Coronavirus News Highlights: India's Omicron count crosses 150

India reported 7,081 new Covid-19 cases, 264 deaths in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra reported 6 new cases of the variant on Sunday, taking the state's tally beyond 50. India's Omicron tally has crossed 150. Meanwhile, Andaman and Nicobar Islands completed 100% Covid vaccination. Stay tuned for updates

India's Omicron count crosses 150

India's OmicronCovid count rose to 151 on Sunday after Maharashtra reported six more cases while a 45-year-old NRI and a teenage boy, who recently arrived in Gujarat from the United Kingdom, also tested positive for the variant.

According to central and state officials, omicron cases have been detected in 11 states and union territories -- Maharashtra (54), Delhi (22), Rajasthan (17) and Karnataka (14), Telangana (20), Gujarat (9), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (1).

Mizoram reports 117 new Covid-19 cases

Italy reports 97 coronavirus deaths on Sunday, 24,259 new cases

No lockdown before Christmas, Germany says

UK health minister Sajid Javid doesn't rule out new Covid curbs before Christmas

Britain's health minister Sajid Javid declined on Sunday to rule out the chance of further Covid-19 restrictions before Christmas, saying the spread of the Omicron variant was a very fast moving situation.

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UK Covid-19 cases rise 52% in a week

Israel bans travel to 10 more countries over Omicron scare

Israel's Ministry of Health on Sunday said it decided to ban travel to ten more countries to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The ban will take effect on Wednesday and will include the United States, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland and Turkey, which will be labeled as "red" countries, Xinhua news agency reported citing the ministry.

The list of "red" countries already includes most of the African countries, eight European countries and the United Arab Emirates.

6 new Omicron cases in Maharashtra take the variant tally in the state beyond 50

Kerala's daily Covid-19 numbers fall below 3,000

Israel set to ban travel to US as Covid curbs widen

Israel's health ministry Sunday recommended banning Israelis from travelling to the United States, and added several European countries to itsCovid"red list", aimed at containing the Omicron variant's spread.

Barring US travel for Israeli citizens and residents would mark a significant step for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government, given the hundreds of thousands of dual nationals and close ties between the countries.

Speaking before Sunday's cabinet meeting, Bennett reiterated that he would continue to restrict travel in order to avoid further lockdowns.

Omicron raging through the world, traveling increases risk: Fauci

Kremlin convinced WHO will approve Sputnik V vaccine within months

(Ifax)

Andhra Pradesh clocks 121 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death

Andhra Pradesh on Sunday logged 121 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the cumulative infections to 20,75,804, while the toll rose to 14,479 with one more fatality.

Active cases stood at 1,597, a health department bulletin said providing details of the last 24 hours ending 9 AM today. As many as 228 people recovered from the disease leaving the total number of recoveries at 20,59,728, the bulletin said.

The lone death was reported in Krishna district. Over 29,000 samples were tested during the last 24 hours. The total number of samples tested so far is over 3.09 crore. East Godavari topped the chart with highest number of active cases with 306 followed by Chittoor 290.

Daily Omicron cases in the UK triple to more than 10,000; death toll jumps to seven

Covishield may not be an effective booster: Virologist Shahid Jameel

As several countries mull closures and are ramping up drives for booster shots of the coronavirus vaccine after a massive surge in daily cases, India's top virologist Shahid Jameel has warned that there is "no doubt" India will witness an uptick in fresh cases and that the country will need to look at more options for booster doses.

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Italy eyes new Covd-19 measures amid Omicron worries

Italy's government is considering new measures to avoid a surge inCovd-19 infections during the holiday period, local newspapers reported on Sunday, amid worries over the spread of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant.

After holding a meeting with ministers on December23, Prime Minister Mario Draghi could impose an obligation on the vaccinated to show a negative test to access crowded places, including discos and stadiums, daily Corriere della Sera reported.

Negative tests could also be required to enter cinemas and theatres, along with wearing masks outdoors.

India's Omicron count rises to 145

India's OmicronCovid count rose to 145 on Sunday after a 45-year-old NRI and a teenage boy, who recently arrived in Gujarat from the United Kingdom, tested positive for the variant.

According to central and state officials, omicron cases have been detected in 11 states and union territories -- Maharashtra (48), Delhi (22), Rajasthan (17) and Karnataka (14), Telangana (20), Gujarat (9), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (1).

On Saturday, Maharashtra had reported eight more cases, Telangana's tally jumped from eight to 20, while Karnataka and Kerala reported six and four cases respectively.

London Mayor says having more Covid restrictions 'inevitable'

NewCovid-19 restrictions are inevitable as without them Britain will see public services such as the National Health Service (NHS) on the verge of collapse, London Mayor Sadiq Khan told BBC Television on Sunday.

Khan declared a "major incident" on Saturday to help the capital's hospitals cope with a surge inCovid-19 cases caused by the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant.

"I think it's inevitable," Khan told the BBC when asked about the likelihood of further restrictions. "If we don't bring in new restrictions sooner rather than later you're going to see even more positive cases and potentially public services like the NHS on the verge of collapse, if not collapsing."

A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the NCT of Delhi through video conferencing will be held on 20th December.

UK is monitoring Covid-19 data closely, to act if necessary

The British government is monitoring the latestCovid-19 data on an almost hourly basis and will do whatever is necessary to tackle the spread, health minister Sajid Javid told Sky News on Sunday.

Javid said analysis of the data suggested around 60% of all newCovid-19 cases in England are the fast-spreading Omicron variant, but the country was in a better position than last Christmas thanks to things such as vaccinations and testing.

