Page 56 - Latest Updates on Omicron
China: Beijing sees uptick in Covid cases ahead of Winter Olympics
The Chinese capital reported 14 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday as it began a third round of mass testing of millions of people in the run-up to the Winter Olympics.
 "China: Beijing sees uptick in Covid cases ahead of Winter Olympics")
Business investment into Singapore dropped 31% in 2021, Covid blamed
Commitments for investments in fixed assets such as facilities, machinery and other equipment shrank to $11.8 billion.
 "Business investment into Singapore dropped 31% in 2021, Covid blamed")
Hong Kong may extend Covid isolation until 2024, risking business exodus
The European Chamber of Commerce said that Hong Kong may not reopen until China rolls out its mRNA vaccine across its 1.4 billion population, which could take until late 2023 or early 2024
 "Hong Kong may extend Covid isolation until 2024, risking business exodus")
Data story: India logs 285,914 cases; total caseload crosses 40-mn mark
India has so far administered 1,635,844,536 vaccine doses. That is 4080.92 per cent of its total caseload, and 116.75 per cent of its population
 "Data story: India logs 285,914 cases; total caseload crosses 40-mn mark")
Covid-19 pandemic: UP reports 15 more deaths, over 11,500 new cases
Uttar Pradesh's Covid-19 death toll rose to 23,088 with 15 more fatalities, while the infection tally reached 19,69,368 following detection of 11,583 new cases
 "Covid-19 pandemic: UP reports 15 more deaths, over 11,500 new cases")
Pfizer and BioNTech launch trial of Omicron-targeted Covid vaccine
The companies plan to test the immune response generated by the Omicron-based vaccine both as a three-shot regimen in unvaccinated people and as a booster shot
 "Pfizer and BioNTech launch trial of Omicron-targeted Covid vaccine")
Omicron displaced Delta as dominant variant in India in less than a month
Other countries with high daily Covid cases have seen similar surge
 "Omicron displaced Delta as dominant variant in India in less than a month")
Maharashtra logs sharp rise in Covid deaths at 86; 33,914 cases recorded
Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 33,914 new coronavirus cases, including 13 of the Omicron variant
 "Maharashtra logs sharp rise in Covid deaths at 86; 33,914 cases recorded")
Tokyo reports record coronavirus cases as Japan tightens measures
Tokyo on Tuesday reported a record high of Covid-19 cases, as Japan prepared to implement new anti-virus measures amid surging infections led by Omicron
 "Tokyo reports record coronavirus cases as Japan tightens measures")
LIVE: Gen Rawat awarded Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan for Nadella, Pichai
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, SII MD Cyrus Poonawalla to be conferred with Padma Bhushan
 "LIVE: Gen Rawat awarded Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan for Nadella, Pichai")
Researchers find explanation for Omicron causing less severe disease
The Omicron replaced the Delta variant as the dominant COVID-19 variant in the world, starting from late 2021 to early 2022. But, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant caused less severe disease than Delta
 "Researchers find explanation for Omicron causing less severe disease")
Current Covid vaccines may protect from disease caused by Omicron: Study
The Covid vaccines prompt the body to form long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2 that can recognise variants of concern, including Omicron, and protect from severe disease, a study has found.
 "Current Covid vaccines may protect from disease caused by Omicron: Study")
People entering Sikkim must produce negative RT-PCR test report
The Sikkim Government has made it mandatory for people entering the state to produce a negative RT-PCR report conducted within 72-hours prior to the date of entry.
 "People entering Sikkim must produce negative RT-PCR test report")
Pfizer, CornoaVac vaccine may cause heart inflammation in adolescents
Despite low risk, there is an increased relative risk of carditis - a type of heart inflammation - associated with Covid vaccine developed by Pfizer and China's CoronaVac, researchers have found.
 "Pfizer, CornoaVac vaccine may cause heart inflammation in adolescents")
Data story: India logs 255,874 cases; active cases see marginal dip
India has so far administered 1,629,209,308 vaccine doses. That is 4093.57 per cent of its total caseload, and 116.28 per cent of its population
 "Data story: India logs 255,874 cases; active cases see marginal dip")
LIVE news: India sees 334,000 new Covid cases; Delhi positivity rate drops
President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation today on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day. Stay tuned for the latest news of the day
 "LIVE news: India sees 334,000 new Covid cases; Delhi positivity rate drops")
Covid LIVE: Delhi's positivity rate falls to 12%; 1,857 new cases in Mumbai
Number of active cases in Mumbai are 21,142; Delhi sees 5,760 new cases
 "Covid LIVE: Delhi's positivity rate falls to 12%; 1,857 new cases in Mumbai")
Global conditions ideal for more coronavirus variants to emerge: WHO
It is dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant, or the pandemic is going to end, when global conditions are seen as ideal for more Covid variants to emerge, said the WHO chief
 "Global conditions ideal for more coronavirus variants to emerge: WHO")
MP: Indore lab detects 21 Covid-19 cases caused by Omicron sub-lineage BA.2
Twenty-one COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant's sub-lineage known as BA.2 have been found in tests conducted over the past 18 days in the laboratory of a private medical institute
 "MP: Indore lab detects 21 Covid-19 cases caused by Omicron sub-lineage BA.2")
Meghalaya coronavirus update: State reports 305 new cases, 1 death
Meghalaya recorded 305 new Covid-19 cases, 13 less than the previous day, pushing the tally to 88,764, a senior health department official said
 "Meghalaya coronavirus update: State reports 305 new cases, 1 death")