South Africa quickly became the epicenter of the Omicron wave. Today this variant has reached most countries prompting a big spike in cases. But a study in South Africa is teaching the world about the trajectory of omicron, hinting that the acute wave may be ending soon.

When will the Omicron wave end? A learning for the world

After a spate of recent Covid cases, the northern Chinese city of Tianjin is conducting mass Covid testing. The city has advised its nearly 14 million people to stay at home

China steps up its zero-tolerance Covid-19 strategy

The United Kingdom's official death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic rose above 150,000 on Saturday, following a record wave of cases caused by the Omicron variant.

UK becomes first country in Europe to pass 150,000 COVID deaths

Amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the US is seeing a spike in Covid-19 cases among children and young adults and a rise in pediatric hospitalisations.

Covid hospitalisations soar for kids under five in US due to Omicron variant

As the number of Omicron variant cases continues to rise, the number of daily coronavirus cases reached &nbsp;300 million on Friday.

The Omicron variant is believed to spread faster than other variants. Several countries in Europe including the US have been hit hard with escalating coronavirus cases.

Germany restricted unvaccinated citizens from entering bars and restaurants even as Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-more-infectious-than-delta-experts-reveal-why-the-variant-is-affecting-kids-442963">Also Read:&nbsp;Omicron more infectious than Delta? Experts reveal why the variant is affecting kids</a>

Britain on Friday had declared troops and military medics will be deployed to help National Health Service(NHS) workers as the UK battles the Omicron wave.

Britain is one of the worst-hit countries hit by the virus with over 150, 200&nbsp;fatalities and 14 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year.

Watch: Gravitas -&nbsp;Troops to be deployed in London hospitals

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Reports claim at least 2 million coronavirus cases are being reported daily as the world continues to battle the virus.

World Health Organization(WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned that the Omicron variant is leading to a "tsunami of cases".

The Omicron variant has spread rapidly worldwide ever since it was first reported by South African authorities in the last week of November last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-this-german-state-omicron-spreading-among-vaccinated-people-442958">Also Read:&nbsp;In this German state, Omicron spreading among vaccinated people</a>

As the US continues to battle the virus, President Biden said he does not feel&nbsp;"COVID is here to stay" even as US Supreme Court judges heard the president's new vaccine mandate.

The US is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 59 million COVID-19 cases and 836,470 deaths. According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded over 8 million COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As the number of Omicron variant cases continues to rise, the number of daily coronavirus cases reached 300 million on Friday. The Omicron variant is believed to spread faster than other variants.

As the number of Omicron variant cases continues to rise, the number of daily coronavirus cases reached 300 million on Friday. The Omicron variant is believed to spread faster than other variants. Several countries in Europe including the US have been hit hard with escalating coronavirus cases. Germany restricted unvaccinated citizens from entering bars and restaurants even as Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer tested positive for the virus. Also Read: Omicron more infectious than Delta? Experts reveal why the variant is affecting kids Britain on Friday had declared troops and military medics will be deployed to help National Health Service(NHS) workers as the UK battles the Omicron wave. Britain is one of the worst-hit countries hit by the virus with over 150, 200 fatalities and 14 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year. Watch: Gravitas - Troops to be deployed in London hospitals Reports claim at least 2 million coronavirus cases are being reported daily as the world continues to battle the virus. World Health Organization(WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned that the Omicron variant is leading to a "tsunami of cases". The Omicron variant has spread rapidly worldwide ever since it was first reported by South African authorities in the last week of November last year. Also Read: In this German state, Omicron spreading among vaccinated people As the US continues to battle the virus, President Biden said he does not feel "COVID is here to stay" even as US Supreme Court judges heard the president's new vaccine mandate. The US is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 59 million COVID-19 cases and 836,470 deaths. According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded over 8 million COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days. (With inputs from Agencies)

300 million COVID-19 cases reported worldwide amid Omicron surge

India witnessed the highest surge in coronavirus cases recording 1,17,100 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

The number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 28 per cent since Thursday. The country had recorded&nbsp;90,928 coronavirus cases on January 6.

The number of Omicron cases has risen to 3,007 in the country and it has now spread to 27 states including Union Territories, the health ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-cases-at-new-high-in-mumbai-nearly-1-in-3-test-results-positive-442798">Also Read:&nbsp;COVID-19 cases at new high in Mumbai; nearly 1 in 3 test results positive</a>

Health authorities also recorded 302 fatalities taking the total death toll to 4,83,178 in the country. The number of active cases stands at 3,71,363 in India.

The health ministry informed the daily positivity rate has risen to 7.74 per cent.&nbsp;

Watch | Gravitas: Why India is preparing for a big surge

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Maharashtra which is the hardest-hit state due to the virus informed on Friday that 338 resident doctors in various hospitals in the state had contacted the virus.&nbsp;

The state had recorded over 36,000 COVID-19 on Thursday with Mumbai recording over 20,000 coronavirus cases. The positivity rate in Mumbai city stands at 29.90 per cent, the state health officials said.

Maharashtra had recorded 13 deaths in 24 hours with 76 new Omicron cases taking the total number of the new variant cases to 876 in the state.

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, the southern state of Tamil Nadu imposed night curfew from 10pm to 5pm as the state recorded 6,983 new coronavirus cases.

