The World Health Organization says the number of COVID-19 cases recorded worldwide increased by 11% last week compared with the previous week, with the biggest increase in the Americas. The gain followed a gradual increase since October.
The U.N. health agency said in its weekly epidemiological report released late Tuesday that there were nearly 4.99 million newly reported cases around the world from December 20-26.
Read | Put out the data, boost the dose of transparency
Meanwhile, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia INSACOG has said that ehere is now clear experimental and clinical data supporting very high immune escape potential of Omicron, but initial estimates show the severity of illness being lower than what was seen in previous outbreaks.
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Here are the updates :
WHO: global COVID cases up 11% last week, omicron risk high
The World Health Organization says the number of COVID-19 cases recorded worldwide increased by 11% last week compared with the previous week, with the biggest increase in the Americas. The gain followed a gradual increase since October.
The U.N. health agency said in its weekly epidemiological report released late Tuesday that there were nearly 4.99 million newly reported cases around the world from December 20-26.
Europe accounted for more than half the total, with 2.84 million, though that amounted to only a 3% increase over the previous week. It also had the highest infection rate of any region, with 304.6 new cases per 100,000 residents.
WHO said that new cases in the Americas were up 39% to nearly 1.48 million, and the region had the second-highest infection rate with 144.4 new cases per 100,000 residents. The U.S. alone saw more than 1.18 million cases, a 34% increase.
Reported new cases in Africa were up 7% to nearly 275,000. - AP
3 African students test COVID positive in Assam
Three African students of Assam's Dibrugarh University have tested positive for COVID-19, and their samples have been sent for whole genome sequencing, officials said on Wednesday.
Two samples tested positive for the Omicron strain in a kit developed by the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), NE of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in Dibrugarh, while the third result is awaited.
Clear data supporting very high immune escape potential of Omicron: INSACOG
There is now clear experimental and clinical data supporting very high immune escape potential of Omicron, but initial estimates show the severity of illness being lower than what was seen in previous outbreaks, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia INSACOG said in its latest bulletin citing global data.
In India, appropriate public health measures and investigations are being conducted for surveillance of Omicron, INSACOG said while noting that globally there appears to be significantly reduced ability of vaccines or prior infection to protect against symptomatic infection by the Omicron variant. — PTI
Bengal CM asks officials to review COVID situation, says schools and colleges will be shut if need be
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asked officials concerned to review the overall COVID-19 situation in the state, amid the threat of a possible third wave of the pandemic looming large.
She asked the officials to identify containment zones in the city, where cases have been on the rise.
Ms. Banerjee, during an administrative review meeting at Sagar Island, also said that schools and colleges might be shut down for some time if the situation so demands.
Offices could be asked to function with just 50 per cent employee attendance, if necessary, she stated.
Containment zone returns in Chennai
The southern metro’s first COVID-19 containment zone has come up in Ashok Nagar, days after lockdown was lifted. “A cluster of 10 people infected with coronavirus was detected two to three days ago and the area has been cordoned off,” J. Radhakraishnan, principal secretary, health and family welfare department, said.
With the rising Omicron cases in mind, the government has established COVID-19 Care Centres at three places in the city with a total bed strength of 500. Preparations are on to revive the CCC at the Chennai Trade Centre and also to ramp up the RT-PCR testing to 25,000 tests per day, from the present 23,000 tests, in Chennai.
With the National Institute of Virology confirming 11 more cases of Omicron in Tamil Nadu, thus taking the total number to 45, State Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Wednesday said there was no need to panic as all the cases detected so far are asymptomatic.
Woman vaccinated four times tests positive for Covid, stopped from boarding Dubai-bound flight from Indore
A woman tested positive for coronavirus at the Indore airport following which she was prevented from boarding the Air India’s Dubai-bound flight on December 29, an official said.
The 44-year-old Dubai resident has already taken four doses of two different vaccines against COVID-19, the official said.
“As per the standard practice, rapid RT-PCR tests are conducted during the weekly Indore-Dubai flight and as part of it, 89 passengers were tested today. A woman among them was found infected with the coronavirus,” Indore Health Department’s Medical Officer Dr. Priyanka Kourav told PTI .
Long queues outside many stations as Delhi Metro trains run with new Covid norms
Long queues of people were seen outside various Delhi Metro stations on Wednesday morning, a day after new restrictions were put in place by authorities, including running of its trains with only 50 per cent seating capacity and no provision for standing for commuters, in view of rising cases of COVID-19 in Delhi.
In view of the latest guidelines issued by the city government for the containment of coronavirus in Delhi, travel inside the metro will be allowed, with certain restrictions, DMRC officials said on Tuesday.
While the new restrictions came into force with immediate effect, soon after the DDMA announced the new norms, the queues in the morning time, when metro services are used by a large number of office-goers, were seen getting longer at some of the stations, like Laxmi Nagar, Akshardham, among others.
Many also took to Facebook and Twitter to share pictures of such queues outside stations.
Antibodies that can block Omicron variant identified
Scientists have identified antibodies that neutralise Omicron and other variants of coronavirus by targeting areas that remain essentially unchanged as the virus mutates.
