Page 8 - Latest Updates on Omicron
Paid Covid-19 booster shots: Experts divided on govt intervention
Centre may have to step in to ensure universal coverage, some say; also call for shift in focus to strengthen surveillance, testing and gathering data
 "Paid Covid-19 booster shots: Experts divided on govt intervention")
Covid-19 pandemic: Telangana reports 24 fresh cases and nil death
No fresh fatality occurred today and the death toll continued to be 4,111
 "Covid-19 pandemic: Telangana reports 24 fresh cases and nil death")
Office leasing up 97% YoY in Jan-March, Omicron impact muted: CBRE
While several IT firms have shifted to a permanent 'work from anywhere' model for their staff, leasing activity was driven by tech companies, with a 34% share
 "Office leasing up 97% YoY in Jan-March, Omicron impact muted: CBRE")
No reason to worry until new Covid 'variant of concern' detected, says Jain
Daily cases count in Delhi is being reported in range of 100-200, we are keeping an eye on hospital admissions, and that is going down. Focus shouldn't be on positivity rate much as of now, Jain said
 "No reason to worry until new Covid 'variant of concern' detected, says Jain")
Oil drops below $100 on reserves release and China lockdowns
IEA members to release 60 mn barrels over 6 months; US producers added 13 oil rigs in week to April 8
 "Oil drops below $100 on reserves release and China lockdowns")
Shanghai eases lockdown in some areas despite record Covid infections
Move to categorise residential areas promises some relief as complaints continue about tough curbs, enforced quarantine; Sunday's asymptomatic infections at record daily high of 25,173
 "Shanghai eases lockdown in some areas despite record Covid infections")
DBT-backed Epygen to start trials on Covid vaccine below Rs 150 a shot
Indian biopharma company to initiate Phase-I and Phase-II trials, plans fundraise of Rs 200 crore of funding for third phase of trials
 "DBT-backed Epygen to start trials on Covid vaccine below Rs 150 a shot")
Covid has not gone, is changing forms and resurfacing, says PM Modi
Nobody knows when the 'bahurupiya' Covid will resurface, Modi said, adding that administering nearly 185 crore doses of vaccines to control its spread was made possible due public support
 "Covid has not gone, is changing forms and resurfacing, says PM Modi")
Covaxin booster enhances antibody response against Covid variants: Study
A booster dose of Covaxin six months after the two dose primary vaccination has shown elevated immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern including Omicron
 "Covaxin booster enhances antibody response against Covid variants: Study")
Gujarat detects XE variant of coronavirus in 67-year-old Mumbai resident
The person had travelled from Mumbai to Vadodara on March 12 and had gotten himself tested after developing fever on March 13 and had returned to Mumbai the following day.
 "Gujarat detects XE variant of coronavirus in 67-year-old Mumbai resident")
Data story: India reports 1,150 cases; death toll rises to 521,656
India has so far administered 1,855,507,496 vaccine doses. That is 4311.7 per cent of its total caseload, and 132.28 per cent of its population
 "Data story: India reports 1,150 cases; death toll rises to 521,656")
Covid-19 pandemic: Shanghai's locked down elite join grocery hunt
The circulation of Xu's post reflects that food shortages are hitting the city's high-earners after middle-class residents have been struggling for weeks
 "Covid-19 pandemic: Shanghai's locked down elite join grocery hunt")
Govt okays booster Covid shot for all adults at private centres from Apr 10
Around 22.8 mn precaution or booster dose have been administered to healthcare and frontline workers along with senior citizens after the population segments opened up in the first week of January.
 "Govt okays booster Covid shot for all adults at private centres from Apr 10")
Covid-19 pandemic: Maharashtra records 130 cases, four deaths
On Thursday, the state had reported 128 cases and six fatalities
 "Covid-19 pandemic: Maharashtra records 130 cases, four deaths")
Madhya Pradesh sees 5 Covid-19 cases, no death: active tally now 54
A government release said 11,66,22,435 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 48,386 on Friday
 "Madhya Pradesh sees 5 Covid-19 cases, no death: active tally now 54")
New UK study confirms reduced severity of Omicron variant of Covid-19
We observe a different clinical presentation of symptoms in those infected with Omicron compared to Delta, said Dr Cristina Menni, from King's College London
 "New UK study confirms reduced severity of Omicron variant of Covid-19")
Covid-19: Mumbai reports 49 fresh cases, no death in last 24 hours
So far, 10,38,467 people have been discharged post recovery, including 32 during the day, leaving the city with 299 active cases, a civic official said
 "Covid-19: Mumbai reports 49 fresh cases, no death in last 24 hours")
Data story: India reports 1,109 new cases; death toll rises to 521,573
India has so far administered 1,853,888,663 vaccine doses. That is 4308.05 per cent of its total caseload, and 132.17 per cent of its population
 "Data story: India reports 1,109 new cases; death toll rises to 521,573")
'XE variant of Covid-19 not more severe than Omicron': Dr Gagandeep Kang
Variants will come because people are travelling. Of what we know of the variant (XE) is that it is not a point of concern, Kang said
 "'XE variant of Covid-19 not more severe than Omicron': Dr Gagandeep Kang")
Covid-19 pandemic: Tamil Nadu reports 26 new cases and no deaths
Recoveries outnumbered new cases with 37 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 34,14,739 leaving 247 active infections, a bulletin said
 "Covid-19 pandemic: Tamil Nadu reports 26 new cases and no deaths")
