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About 38% of the total samples sent and analysed for genome sequencing at various laboratories in Delhi in the last seven days have been detected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, a news agency reported quoting official sources.

According to the documents shared by the official, out of the 468 samples analysed for genome sequencing during December 21- to 28, 38% came out to be Omicron variant while 31% was the Delta variant of coronavirus and the rest constituted other variants.

These samples were analysed at labs at NCDC, ILBS and LNJP Hospital, the sources said. A senior official in the South-East district

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday hold a Council of Ministers meeting amid rising cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. The meeting is expected to take place at 4pm, according to Hindustan Times’ sister publication Livehindustan.

According to the report, the meeting is expected to be attended by all ministers and among the things that are expected to be discussed include next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

PM Modi had taken stock of the pandemic situation in a high-level meeting called last Thursday where he asked officials to maintain a high level of vigil and alertness amid the Omicron spread.

India is preparing to inoculate its young population between the age group of 15 to 18 years from January 3. Centre has asked all the state governments to provide training to the vaccination staff and officers who will be inoculating the teenagers.For this, dedicated vaccination centres have been set up in all states and in those places where it is not possible, states are asked to appoint separate vaccination teams and queues for children. Provisions for both walk-in and online registrations through CoWIN app have been provided for the eligible teenagers.

Registration on CoWIN portal will begin from January 1 and on-site registrations will start from January 3. Presently, only Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin would be used for vaccination of teenagers across country. 

Following a surge in COVID-19 cases, Uttar Pradesh has been declared as a COVID-affected state. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad, in an order dated December 27, said that the decision has been taken after assessing the COVID-19 situation. 

Prasad in the order said that under Section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Health and Epidemic Control Act, 2020, the entire state has been declared as COVID-affected.

The announcement will be in effect till March 31, 2022, or till further orders are given, whichever is earlier, it read. It is pertinent to mention that the state has imposed night curfew in view of rising Omicron cases from December 25 onwards. The duration of the night curfew is 11 pm to 5 am. 

The Election Commission, which was informed by health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Monday that the five poll-bound states do not have many Omicron cases as of now, may not consider rescheduling of elections.

After being briefed in detail on the extent of Omicron cases in UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur as well as the status of vaccination in these states, the EC has now asked the health secretary to follow up on its instructions to step up the pace of vaccination and come back in a week’s time with a fresh report. Based on that report as well as inputs to be collected during its three-day UP visit starting Tuesday, the Election Commission will take a call on fine-tuning guidelines for Covid-safe campaigning and polling in the five states, said a source.