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Omicron especially dangerous for unvaccinated, says WHO

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jan 13, 2022, 08:14:51 IST

Omicron especially dangerous for unvaccinated, says WHO

Covid-19 infections continued to surge in the country at a slightly slower rate than last week, with India reporting over 1.94 lakh fresh cases in the last 24 hours, 26,657 more than the previous day. This makes a 15.8% rise today. Deaths from the virus, although still very low overall, are rising at a faster rate with each passing day. Stay with TOI for latest updates:

17:30 (IST) Jan 11

Delhi reports 21, 259 new Covid-19 cases & 23 deaths in last 24 hours.

Active cases stand at 74,881. Positivity rate rises to 25.65%.

17:12 (IST) Jan 11

Goa reports a single-day spike of 2476 new covid cases, the highest in eight months. The case positivity rate jumped to 30.37% which was 24.7% on Monday. Goa has now over 12000 active cases. Covid mortality count shot to 3537 with three deaths.

16:37 (IST) Jan 11

Molnupiravir not to be included in Covid-19 clinical management protocol as of now

The ICMR's National Task Force for Covid-19 has decided against including antiviral drug Molnupiravir in the Clinical Management Protocol for Covid-19 as of now, official sources said on Tuesday. The experts of the task force cited safety concerns and argued that Molnupiravir was not of much benefit in Covid treatment to arrive at the decision in a meeting held on Monday.According to the Health Ministry, Molnupiravir is an antiviral drug that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication by viral mutagenesis. This anti-Covid pill got the Drug Regulator General of India's approval on December 28 for restricted use in emergencies.

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16:01 (IST) Jan 11

Omicron to infect more than half of Europe's population in 6-8 weeks - WHO

More than half of the European population are expected to be infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant within the next six to eight weeks, the World Health Organization's top Europe official said on Tuesday. Europe saw more than 7 million newly reported Covid-19 cases in the first week of 2022, more than doubling over a two-week period, the WHO's Europe director Hans Kluge told a news briefing. "At this rate, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation forecasts that more than 50% of the population in the region will be infected with Omicron in the next 6-8 weeks," Kluge said.

16:00 (IST) Jan 11

Over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron in next two months: WHO

15:45 (IST) Jan 11

Assam: Precautionary dose of Covid vaccine being administered at Gauhati Medical College Hospital for front line workers and senior citizens on the second day of its roll out

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15:29 (IST) Jan 11

WHO says Omicron growth rates have declined or stabilised in many countries but remain significantly higher than for Delta variant.

15:05 (IST) Jan 11

LS speaker Om Birla says preparations are being done for the upcoming budget session in parliament.

"I expect MPs & staff members to stay safe during the pandemic," he said.

15:02 (IST) Jan 11

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inspects sanitisation work & preparedness in parliament ahead of budget session in the wake of a surge in Covid cases

14:54 (IST) Jan 11

BA.2 'stealth' variant makes up 80% of Kolkata's Omicron infections

Nearly 80% of Covid-positive samples sent for genome-sequencing by laboratories in the city have been found to contain the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, nicknamed the 'stealth version', as it cannot be picked up in RT-PCR tests and requires genome-sequencing.

14:51 (IST) Jan 11

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under fire on Tuesday after it emerged his private secretary had invited over 100 people to a "bring your own booze" party in the garden of Downing Street during the first coronavirus lockdown.

14:45 (IST) Jan 11

UK PM Johnson under fire over 'bring your own booze' lockdown party

14:04 (IST) Jan 11

There are 3-4 sub-lineages of Omicron variant of coronavirus. These sub-lineages could be different when it comes to diagnosis but their epidemiological behaviour is same.

Dr NK Arora, Chairman of Covid-19 working group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI)

14:02 (IST) Jan 11

IIT modelling shows Covid cases will rise rapidly in coming days, says govt expert

A government health expert on Tuesday said that IIT's modelling has shown Covid cases will increase rapidly in the coming days.

13:58 (IST) Jan 11

Molnupiravir, which prevents hospitalisation and ICU admissions, should be given to senior citizens, particularly those with comorbidities, says Dr N K Arora, chairman of Covid-19 working group of NTAGI

It should not be given to people of the reproductive age, he says.

13:54 (IST) Jan 11

Covid-19: Acute pain in legs is new symptom

Most people contracting Covid-19 now are reporting lesser-known symptoms such as acute pain in the leg and an itchy throat for two days after being infected.

13:52 (IST) Jan 11

HC drops Suvendu Adhikari from Gangasagar Mela monitoring panel

13:24 (IST) Jan 11

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took stock of Covid preparations at LNJP hospital this afternoon.

"I visited the hospital to oversee the Covid-related preparations. It's the country's best hospital, has treated over 22,000 patients so far," he says.

12:49 (IST) Jan 11

China locks down third city, raising affected to 20 million

12:48 (IST) Jan 11

Chennai: 69% of Covid fatalities in December were unvaccinated

Nearly seven out of 10 people who died in the city due to Covid-19 in December had not taken two doses of vaccines, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said on Monday.