Several European counties are reporting a massive spike in Covid infections in the past 10 days, with experts indicating the arrival of a new wave of infections due to slow intake of Covid booster doses and lockdowns being lifted.

Several European countries seeing rise in Covid infections due to Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5: Report

It was supposed to be a new year, a post-pandemic 2022 one, where we put the pandemic behind us. Instead, it is the year of a new variant one that is wreaking havoc across the world omicron is currently shaking the globe to its core.

Omicron is currently shaking the world to its core, hospitals in US and UK run out of staff

UK reported a record 138,831 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday fueled by the Omicron variant as Europe continues to battle the virus. According to UK's Office for National Statistics(ONS), at least 1 in 35 people in the country have been infected by the virus with London being hit with the Omicron wave.

France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron

As Europe grapples with the Omicron variant, Iceland and Denmark reported record daily coronavirus cases on Monday. In Denmark over 15,000 COVID-19 cases were reported as Iceland reported 672 cases in 24 hours.

As Europe grapples with Omicron, countries eye stricter curbs post-Christmas

As Europe continues to battle against the virus, Germany's health minister Karl Lauterbach said the country is facing a "massive fifth wave" due to the Omicron variant.

Germany warns of 'massive fifth wave' as Omicron cases surge in Europe

As Europe continues to battle against the virus, Italy on Wednesday decided to impose coronavirus tests for everyone arriving from EU countries and five-day mandatory quarantine for those who haven't been vaccinated.

Europe battles to vaccinate kids as EU chief warns Omicron could become dominant variant

China's Guangzhou province reported an Omicron variant case on Tuesday after a man was detected with the new variant. The man reportedly flew from Shanghai and was constantly tested for the virus by authorities.

China records second Omicron case; virus surge in major export hub

Taiwan detected the first case of the Omicron variant on Saturday after detecting it in three people who arrived in the country from abroad. Taiwan has ramped up its vaccination drive in the last two months with 62 per cent of the population fully vaccinated in a country of 23.

Taiwan reports first Omicron case; new virus variant spreads in 25 US states

As the country battles the Omicron variant, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said early indications suggest the variant "is more transmissible than Delta". Johnson made the comments while updating his cabinet on the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Early indications Omicron variant more transmissible than Delta: UK PM Johnson

The World Health Organisation said on Friday that there were no reported deaths due to the Omicron variant so far. WHO's Dr Maria Van Kerkhove informed that the Omicron variant had now spread to 38 countries.

No deaths reported due to Omicron, Delta has outcompeted all variants: WHO

According to Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS), one in 60 people in England would test positive for coronavirus in the week ending November 27 with an estimated 898,900 people in England who have the virus.

One in 60 people in England estimated to be infected with COVID-19: Britain's ONS

Israel has decided to discontinue the controversial practice of tracking the Omicron variant cases through mobiles which was developed by the country's intelligence agency.

Israel halts virus phone tracker amid privacy concerns

Just hours after detecting the Omicron virus case in the country, reports claimed at least 13 people were infected with the new variant in Australia. Reports said at least two students were infected with the Omicron variant in a Sydney school with 13 cases linked to the new variant in the school.

Australia reports Omicron cases in school

The coronavirus Omicron variant has been found in California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The California Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed the case in a traveller who returned from South Africa on November 22—three days before experts in that nation reported the discovery of the new variety, according to the CDC.

COVID-19: California reports the first US case of the Omicron variant

World Health Organisation(WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that Botswana and South Africa were being "penalised" for doing the right thing while referring to the travel bans imposed by various countries.

Countries ready to draft new accord to handle future pandemics: Tedros

After Israel reported the first case of Omicron variant case last week, reports said two doctors were infected with the new variant even as they were fully vaccinated including with a booster shot.

Two fully vaccinated Israeli doctors get infected with Omicron variant

Dutch authorities detected another Omicron variant case in a passenger after 61 people were detected with the virus in two flights which had returned from South Africa and landed at Amsterdam airport on Friday.

Netherlands-SA flight: Omicron cases rise; couple caught fleeing quarantine

Spain reported the first case of the Omicron variant as the strain continued to spread in Europe. The case was reported after a 51-year-old man arrived from South Africa on Sunday, authorities said.

Spain reports first case of Omicron variant

Amid worldwide panic over the Omicron variant, US President Joe Biden sought to assure Americans about the strain asserting that it is "not a cause for panic". The US president said "sooner or later" the variant will be in the United States as he urged Americans to take the vaccine.

Don't anticipate further travel restrictions, says Biden amid Omicron threat

Reports say at least six Omicron variant cases have been detected in Scotland taking the total number of new virus variant cases in the UK to nine. We're taking action to prevent the spread of the #OmicronVariant of #COVID19.

Scotland detects six Omicron variant cases as UK tightens restrictions

The Australian government said today it has temporarily stopped plans to reopen borders for students and skilled workers as more people were detected with the Omicron variant.

Australia halts border reopening after two more Omicron cases detected

After the UK reported two cases of the Omicron variant on Saturday, British PM Boris Johnson declared that all passengers arriving in the UK must isolate themselves until they can show a negative PCR test to the authorities.

PM Johnson imposes new measures after UK reports Omicron variant cases

As concerns mounted over a potentially more contagious coronavirus variant spreading to many countries, the Centre on Sunday decided to review the resumption of international flights, introduced stricter guidelines for people travelling from or transiting through "at-risk" countries and issued a slew of directions to the states for ramping up testing-surveillance measures and health facilities.

Omicron alert: Government to review resumption of international flights

Dutch authorities said on Sunday at least 13 cases of Omicron variant has been detected among passengers who had landed in the country from South Africa on Friday.

'Tip of the iceberg': Dutch authorities confirm 13 Omicron variant cases in South African flights