Amid rise in Omicron cases in the country, India's eastern state of West Bengal on Thursday announced that it is temporarily suspending all direct flights from the UK to Kolkata from January 3, 2022.

The state government said the flights emanating from "at-risk" countries as notified by the central government will not be allowed into the state.

The West Bengal government further stated that passengers arriving from "non at-risk" countries would have to undergo coronavirus test on arrival at the airport.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/961-omicron-cases-covid-19-cases-have-risen-since-december-26-says-indias-health-ministry-441168">Also Read:&nbsp;COVID-19 cases have risen since December 26, says India's health ministry</a>

The airlines will randomly select ten per cent passengers in the flight for RT-PCR test and the rest of the 90 per cent passengers will&nbsp;have to undergo the Rapid Antigen Test(RAT) on arrival, the state government declared. The state authorities have asked airport personnel to reduce waiting time for passengers by ramping up testing sites.

Watch:&nbsp;India logs 13,154 new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours amid Omicron spread

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The Indian government had said today that the Omicron variant has a doubling time of 2-3 days compared to Delta with eight districts reporting over 10 per cent COVID-19 positivity weekly.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-experts-warn-of-an-explosive-growth-of-omicron-cases-in-india-441103">Also Read:&nbsp;Cambridge experts warn of an 'explosive' growth of Omicron cases in India</a>

The government has identified Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat as regions of "concern" due to rising&nbsp;COVID-19 cases.

India's&nbsp;health ministry reported the country had recorded over 10,000 daily coronavirus cases after 33 days.

"India's R naught value which indicates spread of coronavirus is 1.22, so cases are increasing, not shrinking," the health ministry said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid rise in Omicron cases in the country, India's eastern state of West Bengal on Thursday announced that it is temporarily suspending all direct flights from the UK to Kolkata from January 3, 2022.

Amid rise in Omicron cases in the country, India's eastern state of West Bengal on Thursday announced that it is temporarily suspending all direct flights from the UK to Kolkata from January 3, 2022. The state government said the flights emanating from "at-risk" countries as notified by the central government will not be allowed into the state. The West Bengal government further stated that passengers arriving from "non at-risk" countries would have to undergo coronavirus test on arrival at the airport. Also Read: COVID-19 cases have risen since December 26, says India's health ministry The airlines will randomly select ten per cent passengers in the flight for RT-PCR test and the rest of the 90 per cent passengers will have to undergo the Rapid Antigen Test(RAT) on arrival, the state government declared. The state authorities have asked airport personnel to reduce waiting time for passengers by ramping up testing sites. Watch: India logs 13,154 new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours amid Omicron spread The Indian government had said today that the Omicron variant has a doubling time of 2-3 days compared to Delta with eight districts reporting over 10 per cent COVID-19 positivity weekly. Also Read: Cambridge experts warn of an 'explosive' growth of Omicron cases in India The government has identified Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat as regions of "concern" due to rising COVID-19 cases. India's health ministry reported the country had recorded over 10,000 daily coronavirus cases after 33 days. "India's R naught value which indicates spread of coronavirus is 1.22, so cases are increasing, not shrinking," the health ministry said. (With inputs from Agencies)

Indian state of West Bengal temporarily suspends flights from UK amid rise in Omicron cases

US top medical chief Anthony Fauci has predicted that Omicron cases are likely to peak by January-end.

In response to a question about when Covid cases would peak in America, President Joe Biden’s top medical advisor Fauci told CNBC on Wednesday, “I would imagine, given the size of our country and the diversity of vaccination versus not vaccination, that it likely will be more than a couple of weeks, probably by the end of January, I would think.”

Omicron has been fuelling fresh COVID-19 wave in the US with the new variant recording 59 per cent of all coronavirus cases in the country.

According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded 265,427 COVID-19 cases in a week, which was the highest since January this year.

The new variant is considered most transmissible than the others, although the number of severe cases has remained relatively low even as&nbsp;hospitalisations&nbsp;have increased.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-reports-record-covid-19-cases-as-europe-battles-omicron-440977">Also Read:&nbsp;France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron</a>

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9,000 coronavirus patients are being hospitalised daily in the United States amid the Omicron surge.

The federal health officials have said that even though hospitalisations are rising, the virus deaths in the US have been declining.

According to the CDC, Omicron is estimated to be 58.6 per cent of COVID-19 variants circulating in the US. While the Delta variant, which was the main reason for the Covid spike earlier this year, is now accounting for 41.1 per cent of all cases in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tsunami-of-cases-delta-omicron-are-twin-threats-says-who-441022">Also Read:&nbsp;'Tsunami of cases': Delta &amp; Omicron are twin threats, says WHO&nbsp;</a>

California, New York are among the worst-hit states from COVID-19 at present.

On Tuesday, California became the first state across the country to report more than five million cases in total. More than 86,000 people tested positive for Covid in the last 24 hours.

The US CDC has listed California as an area with “high” transmission of the virus.

(With inputs from agencies)

US top medical chief Anthony Fauci has predicted that Omicron cases are likely to peak by January-end. In response to a question about when Covid cases would peak in America, President Joe Biden’s top medical advisor Fauci told CNBC on Wednesday, “I would imagine, given the size of our country and the diversity of vaccination versus not vaccination, that it likely will be more than a couple of weeks, probably by the end of January, I would think.

US top medical chief Anthony Fauci has predicted that Omicron cases are likely to peak by January-end. In response to a question about when Covid cases would peak in America, President Joe Biden’s top medical advisor Fauci told CNBC on Wednesday, “I would imagine, given the size of our country and the diversity of vaccination versus not vaccination, that it likely will be more than a couple of weeks, probably by the end of January, I would think.” Omicron has been fuelling fresh COVID-19 wave in the US with the new variant recording 59 per cent of all coronavirus cases in the country. According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded 265,427 COVID-19 cases in a week, which was the highest since January this year. The new variant is considered most transmissible than the others, although the number of severe cases has remained relatively low even as hospitalisations have increased. Also Read: France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9,000 coronavirus patients are being hospitalised daily in the United States amid the Omicron surge. The federal health officials have said that even though hospitalisations are rising, the virus deaths in the US have been declining. According to the CDC, Omicron is estimated to be 58.6 per cent of COVID-19 variants circulating in the US. While the Delta variant, which was the main reason for the Covid spike earlier this year, is now accounting for 41.1 per cent of all cases in the country. Also Read: 'Tsunami of cases': Delta & Omicron are twin threats, says WHO California, New York are among the worst-hit states from COVID-19 at present. On Tuesday, California became the first state across the country to report more than five million cases in total. More than 86,000 people tested positive for Covid in the last 24 hours. The US CDC has listed California as an area with “high” transmission of the virus. (With inputs from agencies)

US Omicron cases could peak by January-end, says top medical chief Fauci

Top health officials believe that although omicron infections produce milder illness but they warn the ongoing spread of delta and the rapid proliferation of Omicron could cause what they call a tsunami of infections which could overwhelm health care systems.

