Covid R-Value Higher Than 2nd Wave Peak, 1 Crore Teens Vaccinated: Centre

The country's Covid R naught value that indicates the spread of the infection is 2.69, higher than the 1.69 recorded during the peak of the pandemic's second wave, said the Centre.

India is seeing an exponential rise in the number of coronavirus cases, which is believed to be driven by its Omicron variant, the Centre said on Wednesday, while highlighting that the country's R naught value that indicates the spread of the infection is 2.69, higher than the 1.69 recorded during the peak of the pandemic's second wave.

Addressing a press conference, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said a spike in the number of Covid cases is being witnessed in cities and "the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain".

Mass gatherings need to be avoided to lower the speed of the infection spread, he stressed.

"We are now facing an exponential rise in (the number of) COVID-19 cases and we believe that largely, it is being driven by Omicron, particularly so in the western parts of our country and even particularly so in larger cities from where we have more data," NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said.