Over 20 Maharashtra MLAs, 10 ministers test Covid-19 positive

COVID-19 has been detected in ten ministers and over 20 MLAs in Maharashtra, according to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (January 1, 2022).

The announcement comes a day after Maharashtra, India's worst-affected coronavirus state, reported 8,067 new illnesses, up 2,699 from the previous day.

The state of Maharashtra has the most Omicron variant infections (454), followed by Delhi (351), Tamil Nadu (118), Gujarat (115), and Kerala (109).

There are now 24,509 active coronavirus cases in the state.

Pawar further stated that if the number of COVID-19 patients in the state continues to rise, the Uddhav Thackeray-led administration may be forced to impose additional limitations.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra government imposed new restrictions on weddings, social, political, religious, and funeral attendance.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Additional Chief Health Secretary has forecasted that by the third week of January, the state will have reported a total of two lakh active infections.

"Based on the current trend of rising COVID cases in the state, it is expected that we will have about two lakh active cases by the third week of January 2022," Dr Pradeep Vyas told ANI on Friday.

"Don`t be lulled by the narrative that third wave or Omicron wave is mild and not fatal. It`s equally fatal for those who are not vaccinated and have comorbidities. So please improve vaccination coverage and save lives," he added.