Covid News: Delta and Omicron variants can create 'Tsunami of Cases'

The United Kingdom has hit another record high for daily COVID cases, with over 180,000 reported in the last 24 hours, but there is growing frustration.

Queues outside test centers expand as the UK hits another record high for daily COVID19 cases

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the European continent, countries have been forced to reimpose restrictions as Omicron threatens the new year celebrations.

European countries reimpose COVID-19 curbs as Omicron threatens the new year celebration

Queues outside test centers expand as the UK hits another record high for daily COVID cases

Amid a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases globally, there are calls to ramp up the vaccination process. Also, experts around the world are urging people to get booster shots if they are eligible.&nbsp;

Johnson &amp; Johnson, after a clinical trial, found that its booster shot offered strong protection against the Omicron variant of the virus and reduced the risk of hospitalisation.&nbsp;

The trial&nbsp;focused on vaccine effectiveness against hospital admission in South African health care workers who received a homologous booster of Ad26.COV2 during an Omicron COVID19 wave.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-reports-record-coronavirus-cases-amid-omicron-surge-441036">US reports record coronavirus cases amid Omicron surge</a>

The <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.28.21268436v1">study</a> compared more than 69,000 boosted health care workers with a corresponding group of unvaccinated South Africans. The result showed that two shots of the vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalisation from Omicron by about 85 per cent.

It's important to note that the article, published in MedRxiv, is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed. It is recommended that the new medical research, that's yet to be evaluated, should not be used to guide clinical practice.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xian-city-reports-highest-covid-19-surge-38-day-old-baby-infected-440901">China's Xi'an city reports highest COVID-19 surge; 38-day-old baby infected</a>

Abstract of the study read: "We provide the first evidence of the effectiveness of a homologous Ad26.COV.2 vaccine boost given 6-9 months after the initial single vaccination series during a period of omicron variant circulation."

"This data is important given the increased reliance on the Ad26.COV.2 vaccine in Africa," it added.&nbsp;

In comparison, another study in South Africa found that two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalisation by about 70 per cent.

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Global COVID-19 tally

The number of daily new Covid cases worldwide has crossed one million for the first time since the pandemic began two years ago, according to an AFP tally Thursday.

The figures for 23-29 December, the highest since the virus first emerged at the end of 2019, are based on tolls given daily by health authorities in each country.

More than 7.3 million new Covid-19 cases were detected around the world in the last seven days -- an average of 1,045,000 infections every day -- following a surge in cases of the highly contagious&nbsp;Omicron&nbsp;variant.

The numbers are much higher than the last record before the current wave when daily cases stood at 817,000 on average between April 23 and 29.

(With inputs&nbsp;from agencies)

Amid a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases globally, there are calls to ramp up the vaccination process. Also, experts around the world are urging people to get booster shots if they are eligible.

Amid a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases globally, there are calls to ramp up the vaccination process. Also, experts around the world are urging people to get booster shots if they are eligible. Johnson & Johnson, after a clinical trial, found that its booster shot offered strong protection against the Omicron variant of the virus and reduced the risk of hospitalisation. The trial focused on vaccine effectiveness against hospital admission in South African health care workers who received a homologous booster of Ad26.COV2 during an Omicron COVID19 wave. ALSO READ | US reports record coronavirus cases amid Omicron surge The study compared more than 69,000 boosted health care workers with a corresponding group of unvaccinated South Africans. The result showed that two shots of the vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalisation from Omicron by about 85 per cent. It's important to note that the article, published in MedRxiv, is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed. It is recommended that the new medical research, that's yet to be evaluated, should not be used to guide clinical practice. ALSO READ | China's Xi'an city reports highest COVID-19 surge; 38-day-old baby infected Abstract of the study read: "We provide the first evidence of the effectiveness of a homologous Ad26.COV.2 vaccine boost given 6-9 months after the initial single vaccination series during a period of omicron variant circulation." "This data is important given the increased reliance on the Ad26.COV.2 vaccine in Africa," it added. In comparison, another study in South Africa found that two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalisation by about 70 per cent. × Global COVID-19 tally The number of daily new Covid cases worldwide has crossed one million for the first time since the pandemic began two years ago, according to an AFP tally Thursday. The figures for 23-29 December, the highest since the virus first emerged at the end of 2019, are based on tolls given daily by health authorities in each country. More than 7.3 million new Covid-19 cases were detected around the world in the last seven days -- an average of 1,045,000 infections every day -- following a surge in cases of the highly contagious Omicron variant. The numbers are much higher than the last record before the current wave when daily cases stood at 817,000 on average between April 23 and 29. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson's booster shot effective against severe disease from Omicron, study finds

Amid rise in coronavirus cases in the country, India's health ministry said since December 26 &nbsp;there has&nbsp;been a rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. 
&nbsp; 
"Overall, 22 states have shown more positivity cases spread," health ministry spokesman Luv Aggarwal&nbsp;said, adding, "Kerala and Maharashtra have over 10,000 active cases."

The ministry informed that there were 13,154 COVID-19 cases in the country in the last 24 hours. On Thursday, India&nbsp;had reported 9,100 coronavirus cases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-reports-highest-covid-19-cases-since-may-goa-announces-restrictions-440991">Also Read:&nbsp;Delhi reports highest COVID-19 cases since May; Goa announces restrictions</a>

"Clearly we are seeing an increase in cases, Delhi has multiplied on a daily basis including Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana Jharkhand, West Bengal are all showing a surging trend," the health ministry said.

"COVID-19 cases are enlarging not shrinking. Deaths are stable which is reassuring as of now," the ministry added.