The eastern state of West Bengal recorded 15,421 new COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths in the last 24 hours even as Gujarat reported 4,213 new COVID-19 cases and 1 death.

(With inputs from Agencies)

India witnessed the highest surge in coronavirus cases recording 1,17,100 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 28 per cent since Thursday.

India witnessed the highest surge in coronavirus cases recording 1,17,100 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 28 per cent since Thursday. The country had recorded 90,928 coronavirus cases on January 6. The number of Omicron cases has risen to 3,007 in the country and it has now spread to 27 states including Union Territories, the health ministry said. Also Read: COVID-19 cases at new high in Mumbai; nearly 1 in 3 test results positive Health authorities also recorded 302 fatalities taking the total death toll to 4,83,178 in the country. The number of active cases stands at 3,71,363 in India. The health ministry informed the daily positivity rate has risen to 7.74 per cent. Watch | Gravitas: Why India is preparing for a big surge Maharashtra which is the hardest-hit state due to the virus informed on Friday that 338 resident doctors in various hospitals in the state had contacted the virus. The state had recorded over 36,000 COVID-19 on Thursday with Mumbai recording over 20,000 coronavirus cases. The positivity rate in Mumbai city stands at 29.90 per cent, the state health officials said. Maharashtra had recorded 13 deaths in 24 hours with 76 new Omicron cases taking the total number of the new variant cases to 876 in the state. As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, the southern state of Tamil Nadu imposed night curfew from 10pm to 5pm as the state recorded 6,983 new coronavirus cases. The eastern state of West Bengal recorded 15,421 new COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths in the last 24 hours even as Gujarat reported 4,213 new COVID-19 cases and 1 death. (With inputs from Agencies)

India reports over 1,17,000 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours; 302 deaths

In a bid to combat the spread of infection, Italy's government announced Wednesday that vaccinations against COVID-19 would be mandatory for those over the age of 50 as of February 15.

The measure will last until June 15, and for those who flout the rule, it was unclear what punishment would be meted out.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sets-global-record-reports-more-than-1-million-cases-uk-australia-france-also-break-previous-records-442400" hreflang="en">US sets global record, reports more than 1 million cases; UK, Australia, France also break previous records</a>

Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, "we want to slow down the curve of contagion and encourage Italians who have not yet been vaccinated to do so." &nbsp;

"We are working in particular on the age groups that are most at risk of being hospitalised, to reduce pressure on hospital to save lives," he added. The measure was adopted during the cabinet meeting.

Under the new decree, people over 50 who do not work must be vaccinated, and those who do work must obtain a vaccine pass. This effectively covers everyone over 50.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-silver-bullets-australia-reports-record-high-in-covid-19-cases-hospitalisations-surge-442377" hreflang="en">'No silver bullets': Australia reports record high in COVID-19 cases; hospitalisations surge</a>

The government stated in another statement that "the vaccine pass will be necessary for people over 50 in the public and private sectors to access their workplace from February 15."

Among Italy's 59 million residents, 28 million are over the age of 50, according to the national statistics agency Istat.

Last month, the government announced that from January 10, vaccination passes would be required for public transportation and access to hotels, restaurant terraces, and gyms.

Prior to this, a health pass showing proof of vaccination or alternatively a recent negative test had been required.

Italy, like much of Western Europe, has seen its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a> cases surge in recent days, up from more than 170,000 on Tuesday to 189,109 on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;WHO warns that next variant could be more dangerous

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During the last two weeks, it has recorded more than 150 deaths a day, including 231 on Wednesday and 259 on Tuesday. As many as 189,109 new infections were reported on Wednesday, the highest number since the outbreak began.

Europe's first victim of the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020, Italy has seen more than 138,000 deaths since the outbreak began in February 2020 - the second-highest toll in Europe, after Britain.

According to Our World in Data, 74 per cent of Italians have received two or more vaccinations, and 6 per cent have had just one. An estimated 35 per cent have received a third "booster" shot.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a bid to combat the spread of infection, Italy's government announced Wednesday that vaccinations against COVID-19 would be mandatory for those over the age of 50 as of February 15.

In a bid to combat the spread of infection, Italy's government announced Wednesday that vaccinations against COVID-19 would be mandatory for those over the age of 50 as of February 15. The measure will last until June 15, and for those who flout the rule, it was unclear what punishment would be meted out. Also read | US sets global record, reports more than 1 million cases; UK, Australia, France also break previous records Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, "we want to slow down the curve of contagion and encourage Italians who have not yet been vaccinated to do so." "We are working in particular on the age groups that are most at risk of being hospitalised, to reduce pressure on hospital to save lives," he added. The measure was adopted during the cabinet meeting. Under the new decree, people over 50 who do not work must be vaccinated, and those who do work must obtain a vaccine pass. This effectively covers everyone over 50. Also read | 'No silver bullets': Australia reports record high in COVID-19 cases; hospitalisations surge The government stated in another statement that "the vaccine pass will be necessary for people over 50 in the public and private sectors to access their workplace from February 15." Among Italy's 59 million residents, 28 million are over the age of 50, according to the national statistics agency Istat. Last month, the government announced that from January 10, vaccination passes would be required for public transportation and access to hotels, restaurant terraces, and gyms. Prior to this, a health pass showing proof of vaccination or alternatively a recent negative test had been required. Italy, like much of Western Europe, has seen its Covid cases surge in recent days, up from more than 170,000 on Tuesday to 189,109 on Wednesday. Watch | WHO warns that next variant could be more dangerous During the last two weeks, it has recorded more than 150 deaths a day, including 231 on Wednesday and 259 on Tuesday. As many as 189,109 new infections were reported on Wednesday, the highest number since the outbreak began. Europe's first victim of the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020, Italy has seen more than 138,000 deaths since the outbreak began in February 2020 - the second-highest toll in Europe, after Britain. According to Our World in Data, 74 per cent of Italians have received two or more vaccinations, and 6 per cent have had just one. An estimated 35 per cent have received a third "booster" shot. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy toughens vaccination rules, mandates jab for those over 50

