Omicron
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…
India reports first Omicron cases, no plan to authorise boosters
By Anuron Kumar Mitra and Chandini Monnappa BENGALURU (Reuters) - India reported its first two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Thursday but the government said it had no…
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…
WHO’s Tedros warns against over-reaction to Omicron
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) voiced concern on Tuesday that some countries were introducing blanket measures against the Omicron coronavirus variant…
Putin gives government a week to prepare Omicron action plan
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to prepare an action plan within the next week to fight the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Putin said…
Centre reviews Public Health Preparedness with States/UTs in view of new COVID19 Variant (OMICRON) reported by WHO
Union Health Secretary, Shri Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level meeting with States/UTs to review COVID-19 public health response measures and preparedness amid reports of Omicron variant of COVID19 across various…
India advises states to step up COVID testing; Mumbai delays school reopening
BENGALURU (Reuters) - India's health ministry said on Tuesday states should ramp up COVID-19 testing as the world battles the new coronavirus variant Omicron, while some cities delayed the reopening…
India offers support for Africa to fight the Omicron variant
MEA Statement: We have noted the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19, Omicron. We express our solidarity with the countries, particularly in Africa, who have so far been affected…
Omicron poses very high global risk, world must prepare -WHO
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) -The heavily mutated Omicron coronavirus variant is likely to spread internationally and poses a very high risk of infection surges that could have "severe consequences"…
Analysis-How fast does it spread?: Scientists ask whether Omicron can outrun Delta
By Nancy Lapid and Julie Steenhuysen (Reuters) - As scientists race to understand the consequences of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, one of the most important questions is whether this new…
