 | 'There could be future surges of COVID with severe consequences': WHO on OmicronThe UN health agency said it is possible the variant has mutations that could enable it to escape an immune-system response and boost its ability to spread from one person to another. |
 | 'Situation precarious': WHO bats for legally-binding global accord to fight Omicron Covid variantThe gathering is aimed at devising a global action plan toward preventing, preparing and responding to future pandemics. |
 | WHO members eye pandemic preparation, as new variant emergesA treaty would suggest a legally binding agreement that would require ratification — and would likely incur domestic political haggling in some countries. |
| COVID Omicron variant: WHO criticizes travel bans on southern African countries, calls for borders to remain openThe WHO has urged countries across the world not to impose travel bans on southern African countries due to the ongoing concerns over the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. |
 | 'Suspicious variant': World races to contain new Covid-19 threat, the 'Omicron'Medical experts, including the WHO, warned against any overreaction before the variant was thoroughly studied. |
 | WHO hosts special meeting on worrying new COVID-19 variant from South AfricaThe group could decide if it's a “variant of concern” — the most worrying type, like the well-known delta variant — or a “variant of interest," and whether to use a Greek letter to classify it. |
| WHO Europe warns of possible surge in COVID deaths aheadWHO Europe called on people to get vaccinated and respect proper hygiene and practice social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus. |
 | Emergency use authorization request filed with FDA for paediatric use of Bharat Biotech's CovaxinThe submission is based on the results of a Phase 2/3 paediatric clinical trial conducted by Bharat Biotech in India with 526 children 2-18 years of age. |
 | Spiralling COVID infections grip low-vaccination parts of Europe, WHO expresses concernCroatia, Slovenia and Slovakia reported their highest numbers of daily cases of the pandemic, while other countries registered the most infections in months. |
 | Novavax, Serum Institute receive emergency use authorisation for COVID-19 vaccine in IndonesiaThe vaccine will be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in India and marketed by it in Indonesia under the brand name Covovax, Novavax Inc said in a statement. |
 | WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus runs unopposed for second five-year termThe World Health Organization said that its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is running unopposed for a second five-year term. |
 | WHO working to get COVID-19 medical supplies to North KoreaDescribing its anti-virus campaign was a matter of “national existence,” North Korea had severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade for the past two years despite the strain on its economy. |
 | UN health agency sets higher, tougher bar for air qualityThe U.N. health agency released its revised guidance as climate change is a leading topic at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. |
 | WHO approval for Covaxin expected this week, say sourcesBharat Biotech had shared the relevant data from the clinical trials with the world health agency over the past few months. |
 | WHO monitoring new coronavirus variant named 'Mu' which emerged in ColombiaMu, known scientifically as B.1.621, has been classified as a "variant of interest", the global health body said Tuesday in its weekly pandemic bulletin. |
