Coronavirus Omicron India Highlights: Chandigarh reported its first case of Omicron after swab samples of a fully vaccinated 20-year-old male passenger from Italy, who had tested COVID-19 positive on December 1, revealed the presence of the new variant of the novel coronavirus. A 20-year-old man, who reached here from abroad to meet his relatives, has tested positive for Omicron, becoming the first patient of the new COVID-19 variant in Chandigarh, Health department officials here said on Sunday.
The UK on Sunday raised its Covid Alert Level due to the "rapid increase" in cases of the Omicron variant, as the government announced new measures to control its spread. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, under pressure because of claims he and staff flouted Covid restrictions last Christmas, was due to make an address to the nation at 2000 GMT.
He is expected to talk about the country's booster programme. The decision to increase the five-stage public health risk assessment from level three to four comes after a further 1,239 confirmed cases of the variant were recorded on Sunday. That brings the total number of UK cases of Omicron to 3,137 -- a 65 percent increase from Saturday's total of 1,898.
Britain began easing coronavirus restrictions in June and the alert level was at stage three, which means the epidemic is in general circulation. Level four means "transmission is high and pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising". The four chief medical officers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland said the move was prompted by advice from the UK Health Security Agency, a public health body.
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Omicron Threat: Maharashtra Records 2 New Cases, Count Rises To 20
With these two cases — one from Latur and the other from Pune — the tally of patients infected with the newly discovered variant of the coronavirus rose to 20.... Read More
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE News Updates | Identify COVID clusters in state, test for Omicron there: Kerala CM
In the wake of the first confirmed case of Omicron variant in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said COVID-19 clusters should be identified and genetic sequencing tests increased there. The direction to the health department was given by the CM during the COVID review meeting held during the day, a press release said.
The CM also said that all the 36 persons who had come in close contact with the Omicron confirmed patient from Ernakulam were in isolation. The patient had arrived in Kochi with his wife on December 6 via Abu Dhabi on an Etihad flight.
In the meeting, Vijayan also directed the District Collectors and the Health Department to pay special attention to districts with low vaccination rates, the release said. He directed that the vaccination rate in Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts be increased. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE News Updates: IIT Delhi researchers develop RT-PCR based assay for detection of Omicron variant within 90 minutes
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi have developed an RT-PCR based assay for the specific detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 within 90 minutes, according to officials.
Currently, the identification or screening for Omicron is done worldwide using next-generation sequencing-based methods which require over three days. The institute has filed an Indian patent application for the rapid screening assay developed by its Kusuma School of Biological Sciences and is in process of initiating talks with potential industry partners. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates: Two new Omicron cases reported in Maharashtra
Twonew cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus were reported inMaharashtra, with a39-year-old woman from Latur and33-year-old person from Pune being found infected. The tally of Omicron cases in India has cllimbed to 40.
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates: Mainland China detects first case of Omicron coronavirus variant: state media
Health authorities in northern China's port city of Tianjin have detected the first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the country's mainland, the state-run Tianjin Daily reported on Monday.
The infection was discovered in a traveller who arrived in the city from overseas on Dec. 9, the newspaper said, adding that the patient is currently being treated in isolation in hospital. (Reuters)
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates: First person dies from Omicron variant in United Kingdom
At least one patient has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.
"Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters.
"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set on one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."
Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in the United Kingdom, Johnson has imposed tougher restrictions, and on Sunday he urged people to get booster shots to prevent the health service from being overwhelmed.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Omicron coronavirus variant was spreading at a "phenomenal rate" and now accounted for about 40% of infections in London.
Reuters
Coronavirus Omicron LIVE Updates: Omicron could cause up to 75,000 deaths in UK by April end, study warns
The Omicron variant of coronavirus could cause between 25,000 and 75,000 COVID-19 related deaths in the UK by April next year, if additional control measures were not taken, according to a modelling study. The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study suggests that Omicron has the potential to cause a wave of transmission in England that could lead to higher levels of cases and hospitalisations than those seen during January 2021.
The researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the UK used the latest experimental data on the antibody-evading characteristics of Omicron to explore plausible scenarios for the immune escape of the variant. Under the most optimistic scenario, a wave of infection is projected which could lead to a peak of over 2,000 daily hospital admissions, with 175,000 hospitalisations and 24,700 deaths between December 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022, if no additional control measures are implemented. (PTI)
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: One-time financial of Rs 50,000 given to 21,235 families of COVID-19 victims, says Delhi minister
The Delhi government has provided a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to 21,235 families that lost their near ones to COVID-19, Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said on Monday. Separately, 9,484 of the 12,668 applications received have been approved for a monthly pension of Rs 2,500, he said at a press conference here.
Under the "Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana", the Delhi government has been providing a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the families of all the coronavirus victims in the city and a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 to households that have lost the sole breadwinner and for children orphaned due to the pandemic.
"A total of 25,100 applications have been received for a one-time financial aid of Rs 50,000. So far, 21,235 families have been given the assistance,” Gautam said. Around 2,500 families did not avail the scheme due to various reasons, while around 1,500 will receive the aid soon, he added. The minister said the city government has approved 9,484 of the 12,668 applications received for the monthly pension of Rs 2,500.
Of the applicants, 7,955 have already started receiving the pension, he said, adding that 1,120 applications are under verification in the revenue department. Gautam underlined that the government has been disbursing pensions as soon as the verification process is complete and the pendency is negligible.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Andaman & Nicobar reports one new COVID-19 case
The union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported one new COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, which took the tally to 7,698, a health department official said on Monday. The archipelago now has eight active COVID-19 cases and all the patients are in the South Andaman district. The other two districts North and Middle and Nicobar Islands are coronavirus free, he said. The archipelago now has eight active COVID-19 cases and all the patients are in the South Andaman district.
The COVID-19 death toll remained at 129 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours, the official said. A total of 7,561 people have so far recovered from COVID-19, he said. The union territory had reported one new COVID-19 case on Sunday. The administration has so far tested 6,45,188 samples for COVID-19 and the cumulative test positivity rate is 1.19 per cent. A total of 5,74,691 beneficiaries have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine, of which 2,98,076 have received the first dose and 2,76,615 both doses of the vaccine, he added.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: China reports outbreak of COVID-19 new Delta strain sub-lineage AY.4' cases
China has reported a sudden flare-up of COVID-19 cases in Zhejiang Province which registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed cases stated to be that of Delta strain "sub-lineage AY.4", prompting officials to bar millions of people in the eastern province from travelling outside. Zhejiang Province has registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic carrier between December 5-12, amid the latest COVID-19 resurgence, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
The report from Hangzhou, the provincial headquarters on Sunday said of the 138 in Zhejiang 44 cases were reported in Ningbo, 77 cases in Shaoxing and 17 cases were in the provincial capital of Hangzhou. The whole-genome sequencing and analysis found that the cases in the three cities were caused by the Delta strain sub-lineage AY.4, which is stated to be more transmissible and carries a higher viral load than the original novel coronavirus, the report quoted an official with the Zhejiang provincial centre for disease control and prevention as saying.
Local authorities have imposed restrictions on public gatherings and travelling out of the province to prevent the virus from spreading further, it said. The province has a 64.6 million population. On Monday in a separate report, the National Health Commission said the province has reported 74 new reported cases on Sunday alone. It is not clear whether they are new cases.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: SC directs Centre to reply on plea seeking revival of vaccine PSUs to boost COVID-19 vaccination
The Supreme Court Monday directed the Centre to file reply on a plea seeking to revive the vaccine public sector units and utilise their full production capabilities by placement of purchase orders. A bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna asked the Centre to respond to the plea within four weeks after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said notice is not needed in the matter as this would be in the domain of policy decision.
"We want to know what is the policy of the government... SG appears for Centre and states that a reply will be filed by four weeks. A rejoinder may be filed within three weeks thereafter. List the matter after the pleadings are complete," the bench said. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati also appeared for the Centre. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for the petitioners.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by former IAS Amulya Ratna Nanda, All India Drug Action Network, Low Cost Standard Therapeutics and Medico Friend Circle to grant functional autonomy to vaccine public sector units and put these PSUs to use especially after public funds were spent to make them Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant.