COVID-19 cases across Europe have surged multifold driven by the Omicron mutant variant. France has reported over 300,000 COVID-19 cases for the first time in the last 24 hours.

Omicron cases surge across Europe, with France reporting over 300,000 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours

As France grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases, authorities said they had discovered a new variant named B.1.640.2.

The new variant is tentatively called IHU. It was discovered by academics at the IHU Mediterranee Infection institute in France.

What is the new &nbsp;B.1.640.2 variant?

Although researchers are still hard at work, reports claim it has been detected among&nbsp;twelve people in the Marseilles region in France.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-coronavirus-variant-called-ihu-discovered-in-france-442158">Also Read:&nbsp;New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France</a>

The new variant reportedly contains 46 mutations which is more than Omicron. The first case was reported from a person who had come from&nbsp;the African country of Cameroon. The patient was reportedly vaccinated later.

The "IHU" variant reportedly shows strain carrying the N501Y mutation which existed in the &nbsp;Alpha variant. Scientists believe the new strain also carries E484K mutation making it vaccine-resistant.

Watch:&nbsp;Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'gamechanger'

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What is WHO's view?

WHO's Abdi Mahamud said the new variant was on the "radar" of the UN health body since it was first identified in November.

The new variant was reportedly identified around the same time as Omicron. Abdi Mahamud said the "virus had a lot of chances to pick up."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-sustainable-to-vaccinate-the-planet-every-6-months-says-oxford-vaccine-co-creator-442308">Also Read:&nbsp;Not sustainable to vaccinate the planet every 6 months, says Oxford vaccine co-creator</a>

WHO said the new variant is under investigation but it has not been identified as a threat as yet by the health body.

COVID-19 wave in France

On Tuesday, France had reported 270,000 COVID-19 cases as health minister Olivier Veran warned that daily coronavirus cases could hit 300,000 shortly.&nbsp;

The French government has declared it will block&nbsp;unvaccinated people from several venues although the country had unveiled COVID-19 health passes allowing only vaccinated people to enter restaurants and cinema halls.&nbsp;

The new legislation proposes to remove the option of showing a "negative" test in health passes cutting off people who haven't been vaccinated from boarding trains including other restrictions.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As France grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases, authorities said they had discovered a new variant named B.1.640.2. The new variant is tentatively called IHU.

As France grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases, authorities said they had discovered a new variant named B.1.640.2. The new variant is tentatively called IHU. It was discovered by academics at the IHU Mediterranee Infection institute in France. What is the new B.1.640.2 variant? Although researchers are still hard at work, reports claim it has been detected among twelve people in the Marseilles region in France. Also Read: New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France The new variant reportedly contains 46 mutations which is more than Omicron. The first case was reported from a person who had come from the African country of Cameroon. The patient was reportedly vaccinated later. The "IHU" variant reportedly shows strain carrying the N501Y mutation which existed in the Alpha variant. Scientists believe the new strain also carries E484K mutation making it vaccine-resistant. Watch: Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'gamechanger' What is WHO's view? WHO's Abdi Mahamud said the new variant was on the "radar" of the UN health body since it was first identified in November. The new variant was reportedly identified around the same time as Omicron. Abdi Mahamud said the "virus had a lot of chances to pick up." Also Read: Not sustainable to vaccinate the planet every 6 months, says Oxford vaccine co-creator WHO said the new variant is under investigation but it has not been identified as a threat as yet by the health body. COVID-19 wave in France On Tuesday, France had reported 270,000 COVID-19 cases as health minister Olivier Veran warned that daily coronavirus cases could hit 300,000 shortly. The French government has declared it will block unvaccinated people from several venues although the country had unveiled COVID-19 health passes allowing only vaccinated people to enter restaurants and cinema halls. The new legislation proposes to remove the option of showing a "negative" test in health passes cutting off people who haven't been vaccinated from boarding trains including other restrictions. (With inputs from Agencies)

Explained: What is the new 'IHU'  variant discovered in France?

After a relatively stable trend in the Covid 19 cases, India is recording a rise in the number of infections dominated by the omicron variant. A total of 58 000 Covid 19 cases were reported in India in the last 24 hours this is a 55 percent increase in cases in just one day.

India records 2,135 Omicron cases in last 24 hours

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 causing crippling staff shortages in UK & US

India reports fresh 58000 Covid 19 cases in 24 hours

In the last two years, nearly 8 billion people are waiting for the COVID-19 pandemic to end. Even though. newer variants are complicating the question of when will this pandemic end? WION gets you a report.

Will COVID-19 pandemic become endemic?

