LIVE: Two SA returnees test Covid positive in Bengaluru; Omicron reaches UK

Two linked cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Britain connected to travel to southern Africa, health minister Sajid Javid said on Saturday

The discovery of a new Coronavirus (Covid-19) variant named Omicron triggered global alarm on Friday as countries rushed to suspend travel from southern Africa and stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic suffered their biggest falls in more than a year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Omicron may spread more quickly than other forms, and preliminary evidence suggested there is an increased risk of reinfection.

AstraZeneca said on Friday it was examining the impact of a new Coronavirus variant that is spreading rapidly in South Africa on its vaccine and its antibody cocktail, adding it was hopeful its combination drug would retain efficacy. The WHO on Friday designated a new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, detected in South Africa with a large number of mutations, as being "of concern".

8:59 PM

South Africa considers limits to curb Omicron

South Africa may announce more stringent lockdown measures in coming days to curb a resurgence of coronavirus infections and the spread of a new variant, people familiar with the matter said, reported Bloomberg on Saturday.

 

The National Coronavirus Command Council met Saturday to discuss possible measures, while weighing the impact any moves will have on the economy, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks aren’t public. Among the options being considered are ways to try and boost the nation’s vaccination rate, they said. 

8:25 PM

2 South Africans test Covid positive in Bengaluru

8:18 PM

UK detects 2 cases of new COVID-19 variant Omicron

The UK on Saturday detected two cases of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, according to health secretary Sajid Javid as he added four more African countries to Britain's travel red list.

 

The patients were detected in Chelmsford and Nottingham, Javid was quoted as saying by the BBC.

7:31 PM

Karnataka CM holds an emergency meeting over Omicron

7:03 PM

Hungary to tighten controls on air travel from seven African countries

Hungary will impose restrictions on travellers from Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the government said on Saturday after a new coronavirus variant was detected in South Africa.

 

Hungary said it was joining a European Union move to curb air travel from southern Africa and that its measures would be published in a government decree later in the day.

6:30 PM

Kerala sees 4,741 new Covid cases

6:27 PM

Highly probable Omicron is in Germany

It’s “very likely” the new coronavirus strain, omicron, has arrived in Germany, a state official said Saturday.

 

A traveler returning from South Africa on Friday night showed several symptoms typical of the new variant, Kai Klose, minister of social affairs in the German state of Hesse, said on Twitter without providing more detail. 

 

While the virus sample hasn’t been sequenced, there’s a “high level of suspicion” that the person has the new strain, Klose said. The traveler has been isolated at home. 

6:09 PM

Several areas in Chennai partially submerged in floodwater

4:31 PM

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Zimbabwe has been abandoned

JUST IN: The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe has been called off due to Covid risk.

Details

4:30 PM

DDMA meet on Monday to take a call on RT-PCR testing of passengers deboarding from international flights

4:02 PM

WHO asks South East Asian countries to scale up surveillance

3:22 PM

Maharashtra issues fresh curbs for overseas travellers

3:21 PM

SKM to decide the next course of action in its next meeting on Dec 4

3:13 PM

'PM Modi should direct state govs and Railways to withdraw cases registered against farmers'

3:10 PM

SKM decides to postpone the proposed tractor rally to Parliament