Coronavirus News Highlights: Karnataka reports five more cases of Omicron; UK logs highest daily cases for second day in a row

Four new cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant has been reported in Delhi, taking the total tally in the national capital to 10. Of the six, a 37-year-old from Ranchi, who was the first Omicron patient in Delhi, has been discharged, while the remaining nine are all stable with mild symptoms. Four more cases were reported from Telangana in the evening, while Karnataka added five more cases to its Omicron tally. Come back tomorrow for the latest Coronavirus updates from across the world on Deccan Herald.

End of coverage for the day

It's been an eventful day, covering a wide array of issues from EU bans to celebrities flouting quarantine norms. Come back tomorrow for continued extensive coverage of Covid-19 issues from across the world.

Uttarakhand: Rs 136 crore disbursed, says govt

Uttarakhand government has disbursed Rs 136 crore to 5.4 lakh beneficiaries under the Covid relief package announced by the chief minister, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan said

Alia Bhatt under scanner for Covid violations

BMC Health Committee has given instructions to local municipal officers to look into alleged quarantine violations by actor Alia Bhatt and to take necessary action, according to committee chairperson Rajul Patel.

Chhattisgarh logs 32 new cases

Chhattisgarh'sCovid-19 tally rose to 1,007,327 on Thursday with an addition of 32 new cases, while no fresh death due to the infection was reported in the state.

Nashik makes at least one dose of vaccine mandatory for access to public places

In a bid to increase the anti-coronavirus inoculation percentage, the Nashik district administration on Thursday decided to implement the 'no vaccine-no entry' rule from December 23 at public places, including offices, restaurants, shopping malls, theatres and marriage halls, an official said.

UK logs record number of new cases for second consecutive day

The UK on Thursday reported 88,376 new Covid-19 cases, a record since the start of the pandemic, more than Wednesday's count of 78,610 cases, which was also a record high.

EU reaches vaccine agreement with Moderna

The European Commission said on Thursday it has reached an agreement with Moderna to rush deliveries of the US company'sCovid-19 vaccine to Germany and other European Union member states, as cases surge due to the Omicron variant.

Omicron thrives in airways, not lungs, states new data on asymptomatic cases, according to Reuters

Telangana Omicron tally at seven

Four more persons tested positive for the Omicron variantin Hyderabad, taking the total number of thecases linked to the new variant to 7 in Telangana, according to the health department

Covid plays havoc with cricket too

West Indies called off its One-Day International series with Pakistan, after nine members of the squad tested positive for coronavirus.

English Premier League: After Leicester City vs Spurs, Manchester United vs Brighton called off

Karnataka reports five more cases of Omicron Covid variant

Karnatakareportedfive more cases of Covid-19 Omicron variant, taking the state's tally to eight, confirmed Health Minister K Sudhakar on Thursday.

EU leaders struggle to find common ground on travel rules

Divisions within the European Union deepened over travel rules to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, after Italy and Greece followed Portugal and Ireland in announcing additional curbs on travellers from other EU states.

EU approves three more Covid-19 treatments in Omicron fight

The European Union's drug regulator approved a Covid-19 treatment from British-US duo GSK and Vir Biotechnology and another from Swedish drugmaker Sobi, as the bloc builds its defences against Omicron.

EPL fixture between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur called off

Leicester City confirmed that their Premier League match against Tottenham has been postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreakin the UK.

Maharashtra reports 877 new cases, 19 deaths

Maharashtra reported 877 new cases and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, along with 632 recoveries. The health department bulletin stated that there are 32 patients with the Omicron variant at present, with no detection in the past 24 hours.

Karnataka logs 303 new cases

Karnataka reported 303 new cases and two deaths in the past 24 hours. With as many as 322 discharges, the active caseload stood at 7,158.

Can't dismiss as 'mild', Omicron spreading faster than other Covid-19 variants: WHO Regional Director

"Based on the current limited evidence, Omicron appears to be spreading faster at a rate not seen with any other previous variant. Emerging data from South Africa suggest an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data is needed to draw firmer conclusions," Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh told ANI.

Kerala reports 3,404 new cases, 320 deaths

Andhra Pradesh reports 148 new cases, 3 deaths

Delhi logs 85 cases

Delhi reported 85 new cases and 38 recoveries in the past 24 hours, following which the active case tally stood at 475. The national capital has reported 10 cases of the Omicron variant so far.

Home Secretary takes stock of Omicron situation

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla reviewed the Covid-19 situation amid reports of over 70 positive cases of Omicron variant reported from across the country.

France tightens travel curbs for arrivals from UK

French authorities said that only designated categories of people would be allowed to travel between the two countries, and anyone arriving from Britain would have to self-isolate. Truck drivers will be exempt from the new rules, the French government said, easing British concerns the restrictions could cause supply chain disruptions.

