India is currently witnessing a record surge in COVID-19 infections fueled by the fast-spreading omicron variant. With an upward move in cases every day, the country is under the grip of an aggressive third wave.

India reports 264,202 new COVID-19 cases amid a surge due to the Omicron variant

US Supreme Court has delivered a blow to President Biden's COVID strategy, blocking his mandate that all unvaccinated employees of large businesses provide weekly negative tests.

US Supreme Court blocks President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate

Here we bring you all the Covid-19 updates specifically on the Omicron variant. Our correspondent Kalden Ongmu spoke to Dr Angelique Coetzee, the national chair of South Africa's medical association, she is the first doctor in South Africa who alerted authorities and the world about the omicron variant.

Dr Angelique Coetzee exclusive on Omicron variant and South Africa's third covid wave

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro downplayed the Omicron coronavirus variant amid a rise in hard-hit Brazil, ruling out further containment measures while defending herd immunity through widespread illness.

Brazil's Bolsonaro downplays Omicron, says its a 'welcome' variant

India reported a record 2,47,417 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. There were 380 casualties due to the virus taking the total death toll to 4,85,035, the health ministry said.

India reports 27% increase in COVID-19 cases; 380 deaths in 24 hours

A preliminary US study of nearly 70,000 Covid positive people showed a substantially reduced risk of hospitalisation and death from Omicron even after controlling for growing population immunity levels.

Reduced hospitalisation risk for Omicron patients: US study 

According to federal health officials in the United States, the Omicron COVID-19 form is so contagious that most people in the country will be infected, and the pandemic has been compared to a "natural disaster.

Omicron a natural disaster, most Americans will get COVID-19: US health officials

Even as the US faces soaring infections and record hospitalisations associated with COVID-19, Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert says the country is approaching the "threshold" of a transition of living with the virus as a manageable illness.

No way to eradicate infection, but US fast approaching 'threshold' of living with COVID-19: Dr Fauci

Canada's province of Quebec is preparing to introduce a new health tax for individuals who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, as it struggles to control the Omicron variant.

Faced with the Omicron threat, Quebec seeks to become the first city to tax the unvaccinated

Hospitalizations in the United States due to COVID have increased by 33 percent from a week earlier. This is according to the US centers for disease control and prevention.

Hospitalizations in the US due to COVID have increased by 33%, deaths up by 40%

As the world grapples with the omicron variant and rushes to provide booster doses to their vulnerable population, the world health organization has warned that the omicron variant is dangerous especially for those who have not been vaccinated.

WHO: Omicron variant is dangerous for those who have not been vaccinated yet

Pharma giant AstraZeneca said on Thursday that preliminary data from a trial of its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria showed high antibody response against Omicron variant when given a third booster dose.

AstraZeneca trials show its Vaxzevria vaccine causes high immune response against Omicron

India is grappling with an aggressive third wave. The south Asian nation is consistently registering an upward move in daily covid-19 cases. India has reported over 247,000 fresh covid cases, the omicron variant has additionally been detected in 620 more people as many as 5,488 cases of the omicron variant have been reported in total this far.

PM Narendra Modi to hold a review meet with CMs on Covid-19 situation in India

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a sharp rise in the number of Covid positive cases. The union territory has crossed the mark of 1695 for the first time since June 2021.

Jammu Kashmir witnesses sharp rise in Covid cases, 23 Omicron infections so far

Amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases and the active caseload breaching a million mark, Indian PM Modi to hold a meeting with CMs.

Indian PM Modi to hold a meeting with CMs as active caseload breaches a million mark

The vaccine mandate bill in Germany has sparked a debate at a time when the country has hit a daily COVID-19 infections record.

Germany: Vaccine mandate bill sparks a debate amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases driven by Omicron

The latest COVID-19 wave has left millions of Americans scrambling for tests, braving long lines in the cold at pop-up sites or searching furiously online for kits to use at home.

Why some workers are getting all the Covid tests they need

The World Health Organization said that repeating booster doses of the original COVID vaccines are not a viable strategy to combat the emerging variants.

WHO: Booster jabs of existing COVID vaccines are not a viable strategy to combat the new variants

In an attempt to counter a surge in COVID-19 cases, and cut the spread of the omicron variant, another Chinese city has been locked down.

Chinese city Anyang under strict lockdown amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases driven by Omicron

According to a new study, Coronavirus loses 90 per cent of its ability to infect people within 20 minutes of being in the air. The research re-emphasised the importance of physical distancing and mask-wearing to be the most effective means of preventing short-range Covid transmission.

Covid loses 90% of ability to infect within 20 minutes of being airborne: Study

Protests over pandemic restrictions mount stiff challenges for governments. The World Health Organization has warned that Omicron could infect more than half of Europe's population in the next six to eight weeks.

WHO: Omicron could infect more than half of Europe's population in the next six to eight weeks

How are you coping with the pandemic? Some people are buying dream cars. For some in Japan, fries have become a luxury. Australia is running out of KFC & Norway's military does not have new underwear for its recruits. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Omicron ushers in another supply chain crisis

The US has announced increase in Covid-19 tests for schools with an aim to keep students in classrooms. Surge in Omicron infections in US threatens closure of schools.

US looks at more Covid tests in schools to keep them open

As many as 3,000 employees or 4.5 per cent of the workforce at United Airlines is down with COVID-19, forcing the airlines to cut back its operations in the near term to “make sure the staffing and resources take care of customers.

United Airlines trims its operations as 3,000 employees down with Covid

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