Coronavirus News Highlights: Karnataka to track all arrivals from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong in last 15 days

A new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, first detected from Botswana, was on Friday designated as a 'variant of concern' by the WHO, which named it 'Omicron'. While the WHO has asked countries to enhance surveillance and sequencing efforts to better understand variants, several countries have already sounded the alarm by imposing travel restrictions on people from southern Africa. In India, meanwhile, no cases have no far been detected. Stay tuned to DH for the latest updates.

Karnataka to track everyone who came from SA, Botswana and Hong Kong from November 12 onwards

Delhi logs 27 new Covid-19 cases, lone death

UK confirms first two cases of new Covid strain

Britain on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, both linked to travel from southern Africa, and expanded travel restrictions on the region.

"After overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that two cases of Covid-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 (Omicron) have been identified in the UK," a government statement said. (AFP)

Covid test must to enter Karnataka from Maharashtra, Kerala

As a precautionary measure, the authorities in Karnataka have made Covid test compulsory for all passengers arriving from Kerala and Maharashtra, officials said on Saturday.

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More than 1,000 people have come from South Africa to Karnataka: R Ashoka

A person with a tattooed arm receives a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at a vaccination centre for homeless people in Lviv, Ukraine.

(PTI)

Only persons with negative Covid certificate can enter city from Bengaluru airport: CM Bommai

Decisions taken at the meeting chaired by Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai | Intensify inspections at the International Airport. Permission to enter the city for those who are negative. (ANI)

CM Bommai holds emergency meeting over Omicron Covid-19 variant

New Covid-19 Omicron variant in 'fluid motion': Dr Fauci

America's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said that the newCovid-19 Omicron variant is in "fluid motion" in South Africa and the US scientists are in "very active" communication with their colleagues in that country to test the strain, get facts and find out whether or not it evades the antibodies.

The new potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel. (PTI)

Kerala mulls quarantine for international passengers over Omicron variant threat

With the detection of a newCovidvariant -- Omicron -- in South Africa, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Saturday the state is mulling quarantine for international passengers arriving to the state.

Speaking to mediapersons here, George said the Centre is in touch with the states and utmost caution has been advised. (IANS)

4741 new Covid-19 cases, 28 deaths in Kerala; 5,144 recoveries

Vaccines won't be effective against Omicron if spike protein has been altered: Expert

Cricket-Dutch tour of South Africa postponed after COVID-enforced travel curbs

The one-day international series between South Africa and the Netherlands has been postponed after the discovery of a newCovid-19 variant in South Africa led to travel curbs being enforced, the two cricket boards said on Saturday.

Rain forced Friday's first ODI at Centurion to be abandoned. The boards had said it was "highly unlikely" the visiting team would be able to fly out of the country over the weekend. (Reuters)

2 South African nationals test Covid positive in Bengaluru

Two South African nationals have tested Covid-19 positive at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, creating panic among the health authorities over the new Omicron variant of the virus.

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Labourers wait to receive a dose of Covid-19 vaccine after Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi (unseen) inaugurated free vaccination camp for those working at the Central Vista construction site in New Delhi, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.

(PTI)

Families stuck after sudden decision to ban flights to and from South Africa

Hundreds of foreigners on family or business trips in South Africa desperately tried to get back home on the last available flights as several nations imposed restrictions on travellers due to the discovery of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 in this country.

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Germany finds suspected Omicron variant case

A German regional official said Saturday that health authorities have identified the first suspected case in the country of the newCovid-19 variant, in a person who returned from South Africa.

"The Omicron variant has with strong likelihood already arrived in Germany," Kai Klose, social affairs minister in the western state of Hesse, tweeted, referring to the strain first detected in southern Africa. (AFP)

WHO appeals to South-East Asian countries to scale up surveillance, enhance vaccination in view of Omicron variant

In view of surge in Covid-19 cases elsewhere globally and detection of new variant of concern Omicron, WHO today appealed to countries in South-East Asia Region to scale up surveillance, strengthen public health & social measures, & enhance vaccination coverage: WHO (ANI)

Maharashtra govt issues fresh Covid-19 restrictions and permissions

PM Modi briefed about Omicron; asks officials to review plans to ease international travel restrictions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Saturday briefed about the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, and he asked officials to review the plans to ease international travel restrictions in light of the "emerging new evidence".

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Bengaluru: Testing, quarantine mandatory for travellers from high-risk countries

As concerns over the new coronavirus variant rise, Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that people coming from 'affected countries' will have to take RT-PCR tests after landing in Bengaluru. If positive, they will stay in and around the airport and be treated he said.

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PM highlighted need for monitoring all international arrivals, their testing as per guidelines, with a specific focus on countries identified ‘at risk’. PM also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new evidence: PMO

People coming from these affected countries will take the RT-PCR once they land in Bengaluru. If found positive, they'll stay in and around the airport & will be treated, if needed. Home quarantine will be mandatory after their arrival: K Sudhakar

281 students tested positive in SDM College of Medical Sciences in Dharwad. We've tested all 1788 students of the college, some results are awaited. Also, one international school had reported 34 cases & another 12 cases. None of these cases was severe, he added.