"Our goal is to limit as much as possible the spread of Omicron across our territory," French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on BFMTV television station.

Lockdown in Puducherry extended till Jan 2

The coronavirus-induced lockdown has been extended in the Union Territory of Puducherry till January 2, 2022.The night curfew would be in force from 11 pm to 5 am every day. However, the night curfew has been relaxed completely on Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas (December 25).

The release said that the night curfew would be relaxed on December 30, 31 and on January 1 up to 2 am in view of the New Year celebrations. The curfew would be in force on these days from 2 am to 5 am.

Odisha reports 173 new cases

Covid-infected Bangladesh returnee tests negative for Omicron variant

A man, who was found infected withCovid-19 in West Bengal after returning from Bangladesh, tested negative for the Omicron variant of coronavirus, a health department official said on Thursday. The patient contracted the Delta strain of coronavirus, he said. The man, a resident of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district, was found positive for the disease on December 10, and his sample was sent for genome sequencing to ascertain whether he had contracted the new Omicron variant, which has been classified as a highly transmissible virus of concern. (PTI)

France to restrict travel from UK over Omicron surge

France is to tighten restrictions on travel from Britain to slow the spread of the Omicron variant ofCovid-19 that is causing record numbers of cases on the other side of the Channel, the government said Thursday.

"We will put in place a system of controls drastically tighter than the one we have already," government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFM television, saying the office of Prime Minister Jean Castex would issue a statement on the new measures in the coming hours.

He said returning travellers would need a negative test less than 24 hours old, a blanket quarantine would be enforced on return to France, and trips for tourism limited. (AFP)

Japan approves Moderna Covid vaccine as booster, Novavax files for 1st approval

Japan on Thursday officially approved Moderna Inc's Covid-19 vaccine for its booster programme, while Novavax Inc filed for first approval of its shot in the country.

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South Africa to retain Covid-19 curbs at 'Level 1'

South Africa's National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has retained the coronavirus lockdown at 'adjusted level 1', or the lowest of a five-tier system of restrictions, in the battle on theOmicronvariant, health authorities said on Thursday. (Reuters)

Indonesia detects first omicron case in hospital worker

Indonesia has detected its first case of theomicronvariant of the coronavirus in a cleaning worker at a hospital in Jakarta, the country's health minister said Thursday.

The patient has no symptoms and is being quarantined at the Athlete's Village emergency hospital, where the patient worked. (AP)

Israel to donate 1 million Covid vaccines to African nations

The Israeli government on Wednesday said it was donating onemillion coronavirus vaccines to the UN-backed COVAX programme.

The Foreign Ministry said the AstraZeneca vaccines would be transferred in the coming weeks, a decision that was part of Israel's strengthening ties with the African countries. (AP)

Indonesia reports first case of Omicron variant

Indonesia has identified its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the country’s health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Thursday. The case was detected on Wednesday evening and was an employee at the Wisma Atlet hospital in Jakarta.(Reuters)

India logs 7,974 new Covid-19 cases, 343 fatalities

India on Thursday logged 7,974 new Covid-19 infections,7,948 recoveries, and 343 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry. Read more

Bengaluru micro-containment zones double in two weeks

After three months of relative normalcy, micro-containment zones in the city have mushroomed to more than a hundred, prompting the BBMP to plan stringent measures.While the city had 56 containment zones on December 2, the numbers now surged to 102, nearly a 90 per cent jump. The last occasion a surge of this kind happened was in September. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials cited improved surveillance and testing as reasons for the surge. Read more

Omicron: Less Covid tests worry experts

States are carrying out significantly less number of Covid-19 tests, which can provide the first signal of a new surge caused by the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, scientists and public health officials said on Wednesday, as the number of such cases crossed 70. Read more

Covid-19 curbs extended in Delhi till December 31 midnight

In a decision that would limit Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday extended till December 31 midnight its Covid-19-related curbs such as the ban on social and cultural gatherings and the cap on bars and restaurants to operate with 50 per cent of seating capacity.

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New Zealand approves Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11 years

New Zealand's health regulator Medsafe has granted provisional approval for the Pfizer Inc Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years old, the health ministry said in a statement.

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Thousands protest Covid-19 rules as New Zealand marks 90% vaccine rates

Thousands marched in New Zealand's capital Wellington on Thursday to protest againstCovid-19 vaccine mandates and lockdowns, as the country reached the 90 per centfully vaccinated milestone.

New Zealand's tough lockdown and vaccination drives have helped keep coronavirus infections and related deaths low, but it has also drawn criticism from some calling for more freedoms and an end to mandatory vaccine requirements. (Reuters)