Page 52 - Latest Updates on Omicron
Omicron spread: Services PMI falls to six-month low in January
India's services sector activity moderated to a six-month low in January, amid imposition of restrictions across the country due to the Omicron variant as well as inflationary pressures
 "Omicron spread: Services PMI falls to six-month low in January")
Covid cases in decline, third wave peak crossed on January 21: Govt
Daily nos. still over 100,000, don't lower guard, health ministry cautions
 "Covid cases in decline, third wave peak crossed on January 21: Govt")
Schools fully open in 11 states, closed in nine: Education Ministry
Officials said at least 95% teaching and non-teaching staff in all states has been vaccinated, while some states have even achieved 100% vaccination coverage for the staff in schools
 "Schools fully open in 11 states, closed in nine: Education Ministry")
Why is India seeing a rise in death rate despite low Covid cases?
The variant, touted as majorly causing mild illness, had initially led to a spike in Covid case numbers, but the number of Omicron cases have been much less in India
 "Why is India seeing a rise in death rate despite low Covid cases?")
Omicron sub-variant harder to identify, found in 5 African nations: WHO
The BA.2 sub-variant has begun to replace Omicron's more common 'original' BA.1 variant in countries such as Denmark
 "Omicron sub-variant harder to identify, found in 5 African nations: WHO")
Europe entering 'plausible endgame' to Covid-19 pandemic, says WHO
As the winter subsides in much of Europe in the coming weeks, Kluge said the upcoming spring leaves us with the possibility for a long period of tranquility
 "Europe entering 'plausible endgame' to Covid-19 pandemic, says WHO")
Exposure to one nasal droplet may be enough for Covid infection: Study
Among several key clinical insights, researchers found that symptoms start to develop very fast, on average about two days after contact with the virus
 "Exposure to one nasal droplet may be enough for Covid infection: Study")
Reports saying 5 mn unused Covishield doses may go waste 'misleading': Govt
It said the Centre had proactively advised all state governments to review the availability of vaccines to ensure that the wastage of doses is reduced to a minimum
 "Reports saying 5 mn unused Covishield doses may go waste 'misleading': Govt")
Covid symptoms appear in 2 days after virus exposure: Study
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Covid symptoms take around five to six days to appear after infection
 "Covid symptoms appear in 2 days after virus exposure: Study")
Data story: India logs 172,433 new cases; 7,283 deaths reported in 7 days
India has so far administered 1,678,793,137 vaccine doses. That is 4015.93 per cent of its total caseload, and 119.82 per cent of its population
India saved around 1 lakh lives during third wave of Covid in Dec-Jan
Covid-19 vaccines prevented more than 90,000 deaths during the third wave, December 28, 2021 to January 31, 2022, according to a research report by the SBI.
 "India saved around 1 lakh lives during third wave of Covid in Dec-Jan")
Zydus Cadila starts supply of Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D to govt
ZyCoV-D is a three-dose vaccine administered intradermally
 "Zydus Cadila starts supply of Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D to govt")
Coronavirus pandemic: Rajasthan adds 8,428 fresh cases and 22 deaths
Rajasthan reported 8,428 fresh coronavirus cases and 22 deaths due to the infection.
 "Coronavirus pandemic: Rajasthan adds 8,428 fresh cases and 22 deaths")
'Life goes on' despite 'difficult' Covid-19 situation, says Vladimir Putin
The Kremlin continues to hold off from imposing nationwide restrictions even as the state coronavirus task force reported 141,883 news infections on Wednesday
 "'Life goes on' despite 'difficult' Covid-19 situation, says Vladimir Putin")
Pfizer applies to USFDA for two-dose vaccine for kids under 5 years
The request for emergency authorisation comes as the highly contagious Omicron variant has led to record numbers of infections
 "Pfizer applies to USFDA for two-dose vaccine for kids under 5 years")
China reports 36 local, 27 new imported Covid-19 cases
Of the new local cases, 15 were reported in the province of Zhejiang, 12 in Tianjin, six in Guangdong, two in Beijing, and one in Hebei
 "China reports 36 local, 27 new imported Covid-19 cases")
Covid-19: How Omicron escapes from all four classes of antibodies
The dozens of mutations found in the spike protein of the Omicron variant help it to evade all four of the classes of antibodies that can target the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19
Data story: India logs 161,386 cases; test positivity rate dips to 9.3%
India has so far administered 1,672,942,707 vaccine doses. That is 4018.51 per cent of its total caseload, and 119.4 per cent of its population
 "Data story: India logs 161,386 cases; test positivity rate dips to 9.3%")
In 10 weeks, omicron surge causes Covid-19 cases to soar, says WHO
The WHO chief said that 90 million cases of coronavirus have been reported since the omicron variant was first identified 10 weeks ago amounting to more than in all of 2020
14,366 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, 58 deaths; 60,914 discharges
Bengaluru Urban district now has a total of 17,27,575 cases, Mysuru 2,22,747 and Tumakuru 1,55,142
 "14,366 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, 58 deaths; 60,914 discharges")