Coronavirus highlights: INSACOG says more experiments needed to assess impact of boosters

India on Friday reported 9,216 fresh Covid-19 cases and 391 deaths in the last 24 hours as the country grapples with the new Omicron variant, two cases of which have been detected in Karnataka. The Omicron variant has been detected in 38 countries but no deaths have yet been reported, the WHO said on Friday, as authorities worldwide rushed to stem the spread of the heavily mutated Covid-19 strain. Stay tuned to DH for latest updates.

Tamil Nadu inoculates 20.98 lakh in 13th mega vaccination drive

Tamil Nadu inoculated 20,98,712 people against Covid-19 in the 13th mega vaccination exercise conducted across the state on Saturday, the Health Department said.

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Over 1 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India in one day

The number of Covid vaccine doses administered in a day crossed one crore on Saturday after more than two months, taking the total jabs given so far to over 127.5 crore, amid fears of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Four cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in India so far.

The vaccination has gathered pace in the country over the last one week after South Africa reported the new variant which has been designated as a variant of concern by WHO. - PTI.

Days after favouring booster dose, INSACOG says more experiments needed to assess its impact

Days after favouring a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine for people above 40 years, the country's top genome sequencing laboratories on Saturday said their recommendation was not for the national immunisation programme as many more scientific experiments are required to assess its impact.

In a bulletin issued on Saturday, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) said the mention of the booster dose in its previous bulletin was merely a “discussion about the potential role of additional dose of Covid-19 vaccines in high-risk populations”. - PTI.

Thousands march in Vienna against coronavirus lockdown

Thousands of people marched through Vienna on Saturday to protest against restrictions on public life designed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Faced with surging daily infections, the government last month made Austria the first country in Western Europe to reimpose a lockdown and said it would make vaccinations mandatory from February.

People carried signs saying: "I will decide myself", "Make Austria Great Again" and "New Elections" - a nod to the political turmoil that has seen three chancellors within two months - as crowds gathered.- Reuters.

Vaishno Devi pilgrims urged to observe Covid-appropriate behaviour

Amid growing cases of Covid-19 and the concern over its new strain Omicron, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) on Saturday appealed to devotees to strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour .

Every day, thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit the holy shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district.

SMVDSB chief executive officer Ramesh Kumar has appealed to the pilgrims to carry RT-PCR report obtained less than 72 hours ago. - PTI.

Man, who returned from foreign country, to Kalyan Dombivali municipal area near Mumbai, tests positive for Omicron variant of coronavirus: Maharashtra health department director - PTI

India tour to go ahead under "strictest Covid-19 guidelines": CSA

Cricket South Africa confirmed on Saturday India will play three Test matches on their tour which starts later this month but "under the strictest Covid-19 guidelines".

The CSA added the tour will be delayed by a week to allow for "effective logistical planning" following an outbreak of the coronavirus Omicron variant in the host country. - AFP.

Haryana reports no Covid death, 17 new cases

Haryana recorded no new coronavirus-related death, even as it added 17 fresh infections on Saturday, pushing the case count to 7,71,797, according to the state health department's daily bulletin.

The death toll remained unchanged at 10,054, it said.

Among the districts, nine fresh Covid-19 cases were from Gurugram.

The state is left with 157 active cases, while the overall recoveries have reached 7,61,563.

Haryana has a Covid-19 recovery rate of 98.67 per cent, the bulletin said. - PTI.

Mumbai airport cuts Rapid PCR test price to Rs 3,900

The city's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport ( CSMIA) on Saturday said it has revised downward the charges for Rapid PCR test for Covid-19 at its facility to Rs 3,900 from Rs 4,500 earlier.

Along with this, normal RT-PCR test costing Rs 600 per passenger is also available at the airport, the CSMIA said in a statement. The reduced RT-PCR test charges will help passengers to avail the Covid-19 test at a minimal cost and enable them a safe and secured travel, the private airport operator added. - PTI.

Govt writes to states/UT over rising weekly positivity rates & deaths

The Union health ministry on Saturday wrote to Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha and Mizoram to take necessary steps under the 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate-Covid Appropriate Behaviour' strategy to control the spread of Covid-19 and reduce fatality.

The move comes in view of rising cases of the infection, weekly positivity rates and weekly deaths in some districts. - PTI.

Delhi Police directs personnel to be prepared for Omicron

Amid rising concerns over Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19, the Delhi Police has instructed its personnel and their family members to get fully vaccinated, besides following Covid-appropriate behaviour, officials said on Saturday.

The department has also called for reviving its Covid-19 Health Monitoring Cells headed by inspector-rank officials, and ensuring availability of oxygen cylinders and life saving medicines, they said.

Further, police officials have been directed to make the Covid-19 helpline functional at the earliest and gradually step up prosecution of those found violating Covid-appropriate behaviour. - PTI.

Irrespective of Covid, tourists should visit destinations: Kishan Reddy

Irrespective of whether the third Covid wave hits Goa or not, people should travel to tourism destinations, attend meetings and festivals by following necessary Covid protocols, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture GKishan Reddy said on Saturday.

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1 in 3 Indians continue to refrain from carrying masks when stepping out: Survey

Mask compliance continues to remain at its lowest in India despite concerns over detection of Omicron variant in the country, with only 2 per cent of surveyed citizens saying that people in their area, city or district are complying well with mask-wearing norms.

According to a latest survey conducted by digital community based platform LocalCircles, one in three Indians say most people in their area are not even carrying masks when stepping out of their houses. - PTI.

Gujarat reports first case of Omicron Covid-19 variant

A 72-year-old returnee from Zimbabwe who arrived in Jamnagar was found infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the Gujarat health department said.

