India reported 1,79,723 new cases and 146 fatalities in the past 24 hours ending 9 am Monday. Latest data released by the Union health ministry, showed that the country has so far confirmed 4,033 infections caused by the virus’ new ‘variant of concern’ – Omicron and the total active caseload of Covid-19 in the country currently stands at 7,23,619. 

With the third wave of the pandemic peaking, mainly driven by the super spreading Omicron variant, the national test positivity rate has now gone up to more than 11 percent. As of now the worst-hit states are Maharashtra (44,388 cases), followed by West Bengal (24,287), Delhi (22,751), Tamil Nadu (12,895) and Karnataka (12,000).