The plea said these PSUs should be granted “full autonomy” as envisaged in the Javid Chowdhary report, on vaccine production in the public sector units, of 2010 to ensure their complete revival and smooth functioning in the future. It stated no PSUs should be excluded from producing any vaccine or from government vaccine procurement, as long as quality and affordability are ensured.
Referring to a 2016 order of the top court, in which the government had agreed to take action to revive the PSUs, the plea said the vaccine manufacturing facilities that were catering to 80-85 per cent of the demand prior to their suspension continued to languish wastefully despite their modernisation and capacity expansion.
“India is home to the oldest vaccine PSUs, with 25 of them set up under the British Raj. By the 1980s, 29 PSUs were set up with the sole objective of self-reliance and self-sufficiency in vaccine production for the Universal Immunisation Programme introduced in 1986 to prevent mortality and morbidity amongst children in India as part of the global effort by the World Health Organisation,” the plea said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Ladakh reports another death due to COVID-19
Ladakh recorded a fresh fatality due to COVID-19 and 18 new cases, taking the virus tally to 21,822 in the union territory, officials said.The COVID-19 death toll in Ladakh has climbed to 216 with 158 deaths in Leh and 58 in Kargil since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, they said The active cases in the union territory have come down to 190, officials said. All the fresh cases were reported in Leh, they said. A total of 401 sample reports in Ladakh were found negative, they said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Covid vaccines, previous infection offer stronger than basic' protection against Omicron, says study
People previously infected with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and those vaccinated will have some "stronger than basic" protection against Omicron, according to one of the earliest peer-reviewed studies looking into the recently identified variant of coronavirus. However, the study conducted in a lab suggests that Omicron "exceeds" all other variants in its potential capability to evade the protection gained from previous COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
The findings, published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infection, also suggest that although a third-dose of vaccines can significantly boost immunity", the protection from Omicron "may be compromised". The researchers from the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control in China, however, noted that more research is needed to better understand the association.
The results support recent findings in South Africa which highlight that for Omicron it was easy to evade immunity, they noted. "We found the large number of mutations of the Omicron variant did cause significant changes of neutralisation sensitivity against people who had already had COVID," said study lead author Youchun Wang from the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says We're ready to tackle the Omicron threat. If required, we will impose necessary restrictions.
We're ready to tackle the Omicron threat. If required, we will impose necessary restrictions. Currently, there is no such need to impose any restrictions...A decision on re-opening of schools will be taken after winter vacation for schools end, saysDelhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Bombay HC praises Maharashtra's handling of COVID-19 pandemic
The Bombay High Court on Monday said the state of Maharashtra was "one of the pioneers" in successfully tackling the crisis that arose because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Referring to the deadly second wave of COVID-19, the HC expressed hope the next year would bring a new beginning and that people will never see a repeat of April 2021.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik made the comment while disposing of a bunch of Public Interest Litigations filed last year, seeking several reliefs from the HC on issues pertaining to the state government’s efforts, disbursement of resources related to the pandemic. The HC disposed of the PILs after the petitioners sought permission to withdraw the pleas, saying most of the reliefs sought by them had been granted and the state government had acted upon all orders passed by the court.
"Let us forget about the dark days. But, we must not let our guard down. We hope the New Year brings in a new beginning and we never see a repeat of April 2021," the high court said, referring to the second wave of COVID-19. "We have no hesitation in saying that Maharashtra was one of the pioneers in tackling COVID-19. We are told that several courts in some states are still not open (for physical hearings). Our collective efforts have succeeded, but we don’t want a repeat," the HC said.
