Covid 19
Omicron will spread through Americas in time, warns regional health agency
BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has so far been detected in the Americas in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico and the United States, but it is…
Omicron reported in 57 countries, hospitalisations set to rise, WHO says
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) -The Omicron variant has been reported in 57 nations and the number of patients needing hospitalisation is likely to rise as it spreads, the World…
‘Extreme’ vaccine discrimination risks leaving Africa behind – report
By Tommy Wilkes LONDON (Reuters) - Africa has little chance of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic unless 70% of its population is vaccinated by end-2022, yet "extreme vaccine discrimination" is leaving…
COVID-19 curbs China’s power in Indo-Pacific, risks of war ‘significant’ – report
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic has weakened China's power in the Indo-Pacific, and the region's deepening security uncertainties present a "significant" risk of war, the Lowy Institute said in…
India detects third Omicron case, reports 415 COVID-19 deaths
By Sumit Khanna AHMEDABAD (Reuters) - India reported its third case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday, government officials said, while many European and Asian countries have shown a…
S.Korea reports record-high COVID-19 cases, deaths
By Sangmi Cha SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea reported a record daily 5,352 new COVID-19 infections and 70 deaths, while a nationwide total of nine cases of the Omicron variant…
In Europe, Omicron ruins Christmas party plans
By Richard Lough and Iain Withers PARIS (Reuters) - Paris riverboat cruise company Seine-En-Bateau was braced for a bumper Christmas party season reminiscent of the world before COVID-19. But that…
Europe surpasses 75 million COVID-19 cases amid spread of Omicron
By Aparupa Mazumder and Rittik Biswas (Reuters) - Europe crossed 75 million coronavirus cases on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, as the region braces for the new Omicron variant…
WHO’s top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta
By Francesco Guarascio and Stephanie Nebehay (Reuters) -The World Health Organization's chief scientist told the Reuters Next conference on Friday the Omicron variant could become dominant because it is highly…
S.Africa’s health body sees threefold higher risk of reinfection from Omicron
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -The new Omicron variant of the coronavirus poses a threefold higher risk of reinfection than the currently dominant Delta variant and the Beta strain, a group of South…
How South African scientists spotted the Omicron COVID variant
By Tim Cocks JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - On Friday Nov. 19, Raquel Viana, Head of Science at one of South Africa's biggest private testing labs, sequenced the genes on eight coronavirus…
Dutch ICU beds running out as weekly COVID-19 cases hit record high
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch healthcare system scrambled to add intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients as the country registered a record weekly number of new infections on Tuesday. Although…
