 | India's daily COVID-19 cases drop below 50,000 mark in nearly 40 daysAs many as 44,877 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported across the country in the 24-hour period, the lowest since January 4 when 37,379 new cases were recorded. |
 | Omicron variant may not be 'milder' itself, US scientists cautionResearchers noted that the perceived lower severity of Omicron infections is most likely due to factors related to the level of immunity in infected people. |
 | England lifts COVID restrictions as Omicron threat recedesThe government last week dropped its advice for people to work from home as well as guidance for face coverings in classrooms. |
 | Efforts increased to curb Covid spread in Krishna districtThe officials instructed all the hospitals to take strict measures to prevent oxygen deficiency under any circumstances. |
 | Omicron wave may have peaked in South Africa, President lifts overnight curfew"The curfew will be lifted. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people," the Presidency said in a statement. |
 | Odisha plans to complete vax of teenagers in a monthThe eligible beneficiaries can register on the CoWIN app with the help of their school, college identity card. |
 | No public gathering; political events with 100 persons ceiling: Odisha governmentKeeping in view the three-tier Panchayat elections early next year, political gatherings were allowed subject to a ceiling of not more than 100 persons in full compliance with Covid guidelines |
| Omicron likely to be dominant strain globally in 2022: Singapore experts"The genetic backbone of Omicron is very, very different. However, we don't yet have consistent data whether those genetic differences result in increased severity," the professor explained. |
 | Telangana: Positivity rate low in tri-districts, but doctors advise abundant cautionThere are no major signs of Covid-19, including its latest variant Omicron, spreading in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal. |
 | Hits 'keep coming': Hospitals struggle as COVID beds fill up in the USThe national seven-day average of COVID-19 hospital admissions was 60,000 by Wednesday, far off last winter's peak but 50% higher than in early November, the US government reported. |
 | Conflicting Omicron data pushes government into actionCentre to review hospital infra, including status of oxygen devices |
 | ‘Omicron is dangerous, don’t lower guard’Health experts and doctors said a ‘sense of complacency’ has again crept in, despite witnessing the ‘horrors of the second wave’ of Covid infections earlier this year. |
| Omicron infects 70 times faster but may cause less severe disease: StudyTaken together with the recent studies that showed Omicron can partially escape immunity from vaccines and past infection, the overall threat from the variant is likely to be very significant. |
 | Omicron variant of Covid-19 virus will spread rapidly in India, says expertThe Omicron variant of Covid-19 is infecting people who had a prior infection at a much higher rate than previous variants. |
 | Omicron milder than delta? South African doctors see signs“At the moment, virtually everything points toward it being milder disease,” Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute, said. |
