India records 16,764 new COVID cases, Omicron infections at 1,270

The worrying rise in COVID-19 cases in India continued on Friday morning as data from the Union health ministry showed the country had recorded 16,764 new cases. A total of 220 COVID fatalities were also reported.

The health ministry data showed the number of cases of the Omicron variant at 1,270. Cases of Omicron infection have been reported from 23 states/Union territories until Friday morning. As of Friday morning, Maharastra (450), Delhi (320), Kerala (109) and Gujarat (97) accounted for the most number of cases of Omicron in India.

The number of active COVID cases in the country currently stands at 91,361. The active cases account for only 0.26 per cent of all cases of COVID reported in the country to date.

With the addition of Friday's numbers, the total caseload in the country has risen to 3,48,38,804. The total number of COVID deaths has reached 4,81,080.