Coronavirus News Highlights: Omicron could be milder than Delta, says WHO chief

Thank you for following DH's updates on Coronavirus. We will be back with more updates tomorrow!

Omicron will spread through Americas in time, warns regional health agency

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has so far been detected in the Americas in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico and the United States, but it is just a matter of time before it circulates in more countries, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned on Wednesday.

The regional health agency said coronavirus infections have turned up in Canada and parts of Mexico, such as Baja California. Except for Panama, Central America is experiencing a steep decline in cases.

Omicron may pose higher reinfection risk but could be milder than Delta: WHO chief

Early data indicates the OmicronCovidvariant may more easily reinfect people who have already had the virus or been vaccinated than previous variants, but could also cause milder disease, the WHO said Thursday.

"Emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding that "there is also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta".

But he stressed that more data was needed before drawing firm conclusions, and urged countries everywhere to boost their surveillance to help provide a clearer picture of how Omicron is behaving.

China approves Brii Biosciences' Covid-19 treatment

China's medical products regulator said on Wednesday it has approved the use of BRII Biosciences' neutrialising antibody cocktail forCovid-19, the first treatment of its type against the disease approved in the country.

Austria to end lockdown on Sunday but not for unvaccinated

Austria's fourth national lockdown of the pandemic will end on Sunday but lockdown restrictions will remain for unvaccinated people, the country's new chancellor said Wednesday.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the end of the lockdown will be a “opening with a seatbelt,” meaning some measures — such as an obligation to wear masks on public transportation and inside stores and public spaces — will stay in place also for people who are vaccinated or have recovered fromCovid-19.

399 new Covid cases, 6 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka on Wednesday reported 399 new cases ofCovid-19 and 6 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 29,99,098 and death toll to 38,249. The day also saw 238 discharges, pushing the total number of recoveries to 29,53,565. Of the new cases recorded, 244 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 100 discharges and 3 deaths.

Pfizer/BioNTech says three doses 'effective' against Omicron

Two doses of the BioNTech and Pfizer coronavirus vaccine may not be enough to protect against the Omicron variant, the companies warned Wednesday, but stressed it was "still effective" after a third jab.

Omicron has caused global concern over signs that it can transmit faster than previous strains and fears that its multiple mutations could help it evade immune defences provided by vaccines. No deaths have yet been associated with the variant.

Delhi reports 65 new Covid cases and 1 death in the last 24 hours; active caseload at 404

Omicron cases must be treated only in designated Covid facilities: Centre to states

In the wake of Omicron cases being detected in a few places in the country, the Union health ministry on Wednesday wrote to states and union territories, stating that patients of the new coronavirus variant have to be treated in designated Covid facilities with separate isolation area.

It has to be ensured that no cross infection takes place and adequate precautions are taken by healthcare workers in these facilities to prevent transmission among other patients and healthcare workers, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and union territories (UTs).

Maharashtra CM orders speedy inoculation in face of Omicron concerns

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday ordered "speedy vaccination" against coronavirus as the state cabinet expressed worry over the rapid spread of the Omicron variant across the world, an official statement said.

At a cabinet meeting, Thackeray instructed officials to ramp up vaccination, especially in areas where the proportion of inoculated persons in the eligible population is low, it said.

Delhi: Resident docs to boycott routine, emergency services; protest march by Lady Hardinge RDA

Resident doctors of Delhi government-run Maulana Azad Medical College will boycott all routine and emergency services from Thursday as part of a nationwide stir over delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling, while the protest at three Centre-run hospitals here entered the third day on Wednesday.

Members of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital took out a march on the streets near the campus on Wednesday as part of the protest. Scores of doctors, holding placards and raising slogans marched near Connaught Place. (PTI)

Limited availability of data making it challenging to assess changes in disease severity : WHO on Omicron

Omicron detected across 57 countries in the world, most cases travel-related: WHO

Omicron scare: More people taking Covid vaccine in TN

The Health department staff of Tamil Nadu including nurses and allied staff on Wednesday said that there was an increase in the number ofCovidvaccinations in the state and attributed this to the Omicron scare.

The health officials said that before the Omicron scare emerged and when the state was in a normal situation, people were reluctant to take vaccines.

The department said that in a Primary Health Centre there were around 40 to 70 vaccines per day at an average, but after the Omicron scare it has increased to 120 to 140 per day at an average, which is almost three times. (IANS)

Serena out of Australian Open, Djokovic on entry list

World number one Novak Djokovic was named on the official entry list for next year's Australian Open on Wednesday but 23-times Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams will not play on the advice of her medical team.

Djokovic has declined to disclose his vaccination status despite all players, officials, staff and fans at the Jan. 17-30 tournament at Melbourne Park needing to be inoculated against Covid-19.

Tennis Australia later told local media that his presence on the list was not a guarantee the Serbian would play.

Williams, who won the last of her seven Australian Open titles in 2017, had an injury-disrupted season and has not played since she limped out of her first-round match at Wimbledon in June due to the leg injury.

Poland tightens Covid restrictions to combat Omicron variant

The Polish government has announced new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 infections in face of the proliferation of the new Omicron variant.

"The situation has stabilized," Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said at a press conference on Tuesday, "and the number of infections is close to the level of a week ago. If those numbers remain as they are and are not reduced, it is a serious threat to the health system."

Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine may only partially protect against Omicron: Study

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus can partially evade the protection from two doses of Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine, the research head of a laboratory at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa said on Tuesday.

Read more

Omicron: Zimbabwe to ban unvaxxed from using public transport

The Zimbabwean government has expressed deep concern at the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country driven by the Omicron variant and plans to bar the unvaccinated from boarding public transport.

"Cabinet notes with concern that there has been a sharp increase in the average total number of new cases reported per day during the past two weeks," therefore the government will scale up vaccination and tighten measures to curb the spread of the virus, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said at a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.

Top WHO, US scientists say Omicron no worse than other virus variants

The Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other coronavirus strains, top scientists from the WHO and the United States told AFP, while cautioning that more research is needed to judge its severity.

The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the heavily mutated variant, which has forced dozens of nations to re-impose border restrictions and raised the possibility of a return of economically punishing lockdowns.

Single-day rise of 8,439 COVID-19 cases, 195 fatalities push India's infection tally to 3,46,56,822, death toll to 4,73,952

Read more

Australia joins US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

Australia will not send officials to the upcoming winter Olympics in Beijing, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday, joining a US diplomatic boycott of the event.

Read more

9 students of Govt. Residential School tested Covid positive in Jajpur district. (ANI)