"We believe what we are witnessing could be a part of the global rise in cases related to Omicron," the health ministry spokesman noted.

The health ministry said it is in touch with various states and is working towards curbing the virus cases. The ministry informed that India's western state of Maharashtra has witnessed a surge of 3.5 per cent COVID-19 cases in just a month.

In West Bengal the virus positivity case has increased from 1.61 per cent to 3.1 per cent, the ministry said. Kerala has also witnessed an increase in positivity cases from 0.58 per cent to 0.78 per cent.

In India's capital the positivity cases have risen from 0.11 per cent to 1 per cent this month with Karnataka registering an increase from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent. Gujarat has also witnessed an increase from &nbsp;0.19 per cent to 0.54 per cent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-experts-warn-of-an-explosive-growth-of-omicron-cases-in-india-441103">Also Read:&nbsp;Cambridge experts warn of an 'explosive' growth of Omicron cases in India</a>

The ministry said there were some areas of concern while noting that India reported more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases per day last week. The number of positivity cases stands at 0.92 per cent in the country, the ministry said.

"From Dec 26 onwards, the country has been reporting 10,000 daily cases," it said.

"The weekly positivity rate of more than 10 per cent is being noted in eight districts including six districts in Mizoram, one in Arunachal Pradesh and in Kolkata. The weekly case positivity rate is between 5-10 per cent in 14 districts," the ministry informed.

There are 961 Omicron cases in India so far. The ministry urged states to impose restrictions and declare areas as containment zones and take steps to increase hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

The spokesman said that the government is working towards 100 per cent vaccination.

"Legal provisions can be used in states to control any failure over following COVID-19 protocols," the ministry said while informing that 63 per cent people have been fully vaccinated.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid rise in coronavirus cases in the country, India's health ministry said since December 26 there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. "Overall, 22 states have shown more positivity cases spread," health ministry spokesman Luv Aggarwal said, adding, "Kerala and Maharashtra have over 10,000 active cases.

Amid rise in coronavirus cases in the country, India's health ministry said since December 26 there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. "Overall, 22 states have shown more positivity cases spread," health ministry spokesman Luv Aggarwal said, adding, "Kerala and Maharashtra have over 10,000 active cases." The ministry informed that there were 13,154 COVID-19 cases in the country in the last 24 hours. On Thursday, India had reported 9,100 coronavirus cases. Also Read: Delhi reports highest COVID-19 cases since May; Goa announces restrictions "Clearly we are seeing an increase in cases, Delhi has multiplied on a daily basis including Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana Jharkhand, West Bengal are all showing a surging trend," the health ministry said. "COVID-19 cases are enlarging not shrinking. Deaths are stable which is reassuring as of now," the ministry added. "We believe what we are witnessing could be a part of the global rise in cases related to Omicron," the health ministry spokesman noted. The health ministry said it is in touch with various states and is working towards curbing the virus cases. The ministry informed that India's western state of Maharashtra has witnessed a surge of 3.5 per cent COVID-19 cases in just a month. In West Bengal the virus positivity case has increased from 1.61 per cent to 3.1 per cent, the ministry said. Kerala has also witnessed an increase in positivity cases from 0.58 per cent to 0.78 per cent. In India's capital the positivity cases have risen from 0.11 per cent to 1 per cent this month with Karnataka registering an increase from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent. Gujarat has also witnessed an increase from 0.19 per cent to 0.54 per cent. Also Read: Cambridge experts warn of an 'explosive' growth of Omicron cases in India The ministry said there were some areas of concern while noting that India reported more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases per day last week. The number of positivity cases stands at 0.92 per cent in the country, the ministry said. "From Dec 26 onwards, the country has been reporting 10,000 daily cases," it said. "The weekly positivity rate of more than 10 per cent is being noted in eight districts including six districts in Mizoram, one in Arunachal Pradesh and in Kolkata. The weekly case positivity rate is between 5-10 per cent in 14 districts," the ministry informed. There are 961 Omicron cases in India so far. The ministry urged states to impose restrictions and declare areas as containment zones and take steps to increase hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. The spokesman said that the government is working towards 100 per cent vaccination. "Legal provisions can be used in states to control any failure over following COVID-19 protocols," the ministry said while informing that 63 per cent people have been fully vaccinated. (With inputs from Agencies)

'961 Omicron cases': COVID-19 cases have risen since December 26, says India's health ministry

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Europe. Germany's Health Minister has issued a stark warning saying that the current restrictions in place will not be enough to stop a new COVID wave.

Germany's Health Minister: Current restrictions not enough to stop a new COVID-19 wave

Germany's Health Minister issues a stark warning against rising COVID-19 cases amid Omicron threat

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

India records a 40% surge in COVID-19 cases within 24 hours with 13,154 new cases, amid Omicron spread.

India logs 13,154 new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours amid Omicron spread

Researchers at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom have warned of a "explosive" increase in Omicron cases in India in the coming days, saying it's "impossible to forecast how high daily instances" could go.

India recorded around four lakh new cases per day during the height of the second wave.&nbsp;

According to a team of researchers who developed the India COVID tracker, infection rates are rising rapidly across India.

Six states were singled out as "major concerns" by the tracker. According to a report dated Dec. 24, the adjusted growth rate of new cases has surpassed 5%.

According to the tracker, which accounts for "weekday effects," this had spread to 11 Indian states by December 26 "along with other variations." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-india-reports-13154-new-cases-in-last-24-hours-omicron-tally-rises-to-961-441077">Also read | COVID-19: India reports 13,154 new cases in last 24 hours; Omicron tally rises to 961</a>

Covid cases increased by 13,154 in India.Thursday saw the largest number of new daily cases in three weeks, bringing the total number of confirmed illnesses to 34.8 million.

To date, 480,592 people have died as a result of the disaster. Even though just 961 cases of the highly modified omicron have been detected so far, the country is already preparing to prevent another big outbreak.

It permitted booster doses last week and expanded the vaccination programme to cover teens aged 15 to 18.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Indian capital of New Delhi banned cinemas, schools, and gyms, as well as restricted public gatherings, a day after the city reported the highest number of new cases in more than four months.

