Rajkot becomes the second district of Saurashtra region to report the presence of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 as a 17-year-old student from Tanzanian who had arrived at RK University near the city was on Sunday confirmed to have contracted Omicron.
The Tanzanian national had landed in Ahmedabad on December 12 and had reached the RK University campus the following day with another student. After the varsity notified the arrival of the 17-year-old, the health department of Rajkot district panchayat took his samples on December 14 for Covid-19 tests and the results returned positive for the viral disease.
Iran has detected its first case of the new Omicron variant, state media reported on Sunday. The country has vaccinated 60 per cent of its 85-million population, as reported by AP.
Also, with Delhi reporting 22 cases of the Omicron variant, the state government has intensified random Covid testing at Metro stations, markets, tourist places, and other areas which see a high footfall. Apart from testing, the districts are also vigorously carrying out vaccination, enforcing Covid- appropriate behaviour, and prosecuting those who violate protocol in public places.
Meanwhile, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have achieved 100 per cent double dose Covid vaccination of its target beneficiaries. The administration said it was the first among the states and Union territories to achieve the feat using only Covishield.
Three more cases of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were reported in Gujarat Sunday taking the total number in the state to 10. Meanwhile, the state reported 51 new cases of infection taking the tally to 8,36,810. While Ahmedabad reported the highest number of cases at 18, Vadodara city had 10 and Surat city six.
The three new Omicron cases were reported from Gandhinagar, Anand and Surat. While it is the first known Omicron case from Anand and Gandhinagar, it is the second reported from Surat. All three, including a teenager, have a history of international travel.
US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Sunday the easily transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus is "raging through the world" as he urged Americans to get booster shots and continue wearing masks.
Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of Covid-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, with the Netherlands leading the way by imposing a nationwide lockdown.
All non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed until Jan. 14 starting Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a hastily arranged press conference Saturday night. Schools and universities will shut until Jan. 9, he said.
In what is surely to prove a major disappointment, the lockdown terms also rein in private holiday celebrations. Residents only will be permitted two visitors except for Christmas and New Year’s, when four will be allowed, according to Rutte.It wasn’t just the Dutch seeking to slow the spread of Omicron. Alarmed ministers in France, Cyprus and Austria tightened travel restrictions. Paris cancelled its New Year’s Eve fireworks. Denmark has closed theatres, concert halls, amusement parks and museums. Ireland imposed an 8 p.m. curfew on pubs and bars and limited attendance at indoor and outdoor events.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan underscored the official concern about the climbing cases and their potential to overwhelm the health care system by declaring a major incident Saturday, a move that allows local councils in Britain’s capital to coordinate work more closely with emergency services.
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