The European Union ended travel restrictions on flights from southern Africa on Monday well over a month after imposing them to in hopes of containing the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. The highly contagious variant was first discovered in southern Africa in late November and the 27-nation bloc restricted travel for visitors from that region, where the variant brought on a sudden surge of infections. Omicron has since become the dominant variant and is responsible in the EU and many other nations for a unprecedent increase in infections. That made the travel ban from southern Africa a moot point.
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Pfizer CEO unsure on need for fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine
- Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said on Monday he was unsure about the need for a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine and that a shot targeting the highly contagious Omicron variant would be ready in March.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 occurred 137km west of North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus at 06:37 hours: National Center for Seismology
U.S. reports at least 1.1 million COVID cases in a day, shattering global record
- The United States reported at least 1.13 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, the highest daily total of any country in the world as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing.
- The previous record was 1.03 million cases on Jan. 3. A large number of cases are reported each Monday due to many states not reporting over the weekend. The seven-day average for new cases has tripled in two weeks to over 700,000 new infections a day.
Strategise on Budget session: Naidu, Birla as staff test positive
- Amid a surge in Covid cases across the country and around 400 Parliament staff members testing positive for the infection, the Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday asked officials to chalk out measures for the upcoming Budget session.Naidu and Birla directed the secretaries general of both the Houses to examine in detail the prevailing scenario of the Covid pandemic and come up with proper measures, sources said. Usually, the budget session begins at the end of January and so preparations have to be made well in advance, they added.
Mexican president announces he has COVID-19 for 2nd time
- Mexico’s president announced Monday he has come down with COVID-19 a second time, as coronavirus infections spike in Mexico and virus tests become scarce.
- President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote that he tested positive, after he had sounded hoarse at a morning news briefing. He contracted COVID-19 and recovered from it the first time in early 2021.
The weather had been bad since 2-3 days. Rain & hailstorm leaves standing crops damaged. Officials have been asked to survey the affected villages. 25% of the compensation money will be paid immediately: Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel
Maharashtra | Keeping world-renowned sites like Ellora & Ajanta Caves shut will adversely affect the tourism sector in the region. We urged govt to allow such sites to open with 50% capacity: Jaswant Singh Rajput, president, Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation
COVID-19: Rajasthan govt caps charge of rapid antigen test at Rs 50 in private labs
- The Rajasthan government on Monday capped the rate of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for COVID-19 detection in private labs at Rs 50 included of all taxes.
- Principal Secretary to the government Vaibhav Galaria informed that the rate has been fixed to provide easy and accessible test facilities to the general public at low prices.
- This rate has been fixed as per the proposal of the committee constituted by Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Galaria said. He said that the prescribed rates will be applicable with immediate effect.
Uttar Pradesh | With number of active Covid cases crossing 1000 mark in Agra on Monday, the district admin imposed fresh restrictions in the city. Gyms & swimming pools have been closed down. Wearing of mask would be mandatory: Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh
North Korea fired what may be a ballistic missile, the Japanese coast guard said, the second apparent launch in less than a week after leader Kim Jong Un urged the military to make more military advances: Reuters
Covid-19 hospitalisations in France see biggest jump since April 2021
Days after ICMR chief Dr Balram Bhargava said that molnupiravir has major health safety concerns, some of India’s top health experts said the benefits of the drug outweigh potential risks. Studies so far have shown no convincing side-effects among humans, they said.
Over 10.5 lakh receive ‘precaution dose’ on first day of roll out
- The rollout of the ‘precaution dose’ (booster) of Covid vaccine on Monday received a modest response on the first day with more than 10.5 lakh people getting their third shot till 10pm. This included around 7.4 lakh health and frontline workers, and around 3.2 lakh elderly above 60 years of age.
Ludhiana, Punjab | With a surge in coronavirus cases migrant workers and daily wagers fear another round of lockdown that could push the manufacturing industry into a financial crisis: DS Chawla, president, United Cycle And Parts Manufacturers Association
New ICMR guidelines waive off testing of contacts of confirmed Covid cases unless identified as ‘high risk’
- Amid a steep rise in Covid-19 cases across the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday issued a new advisory waiving off testing requirements for many categories including contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases unless identified as “high-risk” based on age or comorbidities. Besides, it also exempted asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical or non surgical invasive procedures including pregnant women hospitalised for delivery, unless warranted or symptoms develop.
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