Pubs, restaurants, and offices will be 50 percent full between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The Cambridge India tracker correctly predicted the peak of this devastating second wave in May, as well as a slow burn in India's COVID infection curve until vaccination coverage was high enough in August.

In October, India reached a milestone of delivering 1 billion vaccination doses, and new cases fell in lockstep.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom have warned of a "explosive" increase in Omicron cases in India in the coming days, saying it's "impossible to forecast how high daily instances" could go.

Researchers at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom have warned of a "explosive" increase in Omicron cases in India in the coming days, saying it's "impossible to forecast how high daily instances" could go. India recorded around four lakh new cases per day during the height of the second wave. According to a team of researchers who developed the India COVID tracker, infection rates are rising rapidly across India. Six states were singled out as "major concerns" by the tracker. According to a report dated Dec. 24, the adjusted growth rate of new cases has surpassed 5%. According to the tracker, which accounts for "weekday effects," this had spread to 11 Indian states by December 26 "along with other variations." Also read | COVID-19: India reports 13,154 new cases in last 24 hours; Omicron tally rises to 961 Covid cases increased by 13,154 in India.Thursday saw the largest number of new daily cases in three weeks, bringing the total number of confirmed illnesses to 34.8 million. To date, 480,592 people have died as a result of the disaster. Even though just 961 cases of the highly modified omicron have been detected so far, the country is already preparing to prevent another big outbreak. It permitted booster doses last week and expanded the vaccination programme to cover teens aged 15 to 18. On Tuesday, the Indian capital of New Delhi banned cinemas, schools, and gyms, as well as restricted public gatherings, a day after the city reported the highest number of new cases in more than four months. Pubs, restaurants, and offices will be 50 percent full between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The Cambridge India tracker correctly predicted the peak of this devastating second wave in May, as well as a slow burn in India's COVID infection curve until vaccination coverage was high enough in August. In October, India reached a milestone of delivering 1 billion vaccination doses, and new cases fell in lockstep. (With inputs from agencies)

Cambridge experts warn of an 'explosive' growth of Omicron cases in India

Amid the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and rapidly rising cases in the UK, Health Minister clarifies that no new restrictions are to be imposed before the end of 2021.

UK: No new restrictions for new year's eve amid Omicron scare & rising COVID-19 cases

A court in Belgium suspended closure of cultural venues on Tuesday. These also include theatres. A measure for closure of cultural places was announced last week. The move was aimed towards stemming spread of Omicron Covid variant.

A protest was held in cultural district in Brussels against closure of cultural spaces.

Suspension of closure will not immediately lead to the reopening of cinemas

A ruling from Belgium's highest administrative court said the authorities had not demonstrated "in what way entertainment venues are particularly dangerous places for (people's) health... in that they would spread coronavirus, to the extent necessary to order their closure".&nbsp;

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced the original measure on December 22 as Belgium saw a sharp increase in the percentage of tests showing the Omicron variant.&nbsp;

That came despite an overall drop off in Covid-19 infections since a peak at the start of the month as the country battled a fourth wave that strained hospitals.&nbsp;

Police in Brussels estimated that some 5,000 people took to the streets on Sunday to protest the closure of cultural venues.&nbsp;

The authorities were accused of targeting the sector as bars and restaurants were allowed to keep trading.&nbsp;

The decision to reverse the government's closure order came after a complaint was lodged by a theatre producer in the capital.&nbsp;

Cinemas and other venues including bowling alleys and casinos were not included -- but the authorities are facing similar challenges that could see more locations allowed to reopen in the coming days.&nbsp;

Several prominent theatres and cinemas had decided to remain open in defiance of the measure.

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in Belgium suspended closure of cultural venues on Tuesday. These also include theatres. A measure for closure of cultural places was announced last week.

A court in Belgium suspended closure of cultural venues on Tuesday. These also include theatres. A measure for closure of cultural places was announced last week. The move was aimed towards stemming spread of Omicron Covid variant. A protest was held in cultural district in Brussels against closure of cultural spaces. Suspension of closure will not immediately lead to the reopening of cinemas A ruling from Belgium's highest administrative court said the authorities had not demonstrated "in what way entertainment venues are particularly dangerous places for (people's) health... in that they would spread coronavirus, to the extent necessary to order their closure". Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced the original measure on December 22 as Belgium saw a sharp increase in the percentage of tests showing the Omicron variant. That came despite an overall drop off in Covid-19 infections since a peak at the start of the month as the country battled a fourth wave that strained hospitals. Police in Brussels estimated that some 5,000 people took to the streets on Sunday to protest the closure of cultural venues. The authorities were accused of targeting the sector as bars and restaurants were allowed to keep trading. The decision to reverse the government's closure order came after a complaint was lodged by a theatre producer in the capital. Cinemas and other venues including bowling alleys and casinos were not included -- but the authorities are facing similar challenges that could see more locations allowed to reopen in the coming days. Several prominent theatres and cinemas had decided to remain open in defiance of the measure. (With inputs from agencies)

After protests, Belgium suspends Covid closure of cultural venues 

According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded 265,427 COVID-19 cases in the seven-day period which was the highest since January this year.

Omicron has been driving the COVID-19 wave in the US with the new variant recording 59 per cent of all US coronavirus cases in the country.

The new variant is considered the most transmissible although the number of severe cases has remained relatively low even as hospitalisations have increased.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-reports-record-covid-19-cases-as-europe-battles-omicron-440977">Also Read:&nbsp;France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron</a>

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9,000 coronavirus patients are being hospitalised daily in the United States amid the Omicron surge.

The United States is the worst-hit country with the virus reporting over 820,000 deaths and over 52 million COVID-19 cases. The CDC has shortened the isolation time after a positive test from 10 days to five days for citizens although they are still required to wear masks and observe COVID-19 protocol.

The Omicron variant has become the dominant strain in the US including several countries in Europe, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has cautioned that "overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tsunami-of-cases-delta-omicron-are-twin-threats-says-who-441022">Also Read:&nbsp;'Tsunami of cases': Delta &amp; Omicron are twin threats, says WHO&nbsp;</a>

"Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days," the WHO said.

Over 5.4 million people have died due to the virus worldwide with Europe recording 3.5 million COVID-19 cases in the last seven days leading up to Christmas.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded 265,427 COVID-19 cases in the seven-day period which was the highest since January this year.

