delhi could be staring at a more acute Covid-19 crisis and stricter restrictions as the fast-spreading Omicron variant has been detected in 84 percent of the samples tested so far in the city.

"As per genome sequencing reports of December 30-31, Omicron was found in 84 percent of Covid samples tested," Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told media.

He said Delhi is likely to register another sharp spike in the number of daily Covid-19 cases later today when the numbers are collated in the evening, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Jain said Delhi was expected to report around 4,000 cases today with the positivity rate rising to 6.5 percent.

At present, 202 Covid patients are admitted in various hospitals in Delhi, he added.

The number of Covid cases in Delhi has been going up at a rapid pace in the last few weeks.

Delhi reported 3,194 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, up from 2,716 cases reported on Saturday. While Sunday's tally was the highest single-day rise since May last year, the test positivity rate stood at 4.59 percent, according to the government's daily health bulletin.

Several curbs have already been clamped on Delhi with schools, colleges, cinema halls and theatres, gyms and other places of gathering. Night curfew is also in place from 10pm to 5am.

According to the Graded Response Action Plan of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, if the positivity rate crosses the five percent mark, it would trigger "red alert", up from "yellow alert" at present.