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India's Modi calls meeting of state chiefs on fighting Omicron variant

Published On: December 23, 2021 02:54 PM NPT By: Reuters

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold discussions with state chiefs on Thursday on containing the possible surge of Omicron cases ahead of the festive season, as gatherings in public spaces and markets gain momentum.

Britain exceeds 100,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time

Published On: December 23, 2021 07:45 AM NPT By: Reuters

LONDON, Dec 23: Britain reported more than 100,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since widespread testing was introduced, with 106,122 on Wednesday compared with 90,629 on Tuesday.

S.African study offers Omicron hope ahead of second coronavirus Christmas

Published On: December 23, 2021 07:22 AM NPT By: Reuters

GENEVA/JOHANNESBURG, Dec 23: South African data offered a glimmer of hope on Wednesday about the severity of the Omicron coronavirus variant, but World Health Organization officials cautioned that it was too soon to draw firm conclusions as the strain spread across the globe.

AstraZeneca, Oxford aim to produce Omicron-targeted vaccine

Published On: December 22, 2021 09:00 AM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 22: AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) said on Tuesday it is working with Oxford University to produce a vaccine for the Omicron coronavirus variant, joining other vaccine-makers who are looking to develop the variant-specific vaccine.

Israel set to offer fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over 60

Published On: December 22, 2021 07:59 AM NPT By: Reuters

JERUSALEM, Dec 22: Israel announced on Tuesday that it will offer a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people older than 60, amid concern about the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Thailand sends refugees back to Myanmar as clashes continue

Published On: December 20, 2021 07:15 AM NPT By: Reuters

MAE SOT, Dec 19: Thailand has sent over 600 Myanmar refugees who fled fighting between the military and ethnic rebels back across the border, according to a senior Thai official who said on Sunday clashes were continuing.

Explosion at Pakistan bank branch kills at least 15

Published On: December 19, 2021 07:15 AM NPT By: Reuters

KARACHI, Dec 19: At least 15 people were killed and 16 others injured in an explosion on Saturday at a bank branch in Karachi's industrial area, police said.

More than 2,500 flee to Thailand as rebels clash with Myanmar army

Published On: December 18, 2021 08:05 AM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 18: At least 2,500 people including hundreds of children have fled a flare-up in fighting between the Myanmar army and ethnic minority rebels and have taken refuge across the border in Thailand, Thai authorities and an aid group said.

Omicron more likely to reinfect than Delta, no milder -study

Published On: December 18, 2021 07:15 AM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 18: The risk of reinfection with the Omicron coronavirus variant is more than five times higher and it has shown no sign of being milder than Delta, a study showed, as cases soar across Europe and threaten year-end festivities.

Omicron thrives in airways, not lungs; new data on asymptomatic cases

Published On: December 16, 2021 02:05 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 16: The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review.

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill near 90% protective against hospitalization, death

Published On: December 15, 2021 12:56 PM NPT By: Reuters

NEW YORK, Dec 15: Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) on Tuesday said its antiviral COVID-19 pill showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

U.S. study suggests COVID-19 vaccines may be ineffective against Omicron without booster

Published On: December 15, 2021 08:27 AM NPT By: Reuters

NEW YORK, Dec 15: All three U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines appear to be significantly less protective against the newly-detected Omicron variant of the coronavirus in laboratory testing, but a booster dose likely restores most of the protection, according to a study released on Tuesday.

Two-dose vaccines induce lower antibodies against Omicron, study finds

Published On: December 14, 2021 03:15 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 14: Two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimens do not induce enough neutralising antibodies against the Omicron coronavirus variant, British scientists found, indicating that increased infections in those previously infected or vaccinated may be likely.

Omicron poses 'very high' risk but data on severity limited

Published On: December 14, 2021 07:00 AM NPT By: Reuters

GENEVA, Dec 14: The Omicron coronavirus variant, reported in more than 60 countries, poses a "very high" global risk, with some evidence that it evades vaccine protection but clinical data on its severity is limited, the World Health Organization says.

Tales of survival: Mayfield residents waited, panicked, prayed

Published On: December 13, 2021 09:45 AM NPT By: Reuters

MAYFIELD, Ky., Dec 13: Until the power went out on Friday night, Rick Foley was closely tracking the storm system with the help of radar and television news. But when his house in Mayfield, Kentucky, went dark, all he could do was sit tight and wait. Finally he heard the roar.

S.Korea to test AI-powered facial recognition to track COVID-19 cases

Published On: December 13, 2021 07:00 AM NPT By: Reuters

SEOUL, Dec 13: South Korea will soon roll out a pilot project to use artificial intelligence, facial recognition and thousands of CCTV cameras to track the movement of people infected with the coronavirus, despite concerns about the invasion of privacy.

Israeli study finds Pfizer COVID-19 booster protects against Omicron

Published On: December 12, 2021 07:05 AM NPT By: Reuters

JERUSALEM, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Israeli researchers said on Saturday they found that a three-shot course of the Pfizer/BioNTech (PFE.N), (22UAy.DE) COVID-19 vaccine provided significant protection against the new Omicron variant.

Global shortage of nurses set to grow as pandemic enters third year - group

Published On: December 11, 2021 07:00 AM NPT By: Reuters

GENEVA, Dec 11: The numbers of nurses around the world are falling further just as the Omicron coronavirus spreads, and there is a also an imbalance as Western countries step up recruitment of healthcare workers from African and other poorer countries, the International Council of Nurses said on Friday.

Explainer: Omicron vs COVID-19 vaccines: What more do we need to know?

Published On: December 10, 2021 10:01 AM NPT By: Reuters

CHICAGO, Dec 10: Laboratory studies released this week suggest that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus will blunt the power of Pfizer (PFE.N) and BioNTech's vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection after two doses, although a third dose may restore that protection.

WHO warns against vaccine hoarding as poorer countries go without

Published On: December 10, 2021 08:30 AM NPT By: Reuters

GENEVA, Dec 10: The World Health Organization warned wealthy countries on Thursday against hoarding COVID-19 vaccines for booster shots as they try to fight off the new Omicron variant, threatening supplies to poorer countries where inoculation rates are low.