Omicron overtakes Delta variant in India

India today acknowledged that Omicron has become the dominant circulating variant of Covid-19, replacing Delta strain in the country.

The Indian Health Ministry today also ruled out mixing vaccines for the Covid-19 booster shot for healthcare workers, frontliners, and people above the age of 60, and for those with comorbidities, from January 10.

The current upsurge of infections is more prevalent in the cities, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting the health ministry.

The booster jabs will be the same as the first two doses, Indian Council for Medical Research Director General Balram Bhargava said.

Agarwal said India reported over 6.3 times rise in Covid cases in the last eight days and recorded a sharp rise in case positivity from 0.79% on December 29 to 5.03% on January 5.

He said West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Gujarat states were emerging as states of concern due to the surge in Covid19 cases.

Agarwal said 28 districts were reporting over 10% weekly Covid-19 test positivity, and 43 districts reporting weekly positivity between 5-10%.