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.
