Omicron Varient

Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 | Last Update : 11:59 PM IST

Last year, the team found that up to 80 per cent of white-tailed deer sampled across Iowa in the US tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. (Photo: AP/File)

US scientists detect Omicron variant for first time in deer

The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study also found neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in one of the Omicron-infected deer

07 Mar 2022 2:01 PM

A disguised worker of the Public Health Ministry prepares a Sinovac vaccine againsgt COVID-19 to inoculate a child at the Maria Montessori Initial Education Center, in Quito. (Photo: AFP)

Study finds limited efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron

The research found that only individuals vaccinated with a third or booster dose form antibodies that can partially block Omicron

23 Feb 2022 1:11 PM

Health workers conduct a Covid-19 coronavirus test on a commuter at a train station in Bekasi, east of Jakarta, on February 2, 2022, as an early government measure to detect the spread of the virus, considering that the Omicron variant has infected tens of thousands. (REZAS / AFP)

Omicron sub-variant, which could be more infectious, found in 57 countries: WHO

UN health agency said little was known yet about the differences between the sub-variants, and called for studies into its characteristics

02 Feb 2022 10:10 AM

Pharmacist Sima Manifar prepares a children's dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at City of Lawrence's 'The Center,' which serves seniors, families and the community, in Massachusetts. (AP/Charles Krupa)

Pfizer begins testing omicron-matched COVID shots in adults

COVID-19 vaccine-makers have been updating their shots to better match omicron in case global health authorities decide the change is needed

26 Jan 2022 11:18 AM

World Health Organisation (WHO) European director Hans Kluge, speaks during a joint press conference (AFP file photo)

Europe could be headed for pandemic 'endgame': WHO

The WHO regional office for Africa also said last week that cases of Covid had plummeted in that region and deaths were declining

24 Jan 2022 10:09 AM

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. (AP)

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern cancels her wedding due to Omicron surge

New Zealanders are set to face new COVID-19 restrictions after nine cases of the omicron variant were detected in a single family

23 Jan 2022 12:13 PM

Workers and residents stand near a nuclei test station in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The first reported case of the omicron variant has prompted stepped-up measures in Beijing, just weeks before it hosts the Winter Olympic Games. (AP/Ng Han Guan)

China media say foreign parcels suspected in new COVID infections

China has repeatedly emphasized the danger of infection from packaging, despite only trace amounts of the virus being found on such items

18 Jan 2022 1:14 PM

Passengers wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a railway station in Mumbai. (AP)

India reports 1,41,986 new Covid cases, Omicron tally rises to 3,071

Maharashtra at top with 876 Omicron variant cases, followed by Delhi at 513, Karnataka 333, Rajasthan 291, Kerala 284 and Gujarat 204

08 Jan 2022 12:10 PM

A throat swab is taken from a patient to test for COVID-19 at a facility in Soweto, South Africa, Dec. 2, 2021. (AP)

South Africa lifts curfew as Omicron wave subsides

Infections dropped by almost 30% last week compared to the preceding seven days while hospital admissions also declined in eight provinces

31 Dec 2021 11:52 AM

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya. (PTI)

45 crore COVID vaccines a month soon: Mansukh Mandaviya

Buffer stocks of medicines and oxygen had been prepared and 48,000 ventilators had been distributed to the states, the minister said

21 Dec 2021 6:45 AM

A man receives a nasal swab during a test for Covid-19 at a street-side testing booth in New York. (APF)

No evidence Omicron has lower severity than Delta variant: UK study

The study estimates that the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant is 5.4 times greater than that of the Delta variant

20 Dec 2021 2:09 PM

Twelve more people tested positive for the Omicron variant in Delhi on Friday, taking their number to 22, and officials said most of them are 'fully vaccinated' and 'asymptomatic'. (PTI Photo)

Traders brace for third wave as Omicron cases rise in Delhi

On Tuesday, the minister said that the Omicron variant had not spread in the community so far and the situation was under control

18 Dec 2021 4:49 PM

So far, 74 travellers have been sent from the airport to the hospital, where a special ward has been set up for isolating and treating suspected cases of Omicron. (PTI Photo)

4 more Omicron cases detected in Delhi: City health minister

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has not spread in the community so far and the situation is under control, he added

14 Dec 2021 1:22 PM

UK announces booster drive to fight 'tidal wave' of Omicron

Uk began easing coronavirus restrictions in June and the alert level was at stage three, which means the epidemic is in general circulation

13 Dec 2021 10:47 AM

nurse prepares a ward that is set up to treat patients infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant, at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)

India reports two more Omicron cases, total tally rises to 35

The two new cases were reported from Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh

12 Dec 2021 1:45 PM

A lab technician (L) works inside a pathological lab equipped to screen Covid-19 coronavirus patients and patients infected with the Omicron variant arriving from listed high risk destinations at a government hospital in Chennai on December 6, 2021. (Arun SANKAR / AFP)

Top WHO, US scientists say Omicron no worse than other virus variants

US scientist Anthony Fauci echoed the WHO's view, saying Omicron did not appear worse than prior strains based on early indications

08 Dec 2021 12:06 PM

Omicron has taken over our Christmas in a way no one expected. (Representational Image. AFP)

Kishwar Desai | No kisses under the mistletoe; but shouldn’t libraries stay open 24/7?

Students from Kings College are in the middle of a protest saying that they would like to remain in the library for 24 hours as they used to

06 Dec 2021 1:25 AM

The new protocol comes into effect from December 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said. (AP Photo)

US makes negative COVID-19 test report mandatory for all incoming passengers

Air passengers will also be required to confirm in the form of an attestation that the information they present is true, officials said

05 Dec 2021 12:02 PM

The need of the hour is to educate the public on the effectiveness of masks as two in three Indians are still wearing cloth masks that provide limited protection from Covid-19. (DC file photo)

One in 3 Indians continue to step out without masks: Survey

The survey, conducted in April, received more than 25,000 responses from citizens residing in 364 districts of India

05 Dec 2021 6:41 AM

Earlier, Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports had said that BCCI should consult the government before sending the cricket team to South Africa where a new COVID-19 variant has emerged. (ANI/Representative Image)

India tour of South Africa might be pushed back by one week amid Omicron scare

India is slated to tour South Africa next month for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is

02 Dec 2021 11:32 AM

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Sanjeev Ahluwalia

Omicron varient