WHO deploys team in South Africa to tackle Omicron variant
The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed a team of officials to South Africa's Gauteng province, the epicentre of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, for ramping up surveillance measures and contact tracing efforts as the country grapples with rising infections, an official said on Thursday. Some 11,500 new infections were registered in the latest daily figures, a sharp rise from the 8,500 cases confirmed the previous day.
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore airports start compulsory testing of passengers arriving from 11 'at risk' countries
Staff at airports in Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore have started compulsory testing of passengers arriving from 11 'at risk' countries in view of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said, "The airports in Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore have started compulsory testing of passengers arriving from 11 'at risk' countries where Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly."
No data shows Omicron variant more resistant to vaccine: French PM
No data shows that the Omicron variant would be more resistant to Covid-19 vaccines, French Prime Minister Jean Castex has said in Angouleme, southwest France.
"No consolidated data allows us, to date, to conclude that this variant would be more resistant to the vaccine," Xinhua news agency quoted Castex as saying during a press conference after visiting a hospital in Angouleme.
5 more cases of Omicron reported in New York
As many as five cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant have surfaced in New York City, taking cumulative tally in the US to eight.
"New York State has confirmed five cases of the omicron variant. Let me be clear: This is not a cause for alarm. We knew this variant was coming and we have the tools to stop the spread. Get your vaccine. Get your booster. Wear your mask," informed Governor of New York State in a tweet on Friday.
Karnataka CM to chair high-level meet on Omicron variant today, new SOPs likely soon
After two cases of COVID-19 new variant 'Omicron' were reported from Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said detailed SOPs and guidelines will be soon rolled out after a meeting with experts and senior officials scheduled today.
Nepal imposes ban on entry from nine countries including Hong Kong
Nepal imposes ban on entry from nine countries including Hong Kong, in view of emergence of Omicron variant of COVID-19.
India reports 9,216 new cases in the last 24 hours
Active caseload stands at 99,976: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
A passenger returned from Singapore at the Tiruchirappalli International Airport found COVID-19 positive
A passenger from Singapore at the Tiruchirappalli International Airport was found COVID positive & got admitted to a private hospital; samples have been sent for genome sequencing to Chennai & Bengaluru: Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian at Teynampet, Chennai
UK returnee found Covid-19 positive in Chennai
A passenger from the UK in Chennai was found COVID positive & is admitted to a special ward of the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Chennai; samples have been sent for genome sequencing to Chennai & Bengaluru: TN Health Minister Ma Subramanian at Teynampet, Chennai
Mumbai: 9 international travelers including one from South Africa tested COVID-19 positive
9 international travelers including one from South Africa who arrived at Mumbai International Airport between 10th Nov -2nd Dec have tested positive for COVID19. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Tamil Nadu gears up to face Omicron threat, earmarks exclusive beds
The Tamil Nadu health department has readied itself for any threat in view of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. The health department has directed the Medical colleges to set apart 150 beds in each of its hospitals to admit patients who are diagnosed with Omicron if any.
South Korea again restrict social gatherings amid fear of new wave
Starting next week, private social gatherings of seven or more people will be banned in the densely populated capital Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas, which have been hit hardest by a delta-driven spread that threatens to overwhelm hospital capacities. Gatherings will be limited to eight people in areas outside the capital region, officials said Friday. (AP)
Telangana: Woman returned from abroad tests positive for COVID-19 , 'Omicron' not yet confirmed
Amid concern over COVID-19 new variant 'Omicron', a woman, who was one of 325 passengers who came from abroad to Hyderabad, tested positive for Covid.
However, Srinivas Rao, Director, Public Health and Family Welfare said that it is yet to be confirmed whether she contracted Omicron or any other variant. (ANI)
Zimbabwe confirms omicron variant's patients in country
Zimbabwean Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga has confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country.
He has urged the nation to step up vigilance and adherence to Covid-19 prevention and mitigation measures to curb a fourth wave of the pandemic. (IANS)
WHO says measures against delta work for omicron variant too
"In terms of what countries should be doing now, our experiences over the last few years, especially in responding to delta, provides a guide of what we need to do, as well as how to cope with future surges in a more sustainable way says WHO officials
US: Biden says 'we need to be ready', appeals people to take booster dose
With rising numbers of COVID-19 cases predicted this winter, President Joe Biden on Thursday appealed for Americans to get their boosters and get behind his plan to tackle the new omicron variant through wider availability of vaccines and shots, but without new major restrictions on daily life.
Karnataka: CM Bommai to chair high-level meeting on Omicron
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will chair a high-level committee meeting with experts and senior officers on Friday afternoon in the wake of detection of the country's first case of Omicron virus in Bengaluru.
"The meeting would discuss the measures to prevent the spread of new variants of Covid and the strategies to control it. The issue would be discussed with experts of the union government as well. Action would be taken to formulate new guidelines," Bommai said.
Malaysia detects first omicron case in South African student Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia said Friday it has detected its first case of the new omicron strain of the coronavirus in a foreign student who returned to the country last month after visiting her family in South Africa.
12 Omicron suspects admitted to Delhi's LNJP hospital
As many as 12 patients suspected to be infected with the COVID-19 'Omicron' variant have been admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital in Delhi so far, said the sources on Friday. (ANI)
INSACOG calls for COVID vaccine booster dose to those at-risk, above 40 years
The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has called for the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for those who are above 40 years of age and at-risk people, informed an official statement issued by INSACOG on Monday.
Abbot says its rapid and PCR tests can detect Omicron variant
Global healthcare company Abbot has announced that it has conducted an assessment of the Omicron variant and it is confident that the rapid and PCR tests can detect the virus.
Kazakhstan suspends air traffic with Egypt over Omicron variant from today
Kazakhstan is suspending flights to Egypt starting Friday in an effort to prevent the emergence and spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development said.
Only Punjab reported 4 deaths due to oxygen shortage: Mandaviya
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday informed the Lok Sabha that Punjab had reported four deaths due to shortage of Oxygen during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh crosses milestone of 100mn Covid vaccines
Bangladesh's Covid-19 vaccination drive has achieved a historic milestone of administering more than 100 million vaccine doses, officials said.
According to the figure released on Thursday by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health, a total of 100,002,123 vaccine doses were administered as of Wednesday, including 73,172,360 Chinese vaccine doses, Xinhua reported.
GSK's early data shows Covid antibody drug effective against Omicron
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline has claimed that early laboratory tests show that its antibody drug against Covid-19 is effective against the new super mutant Omicron variant. (IANS)
36 students test positive for Covid in Telangana
Thirty-six students of three government-run residential schools in Telangana have tested positive for Covid-19.
According to health officials, 24 students at Jyotiba Phule BC welfare residential school at Indresham in Sangareddy district tested positive on Thursday.
