Omicron Spreads Fast, Covid-19 Cases in India Explode Again, Restrictions Are Implemented

Source: Reuters | Editor: Khomarul Hidayat

KONTAN.CO.ID – MUMBAI. The omicron variant makes Covid-19 cases in India explode again. India reported 159,632 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday (January 9), as the omicron variant continued to spread rapidly in the country, prompting several state governments to impose new restrictions.

India’s richest state, Maharashtra, has decided to close swimming pools and gyms from Monday. Schools and colleges have been closed until February 15 after the state’s daily cases jumped to more than 41,000.

The state government said only fully vaccinated people would be allowed into private offices while limiting capacity to 50 percent of the total workforce.

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In the neighboring state of Gujarat, authorities have extended a curfew and canceled leave for all health workers.

Reuters reports that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation on Sunday evening, according to government sources.

India’s health ministry reported 327 new deaths, bringing the official death toll since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to 483,790. Total infections reached 35.52 million.

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