Page 27 - Latest Updates on Delta variant of coronavirus
DATA STORY: 6,990 cases added; daily test positivity rate drops to 0.7%
India has so far administered 1,232,502,767 vaccine doses. That is 3563.4 per cent of its total caseload, and 88.1 per cent of its population
 "DATA STORY: 6,990 cases added; daily test positivity rate drops to 0.7%")
Covid-19: Why the WHO designated Omicron a variant of concern
The WHO has recommended, among other things, increased surveillance, particularly virus genome sequencing; focused research to understand the dangers posed by this variant
 "Covid-19: Why the WHO designated Omicron a variant of concern")
Omicron patients in Delhi to be isolated, treated at Lok Nayak hospital
Omicron is the fifth WHO-designated variant of concern first identified in South Africa. The other four are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta
 "Omicron patients in Delhi to be isolated, treated at Lok Nayak hospital")
New Covid variant poses 'very high' risk: World Health Organization
Many of us might think we are done with COVID-19. It's not done with us, warned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
 "New Covid variant poses 'very high' risk: World Health Organization")
Perverse incentives
Genomic surveillance vital for global public health
 "Perverse incentives")
Passengers from European, 11 other nations have to undergo RT-PCR test: TN
According to the government, the passengers then have to monitor their health for another seven days
 "Passengers from European, 11 other nations have to undergo RT-PCR test: TN")
Omicron reminds that Covid is far from over: World Health Organisation
According to Ghebreyesus, the pandemic cannot end unless the vaccine crisis is solved
 "Omicron reminds that Covid is far from over: World Health Organisation")
Omicron threat: Punjab govt orders strict monitoring of overseas passengers
State health officials said the Covid-19 testing will be increased to 40,000 per day
 "Omicron threat: Punjab govt orders strict monitoring of overseas passengers")
Delta variant still responsible for 99% of Covid cases globally: WHO
While the world is on high alert due to the new Omicron Covid strain, Delta variant continues to be a major cause of the pandemic contributing to 99 per cent of cases, the WHO said Monday
 "Delta variant still responsible for 99% of Covid cases globally: WHO")
DATA STORY: India logs 8,309 new cases; death toll rises to 468,790
India has so far administered 1,224,168,929 vaccine doses. That is 3540.02 per cent of its total caseload, and 87.51 per cent of its population
 "DATA STORY: India logs 8,309 new cases; death toll rises to 468,790")
Japan to bar foreign visitors to prevent the spread of Omicron variant
Japanese returnees from a number of specified nations would have to quarantine in designated facilities
 "Japan to bar foreign visitors to prevent the spread of Omicron variant")
Covid-19 omicron variant: Five steps to avoid, ten to take immediately
The new variant - identified as B.1.1.529 has been declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation and assigned the name Omicron
 "Covid-19 omicron variant: Five steps to avoid, ten to take immediately")
Covid-19: Will vaccines stop omicron? Scientists are racing to find out
As nations severed air links from southern Africa amid fears of another global surge of the coronavirus, scientists scrambled to gather data on the new Omicron variant
US does not impose new Omicron testing for passengers from southern Africa
Starting Monday, the United States will bar most foreign travelers from South Africa and seven other southern African countries in an attempt to curb the spread of the Omicron variant
 "US does not impose new Omicron testing for passengers from southern Africa")
Covid-19 'variant of concern': What we know and don't know about Omicron
South African scientists identified a new version of the coronavirus that they say is behind a recent spike in Covid-19 infections in Gauteng, the country's most populous province
Omicron: How the new Covid-19 variant was found and what we know so far
Hunting for variants requires a concerted effort. South Africa and the UK were the first big countries to implement nationwide genomic surveillance efforts for SARS-CoV-2 as early as April 2020.
New Covid-19 variant: Antivirals hold the key as mutations surface
Antivirals do not specifically target only the spike protein but the other parts of the virus, too
Bihar CM asks health officials to be on guard against new Covid variant
He called for keeping a close watch on those coming to the state from abroad and quick testing of samples if anybody presented symptoms
 "Bihar CM asks health officials to be on guard against new Covid variant")
Omicron: RT-PCR test must for passengers coming from 'at-risk' countries
This test should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey
Third Omicron case detected in UK, face masks compulsory from Tuesday
"People should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it's going to be a great Christmas," said Javid
 "Third Omicron case detected in UK, face masks compulsory from Tuesday")