A US-based doctor has claimed that, the fast-spreading Omicron variant is “nothing more than a seasonal cold virus” and has warned against "overreaction and over-reach".

'Omicron is nothing more than a seasonal cold virus', claims US-based doctor

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

The Israeli health care system is struggling to administer enough COVID-19 tests in the face of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, leaving the Health Ministry to revise its testing policies.

Israel to revise COVID-19 testing rules amid surge in Omicron variant cases

Amid the spread of the Omicron variant at a blistering pace, the United States has recorded over 1 million daily Covid-19 cases as per data from Johns Hopkins University.

It has also reported 1,688 deaths for the same period according to a new tally. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Omicron variant was estimated to be 58.6 per cent&nbsp;of the coronavirus variants circulating in the United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-update-fda-amends-emergency-use-of-pfizer-booster-dose-for-more-teens-442035" hreflang="en">Omicron update: FDA amends emergency use of Pfizer booster dose for more teens</a>

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci had said the country is experiencing "almost a vertical increase" in Covid-19 cases but the peak may be only weeks away.

He had also highlighted that there was still a danger of a surge in hospitalization due to a large number of coronavirus cases even as early data suggests the Omicron COVID-19 variant is less severe.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-levels-of-coronavirus-revealed-in-wastewater-samples-across-united-states-442013">Record levels of coronavirus revealed in wastewater samples across US</a>

Across the US, new COVID-19 cases have tripled in the past two weeks to over 400,000 a day, the highest level on record, amid a rush by many Americans to get tested.

The high infection rates and resulting worker shortages are putting a heavy burden on employers large and small. Thousands of airline flights have been canceled in recent days, and many businesses have shelved return-to-work plans.

Meanwhile, the CDC had reduced the recommended isolation period for people with asymptomatic COVID to five days, down from 10.

“We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid the spread of the Omicron variant at a blistering pace, the United States has recorded over 1 million daily Covid-19 cases as per data from Johns Hopkins University.

Amid the spread of the Omicron variant at a blistering pace, the United States has recorded over 1 million daily Covid-19 cases as per data from Johns Hopkins University. It has also reported 1,688 deaths for the same period according to a new tally. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Omicron variant was estimated to be 58.6 per cent of the coronavirus variants circulating in the United States. Also read | Omicron update: FDA amends emergency use of Pfizer booster dose for more teens Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci had said the country is experiencing "almost a vertical increase" in Covid-19 cases but the peak may be only weeks away. He had also highlighted that there was still a danger of a surge in hospitalization due to a large number of coronavirus cases even as early data suggests the Omicron COVID-19 variant is less severe. Also read | Record levels of coronavirus revealed in wastewater samples across US Across the US, new COVID-19 cases have tripled in the past two weeks to over 400,000 a day, the highest level on record, amid a rush by many Americans to get tested. The high infection rates and resulting worker shortages are putting a heavy burden on employers large and small. Thousands of airline flights have been canceled in recent days, and many businesses have shelved return-to-work plans. Meanwhile, the CDC had reduced the recommended isolation period for people with asymptomatic COVID to five days, down from 10. “We want to make sure there is a mechanism by which we can safely continue to keep society functioning while following the science,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. (With inputs from agencies)

US sets global record of over 1 million daily Covid-19 cases after Fauci warns of 'vertical increase'

Israel's top health official said on Sunday that a surge of Omicron infections in the country may help the country develop herd immunity. His comment came as daily cases in Israel are climbing. b

The highly transmissible Omicron variant has brought a surge in coronavirus cases across the globe. Worldwide infections have hit a record high, with an average of just over a million cases detected a day between Dec. 24 and 30, according to Reuters data. Deaths, however, have not risen in kind, bringing hope the new variant is less lethal.

Israel has managed to stave off Omicron to some degree till late December but infection rates are now gaining pace. It is expected that daily cases would reach record highs in coming three weeks.

Nachman Ash, Director General of Israel's health ministry said that this may result in herd immunity.

"The cost will be a great many infections," Ash told 103FM Radio. "The numbers will have to be very high in order to reach herd immunity. This is possible but we don't want to reach it by means of infections, we want it to happen as a result of many people vaccinating," he said.

Herd immunity is the point at which a population is protected from a virus, either through vaccination or by people having developed antibodies by contracting the disease.

Around 60% of Israel's 9.4 million population are fully vaccinated - almost all with Pfizer /BioNTech'S vaccine - according to the health ministry, which means they have either received three doses or have had their second dose recently. But hundreds of thousands of those eligible for a third inoculation have so far not taken it.

Around 1.3 million coronavirus cases have been documented in Israel since the start of the pandemic. But between two to four million people may well be infected by the end of January when the Omicron wave could subside, according to Eran Segal, data scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science and an adviser to the government.

Head of the health ministry's coronavirus taskforce, Salman Zarka, said herd immunity was far from guaranteed.

"We have to be very cautious with this particularly in light of our experience over the past two years in which we saw people who have recovered (from coronavirus) be re-infected," Zarka told Ynet TV.

Over the past ten days, daily infections have more than quadrupled. Severe cases have also climbed but at a far lower rate, rising from about 80 to around 100.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel's top health official said on Sunday that a surge of Omicron infections in the country may help the country develop herd immunity. His comment came as daily cases in Israel are climbing.

