Next Covid-19 variant will be more infectious than Omicron, possibly deadlier, warns WHO
2 years, 10 months ago

Next Covid-19 variant will be more infectious than Omicron, possibly deadlier, warns WHO

India Today  

Even as the world limps back to normalcy with the Omicron wave subsiding, experts have warned that the next Covid-19 variant will be more transmissible, and perhaps, more deadly than its predecessors. In a recent press briefing, World Health Organization epidemiologist and technical lead on Covid-19 Dr Maria Van Kerkhove stressed that the pandemic is far from over and future variants will be in some way more virulent than Omicron is now. Omicron, which was quickly tagged as a variant of concern after being detected in South Africa in late November 2021, has replaced Delta as the dominant strain in a much shorter interval. Dr Van Kerkhove has cautioned that there is “no guarantee” the coronavirus will get weaker as it evolves and that although the world might hope that’s the case, “we can’t bank on it.” READ | Milder Omicron an ‘evolutionary mistake’?

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History of this topic

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to exist in community, say public health experts
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to exist in community, say public health experts

The Hindu  

The Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant, one of the mutated version of the virus that causes COVID-19, has been continuously mutating and exists in the community even after over a year. Public health experts have conducted a genomic surveillance of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant and its sub lineages in the State to understand the mutational patterns of the virus between December 2021 and …

'Accept Covid-19 as Part of Lifestyle': Don't Panic, Says Top Epidemiologist But Advises Caution
1 year ago

'Accept Covid-19 as Part of Lifestyle': Don't Panic, Says Top Epidemiologist But Advises Caution

News 18  

It’s time for the public to stop being surprised by the rise in Covid-19 cases and recognise coronavirus as a permanent part of their lifestyle, former Indian Council of Medical Research scientist Dr Raman Gangakhedkar has told News18.com. The country’s top epidemiologist, who was the face of India’s apex medical research agency during government briefings on Covid-19 last year, said …

COVID-19 update: India reports 22 cases of Omicron sub-variant JN.1 with mild symptoms
1 year ago

COVID-19 update: India reports 22 cases of Omicron sub-variant JN.1 with mild symptoms

India TV News  

COVID-19 omicron variant: A total of at least 22 JN.1 COVID variant cases were reported in India till December 21. India today recorded 640 fresh COVID-19 infections while the number of active cases climbed to 2,997 from 2,669 the day before, according to Union Health Ministry data. WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan on new variant: Meanwhile, amid rising concerns …

New Covid variant ‘Pirola’ or BA.2.86 is different from others, Coronavirologist shares 5 important facts
1 year, 3 months ago

New Covid variant ‘Pirola’ or BA.2.86 is different from others, Coronavirologist shares 5 important facts

Hindustan Times  

Coronavirus has been changing and evolving ever since it was first discovered in the year 2019 and became a global concern in a matter of few months. This variant is interesting because it has a lot of 35 new mutations that sets it apart from previously known prevalent covid variants. Coronavirologist Dr Pavithra Venkatagopalan says that Pirola or BA.2.86 variant …

‘Just like Omicron…’: Why are scientists paying more attention to new Covid variant?
1 year, 4 months ago

‘Just like Omicron…’: Why are scientists paying more attention to new Covid variant?

Hindustan Times  

Is the highly-mutated new variant of coronavirus, BA.2.86, a matter of global concern? NEXU Science Communication/File Photo Much like Omicron, BA.2.86, which is causing spike in Covid cases in the US, UK and other countries, carries numerous changes in its spike protein. According to Nature, several scientists believe that the emergence of this new variant won't create a wave like …

New Covid variant BA 2.86 is highly mutated; know about symptoms, possibility of a new wave from experts
1 year, 4 months ago

New Covid variant BA 2.86 is highly mutated; know about symptoms, possibility of a new wave from experts

Hindustan Times  

After a lull, surge of new Covid strains in UK, China and other countries has been making news. After WHO declared new Covid strain EG.5 or Eris that's increasing the caseload in UK as variant of interest, yet another Covid strain called BA 2.86 that was first detected on July 24 has been classified as 'variant under monitoring; on August …

