Omicron is spreading in community: Delhi Health Minister

New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said Covid-19 variant Omicron constituted 46 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases in the national capital and people with no travel history were found infected with the new variant, meaning the virus is gradually spreading in the community.

Addressing a press conference, the Delhi Health Minister said, "Delhi reported 923 cases and the positivity rate is 1.29 per cent. The Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly and Omicron cases are also increasing in Delhi. As per the latest genome sequencing report, 46 per cent of total Covid-19 cases are of Omicron variant."

[caption id="" align="alignnone"] Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain[/caption] Also read | Omicron: Yellow alert to continue, no fresh restrictions for now

"Of the total Omicron cases, a few people have travel history and some with no travel history are also infected with Omicron, which means it is gradually spreading in the community," added Jain.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter"] Social media[/caption]

He said 200 Covid patients were admitted in Delhi hospitals and of them, 115 samples were tested at the airport. Of the total patients admitted to the hospital, 102 belonged to the city and 98 were from outside.

The Delhi Health Minister said the Omicron did not have more hospital admissions as compared to the Delta variant. "As of now, not a single Omicron patient has been on oxygen. Stage one restriction has been imposed in Delhi. Only Delhi has imposed so many restrictions across the country. The effect of any restriction is visible in seven to eight days," he said. [caption id="" align="alignnone"] Social media[/caption] Also read | Punjab MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi gets 'Z' security He alleged that the cases were increasing due to international flights. "Restrictions have been imposed in Delhi because flights from all over the world come to Delhi. The cases have increased due to international flights. Even during the earlier wave, the cases rose with flights coming in," the Delhi minister added. -PTC News