Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 3 (IANS): Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Monday informed that 29 more people have turned positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, taking the tally to 181.

She said of the total Omicron patients, 42 have by now been discharged from hospitals and are back home.

Of the 181 Omicron cases, 52 came from high risk countries, while 109 came from low risk countries and 20 were contacts of primary sources who were positive for Omicron.

George who on Monday visited a vaccination centre, here for the children aged between 15 and 18, said that they will in a time bound manner complete the entire vaccination of the children in this age group, which is around 1.54 million.

"While there are 875 vaccination centres for those above aged 18, for those in the 15 to 18 age group 551 centres have been opened. By now 98 per cent of the people above aged 18 have taken their first dose, while 80 per cent have got both the doses," said George.