BA.2.86: WHO tracking new Covid variant, highly-muted and detected in 4 countries
1 year, 4 months ago

BA.2.86: WHO tracking new Covid variant, highly-muted and detected in 4 countries

India TV News  

After EG.5 raised concerns about a new Covid outbreak, the World Health Organization has now flagged another sub-variant of Omicron BA.2.86, dubbed BA.X. “WHO has designated Covid-19 variant BA.2.86 as a ‘variant under monitoring’ today due to the large number of mutations it carries,” the global health body wrote in a post on X,” adding that “the number of mutations …

Is Covid variant EG.5 a threat to India?
1 year, 4 months ago

Is Covid variant EG.5 a threat to India?

India Today  

Variant EG.5, the newest subtype of Omicron, causing a surge in cases across parts of the world, has been in India since May 2023, the government has said. However, the variant has so far not been a cause of concern in India, though the World Health Organisation has classified the strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a "variant of interest", …

WHO Classifies New EG.5 Covid Strain As 'Variant of Interest' As Cases Surge in US, UK
1 year, 4 months ago

WHO Classifies New EG.5 Covid Strain As 'Variant of Interest' As Cases Surge in US, UK

News 18  

As more cases of the new Covid variant EG.5 which has descended from the rapidly spreading Omicron are coming to the fore in the UK, China, and the US, the World Health Organisation on Wednesday classified it as a “variant of interest” and said several coronavirus variants, including the EG.5, are being tracked. Meanwhile, health authorities in England have said …

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US are on the rise again, but not like before
1 year, 4 months ago

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US are on the rise again, but not like before

Associated Press  

Here we go again: COVID-19 hospital admissions have inched upward in the United States since early July in a small-scale echo of the three previous summers. But it’s a far cry from past peaks, like the 44,000 weekly hospital admissions in early January, the nearly 45,000 in late July 2022, or the 150,000 admissions during the omicron surge of January …

57 cases of new Omicron subvariant detected in China
1 year, 7 months ago

57 cases of new Omicron subvariant detected in China

China Daily  

China has detected 57 COVID-19 cases caused by the new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 as of Saturday, a Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention researcher said on Wednesday. Chen said that monitoring data shows that domestic cases are still mainly composed of Omicron's BA.5.2 and BF.7 strains and their sub-lineages, though cases of XBB and its sub-lineages are growing rapidly. …

Arcturus, new subvariant of Omicron causing Covid spike, say doctors
1 year, 8 months ago

Arcturus, new subvariant of Omicron causing Covid spike, say doctors

Deccan Chronicle  

HYDERABAD: Doctors claimed that the new Omega, XBB.1.16 strain named Arcturus may be to blame for the rise in Covid cases across the nation. President of Infection Control Academy of India and public health policy advisor, Dr Ranga Reddy Burri speaking to Deccan Chronicle said, "Whenever we discuss a new variant or a sub-variant that may be the cause of …

COVID-19 surge: No severe infection in children due to Omicron variant XBB.1.16, says Delhi Health Minister
1 year, 8 months ago

COVID-19 surge: No severe infection in children due to Omicron variant XBB.1.16, says Delhi Health Minister

India TV News  

Delhi COVID-19 surge: Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Thursday said that there is no indication that the Omicron variant XBB.1.16 is causing severe infection among children. But there is no information coming in from experts that says that the Omicron XBB.1.16 variant infection is more severe among children. Delhi’s …

Omicron’s latest subvariant dominates with 60% of COVID-19 cases
1 year, 8 months ago

Omicron’s latest subvariant dominates with 60% of COVID-19 cases

Live Mint  

Amid a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium identifies Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 as the leading variant in India, making up 60% of cases. As per a report by Economic Times, a member of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, the laboratory consortium, said that 25-30% of cases are of other sub-lineages of the …

All about XBB.1.16, new Omicron variant behind India's Covid-19 spike, from symptoms to risk factors
1 year, 8 months ago

All about XBB.1.16, new Omicron variant behind India's Covid-19 spike, from symptoms to risk factors