According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US recorded 265,427 COVID-19 cases in the seven-day period which was the highest since January this year. Omicron has been driving the COVID-19 wave in the US with the new variant recording 59 per cent of all US coronavirus cases in the country. The new variant is considered the most transmissible although the number of severe cases has remained relatively low even as hospitalisations have increased. Also Read: France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9,000 coronavirus patients are being hospitalised daily in the United States amid the Omicron surge. The United States is the worst-hit country with the virus reporting over 820,000 deaths and over 52 million COVID-19 cases. The CDC has shortened the isolation time after a positive test from 10 days to five days for citizens although they are still required to wear masks and observe COVID-19 protocol. The Omicron variant has become the dominant strain in the US including several countries in Europe, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has cautioned that "overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high". Also Read: 'Tsunami of cases': Delta & Omicron are twin threats, says WHO "Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days," the WHO said. Over 5.4 million people have died due to the virus worldwide with Europe recording 3.5 million COVID-19 cases in the last seven days leading up to Christmas. (With inputs from Agencies)

US reports record coronavirus cases amid Omicron surge

Quebec’s health minister Christian Dube has said that they are left with “no choice” but to allow some essential workers to continue work despite testing COVID-19 positive to stave off a staff shortage from affecting its healthcare services due to the Omicron surge.

Canada’s Quebec province has been reporting massive Covid spikes as the highly contagious Omicron drives a new wave of infections.

On Tuesday, the French-speaking province reported 12,833 new coronavirus cases—the highest one-day count of any region in Canada during the pandemic.

Health authorities have warned that the actual number of infections may be higher as the screening centres are overwhelmed and the rapid testing kits being used at home could mean that some cases are not being reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-spread-france-reports-record-of-nearly-180000-covid-19-cases-440820">Omicron spread: France reports record of nearly 180,000 COVID-19 cases</a>

Moreover, pandemic related hospitalisations have increased, putting the fragile health infra on the brink of a collapse.

“Omicron’s contagion is so exponential, that a huge number of personnel have to be withdrawn - and that poses a risk to the network capacity to treat Quebecers," Dube told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday.

“We made the decision that under a certain condition positive staff will be able to continue working according to a list of priority and risk management,” he said, adding that more information would be provided in the coming days.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/while-west-struggles-to-control-omicron-surge-indias-covid-tally-tells-a-different-story-440603" hreflang="en">While West struggles to control Omicron surge, India's covid tally tells a different story</a>

Dube said Quebec would also offer a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to everyone above the age of 18 from Jan 4.

Last week,&nbsp;Quebec ordered bars, gyms and casinos to shut and directed people to work only from home. It also limited the size of gatherings at private homes and restaurants to six people.

(With inputs from agencies)

Quebec’s health minister Christian Dube has said that they are left with “no choice” but to allow some essential workers to continue work despite testing COVID-19 positive to stave off a staff shortage from affecting its healthcare services due to the Omicron surge.

Quebec’s health minister Christian Dube has said that they are left with “no choice” but to allow some essential workers to continue work despite testing COVID-19 positive to stave off a staff shortage from affecting its healthcare services due to the Omicron surge. Canada’s Quebec province has been reporting massive Covid spikes as the highly contagious Omicron drives a new wave of infections. On Tuesday, the French-speaking province reported 12,833 new coronavirus cases—the highest one-day count of any region in Canada during the pandemic. Health authorities have warned that the actual number of infections may be higher as the screening centres are overwhelmed and the rapid testing kits being used at home could mean that some cases are not being reported. Also read | Omicron spread: France reports record of nearly 180,000 COVID-19 cases Moreover, pandemic related hospitalisations have increased, putting the fragile health infra on the brink of a collapse. “Omicron’s contagion is so exponential, that a huge number of personnel have to be withdrawn - and that poses a risk to the network capacity to treat Quebecers," Dube told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday. “We made the decision that under a certain condition positive staff will be able to continue working according to a list of priority and risk management,” he said, adding that more information would be provided in the coming days. Also Read: While West struggles to control Omicron surge, India's covid tally tells a different story Dube said Quebec would also offer a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to everyone above the age of 18 from Jan 4. Last week, Quebec ordered bars, gyms and casinos to shut and directed people to work only from home. It also limited the size of gatherings at private homes and restaurants to six people. (With inputs from agencies)

In this Canada province, health workers to continue work even after testing Covid positive

The latest virus surge across the United States has produced a worrisome rise in hospitalizations among children especially the ones who are too young to be vaccinated. Parents across the country are facing a heightened anxiety of the risks of Omicron on children, several states have reported an increase of about 50 percent in pediatric hospitalizations in December.

United States: Rise in hospitalizations of children, as Omicron and Delta variant becomes dominant

As governments across Europe fight to curb the Omicron variant, France has reported the largest daily number of Covid cases ever.

However, France was not alone in smashing records on Tuesday, as Italy, Greece, Portugal, and the United Kingdom also reported new highs.

France reported a record high of 179,807 new confirmed coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period on Tuesday, one of the highest one-day tallies worldwide since the start of the pandemic.

Part of the reason for the data could be related to reporting delays over the holidays. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/for-precaution-dose-no-doctor-certificate-needed-for-60-plus-people-with-co-morbidity-in-india-440760">Also read | For precaution dose, no doctor certificate needed for 60-plus people with co-morbidity in India</a>

Countries had been reporting increases in the run-up to the holidays, owing to the more contagious Omicron variant.&nbsp;

As countries restored harsh restrictions to stamp out COVID-19 outbreaks, the WHO warned that the Omicron coronavirus variant&nbsp;might overwhelm healthcare systems, despite early studies suggesting it causes milder symptoms.

Surges of COVID-19 have wreaked havoc around the world, forcing many countries to choose between economically onerous restrictions and controlling the virus's growth.&nbsp; 
 
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/while-west-struggles-to-control-omicron-surge-indias-covid-tally-tells-a-different-story-440603" hreflang="en">While West struggles to control Omicron surge, India's covid tally tells a different story</a>

To reduce disturbance, the United States has cut the time spent in isolation for asymptomatic patients in half.

For the second year in a row, contact limits were in place in Germany as the European Union's largest economy closed nightclubs and forced sports competitions behind closed doors.