The court further said both the state and the Union government must continue to prioritise providing anti-COVID-19 vaccines and requisite medical aid for senior citizens and those with disabilities and co-morbidities, to ensure that citizens remained safe. "In 2020, we knew nothing of COVID-19, but in April this year, during the second wave, we did. Yet, we let our guard down and witnessed a difficult time," the HC noted.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Arunachal Pradesh logs one new COVID-19 case, tally at 55,306
Arunachal Pradesh on Monday registered a single fresh case of COVID-19, raising the tally to 55,306, a senior health department official said. The death toll remained at 280 as no fresh fatality was reported in the past 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer Lobsang Jampa said. The northeastern state now has 29 active cases, while 54,997 people have recovered from the disease so far.
The Capital Complex Region, comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas, has the highest number of active cases at 11, followed by West Kameng (9), Tawang (4) and Namsai (3). Over 12 lakh samples, including 92 on Sunday, have been tested for COVID-19, Jampa said, adding, the positivity rate stood at 1.08 per cent. Meanwhile, State Immunisation Officer Dimong Padung said 14,37,064 people have been inoculated thus far.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Puducherry logs 7 new cases; no fatalities for fourth straight day'
The union territory of Puducherry witnessed a steep fall in number of fresh coronavirus cases with only seven being reported in the last 24 hours, a senior official of the Department of Health said on Monday. The seven new infections were identified at the end of the examination of 1,047 samples, Director of the Health Department G Sriramulu said, adding the overall caseload rose to 1,29,224.
Puducherry and Karaikal regions reported three new cases of infection each while Mahe added only one. Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry in Andhra Pradesh, did not record any fresh infection, the Director said. The number of active cases stood at 183 which included 45 patients undergoing treatment in hospitals and remaining 138 in home isolation, he said.
As many as 32 patients recovered and were discharged during the last 24 hours pushing the overall recoveries to 1,27,164. No fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions for the fourth straight day and the toll remained at 1,877, the Health Department Director said. The department has so far tested 20,13,171 samples and has found 17,08,365 out of them to be negative.
The test positivity rate was 0.67 per cent while the fatality and recovery rates were 1.45 per cent and 98.45 per cent respectively, Sriramulu said. The Department of Health has so far administered 13,08,227 doses which included 7,97,042 first doses and remaining 5,11,185 were second doses.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: China reports spurt of Delta strain 'sub-lineage' cases of COVID-19
China has reported a sudden flare-up of COVID-19 cases in Zhejiang Province which registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed cases stated to be that of Delta strain "sub-lineage AY.4", prompting officials to bar millions of people in the eastern province from travelling outside. Zhejiang Province has registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic carrier between December 5-12, amid the latest COVID-19 resurgence, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
The report from Hangzhou, the provincial headquarters on Sunday said of the 138 in Zhejiang 44 cases were reported in Ningbo, 77 cases in Shaoxing and 17 cases were in the provincial capital of Hangzhou.
The whole-genome sequencing and analysis found that the cases in the three cities were caused by the Delta strain sub-lineage AY.4, which is stated to be more transmissible and carries a higher viral load than the original novel coronavirus, the report quoted an official with the Zhejiang provincial centre for disease control and prevention as saying. Local authorities have imposed restrictions on public gatherings and travelling out of the province to prevent the virus from spreading further, it said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: PM Modi wishes speedy recovery to South African President after he contracts COVID-19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wished South African President Cyril Ramaphosa a speedy recovery from COVID-19. "Wishing you a speedy recovery my friend, President @CyrilRamaphosa," PM Modi tweeted. Earlier, the South African President's office announced that Ramphosa has been tested positive for the COVID-19 with mild symptoms. Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive on Sunday, the office of the presidency said in a statement, reported CNN.
Ramaphosa "started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honour of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today," the presidency statement said. Ramaphosa was fully vaccinated and he recently returned from a trip to West Africa. He tested negative for COVID-19 upon his return to Johannesburg on December 8, according to his office. The President is now in self-isolation in Cape Town, reported CNN.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: India sees 7,350 new COVID-19 cases, 202 deaths
India’s coronavirus tally rose to 3,46,97,860 with 7,350 people testing positive for the infection in a day, while the number of active cases declined to 91,456, the lowest in 561 days, the Union Health Ministry data showed on Monday. The death toll from the pandemic has climbed to 4,75,636 with 202 new fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 46 days now. The number of active cases has declined to 91,456, comprising 0.26 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.37 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the Health Ministry said.
