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The World Well being Group on November 26 declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 pressure of COVID-19, first detected in southern Africa, to be a variant of concern and renamed it Omicron. The classification places Omicron into the most-troubling class of COVID-19 variants, together with the globally-dominant Delta, plus its weaker rivals Alpha, Beta and Gamma.
With a brand new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, scientists and well being specialists in India have mentioned that new waves of an infection are anticipated and until we act rapidly and effectively, the nation will probably see repeat waves. India has higher instruments in hand now in comparison with two years in the past, mentioned Vinod Scaria, scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB). He added the nation, nevertheless, had to enhance its vaccination drive, public well being measures, well being infrastructure and genomic surveillance to be higher ready.
Defined | What’s the new coronavirus variant in South Africa?
You’ll be able to observe coronavirus instances, deaths and testing charges on the nationwide and State ranges right here. An inventory of State Helpline numbers is accessible as effectively.
Listed here are the most recent developments:
U.Ok.
High UK scientist says Omicron ‘not a catastrophe’, vaccination prone to defend
The brand new doubtlessly highly-transmissible variant of COVID-19, named Omicron by the WHO, will not be a catastrophe as vaccines are nonetheless prone to defend towards the intense illness from it, a UK scientist, who advises the federal government, mentioned on Saturday.
Professor Calum Semple, a microbiologist from the UK authorities’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), struck a word of warning on the worldwide headlines across the new B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa.
The UK imposed journey restrictions on six southern African international locations – South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia – as well being authorities mentioned that they’re investigating the “most vital variant” which could possibly be doubtlessly extra infectious and vaccine-resistant.
Nationwide
PM chairs vital assembly on COVID-19 scenario
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing an vital assembly on the Covid scenario and the vaccination drive within the nation with high officers.
The assembly is being attended by Cupboard Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P Ok Mishra, Union Well being Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and NITI Aayog member (well being) Dr V Ok Paul amongst others.
The assembly comes amid rising international issues over a brand new pressure of the coronavirus which the World Well being Group has named ‘Omicron’ and labeled as a extremely transmissible virus of concern. – PTI
Nationwide
India’s lively instances comes right down to 1,07,019, lowest in 541 days
India noticed a single-day rise of 8,318 new coronavirus infections taking the nation’s tally of COVID-19 instances to three,45,63,749, whereas the lively instances have declined to 1,07,019, the bottom in 541 days, based on Union Well being Ministry information up to date on Saturday.
The loss of life toll has climbed to 4,67,933 with 465 every day fatalities, based on the information up to date at 8 am.
The every day rise in new coronavirus infections has been beneath 20,000 for 50 steady days and fewer than 50,000 every day new instances have been reported for 153 consecutive days now.
The lively instances have declined to 1,07,019 comprising 0.31% of the full infections, the bottom since March 2020, whereas the nationwide COVID-19 restoration charge was recorded at 98.34%, the best since March 2020, the well being ministry mentioned. -PTI
Australia
Australia begins 14-day quarantine for residents travelling from southern Africa
Australia will introduce 14-day quarantine for residents and their dependents travelling from 9 international locations in southern Africa because of the new coronavirus variant, its well being minister mentioned on Saturday.
“Anybody who will not be a citizen of Australia or their dependents, and who has been in African international locations the place the Omicron variant has been detected and unfold throughout the previous 14 days won’t be able to enter Australia,” Well being Minister Greg Hunt advised a press briefing. -Reuters
Worldwide
Merck’s COVID-19 capsule exhibits decrease efficacy in up to date information
Merck & Co mentioned on Friday up to date information from its research on its experimental COVID-19 capsule confirmed the drug was much less efficient in reducing hospitalizations and deaths than beforehand reported.
The drugmaker mentioned its capsule confirmed a 30% discount in hospitalizations and deaths, primarily based on information from over 1,400 sufferers. In October, its information confirmed a roughly 50% efficacy, primarily based on information from 775 sufferers. -Reuters
Worldwide
Nations droop flights with South Africa over COVID-19 issues
U.S. President Joe Biden will prohibit journey to the US from eight southern African international locations efficient Monday over issues a few new COVID-19 variant present in South Africa, a senior administration official mentioned on Friday.
Saudi Arabia has suspended flights to and from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini attributable to issues associated to the unfold of COVID-19, the state information company (SPA) reported on Friday.
Morocco banned entry to travellers arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe attributable to issues associated to the unfold of a brand new variant of the COVID-19 virus found in South Africa, overseas ministry mentioned on Friday.
