New Covid variant Omicron triggers global alarm, market sell-off
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Omicron may spread more quickly than other forms, and preliminary evidence suggested there is an increased risk of reinfection.
Feb 8: India reported 67,597 fresh Covid cases in India, 19.4% lower than yesterday. The positivity rate fell to 5%.
After a surge of infections in January led by the new Covid variant Omicron, cases are on a decline in several states in India.
Daily COVID-19 infections in Karnataka dropped to 6,151 on Monday, taking the total positive cases to 39,02,309.
West Bengal's COVID-19 graph maintained its downward trend registering 641 new cases compared to 835 the previous day, taking the tally to 20,06,513. The maximum number of 105 new cases of the disease was reported in North 24 Parganas district, while there were 75 cases in the city, a bulletin issued by it said.
Delhi reported 1,151 new COVID-19 cases and 15 more deaths, while the positivity rate rose slightly to 2.62 percent, according to data shared by the health department.
US President Joe Biden has called the Omicron Covid variant a "cause for concern, not a cause for panic" one day after it was detected in North America.
People are twice as likely to need hospital care if they are sick with the Delta Covid variant, rather than the Alpha variant that was once prevalent in the UK, data from England suggests.
