Dehradun, Jan 17 (PTI) Uttarakhand has reported 85 new cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Genome sequencing reports of 159 COVID-19 samples confirmed the Omicron variant in 85 on Sunday, Director General, Health, Tripti Bahuguna said.

Also Read | Harak Singh Rawat Expelled From BJP; Removed From Cabinet Ahead of Uttarakhand Assembly Elections 2022, Say Sources.

It means the new variant of the pandemic has been confirmed in 54 per cent of the samples, she said.

Genome sequencing reports of 2,096 samples are still awaited. Uttarakhand had reported eight cases of Omicron earlier.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi to Deliver ‘State of the World’ Special Address at WEF’s Davos Agenda Today.

Covid curbs, meanwhile, have been extended in Uttarakhand till January 22.

Anganwadi centres and schools up to class 12 will remain closed till January 22.

Night curfew timing from 10 pm to six pm will remain unchanged during the period. Water parks and swimming pools will also remain closed, a revised SOP said.

The ban on political rallies, padyatras, roadshows, protests and demonstrations will also continue but meetings can be held inside auditoriums with 50 per cent capacity, it said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)