Israel's top health official said on Sunday that a surge of Omicron infections in the country may help the country develop herd immunity. His comment came as daily cases in Israel are climbing. b The highly transmissible Omicron variant has brought a surge in coronavirus cases across the globe. Worldwide infections have hit a record high, with an average of just over a million cases detected a day between Dec. 24 and 30, according to Reuters data. Deaths, however, have not risen in kind, bringing hope the new variant is less lethal. Israel has managed to stave off Omicron to some degree till late December but infection rates are now gaining pace. It is expected that daily cases would reach record highs in coming three weeks. Nachman Ash, Director General of Israel's health ministry said that this may result in herd immunity. "The cost will be a great many infections," Ash told 103FM Radio. "The numbers will have to be very high in order to reach herd immunity. This is possible but we don't want to reach it by means of infections, we want it to happen as a result of many people vaccinating," he said. Herd immunity is the point at which a population is protected from a virus, either through vaccination or by people having developed antibodies by contracting the disease. Around 60% of Israel's 9.4 million population are fully vaccinated - almost all with Pfizer /BioNTech'S vaccine - according to the health ministry, which means they have either received three doses or have had their second dose recently. But hundreds of thousands of those eligible for a third inoculation have so far not taken it. Around 1.3 million coronavirus cases have been documented in Israel since the start of the pandemic. But between two to four million people may well be infected by the end of January when the Omicron wave could subside, according to Eran Segal, data scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science and an adviser to the government. Head of the health ministry's coronavirus taskforce, Salman Zarka, said herd immunity was far from guaranteed. "We have to be very cautious with this particularly in light of our experience over the past two years in which we saw people who have recovered (from coronavirus) be re-infected," Zarka told Ynet TV. Over the past ten days, daily infections have more than quadrupled. Severe cases have also climbed but at a far lower rate, rising from about 80 to around 100. (With inputs from agencies)

Increase in Omicron cases may help Israel gain herd immunity: Health official

For the first time since the pandemic began almost two years ago, the number of daily new COVID-19 cases crossed one million worldwide.

In a first, global daily new COVID-19 cases cross one million mark since the pandemic began

The United States remains the hardest-hit country in the world by the Coronavirus, and the Omicron variant has already started to overwhelm some hospitals in the US.

US remains hardest-hit by COVID as Omicron variant starts to overwhelm some hospitals

South Africa has lifted night curfew with immediate effect, saying that the peak of its fourth COVID-19 wave driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant has subsided.

South Africa lifts night curfew as it says Omicron peak is over without increase in mortality rate

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 is fueling the latest spike in infections in the US as it reports 512,553 new cases in the last 24 hours.

US records highest single day COVID spike since the pandemic started due to Omicron variant

Amid the ongoing Omicron wave and a surge in COVID-19 cases, Pediatric hospitalisations are up in the US as more children are contracting the virus.

US: Pediatric hospitalisations up as more children get caught in Omicron wave

Scientists have moved quickly since the World Health Organization designated omicron a variant of concern in late November. Observations arrive in rapid succession, often posted straight to social media without peer review or the caveats and uncertainties that would be noted in published papers. Watching science unfold in real-time can be confusing and misleading.

“We are going to see a couple of weeks of every day, new information, new studies,” said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the WHO. “One study is not going to really prove anything.”

So what do researchers need to do in the weeks and months ahead to better understand omicron — and any future variants — and how should we gauge their progress? Here’s a guide for following along.

Sequence and track cases

Omicron was first identified in South Africa in late November, and cases there soon began to rise faster than during previous waves.

South Africa’s public health agency estimates that omicron has accounted for the majority of its coronavirus cases in recent weeks, based on the genomic sequencing of a small share of its positive test samples.

Case counts are also rising quickly in Britain, Denmark and Norway, where omicron is likely to become dominant. The United States is also facing a rise in cases, and low but increasing levels of the variant have been detected. Omicron cases are expected to rise further, but, for now, the delta variant remains dominant in America.

But genomic sequencing has some challenges: It is time-consuming, and it takes at least a week for results to emerge. Some countries perform more sequencing than others. It can also be biased, especially in the early days of monitoring a new variant.

Test manufacturers and government researchers have also said that omicron does not appear to decrease the ability of the most commonly used PCR and rapid at-home tests to identify virus cases.

Researchers are closely monitoring countries that have higher levels of Delta than South Africa had when Omicron took off there. Look for additional sequencing data from Britain, Europe and parts of the United States in the coming days.

Pinpoint the variant’s transmissibility

A variant’s spread is measured by its reproduction number, which indicates how many people are expected to catch the virus from a single infected person. Estimates show that the reproduction number in South Africa has been higher in December than at any other point except for the start of the pandemic.

This high reproduction number suggests that omicron might spread more easily than earlier variants and that it may evade some of the protections offered by vaccines and previous infections. Modellers have found that omicron may be several times as transmissible as delta in South Africa, according to the WHO.

Researchers in Britain and Denmark, countries with higher incidences of Delta than South Africa, have drawn similar conclusions, and modellers estimate that Omicron cases are doubling in these locations every two to three days, much more quickly than the Delta variant.

But experts say it may take weeks or even months for the scientific community to better understand why omicron seems to be more contagious. Researchers are working to determine whether the variant’s characteristics make it more transmissible by nature or whether its many mutations might help it evade immune systems primed by vaccines or previous infections.

