Kerala reported 44 new omicron cases on Friday, taking the total number of people infected with the new variant in the state to 107.

Health minister Veena George told reporters that 41 of the omicron-infected persons had arrived from high-risk nations while 52 came from low-risk countries. The remaining 14 patients contracted the new Covid variant through contacts with those who arrived from abroad.

Of the total omicron cases, 29 arrived from the UAE, 23 from Britain and the rest from Europe, Israel, South Africa and Nigeria.

While 37 of the 107 cases were reported in Ernakulam, 26 were registered in Thiruvananthapuram and 11 in Kollam, with nine other districts logging omicron infections in single digits.

The health minister informed that vaccination for children in the age group of 15 to 17 will start on Monday and 5 lakh doses will arrive on Sunday. Registration for this age group will begin on Sunday.

The minister urged everyone to complete their vaccination and not take any chances by thinking omicron is a mild variant. “We know from other states and countries that the omicron variant spreads very fast. So this can spread fast unless we are extremely careful,” George said.

“I request everyone to follow extreme caution and complete their vaccination. There is a special drive for two days from tomorrow (Saturday) to vaccinate all those who are due or overdue for their second shot,” the minister said.

The arrival of omicron in Kerala is a cause for concern as the state is yet to overcome the second wave with about 2,000 new Covid cases being reported everyday.

The state has imposed night curfew between 10pm and 5am from December 20 to January 2. New Year Eve celebrations are allowed only until 10pm with bars, clubs and restaurants permitted to operate at 50 per cent of their capacity to avoid crowding.