Coronavirus News Highlights: 8 more Omicron cases found in Maharashtra; state tally rises to 40

India's tally of Omicron cases has crossed 90 as multiple states reported new cases on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, the US CDC has recommended Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 shots over J&J's, and the G7 has called Omicron the 'biggest current threat' to world health.

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The Supreme Court on Friday questioned Kerala, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan governments over the slow rate of disbursal of compensation of Rs 50,000 ex-gratia to next of kin of Covid victims.

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Over 62 lakh Covid vaccine doses went to waste in India, half from 3 states

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WHO issues emergency use listing to Serum Institute's Covovax Covid vaccine

The World Health Organization on Friday issued an emergency use listing to Covovax, Serum Institute of India's version of Novavax Inc's Covid-19 vaccine.

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8 more Omicron cases found in Maharashtra; tally rises to 40

Out of these, 6 patients are from Pune, 1 patient is from Mumbai and 1 patient is from Kalyan Dombivali.

(Mumbai-14, Pimpri Chinchwad-10, Pune (rural)-6, Pune Municipal Corporation-2, Kalyan Dombivali-2, Osmanabad-2, Latur -1, Buldhana-1, Nagpur-1, and Vasai Virar-1).

Out of these, 25 cases have been discharged following a negative RT PCR test.

(DHNS)

Omicron threatens to wreak havoc across global sports

Just as global sports had rediscovered its brio and the welcome return to full stadia the Omicron coronavirus variant threatens to once again plunge it into chaos.

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India will take science-driven decision on booster shots, says VK Paul

Complete vaccination, wearing of masks, avoiding large gatherings is very important. The available vaccines in India are effective. A science-driven decision will be taken on vaccine booster shots: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog on Covid-19 situation and Omicron threat

(ANI)

Sputnik V induces 'robust neutralising antibody response' to Omicron

Sputnik V induces robust neutralising antibody response to Omicron, further strengthened by Sputnik Light booster, performing 3-7x better than other (including mRNA) vaccines. Sputnik Light’s efficacy vs Omicron expected ~80% after 2-3 months: Russian Direct Investment Fund

All Delhi govt schools to resume physical classes for class 6 onwards from December 18

Genome sequencing of every sample is not possible. It is a surveillance and pandemic assessment & tracking tool, not a diagnostic tool as of now. We can assure sufficient systematic sampling is being undertaken: Dr V K Paul

India still discussing anti-viral Covid-19 pills, not sure it will be useful, says govt

We have been discussing these anti-viral Covid-19 pills. We have found that these pills need to be given very early, even before the diagnosis of the disease. Scientific data is still not supported in a big way that the pills will be useful at the moment: Dr Bhargava, DG ICMR

101 Omicron cases across 11 states in India, says govt

Omicron is replacing Delta variant cases. Globally a surge in Covid cases being witnessed: Agrawal

Omicron cases increasing at an alarming rate in very less time. Surge in cases in South Africa with 98% Omicron cases: Lav Agrawal

New daily cases were recorded below 10,000 for the past 20 days. The case positivity for the last 1 week was 0.65%. Currently, Kerala contributes 40.31% to the total number of active cases in the country: Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry on Covid-19 situation

(ANI)

A man walks past a Covid-19 awareness mural in Chennai on December 16, 2021.

(AFP)

Queensland reimposes Covid curbs

In the wake of a fresh Covid-19 outbreak after its borders were reopened, the Australian state of Queensland will reimpose restrictions starting from Saturday onwards, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday.

Queensland health authorities reported 20 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, of which four were imported, seven interstate infections and nine contracted in the community. - IANS.

Breakthrough infections generate super immunity to Covid-19: Study

Breakthrough infections greatly enhance immune response to variants of the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a new study.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), revealed that a breakthrough infection generates a robust immune response against the Delta variant.

The findings, led by researchers from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), suggest the immune response is likely to be highly effective against other variants, including the Omicron variant, as the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to mutate. - IANS.

Some rapid antigen Covid tests may not detect Omicron: Fauci

Some of the rapid at-home Covid-19 tests available in the US may not accurately pick up the new super mutant Omicron variant, the country's top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said.