The research, published in the journal Nature, may help design vaccines and antibody treatments that will be effective against not only Omicron but other variants that may emerge in the future.
"This finding tells us that by focusing on antibodies that target these highly conserved sites on the spike protein, there is a way to overcome the virus' continual evolution," said David Veesler, an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in the US. -PTI
India's Omicron tally rises to 781, Delhi reports maximum cases
India has recorded 781 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 21 States and UTs so far out of which 241 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
Delhi recorded the maximum number of 238 cases followed by Maharashtra at 167, Gujarat 73, Kerala 65 and Telangana 62.
With 9,195 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,48,08,886, while the active cases increased to 77,002 , according to the data updated at 8 am. The death toll has climbed to 4,80,592 with 302 fresh fatalities,the data stated.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 62 days now.
The active cases comprise 0.22% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.40%, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said.
An increase of 1,546 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. -PTI
Omicron risk remains 'very high': WHO
The risk posed by the Omicron variant is still "very high", the World Health Organization said Wednesday, after COVID-19 case numbers shot up by 11 percent globally last week.
Omicron is behind rapid virus spikes in several countries, including those where it has already overtaken the previously-dominant Delta variant, the WHO said in its Covid-19 weekly epidemiological update.
"The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high," the UN health agency said. -AFP
WHO warns of Omicron overload as China, Europe impose new curbs
he WHO warned on Tuesday that the Omicron coronavirus variant could lead to overwhelmed healthcare systems even though early studies suggest it leads to milder disease, as China and Germany brought back tough restrictions to stamp out new infection surges.
China put hundreds of thousands more people under lockdown, while infections hit new highs in multiple U.S. states and European countries.
COVID-19 surges have wreaked havoc around the world, with many nations trying to strike a balance between economically punishing restrictions and controlling the spread of the virus.
50% occupancy curbs in Karnataka not applicable to hotel rooms
The Karnataka government on Tuesday clarified that 50% occupancy restrictions imposed on hotels/restaurants/ pubs/clubs from December 30 to January 2, 2022 are not applicable to room occupancy in hotels.
“Hotels are free to operate the rooms’ accommodation as per the approved capacity”, said Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar in an order issued here.
The government said 50% seating capacity restrictions will be applicable only to eating places in hotels where food and beverages are served to guests. These are precautionary measures taken amidst rising cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19, the order said.
Biden announces end to Covid-related southern Africa travel bans
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday he is lifting a ban this week on travel from South Africa and other countries in the region, imposed due to fear of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
"The travel restrictions... are no longer necessary to protect the public health" and will end on Friday, Mr. Biden said in a proclamation. -AFP
Strictly enforce COVID-19 guidelines at New Year events, says Puducherry L-G
Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said the detection of the Variant of Concern, Omicron, in two samples from Puducherry poses a new challenge, especially as the Government has permitted New Year events in multiple venues.
She directed the administration to take all measures for strict enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour to prevent a possible surge in cases during celebrations, in strict compliance with the guidelines/advisory of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Home Affairs.
Curbs back as COVID-19 cases rise, Delhi issues ‘yellow alert’
A yellow alert has been sounded in Delhi and restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to rising COVID-19 cases in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Tuesday.
Later in the day, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) ordered closure of schools, colleges, cinemas and gyms with immediate effect and put various restrictions on the functioning of shops and public transport.
The restrictions include extension of night curfew (from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.), closure of schools and colleges, opening of non-essential shops based on an odd-even basis, and 50% seating capacity in Metro trains and buses.
Only fully vaccinated to be allowed at markets, other public places in Punjab from January 15
Only fully vaccinated people will be permitted at public places such as markets, malls, hotels and cinema halls in Punjab with effect from January 15, according to a State government order.
The government ordered private and public sector banks, hotels, bars, restaurants, malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls, gyms and fitness centres to allow only fully vaccinated adults.
All government, board and corporation offices located in Chandigarh will allow only fully vaccinated people, according to the order issued by the state's home affairs and justice department. -PTI
No night curfew for now as it may affect tourism, says Goa CM
The Goa government on Tuesday decided not to impose night curfew in the coastal State for now so that the tourism business amid the Christmas-New Year festival season is not affected.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters in Panaji that his government was monitoring the COVID-19 positivity rate and stringent decisions would be taken during the meeting of the task force scheduled to be held on January 3 in case this rate rises.
"Imposing immediate night curfew is not feasible being a tourist state. We will need time. We have appealed to tourists to take maximum precautions. The health department and police have been instructed to ensure COVID-19 norms are not violated," he said. -PTI
Physical classes to resume in Odisha primary schools from January 3
The Odisha government Tuesday announced that physical classes would resume for students of classes 1 to 5 from January 3 next.
The announcement was made by School and Mass Education minister S.R. Dash barely a few hours after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed officials to make preparations on war-footing to deal with a possible third wave of COVID-19 following the detection of at least eight cases of Omicron variant in the State.
Mr. Dash told reporters that as per the directions of the chief minister, physical mode of teaching will be resumed in about 27,000 schools in the state from January 3, 2022. -PTI
Published - December 29, 2021 08:18 am IST
