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India’s Modi calls meeting over Omicron variant

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Thursday on containing a possible surge of Omicron cases ahead of the festive season, as gatherings in public spaces and markets grow in size.

India has recorded 236 Omicron coronavirus cases across 16 states over the last 24 hours, the federal health ministry said, more than double from last week.

In a second advisory issued this week, the federal government urged states to impose curbs lasting for almost a fortnight should there be a risk of an outbreak.

While more than half of India’s adult population is fully vaccinated, hundreds of millions are still at risk. Doctors warn that if an Omicron-fueled third wave of infections hits the country, medical facilities could be over-run very quickly.

The omicron variant has been identified in more than 30 countries:

Modi’s government came under scathing criticism during the summer when India’s health system was overwhelmed by a deadly second wave that killed tens of thousands of people.

Residents in the capital New Delhi scrambled for beds as oxygen supplies ran out and ambulances fell short and morgues ran out of space.

However, Chief of New Delhi Arvind Kejriwal said the city is completely prepared to handle 100 000 cases daily if the situation worsens.

Earlier this week, the health department in the southern state of Karnataka – among five states reporting the highest number of Omicron cases – barred churches from using roads or public places to accommodate people during mass or for other celebrations.

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