Much of the data on omicron’s spread has come from South Africa and Britain, but expect more analyses from Europe and the United States in the days ahead.

Investigate protection afforded by prior infections and vaccines

There is some early evidence that omicron might reinfect people more easily than the Delta variant. The first data to examine this came from South African scientists and similar trends have been found in Britain, but experts stress that reinfections should be monitored over longer periods of time and in a variety of populations.

A number of research labs have also begun to test how antibodies induced by vaccines and prior infections compete against omicron. After combining the variant with blood samples from vaccinated, boosted and previously infected people, the scientists watch to see how many antibodies attack the virus.

Early data suggest that people who have received two doses of an mRNA vaccine have decreased antibody levels against omicron compared to delta, but that vaccination combined with prior infection — or vaccination plus a booster — still provides reasonable protection. Health officials are encouraging people to get booster shots to increase their defenses against omicron.

Vaccine manufacturers are also exploring ways to adjust their doses to more directly target the new variant, though small studies of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s boosters suggest these additional shots offer strong protection against omicron.

Antibodies are just one component of the body’s immune system. T cells, another line of defense against the virus, are thought to be more protective against severe illness. Several researchers have shown that T cells are still likely to recognize omicron and maintain their protective power against severe disease, hospitalization and death, even as the virus mutates.

Scientists must also monitor how effective vaccines and booster doses are in the real world, because lab tests can’t recreate the full complexity of the human immune system. In contrast to lab studies, vaccine effectiveness studies follow large numbers of people over an extended period of time.

As more omicron cases emerge, researchers will work to estimate the effectiveness of different combinations of vaccines and boosters across different age groups. It will most likely take months to glean all these answers.

Determine the variant’s severity

It is not yet known whether omicron’s many mutations will make the variant more or less severe than earlier versions of the virus. Although it has a higher number of mutations than previous variants of concern — it has about 50, many of them in the part of the virus that our immune defenses target most directly — some of those mutations might work together or cancel each other out.

Scientists can’t begin to estimate a variant’s severity until a few weeks after infections rise, when people are most likely to experience hospitalization and severe illness. But Omicron is just beginning to spread globally, and data on severity is scarce.

It’s just about time to look to South Africa, where Omicron has been circulating for several weeks. So far, limited data from parts of the country indicate that hospitalization rates and deaths are low. But many of the hospitalized people in these regions have been young, and it’s not yet clear if the mild outcomes seen in South Africa are because younger people are less likely to get extremely sick or die from the disease. Immunity from prior infection or vaccination could also result in milder illness.

Experts say that before more general conclusions can be drawn, more data are needed from other parts of the world, in populations of different ages and with different levels of immunity. It’s worth noting that several months into a global surge of the delta variant, researchers are still debating whether that variant is more virulent.

The manufacturers of treatments for severe COVID are testing whether their interventions will remain effective. Many are expected to, according to the WHO, but monoclonal antibodies may not perform as well. The makers of Regeneron have said that their antibody treatment might be less effective against omicron but that tweaks to the drug could be made if needed.

In the coming weeks, expect to see more data on hospitalizations from South Africa, Britain and Europe, the places first impacted by Omicron. Even if early signs continue to suggest that omicron is milder than previous variants, its higher transmissibility may still tax hospitals as infections surge.

Scientists have moved quickly since the World Health Organization designated omicron a variant of concern in late November. Observations arrive in rapid succession, often posted straight to social media without peer review or the caveats and uncertainties that would be noted in published papers.