Hindustan Times  

XBB.1.16, the new Omicron variant that is leading to rise in number of Covid-19 cases across the country, especially in Maharashtra has become a cause of concern for people. The subvariant has mutations on the amino acids and nucleotide space that gives it the capacity to escape hybrid immunity achieved by vaccination and previous exposure to the virus," says Dr …

Explained | Should India worry about rising COVID-19 cases?
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained | Should India worry about rising COVID-19 cases?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week convened a high-level meeting of the COVID-19 task force. As of March 23, India officially reported 1,300 new coronavirus cases over a 24-hour period bringing the overall tally of active cases to 7,605. Editorial |No cause for alarm: On the Omicron recombinant XBB.1.16 in India He emphasised the need to …

Mutated version of Omicron is behind spike in case, health system on alert: Govt
1 year, 8 months ago

Mutated version of Omicron is behind spike in case, health system on alert: Govt

Live Mint  

Amid a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said that currently a mutated variant of the Omicron sub-variant is spreading in the country and the health authorities are on alert. The health minister added that vaccines used by India have been found effective against all Covid-19 variants found till …

COVID-19 | Nothing to panic about, take precaution, booster shots, say doctors
1 year, 8 months ago

COVID-19 | Nothing to panic about, take precaution, booster shots, say doctors

The Hindu  

Amid a gradual increase in COVID-19 cases in Delhi in recent days, some medical experts say the new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving the rise in cases but add there's no need to panic and people should follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and get booster shots if they have not already. Over the past week, Delhi has seen a rise in daily …

After high coverage of primary COVID vaccination, precautionary dose uptake stands at 27%
1 year, 9 months ago

After high coverage of primary COVID vaccination, precautionary dose uptake stands at 27%

The Hindu  

Despite the high coverage of primary COVID vaccination and second dose, India’s precautionary dose uptake stands at 27%, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry. The Union Health Ministry maintained that at present Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variants with no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation and/or mortality which has been reported. Advisory …

WHO tweaks Sars-CoV-2 variant tags, XBB.1.16 a VOI
1 year, 9 months ago

WHO tweaks Sars-CoV-2 variant tags, XBB.1.16 a VOI

Hindustan Times  

The World Health Organization on Thursday said the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron parent lineage of Sars-CoV-2 are considered “previously circulating variants of concern ”, while XBB.1.5 is a variant of interest, as it updated its tracking system and working definitions to better correspond to the current global variant landscape. The Omicron viruses account for over 98% of the …

COVID-19: Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounts for nearly 90 per cent new cases in US
1 year, 9 months ago

COVID-19: Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounts for nearly 90 per cent new cases in US

India TV News  

COVID-19 cases in United States: The highly transmissible Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 now accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all Covid-19 cases reported in the US, according to the latest estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The prevalence of XBB.1.5 has kept increasing since late last year, and it is estimated to account for 89.2 per cent …

Covid-19 | Lurking presence
1 year, 10 months ago

Covid-19 | Lurking presence

India Today  

On January 23, 2023, India logged just 92 fresh Covid-19 infections and no deaths. China, on the other hand, which is grappling with a major Covid wave triggered by Omicron sub-variant BF.7 and lifting of restrictions, saw record hospitalisations—the highest since the onset of the pandemic, per World Health Organization reports. Since August 2022, a whole bouquet of Omicron sub-variants—BA.2.12.1, …

First Kraken, now Orthrus: What’s this highly transmissible COVID variant that US, China are tracking?
1 year, 10 months ago

First Kraken, now Orthrus: What’s this highly transmissible COVID variant that US, China are tracking?

