Omicron:358 cases detected in India so far,114 have recovered

In India  so far 358 Omicron cases have been detected in 17 states and Union Territories  Briefing media in New Delhi on Friday, Union Health Secretary  Rajesh Bhushan said that out of the total Omicron cases, 114 infected people have recovered. He said, Maharashtra has reported  88 cases of Omicron out of which 42 recovered from the new variant of Covid-19 followed by 67 in Delhi where 23 patients recovered from the infection. Bhushan also informed that out of the total 358 Omicron positive cases,  183 cases were analysed  in which 121 were found with foreign travel history. Out of 183 cases, 87 people were found fully vaccinated and three  were vaccinated with 3 doses.Bhushan said that the world is witnessing the fourth surge with regard to Covid cases and the overall positivity is 6.1 per cent. He mentioned that World Health Organisation has said that Omicron has a significant growth advantage over Delta virus which means, it has greater transmissibility as the Omicorn cases double within 1.5 to 3 days.  He  emphasized the need to remain vigilant with Covid appropriate behaviour. 
On the issue of preparedness to deal with the situation in the country, the Union Health Secretary said that learning from the 1st and 2nd wave of Covid panedmic in the country, more than 18 lakh Isolation Beds, nearly 5 lakh Oxygen supported beds, one lakh 40 thousand ICU Beds, 24 thousand Pediatric ICU Beds and over 64 thousand Non- ICU Pediatric Beds are made available in the country. He also informed that under the Emergency Covid Response Package -2, which is being implemented at a cost of Rs 23,123 crore, 50 per cent of the fund has been released to the States.  Bhushan said, the states are making arrangements of 96 thousand 913 additiional oxygen supported beds, over 20 thousand ICU Beds and over 9 thousand Pediatric ICU Beds with the help of this fund. On the availability of medical oxygen capacity, the Health Secretary said, there was a 10 fold increase in oxygen demand from 1st wave to 2nd wave and there is now 18 thousand 800 metric tonnes of medical oxygen per day capacity is available.On Covid vaccination, he said that 89 per cent of total adult populaton has received the first dose while 61 per cent has received the 2nd dose. He however highlighted that the cause of concern is 11 states where vaccination coverage is less than the national avgerage and the government of India is engaged with these States to scale up the vacciantion coverage. 
During the media briefing, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr  Balram Bhargava stressed on the need of following Covid appropriate behaviour and ramping up the vaccination. He said, the infection by Omicron does not necessarily leads to severe symptomatic clinical disease. NITI Aayog member, Health Dr V K Paul stressed on the need for following Covid appropraite behaviour like wearing of mask and constant vigil. He said, unnecesary travel by the people should be avoided. Globally, total number of Omicron cases reported in 108 countries are over one lakh 51 thousand. Bhushan said, 10 countries which are classified on basis of highest omicron cases are UK, Denmark, Canada, Norway, Germany, US, South Africa, France, Australia and Estonia. He also informed that while Europe, North America and Africa are seeing an increase in Covid 19 cases week on week, it is Asia that is still witnessing a decline in cases week on week.