Amid the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said self-awareness and self-discipline are the country's strengths in fighting against the novel variant of the COVID.
Addressing the nation in the 84th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, the prime minister said, "Friends, we also have to keep in mind that a new variant of coronavirus has already knocked at the door. Our scientists are continuously studying this new Omicron variant. They are getting new data every day, their suggestions are being worked upon. In such a situation, self-awareness and self-discipline are the country's strengths in fighting against this variant of coronavirus. It is this very collective strength of ours that will defeat COVID; with this very sense of responsibility, we have to enter into 2022."
Modi said India's vaccination milestone shows the trust of every Indian in the system and scientists.
"This is the strength of the people; it is because of everyone's effort that India could fight the biggest pandemic in 100 years. We stood by each other like a family in every difficult moment. If we compare the vaccination figures of the world today with those of India, it feels that the country has handled such an unprecedented task. Crossing the 140 million vaccine dose mark is an achievement of each and every Indian." he added
Mann ki Baat is the Prime Minister's monthly radio address, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month.
India's Omicron count rose to 422 and the cases have been detected across 17 states and Union Territories in India so far and 130 of these people have recovered or migrated, according to Union health ministry data updated on Sunday.
Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Omicron cases at 108, followed by Delhi at 79, Gujarat 43, Telangana 41, Kerala 38, Tamil Nadu 34 and Karnataka 31.
With 6,987 more people testing positive for COVID-19 in a day, India's total caseload increased to 3,47,86,802, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The death toll has climbed to 4,79,682 with 162 new fatalities, the data stated.
The daily rise in coronavirus infections has remained below 15,000 for the last 59 days now.
The number of active COVID-19 cases declined to 76,766, comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, the ministry said.
