Six COVID-19 circumstances have been reported on Wednesday after screening 3,476 passengers of 11 flights that arrived in India from “at-risk” nations and the samples have been despatched for genomic sequencing, the Well being Ministry stated amid considerations over the ‘Omicron’ variant of coronavirus.
The federal government on Wednesday determined to not resume scheduled worldwide flights from December 15, lower than every week after asserting the choice within the wake of rising considerations over the coronavirus variant Omicron.
Learn | Tighter curbs prove costly to travellers
The World Well being Group expects to have extra info on the transmissibility of the brand new Omicron variant of the coronavirus inside days, its technical lead on COVID-19, Maria van Kerkhove, stated in a briefing on Wednesday. The WHO stated on Tuesday that these not totally vaccinated towards COVID-19, together with folks over 60 years of age, who’re additionally vulnerable to the disease should put off travel to areas with community transmission.
You possibly can monitor coronavirus circumstances, deaths and testing charges on the nationwide and State ranges here. A listing of State Helpline numbers is accessible as effectively.
Listed here are the most recent developments:
Nationwide
Lively COVID-19 circumstances in nation improve to 99,763
With 9,765 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s complete tally of COVID-19 circumstances rose to 3,46,06,541, whereas the lively circumstances elevated to 99,763, based on the Union Well being Ministry information up to date on Thursday.
The dying toll climbed to 4,69,724 with 477 contemporary fatalities, based on the info up to date at 8 am.
The every day rise in new coronavirus infections has been lower than 50,000 for 158 consecutive days now.
The lively circumstances comprise 0.29% of the entire infections, the bottom since March 2020, whereas the nationwide COVID-19 restoration charge was recorded at 98.35%, the ministry stated. -PTI
Maharashtra
Get vaccinated towards COVID-19 and win digital home equipment: Maharashtra civic physique tells residents
The Hingoli Municipal Council in Maharashtra has determined to lure folks to get vaccinated towards COVID-19 by providing them prizes like LED TVs, fridges and washing machines, officers stated on Thursday.
Related incentives have been additionally introduced by the Chandrapur civic physique within the state earlier this month to encourage folks to take the vaccine. -PTI
Indonesia
Indonesia tightens journey curbs because it braces for Omicron arrival
Authorities in Indonesia have tightened border curbs, prolonged quarantine and restricted motion on strategic toll roads, in a preemptive transfer to restrict the unfold of the Omicron COVID-19 variant ought to it attain Southeast Asia’s largest nation.
Scientists counsel Omicron, detected to this point in two dozen nations, could also be extra transmissible than earlier variants, threatening a world financial restoration. Greater than 50 nations have imposed new journey measures in current days, based on the World Well being Group. -Reuters
Karnataka
Karnataka revises protocols for worldwide arrivals
Following instructions from the Union Ministry of Well being and Household Welfare, Karnataka on Wednesday issued revised protocols from all worldwide arrivals.
In response to the revised pointers, all travellers ought to submit a self-declaration kind on the web Air Suvidha portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airs uvidha/apho-registration) earlier than the scheduled journey, together with final 14 days journey particulars. The traveller ought to add a destructive COVID-19 RT-PCR report that’s not older than 72 hours.
Japan
Japan retracts new flight bookings ban after criticisms
Japan says it has retracted a ban on new incoming worldwide flight bookings to defend towards the brand new variant of the coronavirus solely a day after the coverage was introduced.
The transport ministry on Wednesday issued a request to worldwide airways to cease taking new reservations for flights coming into Japan till the top of December as an emergency precaution to defend towards the brand new omicron variant. -AP
Worldwide
Moderna government says firm may have Omicron booster prepared in March
Moderna Inc may have a COVID-19 booster shot focusing on the Omicron variant examined and able to file for U.S. authorization as quickly as March, the corporate’s president stated on Wednesday.
Moderna President Stephen Hoge stated he believes booster pictures carrying genes particularly focusing on mutations within the newly-discovered Omicron variant could be the quickest option to tackle any anticipated reductions in vaccine efficacy it could trigger. -Reuters
Tamil Nadu
‘Vaccination necessary to enter public, non-public locations in Krishnagiri’
The district administration has banned entry of unvaccinated individuals into private and non-private locations right here within the district.
With the emergence of Omicron, a brand new COVID-19 variant, the district administration has upped the ante towards the unvaccinated.
Italy
Italy approves COVID-19 vaccination for 5-11 yr olds
Italy’s medicines company AIFA on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the usage of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters between the ages of 5 and 11.
