Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trips to UAE and Kuwait have been deferred in the wake of the omicron surge, according to hindustantimes.com.

Modi was scheduled to travel on January 6.

According to sources in South Block, "the visit will have to be rescheduled due to the rising number of omicron cases and could possible be held in February," adds hindustantimes.com.

India has recorded 781 cases of the omicron variant of coronavirus across 21 states and UTs so far out of which 241 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

Delhi recorded the maximum number of 238 cases followed by Maharashtra at 167, Gujarat 73, Kerala 65 and Telangana 62.

With 9,195 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,48,08,886, while the active cases increased to 77,002, according to the data updated at 8 am.

The death toll has climbed to 4,80,592 with 302 fresh fatalities,the data stated.

The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 62 days now.