Tag: Omicron

The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 54 days now.

About the ongoing vaccination drive, Mandaviya informed the house that with the health workers' diligent efforts, total 88 per cent of the first Covid vaccine dose and 58 per cent of the second have been administered in India as of now, and the majority of the population in India is vaccinated.

INSACOG said that while there are some indicators that the disease may be milder with Omicron, there is insufficient data to determine whether this is because of prior infections or vaccination.

Some reports also have suggested that people living in areas with lower vaccination rates are at greater risk of getting co-infected. In addition, the risk of co-infection has been found more among the elderly, those with co-morbidities and a compromised immune system.

The latest research from South Africa, where Omicron was first reported, suggested that two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine offered 70 per cent effectiveness in reducing the risk of hospitalisation. Israeli researchers have also found that the booster doses of the vaccine works against Omicron.

While the 100 microgram booster dose was "generally safe and well tolerated", however, there "was a trend toward slightly more frequent adverse reactions" following it compared to the authorised dose.

While Omicron was first reported in South Africa on November 24, India's first two cases of this heavily mutated version of the coronavirus were detected in Karnataka on December 2.

NSE Nifty50 fell by 527.25 points or 3.10 per cent to 16,457.95 points.

The genome sequencing reports of four out of the seven Covid positive foreign returnees have come out negative for Omicron.

In a major development, State Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra informed that severity of disease after the Omicron infection is very low.

School reopened in Delhi on Saturday (Dec 18) after the state govt’s announced closure due to air pollution. Students share their views on online & offline mode of teaching.

Amidst the threat of the new Covid-19 variant ‘Omicron’, the Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra on Saturday (Dec 18), warned regarding the definite possibility of a third wave in the state.

Odisha government on Wednesday (Dec 15) ordered to conduct exams for all Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) students in the state in the offline mode. However, citing the rise in cases of the new Covid-19 variant ‘Omicron’ in the country, several students reportedly opposed the decision while seeking the option of having online exams.

Currently, the WHO recommends administering a third dose of any WHO-approved vaccine to those who are immunocompromised. It has also recommended a booster for recipients of the Chinese vaccines who are older than 60, where supplies allow.

The possibilities of 3rd wave can't be ruled out with the rising threats of the new COVID variant- Omicron. All are in a state of confusion over the preparatory measures of the State government to tackle the possible onslaught. The government might have to face immense challenges while ensuring the conduct of COVID infection-free exams.