COPENHAGEN, Jan 12: The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is on track to infect more than half of Europeans, but it should not yet be seen as a flu-like endemic illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

KATHMANDU, Jan 6: Doctors have pointed out that people in Nepal who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus, whose immune system is weak and who have not been previously infected, may be at risk from the Omicron variant.

NEW DELHI, Jan 6: A diabetic man who died in the western state of Rajasthan was India's first fatality from the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the health ministry said on Wednesday, adding that overall infections had doubled to 58,097 over the past four days.

Dec 29: Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one.

LONDON, Dec 24: Preliminary data suggests that people with the omicron variant of the coronavirus are 50% to 70% less likely to be hospitalized than those with the delta strain, Britain’s public health agency announced Thursday in a finding that one researcher called “a small ray of sunlight.”

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold discussions with state chiefs on Thursday on containing the possible surge of Omicron cases ahead of the festive season, as gatherings in public spaces and markets gain momentum.

Dec 14: Two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimens do not induce enough neutralising antibodies against the Omicron coronavirus variant, British scientists found, indicating that increased infections in those previously infected or vaccinated may be likely.

The identification of the Omicron variant has sparked growing concerns over its unusually high number of mutations and rapid spread in South Africa. The United States restricted travelers from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday. It joined at least 10 other countries restricting travel from the region, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Singapore.

BUTWAL, Dec 7: High alert has been adopted at the bordering areas of Rupandehi district to stem the infection of 'Omicron', a new variant of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Infected persons had travelled via country where the virus was already detected

KATHMANDU, Dec 6: Nepal has detected the first two cases of Omicron variant on Monday.

NEW YORK, Dec 3: The omicron variant of COVID-19, which had been undetected in the U.S. before the middle of this week, had been discovered in at least five states by the end of Thursday, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease.

MANILA, Philippines, Dec 3: World Health Organization officials in the Western Pacific say border closures adopted by some countries may buy time to deal with the omicron coronavirus variant, but measures put in place and experience gained in dealing with the delta variant should remain the foundation for fighting the pandemic.

BIRGUNJ, Dec 3: As India recorded the cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19, officials have increased surveillance in the Birgunj border point along the Nepal-India border area.

TOKYO/WASHINGTON, Dec 2: Fears over the impact of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus rose on Thursday after the first case was reported in the United States and the Japanese central bank warned of economic pain as countries respond with tighter containment measures.

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 29: A South African doctor who was one of the first to suspect a different coronavirus strain among patients said on Sunday that symptoms of the Omicron variant were so far mild and could be treated at home.

Nov 28: The new Omicron coronavirus variant - identified first in South Africa, but also detected in Europe and Asia - is raising concern worldwide given the number of mutations, which might help it spread or even evade antibodies from prior infection or vaccination.