Coronavirus Highlights: India's Fourth Omicron Case Detected Near Mumbai

Risk Of New Variants Arising When Animals Catch Coronavirus From Humans
The findings of a new study suggest that when animals catch COVID-19 from humans, new SARS-CoV-2 variants can arise. Read here.

Coronavirus News: Sikkim Logs 16 Covid Cases, Tally Rises To 32,359
Sikkim's Covid caseload rose to 32,359 on Saturday with 16 new cases reported in 24 hours, a health department bulletin said, reported news agency PTI. The state's coronavirus death count rose to 405 as two people died in 24 hours. Of the 16 new cases, East Sikkim reported 14, while South Sikkim and West Sikkim registered one each. Sikkim currently has 213 active cases, while 31,400 people have recovered from the disease. 341 patients have migrated to other states.

Coronavirus News: Assam Reports 169 New Covid Cases, 3 Related Deaths
Assam reported 169 new Covid cases and three rlated deaths on Saturday, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said, reported news agency PTI. The state has so far reported 6,17,475 cases and 6,116 deaths, it said. Two deaths were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan and one from Dibrugarh. Among the new cases, 74 were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan, 19 from Barpeta, 16 from Dibrugarh and 12 from Lakhimpur.

Covid News: Omicron Has Higher Transmissibility Rate, Causes Mild Symptoms, Says Maharashtra Health Minister
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the Omicron variant has a higher rate of transmissibility but the symptoms caused by it are mild, reported news agency PTI. In a pre-recorded message, Mr Tope said, "The Omicron variant of novel coronavirus has a higher transmissibility rate but its symptoms are mild. No one in South Africa, infected with the Omicron variant, has been put on oxygen. It has not increased the fatality rate so far."

Coronavirus News: Gujarat Man Infected With Omicron "Stable", Says Official

Coronavirus News: India's Fourth Omicron Case Detected Near Mumbai
A 33-year-old man from Maharashtra who travelled to Mumbai from South Africa via Dubai and Delhi late last month has tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, in the fourth such case confirmed in India.

Coronavirus News: Kerala Logs 4,557 Covid Cases, 52 Related Deaths In 24 Hours

Coronavirus News: Delta Variant Predominant In UK Even As Omicron Cases Emerge
The Delta variant  remains predominant in England, accounting for over 99% of all coronavirus infections, even as 75 more cases of the new Omicron strain have now been detected, taking the total to 104, reported news agency PTI. "As of November 30, there are 22 confirmed cases of Omicron, identified through sequencing or genotyping in England. None of these cases are known to have been hospitalised or died," the UK Health Security Agency had said on Friday.

Coronavirus News: 51 Covid Cases In Delhi In 24 Hours
Delhi reports 51 Covid cases with zero related deaths. The positivity rate stands at 0.08%, reported news agency PTI quoting authorities.

Omicron India Cases: Government Warns 5 States, J&K Of Rising Covid Cases Amid Omicron Fears
The government wrote to five states - Odisha, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Mizoram, and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir - to express concern over a rapid increase in daily new Covid cases and underline the danger posed by Omicron.

Omicron: Omicron-Infected Man Returned To Gujarat From Zimbabwe, India's 3rd Case
A man who returned from Zimbabwe has been found infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Gujarat's Jamnagar, the state health department said. This is the third Omicron case in India.

Third Omicron case detected in India
Jamnagar man who returned from Zimbabwe found infected with Omicron variant of COVID-19, reports PTI quoting the Gujarat health department

Amid Omicron, Parliamentary Panel Wants Efficacy Of Existing Vaccines Checked

Amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the efficacy of Covid vaccines must be evaluated and the government conduct more research to examine the need for booster doses to contain the new strain.

Two new COVID-19 cases push Andamans tally to 7,668

Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded two new COVID-19 cases, one more than the previous day, pushing the tally in the union territory to 7,688, a health department official said on Saturday.

Both the cases were detected during contact tracing, he said.

Omicron Cases India: After Omicron Cases Confirmed, "Missing" Passengers A Worry: 10 Facts
After India confirmed its first Omicron Covid cases, concerns have been raised over foreign arrivals - particularly those from 'at risk' countries - evading mandatory Covid tests and quarantine protocols, and potentially spreading the virus further.

Single-day COVID-19 recoveries surpass fresh cases in Arunachal Pradesh
Single-day COVID-19 recoveries outnumbered fresh cases in Arunachal Pradesh as four more persons recuperated from the disease while one new infection pushed the coronavirus tally to 55,286, a senior health department official said on Saturday.

A total of 54,973 people have recovered from the COVID-19 so far, the official said.

Over 21.38 crore unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses with States, UTs: Centre
More than 21.38 crore balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the States and Union Territories (UTs) to be administered, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

As per an official statement issued by the ministry, a total of 21,38,89,971 balance and unutilized doses are still available with the States and UTs to be administered.

Just in: India records 8,603 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours.

After 1 Week, No Entry In Hotels, Malls For Unvaccinated In Tamil Nadu's Madurai
In the wake of two cases of Omicron detected in India, Tamil Nadu's Madurai on Saturday announced that unvaccinated people would not be allowed to enter malls, shopping complexes and other public places from next week.

Covid updates: 65 inmates, staffers of Sikkim prison among 76 new patients

Sikkim reported a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases on Friday as 76 more people, including 65 inmates and staffers of Namchi Central Jail, tested positive for the infection, taking the state's caseload to 32,343, a health bulletin said.