India recorded 1,79,723 new coronavirus infections, taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,57,07,727, while the active cases increased to 7,23,619, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on at 8 am.
The number of deaths climbed to 4,83,936 with 146 fresh fatalities, according to the data.
The active cases comprise 2.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 96.62 per cent, the ministry said.
India now has 4,033 cases of the new variant of coronavirus. Omicron has been reported in 27 states, with the most cases in Maharashtra with 1,216 cases, followed by Rajasthan with 529 infections. Out of the total Omicron cases reported so far,1,552 people have recovered or migrated.
Meanwhile, the administration of 'precaution dose' of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare, frontline workers and immuno-compromised seniors will begin from today. The precaution dose can only be taken after nine months from the date of administration of the second dose of the vaccine.
The third dose will be the same vaccine the people have received for their first and second doses. There will be no mix and match, the Centre has said. It had also informed that the senior citizens with co-morbidities will not be required to produce a doctor's certificate or prescription at the time of administration of the precaution dose.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in India:
Amid surging COVID cases, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday extended the existing COVID restrictions till January 31, imposing fresh curbs restricting entry into religious places of worship from January 14 to 18, to contain the spread of coronavirus. Night curfew, which was imposed from January 6, will continue till this month-end and there will be complete lockdown on January 16 (Sunday), the government said. Tamil Nadu today reported 13,990 fresh infections, while active cases soared to 62,767.
A total of 18,795 people, including 6,212 healthcare workers, got a "precautionary dose" of COVID-19 vaccine in the capital on Monday, according to government data, reported news agency PTI. As many as 8,040 people aged above 60 and 4,543 frontline workers also got their third dose. Around three lakh people aged 60 or more, healthcare workers and frontline workers who took their second dose of vaccine nine months ago have become eligible for the third dose from Monday.
Delhi reported 18,166 new cases in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate stands at 25 per cent, which means every fourth person taking coronavirus test was founded to be infected. This positivity rate was the highest since May 5. Besides, 17 virus-related deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours.