COVID-19: 115 deaths reported globally due to Omicron, one in India

DELHI, Jan 13: A total of 115 people have died across the world due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 so far, out of which, one death has been reported in India, informed Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry on Wednesday. 

Addressing the Health ministry briefing here today, Agarwal said, "Total 115 confirmed deaths globally due to Omicron and 1 death in India." "Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta as per WHO...Data from South Africa, the UK, Canada, Denmark suggests a reduced risk of hospitalisation for Omicron compared to Delta," Agarwal said. 

Mentioning a steep surge in coronavirus cases across India, he said, "A sharp surge in COVID cases in India with the active cases 9,55,319 today. Emerging states of concern (reporting surge in COVID cases) are Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Gujarat." 

"Emerging states of concern reporting high positive rates- Maharashtra with a rate positivity rate of 22.39 per cent, West Bengal 32.18 per cent, Delhi 23.1 per cent and Uttar Pradesh 4.47 per cent," he added. 

Agarwal also stated that there are eight countries in Europe that are reporting an increase of cases by more than two times in the last two weeks. 

The Joint Secretary further said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation on January 9, the health ministry has revised the discharge policy with severity categorised into mild and moderate cases. 

"Mild case discharge after at least seven days from testing positive and non-emergency for three successive days, no need for testing prior to discharge," he further added. 

For moderate cases, the Joint Secretary said, "If there is a resolution of symptoms, the patient maintains O2 saturation more than 93 per cent for three successive days (without O2)..such patient will be discharged." 

Meanwhile, India recorded as many as 1,94,720 fresh COVID-19 infections and 442 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday. 

With this, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 3,60,70,510 including 9,55,319 active cases. The daily positivity rate due to this virus in the country is at 11.05 per cent. Active cases account for 2.65 per cent of the total cases.