Despite the fact that the outbreak is significantly less than in other global viral hotspots, China has maintained its "zero COVID" policy, issuing stay-at-home orders in several regions of Yan'an.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the area were among the 13 million people in Xi'an who were ordered to stay at home for the sixth day as China battled its highest daily case count in 21 months.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As governments across Europe fight to curb the Omicron variant, France has reported the largest daily number of Covid cases ever. However, France was not alone in smashing records on Tuesday, as Italy, Greece, Portugal, and the United Kingdom also reported new highs.

As governments across Europe fight to curb the Omicron variant, France has reported the largest daily number of Covid cases ever. However, France was not alone in smashing records on Tuesday, as Italy, Greece, Portugal, and the United Kingdom also reported new highs. France reported a record high of 179,807 new confirmed coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period on Tuesday, one of the highest one-day tallies worldwide since the start of the pandemic. Part of the reason for the data could be related to reporting delays over the holidays. Also read | For precaution dose, no doctor certificate needed for 60-plus people with co-morbidity in India Countries had been reporting increases in the run-up to the holidays, owing to the more contagious Omicron variant. As countries restored harsh restrictions to stamp out COVID-19 outbreaks, the WHO warned that the Omicron coronavirus variant might overwhelm healthcare systems, despite early studies suggesting it causes milder symptoms. Surges of COVID-19 have wreaked havoc around the world, forcing many countries to choose between economically onerous restrictions and controlling the virus's growth. Also Read: While West struggles to control Omicron surge, India's covid tally tells a different story To reduce disturbance, the United States has cut the time spent in isolation for asymptomatic patients in half. For the second year in a row, contact limits were in place in Germany as the European Union's largest economy closed nightclubs and forced sports competitions behind closed doors. Despite the fact that the outbreak is significantly less than in other global viral hotspots, China has maintained its "zero COVID" policy, issuing stay-at-home orders in several regions of Yan'an. Hundreds of thousands of people in the area were among the 13 million people in Xi'an who were ordered to stay at home for the sixth day as China battled its highest daily case count in 21 months. (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron spread: France reports record of nearly 180,000 COVID-19 cases

In India, Covid-19 numbers are rising sharply especially in several states in the north and the west. New Delhi has announced new set of restrictions after witnessing a surge in cases.

COVID-19 numbers rise sharply in India

As covid-19 cases are now wreaking havoc across the European continent in particular France, Britain, Greece and Portugal have all reported record daily case numbers. France for one has reported a record high of almost 180,000 confirmed covert cases in the last 24-hour period.

Omicron drives record cases in Europe, France reports 180,000 cases

In a first, Israel reports its first death case from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Israel has also revised restrictions with the surge in cases.

Israel reports its first death caused due to Omicron as 84-year-old woman dies

France, Britain, and Greece reported a record number of COVID cases amid Omicron spread across the European continent.

Omicron variant drives record COVID cases across Europe as nations break previous daily records

Omicron threat is still looming over the world but in what looks like a ray of hope, antibodies that neutralise Omicron Covid variant have been identified by the scientists. These antibodies target areas on the structure of the virus that remain unchanged even when the virus mutates.

Research on these antibodies has been published in the journal Nature. It may further help to design vaccines and antibody treatments. These may potentially be effective no only against Omicron but other variants that may emerge in the future.

"This finding tells us that by focusing on antibodies that target these highly conserved sites on the spike protein, there is a way to overcome the virus' continual evolution," said David Veesler, an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in the US.

The Omicron variant has an unusually high number of 37 mutations in the spike protein, which the virus uses to enter and infect the human cells.

It is thought that these changes explain in part why the variant has been able to spread so rapidly, to infect people who have been vaccinated and to reinfect those who have previously been infected. 
"The main questions we were trying to answer were: how has this constellation of mutations in the spike protein of the Omicron variant affected its ability to bind to cells and to evade the immune system's antibody responses," Veesler said.

To assess the effect of these mutations, the researchers engineered a disabled, nonreplicating virus, called a pseudovirus, to produce spike proteins on its surface, as coronaviruses do.

They then created pseudoviruses that had spike proteins with the Omicron mutations and those found on the earliest variants identified in the pandemic.

The researchers first looked to see how well the different versions of the spike protein were able to bind to protein on the surface of cells, that the virus uses to latch onto and enter the cell. This protein is called the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor.

They found the Omicron variant spike protein was able to bind 2.4 times better than spike protein found in the virus isolated at the very beginning of the pandemic.

"That is not a huge increase but in the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003, mutations in the spike protein that increased affinity were associated with higher transmissibility and infectivity," Veesler noted.

They also found that the Omicron version was able to bind to mouse ACE2 receptors efficiently, suggesting Omicron might be able to "ping-pong" between humans and other mammals.

The researchers then looked at how well antibodies against earlier isolates of the virus protected against the Omicron variant.

They did this by using antibodies from patients who had previously been infected with earlier versions of the virus, vaccinated against earlier strains of the virus, or had been infected and then vaccinated.

The team found that antibodies from people who had been infected by earlier strains and from those who had received one of the six most-used vaccines currently available all had reduced ability to block infection.

Antibodies from people who had been infected, recovered, and then had two doses of vaccine also had reduced activity, but the reduction was less, about fivefold, clearly demonstrating that vaccination after infection is useful.

Antibodies from people, in this case a group of renal dialysis patients, who had received a booster with a third dose of the mRNA vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer showed only a 4-fold reduction in neutralising activity.

"This shows that a third dose is really, really helpful against Omicron," Veesler said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Omicron threat is still looming over the world but in what looks like a ray of hope, antibodies that neutralise Omicron Covid variant have been identified by the scientists.

