COVID-19: Pune district achieves 100% first dose vaccination target
No need to panic, severity of Omicron is low: Maharashtra Health Minister
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said people do not need to panic about Omicron as the severity of the coronavirus variant is low.
121 new COVID-19 cases in Thane district
Thane has reported 121 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 5,70,177, an official said on Thursday.
Omicron variant may change course of Covid-19 pandemic: WHO chief
Certain features of the Omicron variant, including its global spread and large number of mutations, suggest it could have a major impact on the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, said the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO).
India records 9,419 fresh Covid infections, active cases increase to 94,742
With 9,419 more people testing positive for Covid in a day, India's infection tally rose to 3,46,66,241, while the active cases increased to 94,742, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Thursday.
US Senate votes to overturn Biden's vaccine mandate
The US Senate has voted to overturn President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandate for businesses.
Senators on late Wednesday voted 52-48 on the resolution, which needed a simple majority to be approved, reports Xinhua news agency.
Democratic Senators Jon Tester and Joe Manchin voted with Republicans, giving it enough support to be sent to the House.
The resolution faces an uphill path in the Democrat-controlled House and Biden is expected to veto the bill if it clears Congress.
The mandate, published through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, asks businesses with at least 100 employees to require their workers to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing by January 4, 2022.
Philippines to ban travel from France from December 13
The Philippines will ban travel from France starting from December 13 to stem the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, a government official said.
AU calls for rescinding travel bans on African nations
The African Union (AU) warned that travel and entry bans in connection with the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant limit the free movement of people and goods, imposing immediate and significant impact on countries across the continent.
Maharashtra: Vaccination in 22 districts below state average
COVID-19: Maharashtra cumulative vaccination tally crosses 12.11 crore
Greece lifts travel restrictions for tourists from India
The Global Visa Center World (GVCW) has announced that Indian citizens and residents of India can now enter Greece following the Covid-19 testing protocol as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.
Pakistan reports first 'suspected' Omicron case
Pakistan has reported its first "suspected" case of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant in a woman in Karachi, Dawn news reported citing the Sindh Health Minister as saying on Thursday.
Ukraine spa town stands out amid nation's vaccine hesitancy
A small spa town in western Ukraine is standing out in a European country where only 29% of the people have received COVID-19 vaccine shots, and locals credit their community spirit for fending off the worst of the pandemic.
US FDA okays AstraZeneca's Covid antibody cocktail for immunocompromised
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorisation to AstraZeneca's monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid-19 among people with weakened immune systems
UK announces stronger measures to curb Omicron spread
The UK will move to "Plan B" restrictions to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant this winter, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced.
Karnataka CM Bommai rules out night curfew till next week
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday stated that the government has no intention to implement night curfew in the state in the wake of Omicron fears. "People need not panic about the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. The decision on imposing night curfew will be taken after a week," he stated.
