Delhi recorded its second case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 as a traveller who returned from a visit to Zimbabwe and South Africa tested positive for the disease. The total number of such infections in India has gone up to 33 across five states but the government has said that the symptoms were mild in all the cases.

The second Omicron patient in Delhi had also visited South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected. Samples of 27 passengers landing at the Delhi airport have been sent for genome sequencing so far.

The government has also emphasised that vaccines and masks are important. "WHO is warning against the decline in mask usage. The global scene of Omicron is disturbing. We are now operating at a risky level," said Dr VK Paul, who heads the centre's Covid task force.

In Maharashtra, a three-year-old child was among the 7 new patients who have tested positive for the heavily mutated Omicron variant. However, all the cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

Large gatherings have been banned in Mumbai for the two days in order to check spread of the disease.

More than 90 international passengers who returned to India since December 1 tested positive. At least 80 of them returned from "at-risk countries".

Omicron has now spread to as many as 59 countries with South Africa, UK and Denmark recording the highest number of cases.