Omicron threat is still looming over the world but in what looks like a ray of hope, antibodies that neutralise Omicron Covid variant have been identified by the scientists. These antibodies target areas on the structure of the virus that remain unchanged even when the virus mutates. Research on these antibodies has been published in the journal Nature. It may further help to design vaccines and antibody treatments. These may potentially be effective no only against Omicron but other variants that may emerge in the future. "This finding tells us that by focusing on antibodies that target these highly conserved sites on the spike protein, there is a way to overcome the virus' continual evolution," said David Veesler, an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in the US. The Omicron variant has an unusually high number of 37 mutations in the spike protein, which the virus uses to enter and infect the human cells. It is thought that these changes explain in part why the variant has been able to spread so rapidly, to infect people who have been vaccinated and to reinfect those who have previously been infected. "The main questions we were trying to answer were: how has this constellation of mutations in the spike protein of the Omicron variant affected its ability to bind to cells and to evade the immune system's antibody responses," Veesler said. To assess the effect of these mutations, the researchers engineered a disabled, nonreplicating virus, called a pseudovirus, to produce spike proteins on its surface, as coronaviruses do. They then created pseudoviruses that had spike proteins with the Omicron mutations and those found on the earliest variants identified in the pandemic. The researchers first looked to see how well the different versions of the spike protein were able to bind to protein on the surface of cells, that the virus uses to latch onto and enter the cell. This protein is called the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor. They found the Omicron variant spike protein was able to bind 2.4 times better than spike protein found in the virus isolated at the very beginning of the pandemic. "That is not a huge increase but in the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003, mutations in the spike protein that increased affinity were associated with higher transmissibility and infectivity," Veesler noted. They also found that the Omicron version was able to bind to mouse ACE2 receptors efficiently, suggesting Omicron might be able to "ping-pong" between humans and other mammals. The researchers then looked at how well antibodies against earlier isolates of the virus protected against the Omicron variant. They did this by using antibodies from patients who had previously been infected with earlier versions of the virus, vaccinated against earlier strains of the virus, or had been infected and then vaccinated. The team found that antibodies from people who had been infected by earlier strains and from those who had received one of the six most-used vaccines currently available all had reduced ability to block infection. Antibodies from people who had been infected, recovered, and then had two doses of vaccine also had reduced activity, but the reduction was less, about fivefold, clearly demonstrating that vaccination after infection is useful. Antibodies from people, in this case a group of renal dialysis patients, who had received a booster with a third dose of the mRNA vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer showed only a 4-fold reduction in neutralising activity. "This shows that a third dose is really, really helpful against Omicron," Veesler said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists identify antibodies that block Omicron Covid variant

COVID surge wreaks havoc across the European continent amid Omicron spread

Israel reports its first death caused due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19

The highly infectious Omicron variant that was first identified in South Africa has spread across the world. Researchers in the country say that the Omicron variant can displace the Delta variant altogether. Here's a report.

South Africa: Researchers say Omicron can displace Delta variant

As the White House struggles to control the increasing spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the US, New York has reported an alarming increase in hospitalisation of children.<o:p></o:p>

New York State Department of Health has issued a warning regarding "an upward trend in pediatric hospitalizations associated with COVID-19".

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/coronavirus-alpha-variant-has-learnt-how-to-evade-innate-immune-system-research-440242">Covid's Alpha variant has learnt how to evade innate immune system: Research</a></o:p>

The US has been observing a rapid increase in Covid cases due to the new variant, Omicron, which is dubbed to be one of the most transmissible variants of coronavirus. The country has been recording nearly 190,000 new infections on a daily basis in the past week, as per the data provided by Johns Hopkins University.<o:p></o:p>

Omicron variant’s arrival coincided with the popular holiday season during which families travelled to meet friends and family, and Christmas parties were help. <o:p></o:p>

Due to the increased travel and social interactions in the country, and the new variant, New York City "identified four-fold increases in COVID-19 hospital admissions for children 18 and under beginning the week of December 5 through the current week".

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poll-reveals-62-of-unvaccinated-americans-intend-to-not-receive-covid-19-vaccine-440252">WATCH |</a>&nbsp;Gravitas: Kids sick with Covid are filling up hospitals in America</o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-kids-sick-with-covid-are-filling-up-hospitals-in-america-440522/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The holiday season also increased the demand for Covid tests leading to a short supply. US pandemic expert and White House advisor, Anthony Fauci, also acknowledged the shortage of Covid tests. "One of the problems is that that's not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested," Fauci told ABC News. "But we're addressing the testing problem."

This increase has coincided with the shortage in the supply of American blood banks. Some American organisations have claimed that the blood banks have very limited supply and it is constantly decreasing. “We simply like to keep three days of inventory,” Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, said in a local interview. “We’re struggling to keep one day.”&nbsp;

As the White House struggles to control the increasing spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the US, New York has reported an alarming increase in hospitalisation of children.

As the White House struggles to control the increasing spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the US, New York has reported an alarming increase in hospitalisation of children. New York State Department of Health has issued a warning regarding "an upward trend in pediatric hospitalizations associated with COVID-19". Also read | Covid's Alpha variant has learnt how to evade innate immune system: Research The US has been observing a rapid increase in Covid cases due to the new variant, Omicron, which is dubbed to be one of the most transmissible variants of coronavirus. The country has been recording nearly 190,000 new infections on a daily basis in the past week, as per the data provided by Johns Hopkins University. Omicron variant’s arrival coincided with the popular holiday season during which families travelled to meet friends and family, and Christmas parties were help. Due to the increased travel and social interactions in the country, and the new variant, New York City "identified four-fold increases in COVID-19 hospital admissions for children 18 and under beginning the week of December 5 through the current week". WATCH | Gravitas: Kids sick with Covid are filling up hospitals in America The holiday season also increased the demand for Covid tests leading to a short supply. US pandemic expert and White House advisor, Anthony Fauci, also acknowledged the shortage of Covid tests. "One of the problems is that that's not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested," Fauci told ABC News. "But we're addressing the testing problem." This increase has coincided with the shortage in the supply of American blood banks. Some American organisations have claimed that the blood banks have very limited supply and it is constantly decreasing. “We simply like to keep three days of inventory,” Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, said in a local interview. “We’re struggling to keep one day.”