According to Fauci, the PCR tests, often considered the 'gold standard' for Covid testing, are accurate for detecting Omicron, the Daily Mail reported.

"We're getting preliminary information that not all of the diagnostic tests will be accurate with Omicron," Fauci said while addressing a virtual Chamber of Commerce Foundation audience on Thursday. - IANS.

Are frontline health workers prepared for Omicron?

When Covid-19 first struck in early 2020, it turned out to be a trial by fire for frontline health workers completely weighed down by the severity and the sheer number of cases.

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Three Omicron patients in Jamnagar recover from Covid-19 infection, discharged

A Zimbabwe-based NRI man, his wife and brother-in-law, who were found infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Jamnagar city of Gujarat earlier this month, have now tested negative for the infection and were given discharge from a hospital here, officials said on Friday.

"All the three Omicron patients have recovered from the infection. Their latest Covid-19 tests gave negative results, following which the trio was given discharge from the hospital. The Omicron ward is now empty," said Dr Saugata Chatterjee, nodal officer for Covid-19 at the government-run G G Hospital in Jamnagar city. - PTI.

Puducherry sees dip in number of new Covid-19 cases

The union territory of Puducherry logged seven fresh Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,29,292, a senior official of the Department of Health said on Friday. The union territory had added 24 new infections on Thursday.

Director of Health Department G Sriramulu said in a release that Puducherry accounted for six out of the seven new cases while Mahe recorded one. - PTI.

10 new cases of Omicron reported in Delhi, taking the total number of cases of the variant here to 20. A total of 10 people, out of these 20, have been discharged: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Three passengers from UK test Covid-19 positive in Goa, samples sent for genome sequencing

Three passengers, who arrived in Goa from the United Kingdom on Friday morning, tested positive for coronavirus and their samples were sent for genome sequencing to know whether they are infected with the Omicron variant, a state minister said. - PTI.

South Africa to donate 2 mln J&J Covid-19 shots to African countries

South Africa said on Friday it would donate roughly 2 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine to other African countries.

The shots will be made available over the next year through a medical supplies platform set up by the African Union (AU). - Reuters.

Miss World 2021 temporarily postponed as several contestants test Covid positive

Miss World 2021 has been temporarily postponed "due to health and safety interest of contestants, staff, crew and general public" after participants, including Miss India Manasa Varanasi, tested positive for Covid-19, the pageant announced in a social media post. Read more

CDC recommends Pfizer, Moderna Covid-19 shots over J&J's

Most Americans should be given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead of the Johnson & Johnson shot that can cause rare but serious blood clots, US health officials said Thursday. Read more

India reports 7,447 new Covid-19 cases, 391 deaths

Pubs, parties push Australia's Covid-19 cases to record levels

Australian authorities on Friday rushed to track down hundreds who attended a Taylor Swift album party in Sydney last week that has become a super-spreading event as cases in the country hit a new pandemic high for the second straight day.

Covid-19 infections, including the new, more transmissible Omicron variant, have been spreading in pubs and nightclubsas social distancing curbs ease after higher vaccination levels.(Reuters)

Impose night curfew from Dec 30 to Jan 2: Expert panel to govt

With the emergence of Omicron cases in Karnataka, experts have pushed for stringent restrictions to be imposed during Christmas and through New Year celebrations, and recommended to the government to introduce night curfew from December 30 to January 2.

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G7 calls Omicron 'biggest current threat' to world health

The G7 on Thursday called the Omicron variant the "biggest current threat to global public health", saying its emergence meant it was "more important than ever" for countries to "closely cooperate".

"Deeply concerned by the rise in cases, ministers agreed that these developments should be seen as the biggest current threat to global public health," Britain, which is currently chair of the group, said in a statement.

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New South Wales sets daily Covid case record

The premier of Australia's most populous state said he is not considering lockdowns or other restrictions as a record 2,213 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Friday, the highest number since the pandemic began.

The new peak followed the 1,742 cases reported in New South Wales state on Thursday, which had topped the previous record set in September. - AP.