(ANI)

We're constantly in touch with the Union Health Ministry & have information that this new strain in South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, & Botswana is very contagious & has overtaken the Delta variant: Karnataka Health Minister, Dr K Sudhakar in Bengaluru

(ANI)

We're focused & alert on testing & following guidelines. We are trying to stop infections by taking whatever measures required: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Covid-19 situation in the state

(ANI)

Seven-year-old Lena Graveline-Roux gets a high five after receiving her shot at a vaccination clinic after Canada approved Pfizer's coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada November 26, 2021.

(Reuters)

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed the chief secretary, DGP & health secretary to ensure compliance of Covid appropriate behavior in public places & make all necessary arrangements in hospitals in view of the new variant of Covid: Chief Minister's Office

(ANI)

PM Modi chairs meet on Covid-19 situation, vaccination

CM Bommai to chair meeting of experts of health and disaster departments at 4 pm today in view of a surge in Covid-19 cases in Kerala and clusters in a few colleges in Dharwad and Bengaluru.

He will also discuss with officials and experts on precautionary measures to be taken in the wake of the threat posed by the virus’ new variant.

(DHNS)

Every person returning from South Africa will be quarantined on arrival in Mumbai and their samples will be sent for genome sequencing: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar

(ANI)

Sri Lanka imposes travel ban from 6 southern African countries over Omicron variant

Sri Lanka will ban entry to most travellers from six southern African countries from Sunday, after a potentially more contagious new coronavirus variant called Omicron was identified in South Africa earlier this week, healthcare authorities said here on Saturday.

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Maharashtra: BMC has called a meeting of senior officials at 5:30 pm today on the new Covid variant

(ANI)

Kejriwal urges PM Modi to stop flights from countries affected by new Covid variant

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop flights coming to India from those countries which are affected by a new variant of the coronavirus infection.

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Covid variants: How the new one was found and what we know so far

Since early in the Covid pandemic, the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa has been monitoring changes in SARS-CoV-2.

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Gujarat govt mandates RT-PCR testing for travellers landing at the airports in the state from Europe, UK, Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong over the new variant concerns

(ANI)

85 suspected Omicron Covid cases in Netherlands

Dutch health authorities said that dozens of people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday are likely infected with the Omicron Covid-19 variant, with the estimated case count at 85. Around 600 passengers arrived at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on two KLM flights on Friday, according to Reuters.

PM chairs key meet on Covid as concerns over new variant rise

No Omicron cases in the US so far, says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

No cases of the new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa have been identified in the United States sofar, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday, according to Reuters.

India reports 8,318 new Covid-19 cases, 465 deaths

India has reported 8,318 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday and 465 deaths, according to data from Union Health Ministry.Active cases stood at 1,07,019. The death toll is 4,67,933. In the past 24 hours, 10,967 people recovered, taking the total recoveries to 3,39,88,797.

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PM Modi to chair meeting on Covid-19 situation, vaccinations

PM Narendra Modi will chair an important meeting on the situation relating to Covid-19 and vaccinations with top officials at 10.30 am today.

New York Governor declares state of emergency in anticipation of new coronavirus surge

As global concern rose Friday about a new coronavirus variant, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in New York, giving her the power to order hospitals to limit nonessential procedures to boost capacity in facilities, according to Reuters.

Covid-19 case count in Dharwad medical college up, at 281

The number of Covid-19 cases in Dharwad's SDM College of Medical Sciences reached 281, with 99 people testing positive yesterday. Of the 281 cases, only 6 patients are symptomatic, District Collector Nitish Patil told ANI.

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New variant spooks more countries: US, Canada restrict travel from southern Africa

The United States, Brazil, Canada, and Saudi Arabia became the latest countries Friday to restrict travel from southern Africa, where a new Covid strain labelled a "variant of concern" has been discovered in a potentially heavy blow to the world's efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic.
It has reached Europe with one confirmed case in Belgium after being found in South Africa, Botswana and then in Hong Kong.

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WTO's four-day conference in Geneva postponed due to new Covid variant, trade issues remain stuck

Next week's World Trade Organization ministerial conference, the global trade body's biggest gathering in four years, was postponed at the last minute Friday due to the new Omicron Covid-19 variant.The WTO hoped the four-day gathering in Geneva would breathe new life into the crippled organisation, which has been stuck for years trying to make progress on resolving issues like fishery subsidies.

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No case of new variant detected at Delhi airport in people coming from 'at-risk' countries: Lab

No case of the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529has been detected at the Delhi airport among passengers transiting or coming from 'at-risk' countries, the laboratory tasked with conducting the tests said on Friday.

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Omicron variant accounts for 90% of new cases in a South African province till Thursday

As of Thursday, there were almost 100 cases detected in South Africa, where it’s become the dominant strain among new infections. Early PCR test results showed that 90 per cent of 1,100 new cases reported Wednesday in the South African province that includes Johannesburg were caused by the new variant, according to Tulio de Oliveira, a bio-informatics professor who runs gene-sequencing institutions at two South African universities.

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AstraZeneca examining impact of new Covid variant on vaccine, antibody cocktail

AstraZeneca said on Friday it was examining the impact of a new coronavirus variant that is spreading rapidly in South Africa on its vaccine and its antibody cocktail, adding it was hopeful its combination drug would retain efficacy.

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WHO designates new Covid strain as 'variant of concern', names it Omicron

The new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, first detected from South Africa, was on Friday designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the World Health Organisation, which named it “omicron”.

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