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12 positive passengers from Omicron-affected nations admitted in Delhi's LNJP Hospital

Zimbabwe to start administering booster doses as Omicron variant surfaces

Zimbabwe will start administering Covid-19 booster shots to frontline workers, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly with immediate effect, a senior Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Friday.

The announcement came as the country on Thursday confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant that was detected in neighbouring South Africa last week, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Booster doses for frontline workers, those with chronic diseases and the elderly to commence with immediate effect," Robert Mudyiradima, the acting secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said in a statement.

Omicron will impact international tourist footfalls to Goa: Minister

The emergence of the new Covid variant Omicron will impact international tourist footfalls in Goa, the state's Ports Minister Michael Lobo has said.

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12 Omicron suspects in Delhi, genome sequencing awaited: Minister

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said that total 12 patients are suspected of carrying Omicron variant of the coronavirus so far in the national capital. He said that all have been admitted in the isolation ward of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.

"There were total 12 suspected patients of Omicron till yesterday in Delhi. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing and the report will be out by today evening or tomorrow", said Minister Jain, adding that Delhi government has two genome sequencing labs, one at ILBS and one at LNJP.

Omicron in Kerala? 3 samples sent for genome sequencing

Kerala, which is already making waves on the Covid front by recording more than 60 per cent of the daily new Covid cases in the country, is now waiting with bated breath for the results of three Covid positive samples sent for genomic sequencing.

According to the authorities, the results of the three samples are expected to be out in a day or two.

The three samples which have been sent for genomic sequencing include samples of a medical professional who arrived from the U.K, early this week and his Covid test turned positive.

Mumbai mandates 7-day home quarantine for arrivals from high-risk countries

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has released strict home quarantine guidelines to monitor international travellers from high-risk countries arriving in Mumbai amid a threat of new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

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Mumbai civic body mandates 7-day home quarantine of passengers from high-risk countries

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has mandated seven-day home quarantine of people arriving in the city from high-risk countries amid global concerns over the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

The BMC issued this order on Friday as Mumbai international airport caters to thousands of travellers on a daily basis.

The civic body's order said that with the coordination of the airport authorities, the BMC will everyday receive a list of passengers, who arrive from the countries defined as "high-risk" or "at risk". The list will also include the detailed address and contact numbers of these travellers.

Spread of Omicron avoidable if precautions are taken, says expert

Omicron: Parliamentary panel recommends evaluation of vaccines, more research for booster dose

Amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the efficacy of Covid vaccines must be evaluated and the government conduct more research to examine the need for booster doses to contain the new strain.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, which presented its report on Friday, also said that concerns with regard to the new strain developing immunoescape mechanism should be critically addressed.

Contact tracing revs up in some states as omicron reaches US

The arrival of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in the UShas health officials in some communities reviving contact tracing operations in an attempt to slow and better understand its spread as scientists study how contagious it is and whether it can thwart vaccines.

In New York City, officials quickly reached out to a man who tested positive for the variant and had attended an anime conference at a Manhattan convention center last month along with more than 50,000 people. Five other attendees have also been infected with the coronavirus, though officials don't yet know whether it was with the omicron variant.

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has introduced a new home quarantine monitoring mechanism for international passengers arriving in Mumbai from risk countries. It will be as effective as institutional quarantine. Our objective is to prevent the possible spread of Omicron variant in Mumbai, the civic body stated.

India logs 8,603 fresh Covid-19 cases, 415 deaths

India on Saturday reported8,603 fresh Covid-19 cases and 415 deaths in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry data showed. Meanwhile, 8,190 persons recovered in the same time period.

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"One week's time has been given to people to get at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, failing which those unvaccinated people will not be allowed to enter public places like hotels, shopping malls andother commercial establishments,"Madurai DistrictCollector Aneesh Sekhar told ANI.

Omicron will impact int'l tourist footfalls to Goa: Minister

The emergence of the new Covid variant Omicron will impact international tourist footfalls in Goa, the state's Ports Minister Michael Lobo has said.

Lobo, who runs a chain of tourism related businesses in the state, on Friday also said that Goa would have to adopt a 'wait and watch' approach before deciding its next course of action in the tourism sector.

"We are hoping that this variant does not harm the people who have already taken vaccination. Looks like charter flights will be cancelled. Because charters were supposed to come at the end of this month and it looks like there will be cancellation because of the new variant," Lobo said.

Canada has confirmed 15 cases of Omicron variant and severe illness trends across the country could start to rise again, public health officials have said

Update | Indian Institute of Information Technology inPrayagraj has stopped its offline learning and shutits hostels.

S.Korea: Daily cases hit new high of 5,352; 3 omicron cases reported

South Korea's daily coronavirus cases recorded an all-time high of 5,352 on Saturday, a day after the country announced tough restrictions for four weeks to control the spread of the omicron variant.

New cases of critically ill patients and deaths also hit record highs while an additional three confirmed cases of the omicron variant were reported to bring the total cases in the country to nine, Yonhap news agency reported. (IANS)

Singapore says Omicron not more severe than other variants as of now

There is currently no evidence to suggest that symptoms associated with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 are different or more severe than those of other variants, or that current vaccines and therapeutics would be ineffective against the new variant, according to a news report citing Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH).

Channel News Asia reported that the ministry said two more people infected with Omicron variant travelled through Singapore to Malaysia and Australia.

(PTI)

Travellers arriving via Banglore-Chennai Lalbagh Express get tested for Covid-19, in wake of the SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron, at Central Railway Station, in Chennai. Credit: PTI Photo

Omicron variant may have picked up a piece of common-cold virus

The Omicron variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers.

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WHO says no Omicron deaths yet as variant spreads worldwide

The Omicron variant has been detected in 38 countries but no deaths have yet been reported, the WHO said on Friday, as authorities worldwide rushed to stem the spread of the heavily mutated Covid-19 strain.

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