Scientists have moved quickly since the World Health Organization designated omicron a variant of concern in late November. Observations arrive in rapid succession, often posted straight to social media without peer review or the caveats and uncertainties that would be noted in published papers. Watching science unfold in real-time can be confusing and misleading. “We are going to see a couple of weeks of every day, new information, new studies,” said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the WHO. “One study is not going to really prove anything.” So what do researchers need to do in the weeks and months ahead to better understand omicron — and any future variants — and how should we gauge their progress? Here’s a guide for following along. Sequence and track cases Omicron was first identified in South Africa in late November, and cases there soon began to rise faster than during previous waves. South Africa’s public health agency estimates that omicron has accounted for the majority of its coronavirus cases in recent weeks, based on the genomic sequencing of a small share of its positive test samples. Case counts are also rising quickly in Britain, Denmark and Norway, where omicron is likely to become dominant. The United States is also facing a rise in cases, and low but increasing levels of the variant have been detected. Omicron cases are expected to rise further, but, for now, the delta variant remains dominant in America. But genomic sequencing has some challenges: It is time-consuming, and it takes at least a week for results to emerge. Some countries perform more sequencing than others. It can also be biased, especially in the early days of monitoring a new variant. Test manufacturers and government researchers have also said that omicron does not appear to decrease the ability of the most commonly used PCR and rapid at-home tests to identify virus cases. Researchers are closely monitoring countries that have higher levels of Delta than South Africa had when Omicron took off there. Look for additional sequencing data from Britain, Europe and parts of the United States in the coming days. Pinpoint the variant’s transmissibility A variant’s spread is measured by its reproduction number, which indicates how many people are expected to catch the virus from a single infected person. Estimates show that the reproduction number in South Africa has been higher in December than at any other point except for the start of the pandemic. This high reproduction number suggests that omicron might spread more easily than earlier variants and that it may evade some of the protections offered by vaccines and previous infections. Modellers have found that omicron may be several times as transmissible as delta in South Africa, according to the WHO. Researchers in Britain and Denmark, countries with higher incidences of Delta than South Africa, have drawn similar conclusions, and modellers estimate that Omicron cases are doubling in these locations every two to three days, much more quickly than the Delta variant. But experts say it may take weeks or even months for the scientific community to better understand why omicron seems to be more contagious. Researchers are working to determine whether the variant’s characteristics make it more transmissible by nature or whether its many mutations might help it evade immune systems primed by vaccines or previous infections. Much of the data on omicron’s spread has come from South Africa and Britain, but expect more analyses from Europe and the United States in the days ahead. Investigate protection afforded by prior infections and vaccines There is some early evidence that omicron might reinfect people more easily than the Delta variant. The first data to examine this came from South African scientists and similar trends have been found in Britain, but experts stress that reinfections should be monitored over longer periods of time and in a variety of populations. A number of research labs have also begun to test how antibodies induced by vaccines and prior infections compete against omicron. After combining the variant with blood samples from vaccinated, boosted and previously infected people, the scientists watch to see how many antibodies attack the virus. Early data suggest that people who have received two doses of an mRNA vaccine have decreased antibody levels against omicron compared to delta, but that vaccination combined with prior infection — or vaccination plus a booster — still provides reasonable protection. Health officials are encouraging people to get booster shots to increase their defenses against omicron. Vaccine manufacturers are also exploring ways to adjust their doses to more directly target the new variant, though small studies of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s boosters suggest these additional shots offer strong protection against omicron. Antibodies are just one component of the body’s immune system. T cells, another line of defense against the virus, are thought to be more protective against severe illness. Several researchers have shown that T cells are still likely to recognize omicron and maintain their protective power against severe disease, hospitalization and death, even as the virus mutates. Scientists must also monitor how effective vaccines and booster doses are in the real world, because lab tests can’t recreate the full complexity of the human immune system. In contrast to lab studies, vaccine effectiveness studies follow large numbers of people over an extended period of time. As more omicron cases emerge, researchers will work to estimate the effectiveness of different combinations of vaccines and boosters across different age groups. It will most likely take months to glean all these answers. Determine the variant’s severity It is not yet known whether omicron’s many mutations will make the variant more or less severe than earlier versions of the virus. Although it has a higher number of mutations than previous variants of concern — it has about 50, many of them in the part of the virus that our immune defenses target most directly — some of those mutations might work together or cancel each other out. Scientists can’t begin to estimate a variant’s severity until a few weeks after infections rise, when people are most likely to experience hospitalization and severe illness. But Omicron is just beginning to spread globally, and data on severity is scarce. It’s just about time to look to South Africa, where Omicron has been circulating for several weeks. So far, limited data from parts of the country indicate that hospitalization rates and deaths are low. But many of the hospitalized people in these regions have been young, and it’s not yet clear if the mild outcomes seen in South Africa are because younger people are less likely to get extremely sick or die from the disease. Immunity from prior infection or vaccination could also result in milder illness. Experts say that before more general conclusions can be drawn, more data are needed from other parts of the world, in populations of different ages and with different levels of immunity. It’s worth noting that several months into a global surge of the delta variant, researchers are still debating whether that variant is more virulent. The manufacturers of treatments for severe COVID are testing whether their interventions will remain effective. Many are expected to, according to the WHO, but monoclonal antibodies may not perform as well. The makers of Regeneron have said that their antibody treatment might be less effective against omicron but that tweaks to the drug could be made if needed. In the coming weeks, expect to see more data on hospitalizations from South Africa, Britain and Europe, the places first impacted by Omicron. Even if early signs continue to suggest that omicron is milder than previous variants, its higher transmissibility may still tax hospitals as infections surge.

Omicron: What it takes to understand a variant

As the Omicron COVID-19 variant rages across the United States Apple has closed its stores to indoor customer traffic at its New York City retail locations.

Apple closes New York City stores amid surge in Omicron COVID-19 variant

US President Joe Biden hosted a group of state governors in a virtual meeting and told them that the White House is prepared to do more to help them manage rising COVID-19 cases nationwide that are being fueled by the Omicron variant.

US President Joe Biden holds virtual meeting with state Governors over Omicron variant

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday. &nbsp;

In an online press conference, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said, "This patient is a male aged 37 years old, with no history of overseas travel in the last few months, nor any contact with international visitors." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-disrupts-holiday-season-global-cases-hit-record-high-with-over-1-million-infections-440689" hreflang="en">Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections</a>

On December 6, the patient had arrived in Jakarta from Medan city in the North Sumatra province. He along with his wife had visited a mall in the Sudirman Central Business District in the capital city on the same day. &nbsp;

In an antigen test, the person had undergone at a hospital before going back to Medan, showed Covid infection. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nsw-health-minister-slams-queensland-premier-for-being-passive-aggressive-on-covid-19-testing-440657" hreflang="en">NSW health minister slams Queensland premier for being ‘passive aggressive’ on COVID-19 testing</a>

A laboratory test’s result on December 26 confirmed that the man was infected with the new variant. The man’s wife has tested negative for the virus. &nbsp;

The patient's close contacts are being traced. The government is conducting numerous swab tests for people, who visited the mall, the hospital and the apartment where the patient lives in North Jakarta. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday.

