Six COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday after screening 3,476 passengers of 11 flights to India from “at-risk” countries and samples for genomic sequencing, the health ministry said amid concerns over the ‘Omicron’ version. have been sent. coronavirus.
The government on Wednesday decided not to resume scheduled international flights from December 15, less than a week after the decision was announced in the wake of growing concerns over the coronavirus version of Omicron.
Read | Tighter restrictions prove costly for travelers
The World Health Organization expects to have more information about the transmissibility of the new Omicron version of the coronavirus within days, its technical lead on COVID-19, Maria van Kerkhove, said at a briefing on Wednesday. WHO said on Tuesday that those who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including people over the age of 60 who are Travel to areas with community transmission should be stopped due to the grip of the disease,
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Here are the latest developments,
National
Active COVID-19 cases in the country rise to 99,763
With 9,765 new coronavirus infections reported in a day, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 3,46,06,541, while active cases rose to 99,763, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. Have become.
The death toll rose to 4,69,724 with 477 fresh deaths, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily increase in new coronavirus infections has been less than 50,000 for 158 consecutive days.
The ministry said that active cases comprise 0.29% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.35%. -PTI
Maharashtra
Get vaccinated against COVID-19 and win electronic devices: Maharashtra civic body tells citizens
Hingoli Municipal Council in Maharashtra has decided to entice people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by giving them prizes like LED TVs, refrigerators and washing machines, officials said on Thursday.
A similar incentive was announced by the Chandrapur civic body in the state earlier this month to encourage people to take the vaccine. -PTI
Indonesia
Indonesia tightens travel restrictions as it prepares for Omicron arrivals
Authorities in Indonesia have tightened border restrictions, extended quarantines and limited movement on strategic toll roads, in a retrospective move to limit the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant should it reach Southeast Asia’s largest country .
Scientists suggest that omicron, found so far in two dozen countries, may be more permeable than earlier variants, threatening the global economic recovery. According to the World Health Organization, more than 50 countries have implemented new travel measures in recent days. -Reuters
Karnataka
Karnataka amends protocol for international arrivals
Following directions from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka on Wednesday issued revised protocols for all international arrivals.
As per the revised guidelines, all passengers should submit a self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha Portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airs uvidha/apho-registration) before the scheduled journey including travel details for the last 14 days . , The passenger should upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report which is not more than 72 hours old.
Japan
Japan withdraws new flight booking ban after criticism
Japan says it has withdrawn a ban on incoming new international flight bookings to protect against the new version of the coronavirus, a day after the policy was announced.
The transport ministry on Wednesday urged international airlines to stop taking new reservations for flights into Japan until the end of December as an emergency precaution to protect against the new Omron version. -ap
International
Moderna executive says company may produce Omicron booster in March
Moderna Inc. may have a COVID-19 booster shot, which has been tested targeting the Omron version and is ready to file for US authorization as of March, the company’s president said on Wednesday.
Moderna President Stephen Hoge said he believes that booster shots carrying a gene that specifically targets the mutation in the newly discovered Omicron variant are the fastest way to address any anticipated shortfall in the vaccine’s effectiveness. Will happen. -Reuters
Tamil Nadu
‘Vaccination mandatory for entering public, private places in Krishnagiri’
The district administration has banned the entry of unvaccinated persons in public and private places in the district.
With the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant Omicron, the district administration has intensified action against the unaffiliated.
Italy
Italy approves COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5-11
Italy’s pharmaceutical agency AIFA on Wednesday approved the use of Pfizer-BioNtech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years.
AIFA’s decision, which was widely expected, came after the European Union’s drug regulator (EMA) took the same steps on November 25. -Reuters
International
Saudi, UAE detect first cases of new coronavirus variant
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they detected their first cases of the new coronavirus variant, recording the first known instances of Omicron infection in the Persian Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia’s state-run Saudi Press Agency said its case pertained to a citizen of what it described as a “North African country”. The report states that the infected person and his close people have been quarantined.
The UAE also reported its first case of infection with Omicron edition late on Wednesday. The state-run WAM news agency described the patient as an African woman who had traveled from an African country to an Arab country, without specifying which nations. -PTI
Mexico
Mexico approves emergency use of Lily’s COVID-19 treatment
Mexico’s health regulator Cofepris said on Wednesday it has approved US pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly & Co.’s antibody treatment against COVID-19 for patients at risk from comorbidities with infected patients.
Cofepris said in a statement that it had permitted the emergency use of an injectable combination of Lilly’s bamlanivimab and atacevimab to treat mild to moderate cases of the coronavirus in people over the age of 12 who weigh at least 40 kg. Is. -Reuters
National
Serum Institute of India COVAX. Gave the first Novavax shot via
The Serum Institute of India has sent a dose of COVID-19 vaccine to Indonesia in its first export of the Novavax shot through the COVAX network, the Indian government said on Wednesday.
The world’s largest vaccine maker last week exported 137,500 doses of Kovovax to the Southeast Asian country, as it calls for the shot. -Reuters
International
WHO members agree to a pandemic pact
World Health Organization member states agreed on Wednesday to launch a new international agreement on how to deal with future pandemics and ensure that COVID-19 does not recur.
At a special meeting in Geneva, 194 WHO member states unanimously adopted a resolution to begin negotiations and drafting processes for a new international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
America
First case of Omicron variant identified in US
A US official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a man in California became the first person in the US to be diagnosed with an Omicron version of COVID-19. It comes as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new strain of virus.
The Biden administration moved late last month to restrict travel from southern Africa where the first variant had been identified and was widespread. Clusters of cases have also been identified in about two dozen other countries. Officials could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Brazil
Brazil confirms third Omicron case, considers new measures
Health officials confirmed Brazil’s third known case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Wednesday as the government examined possible new measures to contain the virus, such as suspending some flights and requiring arriving passengers to show proof of vaccination. Is.
An Ethiopian passenger tested positive for COVID-19 upon landing in Sao Paulo on November 27, the state’s health secretariat said in a statement. Officials said the 29-year-old man has been vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer shot and is in good health. -PTI
Rajasthan Rajasthan
Jaipur airport ready to implement COVID guidelines for international arrivals
Jaipur International Airport on Wednesday took a slew of measures, including additional coronavirus testing facilities, to implement the government’s COVID-19 guidelines for international arrivals, officials said.
“Elaborate arrangements have been made at the airport including additional testing and comfort facilities for the safety and convenience of passengers. Large waiting and seating areas with necessary facilities, additional counters and booths for registration and sampling, more ground for faster passenger processing Staff are among the measures taken to handle international arrivals,” said an airport official. -PTI
Kerala
Omicron Alert: Precautionary measures tightened in Wayanad
The Wayanad district administration has stepped up precautionary measures and tightened surveillance in the wake of reports of an outbreak of Omicron in several countries.
District Collector A. Geeta on Wednesday ordered all the people who returned from abroad to go into self-quarantine for 14 days.
Nigeria
Nigeria says it found its first case of Omicron in November
The country’s National Institute of Public Health said on Wednesday that Nigeria has detected its first case of Omicron coronavirus infection in travelers arriving from South Africa in the past week, correcting an earlier statement that it had taken in October. Variants found in samples.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control said in a second statement that it was the delta variant – not Omicron as previously stated – that had been found in samples from October. It said the Omron variant was first detected in three travelers who arrived in the country last week. -PTI
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