A decline of 825 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.86 per cent. It has been less than 2 per cent for the last 70 days. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.86 per cent. It has been less than 2 per cent for the last 70 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.69 per cent. It has been below 1 per cent for the last 29 days, according to the ministry.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Omicron cases in India so far
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Thane district logs 86 new COVID-19 cases
With the addition of 86 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 5,70,460, an official said on Sunday. These new cases were reported on Saturday, he said. No new fatality was recorded, he said, adding that the death toll in the district remained unchanged at 11,593. The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 2.03 per cent, he said. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 1,38,794, while the death toll stands at 3,302, another official said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: How big a threat is Omicron covid variant? WHO shares update
The Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms according to early data, the World Health Organization said Sunday.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Omicron spreads faster and weakens jabs, says WHO
The Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms according to early data, the World Health Organization said Sunday. The Delta variant, first identified in India earlier this year, is responsible for most of the world's coronavirus infections.
But South Africa's discovery of Omicron -- which has a large number of mutations -- last month prompted countries around the world to impose travel bans on southern African countries and reintroduce domestic restrictions to slow its spread. The WHO said Omicron had spread to 63 countries as of December 9. Faster transmission was noted in South Africa, where Delta is less prevalent, and in Britain, where Delta is the dominant strain.
But it stressed that a lack of data meant it could not say if Omicron's rate of transmission was because it was less prone to immune responses, higher transmissibility or a combination of both.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Omicron variant to be detected in 20 minutes by molecular diagnosis test
Korean researchers have developed molecular diagnostics technology that can detect Omicron variants. The technology development has been currently completed, and it is expected to take time for commercialization. POSTECH announced on the 10th that a research team led by Professor Lee Jung-wook of the Department of Chemical Engineering has developed molecular diagnostic technology that can detect the Omicron variant in just 20-30 minutes and will publish the results online.
Omicron is a variant in which 26-32 mutations in the spike, which is used to infect cells by the COVID-19 virus. According to the research team, molecular diagnostics technology can distinguish mutations at the single-nucleotide base, so it can detect "Stealth Omicron," which are difficult to be detected by PCR tests. Currently, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using three methods to detect COVID-19 variants: whole-genome analysis, target DNA (mutations such as spike protein) analysis, and PCR test.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Man with travel history to Zimbabwe, South Africa found Omicron positive, 2nd case in Delhi
A 35-year-old man, with travel history to Zimbabwe and South Africa, has tested positive for Omicron, becoming the second patient in Delhi of the new COVID-19 variant, sources said on Saturday. He is admitted at the LNJP Hospital and only has weakness, they added. He returned to India from Zimbabwe and had even travelled to South Africa, the sources said, adding that he is fully vaccinated.
The LNJP Hospital has been designated for treatment of patients infected with the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. On Sunday, a 37-year-old fully vaccinated man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania, became the first patient of Omicron in the national capital. The patient, a resident of Ranchi, had travelled from Tanzania to Doha and from there to Delhi on a Qatar Airways flight on December 2. He stayed in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a week. The person has mild symptoms. In India till now, 33 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported. Maharashtra has 17, Rajasthan has nine, Gujarat has three, Karnataka has two, and Delhi has two.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Australia shortens wait time for COVID-19 booster doses as Omicron cases rise
Australia said on Sunday it will shorten the wait time for people to receive a COVID-19 booster following a rise in cases of the Omicron variant. Australia had previously said it would offer the booster to everyone over 18 who had had their second dose of the vaccine six months earlier.
But with rising cases of the Omicron variant, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the time interval will be shortened to five months after the second dose. "A booster dose five or more months after the second dose will make sure that the protection from the primary course is even stronger and longer lasting and should help prevent spread of the virus," Hunt said in an emailed statement.
