New Delhi: An RT-PCR testing kit for detecting new Covid-19 variant Omicron has been developed in India in partnership with Tata MD and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of the ICMR on Wednesday. The testing kit has also been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
"An RT-PCR kit to detect Covid-19 variant Omicron has been developed in partnership with Tata MD and the ICMR and it has been approved by the DCGI. This kit will give results in four hours," Dr Bhargava said during the briefing of the Union Health Ministry.
Dr Bhargava said Omicron was predominant circulating strain in the country. As per the ministry, 2,135 cases of Omicron had been reported in the country with Maharashtra registering the maximum cases, followed by Delhi.
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As many as 108 Omicron-related deaths have been reported globally so far.
Meanwhile, Assam reported its first Omicron case as Saudi Arabia returnee tested positive for the new variant. Chhattisgarh also reported its first Omicron case in Bilaspur. The 52-year-old patient has a travel history to the United Arab Emirates.
On the other hand, Delhi reported 10,665 fresh cases and eight deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases have mounted to 23,307 while the positivity rate has reached 11.88 per cent.
Mumbai also reported 15,166 new Covid cases, the highest single day rise since the pandemic began.
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