India reports 12,193 new Covid cases and 42 deaths, with active cases now at 67,556. The government advises a risk assessment-based approach and urges people to wear masks and complete their vaccination doses. Scientists attribute the current surge to the XBB.1.16 variant but say people in India have developed hybrid immunity.
According to the Maharashtra health department, the XBB.1.16 is the dominant variant of Omicron that was driving the case surge. So far, 681 cases caused by this variant have been detected and five infected persons have succumbed in the state
Active cases comprise 0.13% of total infections, and the recovery rate stands at 98.68%, according to the health ministry. Case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19%.