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday. In an online press conference, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said, "This patient is a male aged 37 years old, with no history of overseas travel in the last few months, nor any contact with international visitors." Also Read: Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections On December 6, the patient had arrived in Jakarta from Medan city in the North Sumatra province. He along with his wife had visited a mall in the Sudirman Central Business District in the capital city on the same day. In an antigen test, the person had undergone at a hospital before going back to Medan, showed Covid infection. Also Read: NSW health minister slams Queensland premier for being ‘passive aggressive’ on COVID-19 testing A laboratory test’s result on December 26 confirmed that the man was infected with the new variant. The man’s wife has tested negative for the virus. The patient's close contacts are being traced. The government is conducting numerous swab tests for people, who visited the mall, the hospital and the apartment where the patient lives in North Jakarta. (With inputs from agencies)

First local Omicron variant transmission case reported in Indonesia

Europe has been hit with a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections. At least five countries across the continent have reported the highest number of case and death rates. WION tells you more.

Europe witness highest COVID-19 case and death rates across the world

COVID-19 cases surged in New York City and across the United States over the weekend, dashing hopes for a more normal holiday season. The fast-spreading Omicron variant has become dominant in the US.

Omicron variant drives surge in COVID-19 cases across US, Fauci vows more testing

As the Omicron variant cases continue to surge in the US, President Joe Biden in a meeting with state governors said some US hospitals may be "overrun" due to virus cases but the country is well prepared to take on the new virus surge.

"Omicron is a source of concern, but it should not be a source of panic," the US president told governors as he stressed the new variant is unlikely to cause the same level of chaos as&nbsp;the outbreak in 2020 or the Delta surge in the US this year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-europe-grapples-with-omicron-countries-eye-stricter-curbs-post-christmas-440509">Also Read:&nbsp;As Europe grapples with Omicron, countries eye stricter curbs post-Christmas</a>

"Because there have been so many vaccinations and boosters, we're not seeing hospitalisations rising as much as they did previously," the US president said, adding, "Americans, America have made progress. Things are better."

The US president said he is open to shorter quarantine requirements while adding that the US is "prepared" for the &nbsp;Omicron wave.

However, the US president conceded that more work needed to be done with testing still lagging behind with thousands of Americans unable to get tested over the weekend.

Watch:&nbsp;Biden discusses White House response to Omicron

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-discusses-white-house-response-to-omicron-440513/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Biden administration had said earlier it would be sending millions on home testing kits to Americans and will be positioning military doctors amid the Omicron threat.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-fold-increase-observed-in-hospitalisation-of-new-yorks-children-amid-omicron-spread-440255">Also Read:&nbsp;Four-fold increase observed in hospitalisation of New York's children</a>

The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 816,000 virus fatalities and more than 52 million infections since the virus began last year.

The Omicron variant which was detected in South Africa last month has led to a surge in cases in the US. There were large scale flight cancellations during Christmas over the&nbsp;weekend as flight staff reported sick due to the virus with pilots and cabin crew needing to quarantine.

Reports claim the Omicron variant now accounts for 25 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in the US with the average number of cases recording a 45 per cent increase in the past week.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As the Omicron variant cases continue to surge in the US, President Joe Biden in a meeting with state governors said some US hospitals may be "overrun" due to virus cases but the country is well prepared to take on the new virus surge.

As the Omicron variant cases continue to surge in the US, President Joe Biden in a meeting with state governors said some US hospitals may be "overrun" due to virus cases but the country is well prepared to take on the new virus surge. "Omicron is a source of concern, but it should not be a source of panic," the US president told governors as he stressed the new variant is unlikely to cause the same level of chaos as the outbreak in 2020 or the Delta surge in the US this year. Also Read: As Europe grapples with Omicron, countries eye stricter curbs post-Christmas "Because there have been so many vaccinations and boosters, we're not seeing hospitalisations rising as much as they did previously," the US president said, adding, "Americans, America have made progress. Things are better." The US president said he is open to shorter quarantine requirements while adding that the US is "prepared" for the Omicron wave. However, the US president conceded that more work needed to be done with testing still lagging behind with thousands of Americans unable to get tested over the weekend. Watch: Biden discusses White House response to Omicron The Biden administration had said earlier it would be sending millions on home testing kits to Americans and will be positioning military doctors amid the Omicron threat. Also Read: Four-fold increase observed in hospitalisation of New York's children The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 816,000 virus fatalities and more than 52 million infections since the virus began last year. The Omicron variant which was detected in South Africa last month has led to a surge in cases in the US. There were large scale flight cancellations during Christmas over the weekend as flight staff reported sick due to the virus with pilots and cabin crew needing to quarantine. Reports claim the Omicron variant now accounts for 25 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in the US with the average number of cases recording a 45 per cent increase in the past week. (With inputs from Agencies)

US prepared for Omicron wave, some hospitals may be 'overrun': Biden

In the run-up of the new year's eve concerns are increasing over the Omicron variant and rising COVID-19 cases. The continent of Europe is the worst hit by the spread of the new variant. WION tells you more in this report.

COVID-19 Update: Europe worst hit by Omicron variant spread

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