Omicron Variant in India News Highlights: December 24, 2021

India's Omicron tally at 360

Covid-19 spike worsens Africa's severe poverty, hunger woes

Nearly two years into a global pandemic, a new spike in coronavirus cases driven by the omicron variant is once again shuttering businesses, halting travel, reviving fears of overwhelmed hospitals and upending travel and holiday plans in countries around the world. (AP)

Russia has reported 24,703 new Covid cases

Puducherry adds 20 fresh Covid-19 cases; no fatalities for 5th straight day

The union territory of Puducherry clocked 20 new Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours as the overall tally to 1,29, 394, a senior official of the Department of Health said on Friday.

Delhi vaccinates 100% eligible population with first dose, tweets CM Arvind Kejriwal

Researchers from Columbia University in the US and the University of Hong Kong noted that a striking feature of Omicron is the alarming number of changes in the variant's spike protein that could pose a threat to the effectiveness of current vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. (PTI)

Andhra Pradesh: Dr G Hymavati, director, Public Health, said, "Two more cases of Omicron reported in Andhra Pradesh took the total to four. A 41-year-old Kuwait returnee, who is a resident of East Godavari district, arrived at Gannavaram airport on December 19. The person tested positive for Covid-19 on December 20 and samples were sent to CCMB Hyderabad for genome sequencing. She was declared positive for Omicron variant. The patient has been quarantined and put under the close observation of the health department."

India records 6,650 new cases; Omicron tally rises to 358

India recorded 6,650 new covid-19 cases and 374 deaths in the 24 hours ending 8 am Friday. The tally of Omicron cases in the country rose to 358. Currently, Maharashtra has the highest number of new variant cases, followed by Delhi. Active cases stood at 77,516 while 374 people recovered on Thursday.

No Covid-related restrictions as of now in Punjab, but we request people to follow guidelines: CM Charanjit Singh Channi

Uttar Pradesh: A maximum of 200 people will now be allowed at weddings and other events.