Omicron gradually spreading in community: Delhi health minister

As Delhi's total Omicron cases reached 263, the union territory's Health Minister Satyendar Jain today said people with no foreign travel history were found infected with the latest variant of Covid-19 which means "it's gradually spreading in community."

Omicron variant was found in 46 percent of 115 samples sequenced so far in Delhi, he told reporters. 

Jain said out of the 200 Omicron cases in hospitals in Delhi, 115 are asymptomatic and kept in hospitals as a matter of abundant caution, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

As the total number (961) of Omicron cases across India inched towards the 1,000-mark, Delhi has the maximum (263) followed by Maharashtra (252), according to Indian Health Ministry statistics today.

Delhi and Maharashtra are among the areas which have reported a sharp rise in fresh in Covid cases daily.

In the wake of the emergence of Omicron variant of coronavirus, the police in Mumbai has prohibited New Year celebrations and gatherings in any closed or open space, including hotels and restaurants.

Mumbai recorded a big increase in daily caseload with 2,510 on Wednesday. Kolkata too reported a sharp rise with 540 on Wednesday with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hinting at shutting down of schools and colleges if the situation worsens.