Restaurants anxious as Omicron, high food costs take toll

While restaurants in the US and United Kingdom are open without restrictions and often bustling, they are entering their second winter of the coronavirus pandemic anxious about what's ahead: They're squeezed by labour shortages and skyrocketing food costs and the omicron variant is looming.

“I'm extremely worried. I've never felt like we were out of the woods,” said Caroline Glover, chef and owner of the restaurant Annette in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

Hopes, fears in Finnish Christmas country as Omicron looms

Workers at Santa Claus Village, a holiday theme park on the edge of the Arctic Circle, chipped away at a frozen dome, using chisels to put the final touches on an ice restaurant-hotel filled with sculptures of snowmen, penguins and huskies.

The Christmas season is in full swing in Finnish Lapland, where venue operators happily report that visitors have returned in numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels.

Tourists from elsewhere in Finland and abroad come to revel in the festive spirit at the sprawling theme park, take a reindeer or husky sleigh ride and if they're lucky, glimpse the Northern Lights.

How long the winter fun will last is uncertain as the omicron coronavirus variant leads to new travel restrictions, test requirements and quarantine measures.

2 UK returnees found infected with Omicron in Gujarat; tally rises to 9

A 45-year-old NRI and a teenage boy, who recently arrived in Gujarat from the United Kingdom, have been found infected with the Omicron variant ofCovid-19, officials said on Sunday. With this, the total number of such cases in the state has gone up to nine.

China administered total of 2.67 bn doses of covid-19 vaccines as of Dec 18

China administered about 12 million doses ofCovid-19 vaccines on Dec 18, bringing the total to 2.67 billion, data from the National Health Commission showed on Sunday.

Australia undaunted by mounting Covid-19 cases

Australian officials on Sunday said there was no need to clamp down on Christmas festivities even as newCovid-19 infections climbed in Sydney, with the country's high vaccination rate helping keep people out of hospital.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was confident Australia would not need to follow the Netherlands, which has reimposed a strict lockdown over the Christmas and New Year period to curb the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Queen guitarist Brian May tests positive for Covid-19

Brian May, lead guitarist for the legendary rock band Queen, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The 74-year-old musician, who co-founded the legendary rock band with the late singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor, shared the news on Instagram Saturday.

"Yep. The shocking day finally came for me. The dreaded double red line," May wrote alongside two photos of his test showing the result.

While the last few days for him were "truly horrible", the guitarist said he was doing fine now.

Vaccination figures for Maharashtra

During Covid-19, trans people in India came together to keep each other alive

Trans people in India without caste and class privileges have been rendered vulnerable during the pandemic.

Harsh and stringent public health regulations put in place by the Indian government during the first phase of the pandemic resulted in loss of livelihood for trans people. It led to food and housing insecurity for daily wage earning trans people, sex workers and those engaged in begging and performing.

In the wake of job loss, lockdowns and in the absence of equitable government-funded medical supports designed to meet trans people’s healthcare needs, many could not access hormone replacement therapy.

Adelaide test broadcast crew member tests Covid-19 positive

A member of a broadcast crew at the ongoing second Ashes test in Adelaide has tested positive forCovid-19, the organisers said on day four of the pink-ball contest on Sunday.

"SA Health are aware and we have begun to trace and notify this person's close contacts," they said in a statement.

No fresh Covid-19 case in Arunachal for second consecutive day

No freshCovid-19 case was registered in Arunachal Pradesh for the second consecutive day on Sunday, while four more patients were cured of the disease, a senior health official said.

Arunachal Pradesh'sCovid-19 tally remained unchanged at 55,320, while the number of active cases dipped to 26, and the total number of recoveries stood at 55,014. The death toll also remained unchanged at 280, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state marginally improved to 99.45 per cent from 99.44 on the previous day, he said.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands achieve 100% double dose Covid vaccination

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have achieved 100 per cent double doseCOVIDvaccination of its target beneficiaries.

The administration said it was the first among the states and Union territories to achieve the feat using only Covishield.

"A&N achieved 100%Covidvaccine coverage making it 1st State/UT to achieve the feat using only Covishield. UT Admin overcame Insurmountable odds for this extraordinary feat in one of the remotest parts of world," it said in a tweet.

India reports 7,081 new Covid-19 cases, 264 deaths

India logged 7,081 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 83,913 according to the Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. The country also reported 7,469 recoveries in the past 24 hours.

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Omicron scrambles anew US firms' in-person aspirations

Major US companies are having to reassess their return-to-office plans and getting tough on vaccine or mask requirements as the OmicronCovidvariant looks set to extend pandemic-induced work-from-home culture.

A resumption of pre-virus workplace norms was only partially moving forward in the United States when the fast-spreading new variant arrived and provoked fresh concern.

Legal challenges have made the future of President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for companies with over 100 workers uncertain, and firms have been pursuing their own requirements.

A total of 66,41,09,365 Covid samples tested up to December 18, of which 12,11,977 samples were tested on December 18

Amid Omicron scare as Christmas-New Year season nears, Mumbai civic chief tells people to adhere to norms strictly

Mumbai civic chief IS Chahal on Saturday said ward-level squads will be formed to take action against Covid-19 protocol violators.

Amid the scare from the new Omicron variant of coronavirus and the Christmas-New Year festival season round the corner, he said people in the metropolis must avoid crowding in hotels, restaurants, cinemas, malls and asserted that attendance caps in place for marriages and other functions will have to be adhered to strictly.