"Data from Israel shows boosters supporting reductions in the rate of infection in eligible age groups, severe disease in those aged over 40 years and deaths in those over 60 years."
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Omicron cases rising in India | List of states that have reported new Covid-19 variant
The caseload of the Omicron Covid-19 variant is rising each day in India. On Sunday, the tally rose to 38 after Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh and Kerala reported their first infections and Maharashtra and Karnataka also recorded one each of the latest coronavirus variants. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the new Omicron coronavirus strain has been found in 63 countries and will surpass the Delta variant in spreading speed.
State-wise Omicron Covid tally
Maharashtra (18)
Rajasthan (9)
Karnataka (3)
Karnataka (3)
Kerala (1)
Andhra Pradesh (1)
Union Territories of Delhi (2)
Chandigarh (1)
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: UK opens up COVID boosters to all over 30s in Omicron fight
Britain's health authorities said on Sunday that bookings for the COVID booster vaccines for everyone aged 30 and over in England will be open from Monday, as one of the key actions aimed at tackling the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country. There are around 7.5 million people aged 30 to 39, and 3.5 million of those are eligible for boosters from Monday, NHS England said. It comes as early analysis shows booster jabs being effective against the Omicron variant, the first cases of which have started being hospitalised now.
There is no reported death from the variant in the UK yet, but experts warn that it is set to take over from Delta as the dominant coronavirus variant by the end of this year. "The COVID-19 booster programme is accelerating rapidly and more than 22 million people in the UK have already received their top-up, securing vital protection ahead of Christmas," said UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: First case of Omicron reported in Kerala
The first case of COVID-19 variant Omicron has been confirmed in Kerala, state Health Minister Veena George said on Sunday. In a video posted on her Facebook page, the minister said that the patient was a Kerala native who recently came from the United Kingdom. The patient's condition is stable and there was no need to panic as the government was taking all necessary steps to curb spread of the new variant of the virus, she said.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Nagpur reports its 1st case as man found infected on return from South Africa
Nagpur reported its first Omicron case on Sunday with a 40-year-old man testing positive for this variant of coronavirus after returning from South Africa, which took Maharashtra's count of such cases to 18, the state health department said.
The man from Nagpur had arrived in the state from South Africa on December 5. A report by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) said that he has mild symptoms of the infection. He is currently in isolation at AIIMS Nagpur, it said. The patient has not taken any anti-coronavirus vaccine so far, the department said in a statement.
His 30 close contacts were traced and all of them have tested negative for the infection. The new patient is a case of re-infection. He was earlier diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 11 this year, but his symptoms were mild and did not require hospitalisation, it added. Talking to PTI, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Radhakrishnan B said the patient's condition is stable. "We will be monitoring him closely," he said. Earlier, Pimpri Chinchwad township (near Pune), Mumbai and Pune cities have reported Omicron cases.
The state health department further said that since December 1, a total of 77,530 passengers have arrived in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur airports from other countries. They include 11,751 from 'at-risk' countries and their RT-PCR test has been done. Of them, 22 passengers from 'at risk' countries and eight from other countries tested COVID-19 positive in the RT-PCR test and their samples have been sent for genomic sequencing, it said. Additionally field surveillance of all international passengers, who have arrived since November 1 is underway. Through airport and field surveillance, 107 samples have been sent for genomic sequencing and the results of 26 are awaited so far, it added.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Some Chinese companies suspend production in Zhejiang on virus outbreak
More than a dozen Chinese listed companies have said they had suspended production in coronavirus-hit parts of China’s eastern Zhejiang province in response to local government’s COVID-19 curbs. Zhejiang reported a total of 173 locally transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms during the Dec. 6-12 period, official number showed on Monday, marking the province’s first domestic cluster outbreak this year.