Firstpost  

Monsters from Greek mythology are taking a new form – of COVID-19 variants. Officially called CH.1.1, this Omicron spawn could leave the fast-spreading Kraken behind Even as the war in Ukraine, the possibility of a US-China conflict, and global economic gloom catch our attention, the fight against COVID-19 is far from over. Orthrus is named after a mythical two-headed cattle …

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point
1 year, 10 months ago

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The coronavirus remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found the pandemic may be nearing an “inflexion point” where higher levels of immunity can lower virus-related deaths. Speaking at the opening of WHO’s annual executive board meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “there is no doubt that …

COVID is still a global emergency but may be nearing an ‘inflection point,’ WHO says
1 year, 10 months ago

COVID is still a global emergency but may be nearing an ‘inflection point,’ WHO says

LA Times  

COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization’s chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found that the pandemic may be nearing an “inflection point” where higher levels of immunity can lower coronavirus-related deaths. Speaking at the opening of the WHO’s annual executive board meeting, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “there is no doubt that we’re …

Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 increasing rapidly, says WHO; India's Covid positivity at 0.01%
1 year, 11 months ago

Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 increasing rapidly, says WHO; India's Covid positivity at 0.01%

India Today  

Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, is on the increase and has now been identified in more than 25 countries, the World Health Organisation has said. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global health body is following the situation closely and assessing the risk of this subvariant and will report accordingly. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/asDD6hRWtB — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus January 6, 2023 The …

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points
1 year, 11 months ago

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points

India Today  

Omicron subvariants of the Corona virus - BA.5.2 and BF.7 - are responsible for driving up Covid numbers in China, said the World Health Organisation on Wednesday. It added that the data shows no new variants were found in China but the country is "under-representing" the Covid deaths since cases started surging last month. The WHO's emergencies director, Mike Ryan, …

Omicron’s XBB.1.5 Sub-variant explained. Should India be worried of this strain?
1 year, 11 months ago

Omicron’s XBB.1.5 Sub-variant explained. Should India be worried of this strain?

Live Mint  

Even as the world is still grappling with the surge of Omicron BF.7 variant, there is a new variant XBB.1.5 which is now raising concerns. All you need to know about Omicron XBB.1.5 variant XBB15–a new recombinant strain—is both more immune evasive & better at infecting than BQ & XBB variants. Whiles speaking to news agency ANI, Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-chairman …

Omicron variant XBB makes up 63% of covid cases reported in India
1 year, 11 months ago

Omicron variant XBB makes up 63% of covid cases reported in India

Live Mint  

Protected by herd immunity and early vaccination, Indians appear to have escaped the havoc being wreaked by the BF.7 Omicron sub-variant in China and some other countries. At the moment, the most prevalent variant in India is the XBB, accounting for 63.2% of cases, according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics. Only four cases of BF.7 have been reported …

Is new Covid variant fatal for brain? Here’s what govt said
1 year, 11 months ago

Is new Covid variant fatal for brain? Here’s what govt said

Live Mint  

Coronavirus has again created a chaotic phase around the world as some countries have reported mutation in the virus which is considered to be "highly infectious", including India. While scientists are still studying the symptoms and impact of the new mutant, some media reports speculated that the evolving Omicron sub-variant ‘may be fatal for the brain’. Meanwhile, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 …

Covid XBB.1.5 or Omicron BF.7- which is more dangerous? Know the differences
1 year, 11 months ago

Covid XBB.1.5 or Omicron BF.7- which is more dangerous? Know the differences

India TV News  

The coronavirus outbreak continues to be a threat worldwide. Amid this outbreak, two Covid variants have been in the news majorly-- Omicron BF.7, which is prominent in countries like China, Japan, and Hongkong; and the other is Covid XBB.1.5 variant, which is being reported in the US and some parts of the UK. The variant BF.7 has an R346T mutation …

COVID-19 | One BF.7.4 infection found in Bengaluru?
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19 | One BF.7.4 infection found in Bengaluru?

The Hindu  

December 31, 2022 09:01 pm | Updated January 01, 2023 04:17 pm IST - Bengaluru One case of a BF.7.4 infection, the new Omicron sub-variant, is learnt to have been reported in Bengaluru. Sources told The Hindu that the sample of a 34-year-old software engineer, who came from Germany in the first week of December, has been found to have …

COVID BF.7 in India: Can this Omicron variant lead to severe diseases? Know symptoms you shouldn't ignore
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID BF.7 in India: Can this Omicron variant lead to severe diseases? Know symptoms you shouldn't ignore

India TV News  

The Omicron sub-variant BF.7 is said to be contributing to the current surge of COVID cases in several countries, including China. The BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, which has been referred to as the "great-grandson of Omicron" by Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-chairman of the National IMA Covid taskforce. Dr. Jayadevan told IANS that the Omicron variant …