Cyprus on Friday mentioned it was banning arrivals from a variety of African states, together with South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, following the detection of a brand new COVID-19 variant.
European Union states have agreed to briefly droop journey to southern Africa after the detection of a brand new COVID-19 variant, the presidency of the EU mentioned on Friday.
The Swiss authorities on Friday banned direct flights from South Africa and the encompassing area because of the detection of a brand new COVID-19 variant, whereas additionally imposing restrictions on journey from different international locations together with Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium.
Turkey closed its borders to passengers from 5 international locations as a measure towards the brand new coronavirus variant, Turkish Well being Minister Fahrettin Koca mentioned on Friday.
The United Arab Emirates has suspended entry for travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique ranging from Nov. 29 attributable to issues a few new variant of the COVID-19 virus, the state information company reported on Friday.
Canada is closing its borders to the residents of seven southern African nations to assist cease the unfold of a newly recognized variant of COVID-19, Well being Minister Jean-Yves Duclos advised reporters on Friday.
Iran has banned the entry of vacationers from South Africa and 5 neighbouring international locations after the invention of a brand new coronavirus variant within the area, a high Iranian epidemiology official mentioned on Friday.
Egypt suspends direct flights to and from South Africa attributable to issues a few new variant of the COVID-19 virus, the state information company (MENA) reported on Friday.
Brazil will ban arrivals from six international locations in southern Africa because of the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the federal government mentioned in a Friday evening assertion. -Reuters
Tamil Nadu
College students travelling to Europe, South-East Asia face hurdles
With COVID-19 vaccine administered in India not recognised in some international locations, college students received admission in these international locations are having a tough time.
A pupil accepted for a programme in Austria learnt to his dismay that though he can enter that nation he can’t use the Indian certificates for Covishield vaccine to go to eating places and gymnasiums.
Worldwide
Novavax testing vaccine that targets new COVID-19 variant
Novavax Inc mentioned on Friday it had began engaged on a model of its COVID-19 vaccine to focus on the variant detected in South Africa and would have the shot prepared for testing and manufacturing within the subsequent few weeks.
The corporate’s COVID-19 shot accommodates an precise model of the virus’ spike protein that can’t trigger illness however can set off the immune system. The vaccine developer mentioned it had began growing a spike protein particularly primarily based on the identified genetic sequence of the variant, B.1.1.529. -Reuters
South Africa
South African well being minister says journey bans “unjustified”
South African Well being Minister Joe Phaahla mentioned on Friday that preliminary research counsel a brand new COVID-19 variant detected in his nation could also be extra transmissible, however the choice of different international locations to impose journey restrictions is “unjustified”. -Reuters
Eire
Eire extends COVID-19 booster photographs to all adults
Eire, one of many world’s most vaccinated nations, will make COVID-19 booster photographs obtainable to all adults in a pointy ramping up of plans to offer further safety, the well being minister mentioned on Friday.
Virtually 90% of Eire’s eligible 3.9 million folks over the age of 12 have been totally vaccinated and booster photographs had beforehand been permitted for these over the age of fifty and for these with underlying well being points. -Reuters
Worldwide
FIH Junior Ladies’s World Cup in South Africa placed on maintain owing to COVID-19
The upcoming FIH Junior Ladies’s Hockey World Cup in South Africa was on Saturday placed on maintain as a brand new variant of COVID-19 within the nation stoked worldwide fears.
The distinguished match was to be held within the Rainbow Nation from December 5 to 16.
Nevertheless, following the outbreak of a brand new coronavirus variant in South Africa, the Worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH), the South African Hockey Affiliation and the North-West College of Potchefstroom have collectively determined that the match “is not going to occur below these circumstances”. -PTI
Nationwide
India has exported vaccines to 95 international locations
India has delivered round 70.70 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 95 international locations until November 22 and out of those, 12.7 million doses got to 47 nations by the federal government, Union minister Jitendra Singh mentioned on Friday. He mentioned the remaining 58 million have been equipped by the Serum Institute of India below its industrial and COVAX obligations.
Nationwide
Worldwide flights to be resumed from Dec 15
Scheduled worldwide flights to and from India might be resumed from December15 after 20 months of coronavirus-induced suspension, the Civil Aviation Ministry mentioned on Friday. Nevertheless, the international locations deemed ‘in danger’ of COVID-19 by the Well being Ministry might be allowed to function solely a sure share of their pre-COVID scheduled flights, the Aviation Ministry clarified.
Learn | Covishield had 63% effectiveness towards Delta variant in second wave
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