AIFA’s resolution, which was broadly anticipated, got here after the European Union’s drug regulator (EMA) took the identical step on November 25. -Reuters
Worldwide
Saudi, UAE detect first circumstances of latest coronavirus variant
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stated they detected their first circumstances of the brand new coronavirus variant, recording the primary identified cases of omicron infections within the Persian Gulf area.
Saudi Arabia’s state-run Saudi Press Company stated its case was a citizen coming from what it described as a “North African nation.” The report stated the contaminated particular person and his shut contacts had been quarantined.
The UAE additionally reported its first case of an infection with the omicron variant late Wednesday. State-run WAM information company described the affected person as an African lady who traveled from an African nation via an Arab nation, with out specifying which nations. -PTI
Mexico
Mexico approves emergency use of Lilly’s COVID-19 remedy
Mexico’s well being regulator Cofepris stated on Wednesday it had accredited U.S. pharmaceutical agency Eli Lilly and Co’s antibody remedy towards COVID-19 for emergency use with contaminated sufferers in danger from comorbidities.
Cofepris stated in a press release it had granted the emergency use of Lilly’s injectable mixture of bamlanivimab and etesevimab to deal with gentle to reasonable circumstances of coronavirus in folks above the age of 12 who weigh at the very least 40 kilograms. -Reuters
Nationwide
India’s Serum Institute delivers first Novavax shot via COVAX
Serum Institute of India has despatched doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Indonesia, in its first export of the Novavax shot via the COVAX community, the Indian authorities stated on Wednesday.
The world’s greatest vaccine maker exported 137,500 doses of Covovax, because it calls the shot, to the Southeast Asian nation final week. -Reuters
Worldwide
WHO members comply with forge a pandemic accord
World Well being Group member states agreed on Wednesday to begin constructing a brand new worldwide accord on the best way to deal with future pandemics and guarantee there may be no repeat of COVID-19.
At a particular assembly in Geneva, the 194 WHO member states unanimously adopted a decision launching the negotiating and drafting course of for a brand new worldwide instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
USA
First case of Omicron variant recognized in U.S.
An individual in California grew to become the primary within the U.S. to have an recognized case of the omicron variant of COVID-19, a US official advised The Related Press on Wednesday. It comes as scientists proceed to check the dangers posed by the brand new pressure of the virus.
The Biden administration moved late final month to limit journey from Southern Africa the place the variant was first recognized and had been widespread. Clusters of circumstances have additionally been recognized in about two dozen different nations. The official couldn’t talk about the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity.
Brazil
Brazil confirms third omicron case, considers new measures
Well being officers on Wednesday confirmed Brazil’s third identified case of the omicron coronavirus variant as the federal government examined attainable new measures to include the virus, resembling suspending some flights and requiring arriving passengers to point out proof of vaccination.
A passenger from Ethiopia examined optimistic for Covid-19 upon touchdown in Sao Paulo on Nov. 27, the state’s well being secretariat stated in a press release. The 29 year-old man is vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer shot and is in good well being, officers stated. -PTI
Rajasthan
Jaipur airport gears as much as implement Covid pointers for worldwide arrivals
The Jaipur Worldwide Airport right here on Wednesday put in place a number of measures, together with further coronavirus testing amenities, to implement the federal government’s COVID-19 pointers for worldwide arrivals, officers stated.
“Elaborate preparations, together with further testing and resting amenities, for security and comfort of passengers have been made on the airport. Bigger ready and seating areas with obligatory facilities, further counters and cubicles for registration and sampling, extra floor workers for quicker passenger processing are among the many measures put in place to deal with worldwide arrival,” an airport official stated. -PTI
Kerala
Omicron alert: preventive measures tightened in Wayanad
The Wayanad district administration has intensified preventive measures and tightened surveillance within the wake of experiences of Omicron unfold in a number of nations.
District Collector A. Geetha on Wednesday ordered all those that had returned from overseas to enter self-quarantine for 14 days.
Nigeria
Nigeria says it discovered first case of omicron in November
Nigeria has detected its first case of the omicron coronavirus variant in travellers that arrived from South Africa prior to now week, the nation’s nationwide public well being institute stated Wednesday, correcting its earlier assertion that it discovered the variant in samples taken in October.
The Nigeria Heart for Illness Management stated in a second assertion that it was the delta variant — not omicron because it had earlier acknowledged — that was detected within the samples from October. It stated the omicron variant was first detected in three travellers who arrived within the nation prior to now week. -PTI