Can Omicron BF.7 variant cause a new covid wave in India? What experts say
1 year, 11 months ago

Can Omicron BF.7 variant cause a new covid wave in India? What experts say

Live Mint  

The latest covid surge in five other nations, including China, Japan and US has cautioned a question in India as well that can this virulent BF.7 covid variant can cause another wave in India? Nations like China, Japan and the United States of America are seeing a spike in cases, believed to be caused by BF.7, a sub variant of …

What is Covid variant XBB? Is it severe among Indian patients like the previous coronavirus?
1 year, 11 months ago

What is Covid variant XBB? Is it severe among Indian patients like the previous coronavirus?

India TV News  

The XBB subvariant of Covid-19's Omicron variant is fast emerging as the dominant type in India, and now it accounts for more than 18 per cent of cases in the US as well. According to the WHO, XBB is a recombined subvariant, a sub-lineage of the Omicron variants BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 which means it is a subvariant of the Covid-19 …

Understanding Omicron BF.7, The New Covid-19 Variant From China, And How India Should Prepare
1 year, 11 months ago

Understanding Omicron BF.7, The New Covid-19 Variant From China, And How India Should Prepare

ABP News  

The Covid-19 pandemic is dragging on too long, and there is still no respite in sight. Coronaviruses And Variants The original virus that first emerged from Wuhan in China is termed SARS CoV-2 and is a strain of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The original virus and viral mutations and variants are routinely monitored through sequence-based surveillance, laboratory studies, and …

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is
1 year, 11 months ago

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is

Live Mint  

Covid-19’s rapid spread in China has prompted reports of crowded hospitals and inundated crematoria. China is meeting the Omicron variant with less exposure to the virus and lower vaccination rates among the elderly, public-health experts said. Covid-19’s spread there will help explain to what extent lower rates of severe disease and death are influenced by Omicron’s nature compared with a …

Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant BF.7 won't lead to severe disease, expert's report
2 years ago

Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant BF.7 won't lead to severe disease, expert's report

India TV News  

The current Covid surge in many countries including China is believed to be driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. The BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, which, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-chairman, the National IMA Covid taskforce, calls 'great-grandson of Omicron'. Giving credit to high vaccination coverage and naturally acquired immunity among those who survived past Covid-19 infection, Dr …

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is
2 years ago

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is

Live Mint  

Covid-19’s rapid spread in China has prompted reports of crowded hospitals and inundated crematoria. China is meeting the Omicron variant with less exposure to the virus and lower vaccination rates among the elderly, public-health experts said. Covid-19’s spread there will help explain to what extent lower rates of severe disease and death are influenced by Omicron’s nature compared with a …

'India Won't Become 2nd China': Omicron’s BF.7 Strain Fast Not Furious, Assures Ex-ICMR Scientist
2 years ago

'India Won't Become 2nd China': Omicron’s BF.7 Strain Fast Not Furious, Assures Ex-ICMR Scientist

News 18  

The Omicron BF.7 sub-lineage is fast in transmission but not at all furious, a former scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research has told News18.com. “There is a sense of panic among people with loads of videos and messages going around on social media platforms and ‘WhatsApp University’ about the BF.7 variant and symptoms caused by the same,” said …

OPINION | Covid threat: India is on a stronger wicket compared to China, says Dr Guleria
2 years ago

OPINION | Covid threat: India is on a stronger wicket compared to China, says Dr Guleria

India TV News  

As scary visuals come in from China of bodies of Covid-19 victims being laid out inside containers, the Centre and state governments have revved up arrangements to ensure full preparedness in the face of fresh challenge. In my prime time show Aaj Ki Baat on Friday night, we showed fresh videos and pictures of large number of Covid patients undergoing …

COVID-19 | Experts say India may not see ‘substantial wave’ if there are no new variants developing in China
2 years ago

COVID-19 | Experts say India may not see ‘substantial wave’ if there are no new variants developing in China