Four-fold increase observed in hospitalisation of New York's children, amid Omicron spread

India has reported 6,531 new Covid infections on Tuesday morning and 315 deaths, as per the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).<o:p></o:p>

Amid the fear of Omicron spread in the country, the tally for Omicron cases has increased to 653 on Tuesday morning, the health ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-india-covid-omicron-vaccine-travel-updates-440325">Live India Covid | Omicron, vaccine, travel updates</a>

<o:p></o:p>

The total number of tests done in the past 24 hours are 10,35,495. There are 75,456 total active Covid cases in India now. Active cases currently account for less than one per cent of the total cases, as it is currently at 0.22 per cent, which is the lowest since March 2020.<o:p></o:p>

Recovery rate is highest since March 2020, which currently is 98.40 per cent. There have been 6,450 recoveries in the last 24 hours, with total recoveries increasing to 3,42,43,945.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-government-issues-new-guidelines-for-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-between-15-18-years-440551">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-government-issues-new-guidelines-for-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-between-15-18-years-440551/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Indian national capital city, New Delhi, reported 331 new Covid cases, one death, and 144 recoveries in the last 24 hours, taking the tally for active cases to 1,289. The city has also reported the highest number of Omicron cases in the country till now, i.e., 142. Keeping this in mind, authorities have reintroduced night curfew to curb the spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, Covid vaccination tally has increased by 7,287,547, taking the total number to 1,424,681,736.<o:p></o:p>

Tuesday morning also brought the news of BCCI President and former Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly also tested positive for COVID-19. He was admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, as per BCCI sources quoted by local media.<o:p></o:p>

India has reported 6,531 new Covid infections on Tuesday morning and 315 deaths, as per the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Amid the fear of Omicron spread in the country, the tally for Omicron cases has increased to 653 on Tuesday morning, the health ministry said.

India has reported 6,531 new Covid infections on Tuesday morning and 315 deaths, as per the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Amid the fear of Omicron spread in the country, the tally for Omicron cases has increased to 653 on Tuesday morning, the health ministry said. Live India Covid | Omicron, vaccine, travel updates The total number of tests done in the past 24 hours are 10,35,495. There are 75,456 total active Covid cases in India now. Active cases currently account for less than one per cent of the total cases, as it is currently at 0.22 per cent, which is the lowest since March 2020. Recovery rate is highest since March 2020, which currently is 98.40 per cent. There have been 6,450 recoveries in the last 24 hours, with total recoveries increasing to 3,42,43,945. WATCH | Indian national capital city, New Delhi, reported 331 new Covid cases, one death, and 144 recoveries in the last 24 hours, taking the tally for active cases to 1,289. The city has also reported the highest number of Omicron cases in the country till now, i.e., 142. Keeping this in mind, authorities have reintroduced night curfew to curb the spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus. Meanwhile, Covid vaccination tally has increased by 7,287,547, taking the total number to 1,424,681,736. Tuesday morning also brought the news of BCCI President and former Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly also tested positive for COVID-19. He was admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, as per BCCI sources quoted by local media.

India reports 6,531 new Covid cases; Saurav Ganguly tests positive

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is disrupting the holiday season worldwide as global cases hit a record high with 1.44 million&nbsp;cases on Monday.

Covid surges have wreaked havoc around the world, with many nations in Europe and North America trying to strike a balance between economically punishing restrictions and controlling the spread of the virus.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-surges-in-europe-france-implements-work-from-home-greece-puts-a-lock-on-entertainment-venues-440652/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The surges in many countries have been propelled by the highly transmissible Omicron virus variant, hammering vulnerable sectors such as travel.

The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 cases, which is considered a more conservative gauge, is also at an all-time high. It has jumped 49 per cent from last month and currently stands at 841,000.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/yearender-2021-vaccine-drive-virus-resurgence-omicron-lockdown-20-440154" hreflang="en">Yearender 2021: Vaccine drive, virus resurgence, Omicron &amp; lockdown 2.0</a>

Some 11,500 flights have been scrapped worldwide since Friday, and tens of thousands more delayed, during one of the year's busiest travel periods.

Multiple airlines have blamed staffing shortages caused by spikes of Omicron cases. Airlines encouraged workers to quit in 2020 when air travel collapsed, and carriers have struggled to make up ground this year when air travel rebounded faster than almost anyone had expected. The arrival of the omicron variant only exacerbated the problem.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/11500-flights-grounded-worldwide-since-friday-as-omicron-fuels-another-wave-of-infections-440622" hreflang="en">11,500 flights grounded worldwide since Friday as Omicron fuels another wave of infections</a>

Authorities worry the Omicron variant could be the most transmissible yet but studies are still ongoing regarding the short and long-term effects of the variant that was originally detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong.

The coronavirus has killed at least 5,400,024 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University.

Overall, the United States has recorded the most Covid deaths with 816,819, followed by Brazil with 618,448, India with 479,997, and Russia with 305,155.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is disrupting the holiday season worldwide as global cases hit a record high with 1.44 million cases on Monday. Covid surges have wreaked havoc around the world, with many nations in Europe and North America trying to strike a balance between economically punishing restrictions and controlling the spread of the virus.

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is disrupting the holiday season worldwide as global cases hit a record high with 1.44 million cases on Monday. Covid surges have wreaked havoc around the world, with many nations in Europe and North America trying to strike a balance between economically punishing restrictions and controlling the spread of the virus. The surges in many countries have been propelled by the highly transmissible Omicron virus variant, hammering vulnerable sectors such as travel. The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 cases, which is considered a more conservative gauge, is also at an all-time high. It has jumped 49 per cent from last month and currently stands at 841,000. Also see | Yearender 2021: Vaccine drive, virus resurgence, Omicron & lockdown 2.0 Some 11,500 flights have been scrapped worldwide since Friday, and tens of thousands more delayed, during one of the year's busiest travel periods. Multiple airlines have blamed staffing shortages caused by spikes of Omicron cases. Airlines encouraged workers to quit in 2020 when air travel collapsed, and carriers have struggled to make up ground this year when air travel rebounded faster than almost anyone had expected. The arrival of the omicron variant only exacerbated the problem. Also read | 11,500 flights grounded worldwide since Friday as Omicron fuels another wave of infections Authorities worry the Omicron variant could be the most transmissible yet but studies are still ongoing regarding the short and long-term effects of the variant that was originally detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong. The coronavirus has killed at least 5,400,024 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University. Overall, the United States has recorded the most Covid deaths with 816,819, followed by Brazil with 618,448, India with 479,997, and Russia with 305,155. Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher. (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections

Kids sick with Wuhan Virus are filling up hospitals in the US. Omicron has ignited a new surge in infections worldwide. Are we prepared to contain the virus in 2022? Palki Sharma answers the 5 big questions that could determine the future trajectory of the pandemic.

Gravitas: Kids sick with Covid are filling up hospitals in America

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