⚠️Massive COVID spike, Mumbai up by 70%, Delhi 50%

Mumbai today recorded a 70% surge in Covid cases, logging over 1300 cases.  Maharashtra reported 2,172 new Covid-19 cases, 1,098 recoveries, and 22 deaths today. Active cases at 11,492. However, no new Omicron case was reported in the state. There are a total of 167 Omicron cases in Maharashtra.

Delhi also saw a 50% increase in the new cases today with 496 positive cases, one death, and 172 recoveries. To some relief, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said the Covid cases in the capital have been mild and there has been no increase in consumption of oxygen or use of ventilators despite the rise in numbers.

The experts believe that the Omicron will start surging in the next few days. Dr Angelique Coetzee who first identified the Omicron variant in South Africa claimed that India will see a surge in Omicron-driven Covid cases and a high positivity rate but the infection will hopefully be mild.

In a letter sent to the chief secretaries of all states and administrators of Union territories, home secretary Ajay Bhalla said that while the country has witnessed an overall decline in active cases, the Omicron variant is reported to be at least 3 times more transmissible than the Delta variant and is posing a new challenge for the fight against Covid.

Delhi has imposed many restrictions on yellow alert. It includes schools to shut, public transport to run at 50% seating capacity etc. Many other states are also having restrictions issued such as night curfews and other travel restrictions.

Read: Covid Surge: Delhi brings back restrictions with yellow alert