The Hindu  

While there is some panic in India following a significant surge of COVID-19 cases in China, experts point out that India continues to show a sustained decreasing trajectory of cases in the last few months. It is unlikely to see a fresh “substantial wave” if there are no new variants in China as a result of ongoing circulation, they feel. …

Virologist Gagandeep Kang says India doing fine, do not expect surge in cases due to Omicron's sub-variants XBB, BF.7
2 years ago

Virologist Gagandeep Kang says India doing fine, do not expect surge in cases due to Omicron's sub-variants XBB, BF.7

The Hindu  

Renowned virologist Gagandeep Kang on December 23, 2022 said India has reported a few cases of Omicron sub-variants XBB and BF.7, but they have not driven an upsurge, and she does not expect a spike in COVID cases. "They are, like all Omicron sub-variants, very good at infecting people because they escape the immune response that prevents infection, but are …

India doing fine, no surge expected in cases due to Omicron sub-variants: Virologist
2 years ago

India doing fine, no surge expected in cases due to Omicron sub-variants: Virologist

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW DELHI: Renowned virologist Gangandeep Kang on Friday said India has reported a few cases of Omicron sub-variants XBB and BF.7, but they have not driven an upsurge, and she does not expect a spike in Covid cases. "They are, like all Omicron sub-variants, very good at infecting people because they escape the immune response that prevents infection, but are …

Scared by Possibility of Fourth Covid Wave? Fret Not, Situation in India Not as Severe as China
2 years ago

Scared by Possibility of Fourth Covid Wave? Fret Not, Situation in India Not as Severe as China

News 18  

As Covid-19 cases are spreading rapidly through China again and in some other parts of the world, India is stepping up its virus combating measures especially as the BF.7 variant, behind the new surge, has been detected in the country. By October 21, 2021, India had administered a total of 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to its population, and by …

Debunking the viral WhatsApp: Why the XBB variant is not deadlier than Delta
2 years ago

Debunking the viral WhatsApp: Why the XBB variant is not deadlier than Delta

Firstpost  

No, the COVID-Omicron XBB is NOT ‘5 times more virulent than the Delta variant’. While XBB is now the dominant variant in India, it does not affect the lungs like Delta, which led to the deadly second wave in the country India is on high alert amid China’s worrying COVID-19 surge. A message doing the rounds on social media reads, …

COVID-19: no need for scaremongering, precautions needed, say health experts
2 years ago

COVID-19: no need for scaremongering, precautions needed, say health experts

The Hindu  

Even as the Central and State governments have called for a general alert over a possible rise in COVID-19 cases, public health experts have warned against scaremongering over COVID-19. Public health experts point out that as the new virus variants coming into circulation are the sub variants of Omicron, which in itself was less lethal than Delta, there was no …

FACT CHECK: Covid Omicron XBB variant 5-times dangerous than delta! Here's the truth
2 years ago

FACT CHECK: Covid Omicron XBB variant 5-times dangerous than delta! Here's the truth

India TV News  

Covid Omicron XBB variant: Amid ever-growing concerns over the massive Covid surge in China, claims are being made on social media regarding Covid Omicron XBB variant being five times more dangerous and having higher mortality rate than the Delta variant that wreaked havoc across the world, including India. The viral message claims that Omicron XBB variant is so dangerous that …

COVID-19 | Omicron subvariant BF.7, linked to China spike, first found in India in July
2 years ago

COVID-19 | Omicron subvariant BF.7, linked to China spike, first found in India in July

The Hindu  

The BF.7 variant of COVID-19, believed to be driving the recent surge of cases in China, was first identified in India as far back as July. “A new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of covid infections in China,” it added. The assessment of government officials involved in …

With detection of Omicron sub-variant in India, medical experts sound an alarm, insist on adhering to COVID-19 protocols
2 years ago

With detection of Omicron sub-variant in India, medical experts sound an alarm, insist on adhering to COVID-19 protocols

The Hindu  

Going by the media reports on the COVID-19 situation in China, Japan and the U.S., the situation once again looks grim, and it appears that the world is heading back to square one. With reports on detection of three cases of Omicron sub-variant — two in Gujarat and one in Odisha, it is even more pertinent that we go back …

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