In October, the province reported just one local case. The companies that announced the production suspension through exchange filings over the weekend include Ningbo Homelink Eco-Itech Co Ltd, Zhejiang Zhongxin Fluoride Materials Co Ltd, Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co Ltd and Zhejiang Fenglong Electric Co Ltd. China reported 80 new locally-transmitted cases with symptoms on the mainland for December 12, including 74 identified in Zhejiang.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa contracts COVID-19 as infections reach record high
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the viral infection, his office said on Sunday. President Ramaphosa contracted COVID-19 infection on a day when the country recorded a new high of 37,875 new infections overnight, dramatically up from the previous day’s 17,154 new cases.
“The President started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honour of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today. “The President is in good spirits but is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force,” Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said in a statement.
Gungubele said the President, who is fully vaccinated, is in self-isolation in Cape Town and has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week. President Ramaphosa and the South African delegation were tested for COVID-19 in all of the four West African countries that he visited over the past week. They also tested negative upon their return to South Africa on Wednesday.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: South Korea to test AI-powered facial recognition to track COVID-19 cases
South Korea will soon roll out a pilot project to use artificial intelligence, facial recognition and thousands of CCTV cameras to track the movement of people infected with the coronavirus, despite concerns about the invasion of privacy. The nationally funded project in Bucheon, one of the country's most densely populated cities on the outskirts of Seoul, is due to become operational in January, a city official told Reuters.
The system uses an AI algorithms and facial recognition technology to analyse footage gathered by more than 10,820 CCTV cameras and track an infected person’s movements, anyone they had close contact with, and whether they were wearing a mask, according to a 110-page business plan from the city submitted to the Ministry of Science and ICT (Information and Communications Technology), and provided to Reuters by a parliamentary lawmaker critical of the project.
Governments around the world have turned to new technologies and expanded legal powers to try to stem the tide of COVID-19 infections. China, Russia, India, Poland and Japan as well as several U.S. states are among the governments to have rolled out or at least experimented with facial recognition systems for tracking COVID-19 patients, according to a March report by Columbia Law School in New York.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Israel imposing travel ban for Britain, Denmark, Belgium over Omicron spread, says official
Israel on Sunday announced it was adding Britain, Denmark and Belgium to its "red" list of countries that Israelis are forbidden to visit, citing concern over the spread of the Omicron variant. The travel restrictions for the three countries will go into effect on Wednesday, a senior Israeli health official told a news conference.
Israel has already banned the entry of foreigners to try to stem COVID-19 infection rates and imposed 3-7 day self-isolation orders for Israelis returning from abroad. At the news conference Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health at Israel's Health Ministry, said Britain, Denmark and Belgium were being placed on the restricted list because of the "significant spread of the Omicron variant" there.
Some 50 countries, mainly in Africa, have been declared "red" by Israel since the discovery of the highly contagious variant. Israeli health officials said there have been 55 confirmed cases of Omicron infection in Israel, which has been trying to accelerate its vaccination programme while weighing stricter enforcement of mask mandates.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: UK raises coronavirus alert level over increased Omicron transmission
The UK on Sunday raised its Covid Alert Level due to the "rapid increase" in cases of the Omicron variant, as the government announced new measures to control its spread. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, under pressure because of claims he and staff flouted Covid restrictions last Christmas, was due to make an address to the nation at 2000 GMT. He is expected to talk about the country's booster programme.
The decision to increase the five-stage public health risk assessment from level three to four comes after a further 1,239 confirmed cases of the variant were recorded on Sunday. That brings the total number of UK cases of Omicron to 3,137 -- a 65 percent increase from Saturday's total of 1,898. Britain began easing coronavirus restrictions in June and the alert level was at stage three, which means the epidemic is in general circulation.
Level four means "transmission is high and pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising". The four chief medical officers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland said the move was prompted by advice from the UK Health Security Agency, a public health body.
Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE Updates: Chandigarh reports 1st Omicron case, man with travel history tests positive
Chandigarh reported its first case of Omicron after swab samples of a fully vaccinated 20-year-old male passenger from Italy, who had tested COVID-19 positive on December 1, revealed the presence of the new variant of the novel coronavirus.A 20-year-old man, who reached here from abroad to meet his relatives, has tested positive for Omicron, becoming the first patient of the new COVID-19 variant in Chandigarh, Health department officials here said on Sunday.
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