Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron
Authorities in Mumbai have banned gatherings and imposed fresh restrictions ahead of the festive season to deal with rising Omicron cases after more than two dozen people were confirmed to be infected with the highly infectious Covid-19 variant.
Almost half of the 28 Omicron cases in India’s financial capital had no travel history, officials said, triggering concerns that the strain is already spreading locally.
Officials said Section 144 — which prohibits gatherings of more than four people outdoors — has been imposed for 15 days, until December 31, to stop the local transmission of the virus.
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Children walk through the settlement of Vlakfontein outside Johannesburg in South Africa. Although children under 12 are not taking part in the country's Covid-19 vaccination campaign, cases in young children are on the rise since the discovery of the Omicron variant. AP -
People wearing face masks to protect against Covid-19 cross the Concorde square in Paris. The World Health Organisation says early evidence suggests the omicron variant may be spreading faster than the highly transmissible delta variant, but brings with it less severe coronavirus disease. AP -
President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the state dinning room at the White House in Washington. The US president and the vice president held a meeting with members of the White House Covid-19 Response Team on the latest developments related to the Omicron variant. EPA -
Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, attends a Covid-19 meeting at the White House. EPA -
People wait in line to get tested for Covid-19 in Times Square, New York. AFP -
The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been detected in at least 19 US states. Health officials are urging Americans to get vaccinated and receive their booster shots. AFP -
Leonardo Velasco, 4, reacts as he receives a dose of the Sinopharm vaccine in Caracas, Venezuela, Reuters -
People wear face masks as they ride a bus after the first case of the Omicron variant was detected in Pakistan. The case was reported in a private hospital in Karachi by a patient with a history of international travel. EPA -
A health care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer vaccine in Johannesburg, South Africa. Reuters -
A medical worker holds a sign for visitors to prepare for coronavirus tests at a temporary screening clinic in Seoul, South Korea. AP -
A child waits to receive a dose of the Sinofarm vaccine in La Paz, after Bolivian President Luis Arce authorised the vaccination of children between five and 11 years old. AFP -
Ice skaters take a selfie on the ice rink at the Natural History Museum in central London. AFP -
A health professional points to a Christmas tree made with Covid-19 and flu vaccine vials at the Public Health Basic Unit 'Ernani Agricola' in the Lapa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP -
Skaters, most wearing face masks to combat the spread of coronavirus, skate on the ice rink at the Natural History Museum in London. AFP -
A medical worker prepares a Moderna vaccine on the first day of the re-opening of a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Merignac, on the outskirts of Bordeaux, France. AFP
It also banned large religious or political gatherings and has increased testing in the city.
Separately, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that it had made vaccination compulsory for people planning to participate in or host Christmas or New Year events.
It has also allowed only fully vaccinated people to use public transport and made Covid-19 negative tests mandatory for domestic travellers.
Mumbai, the capital of western Maharashtra state, is India’s worst Covid-19-affected city, with a caseload of over 760,000 and 16,000 deaths reported since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020.
In recent months, daily infection rates have come down sharply to around 250 in the city, but officials fear the new variant that was first detected in South Africa in November could derail the progress.
A top health official said while updating the state cabinet on the Covid-19 situation that there could be a huge spike in the number of Omicron cases in January, including in rural areas.
“Omicron infections are increasing rapidly in the world and patients are also being detected in Maharashtra. These patients can be found not only in big cities but also in small towns. Next month, in January, a large number of people in the state will be infected with Omicron,” Dr Pradeep Vyas said.
India has seen a sharp increase in the number of Omicron cases after detecting its first case on December 2.
Central health officials said 78 cases have been detected across several Indian states, including a 7-year-old boy in eastern West Bengal state.
The child had arrived in Hyderabad from Abu Dhabi on December 11 and then travelled to the state capital, Kolkata. He was admitted to a hospital with mild symptoms.
The eastern state has also extended restrictions until January 15 amid Omicron concerns.
