Omicron
- World News
US approves updated Pfizer, Moderna shots targeting Omicron
US health officials on Wednesday authorized updated COVID-19 vaccinations by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech that specifically target the latest strains of…
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COVID-19: US tells pharmas to make boosters targeting BA.4 and BA.5
The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday told vaccine makers that Covid boosters for this fall and winter should…
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SA COVID-19: Vulnerable people urged to be cautious after more restrictions scrapped
Head of medical virology at Stellenbosch University, Professor Wolfgang Preiser said that vulnerable people should still take extra care in…
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Kim Jong Un orders national lockdown after North Korea reports first COVID cases
North Korea confirmed its first-ever COVID cases on Thursday and declared a “serious emergency”, with leader Kim Jong Un ordering…
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WHO: 2 Omicron sub-variants are driving SA’s COVID spike
Two new Omicron sub-variants are driving an increase in reported COVID cases in South Africa, the World Health Organization said…
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SA is in a resurgence COVID-19 phase – expert
South Africans are being urged to not let their guard down as COVID-19 cases increase. The National Health Laboratory Services…
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Health Minister Phaahla: Rise in COVID cases suggests SA entering 5th wave
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said that there were conflicting opinions on whether the country had entered a fifth wave but…
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Health Dept dismisses reports of COVID-19 resurgence involving Delta variant
As South Africans enjoy the relaxation of lockdown regulations, the Health Department has dismissed reports of a potential resurgence of…
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COVID-19: China reports 2 deaths, first in more than a year
China reported two Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, its first in more than a year, underlining the threat posed by an…
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China boosts bed spaces as Omicron outbreak spreads
China moved to free up hospital beds as officials on Wednesday reported thousands of new cases from an Omicron-led coronavirus…
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COVID-19: Sisonke study shows J&J jab offers robust protection against Omicron
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine offers robust protection against Omicron, according to the world’s first evidence on the jab’s…
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Despite fuel price drop, review of fuel price structure still needed – says AA
If you need to fill your car up, you may want to wait until Wednesday. From the stroke of midnight,…
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DA’s John Steenhuisen wants President Ramaphosa to end curfew before New Year’s Eve
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to support the economy and end curfew before…
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United States regulator authorises Merck’s COVID pill
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday authorized Merck’s COVID pill for high-risk adults amid a winter surge…
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US reports first death from Omicron
Even as Omicron has now become the dominant variant in the US, the country has reported its first death from…
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Texas Harris County records its first death linked to Omicron variant
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus accounts for 73% of US coronavirus infections based on sequencing data for the week…
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Canada lifts South Africa travel ban
Canada has lifted travel bans on ten African countries, including South Africa. The other countries off the list are Mozambique,…
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Omicron Covid-19 cases could be as severe as Delta
A previous Covid-19 recovery provides little shield against infection with the omicron variant, a research team from Imperial College London…
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Pfizer and Moderna working on modified boosters to fight Omicron
At a plant nestled along a highway 20 miles north of Boston, hundreds of Pfizer Inc. workers are gearing up…
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SA Lockdown: Tighter restrictions on the cards?
Ahead of this week’s National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) meeting, the nation is anxiously waiting for its outcome, particularly on…
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Zim considers banning unvaccinated from public transport
Zimbabwe is considering banning the unvaccinated from using public transport. But, for now, people can get their jabs at bus…
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Omicron could be spreading faster in the UK than South Africa
The omicron strain may be spreading faster in England than in South Africa, with U.K. cases of the variant possibly…
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Traffic and EMS officials gear up for festive season in Gauteng
Police officers and other law enforcement officials are fanned out across crime hotspots in Gauteng ahead of the festive season.…
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Government faced with difficult task of curbing COVID spread and protecting economy
Government is preparing for another tightrope walk as Omicron drives COVID cases ever upwards. In the last 24 hours, another…
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Scientist who first sequenced omicron worried by speed of mutations
The speed at which the omicron variant appears to have accumulated its unusual pattern of mutations is a concern, according…
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Increased COVID-19 testing can’t be blamed for infections spike – expert
Increased testing can’t be blamed for the spike in Covid-19 infections, according to Ridhwaan Suliman from the CSIR. The National…
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WHO says research on transmissibility of Omicron under way
World Health Organisation (WHO) experts gave an update on Friday on this coronavirus variant that was classified as a variant…
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New COVID variant leaves SA’s safari tourism industry in tatters
Sabine Stam didn’t expect to have her feet up, sipping white wine on the deck of a half-empty safari lodge…
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Google delays office return due to Omicron
Alphabet Inc.’s Google is once again pushing back the date it will require employees to return to U.S. offices on…
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NICD: Omicron becoming dominant in new COVID infections
Omicron appears to be dominating new COVID-19 infections. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Thursday said around 75%…
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Ghana says 34 samples from returning travellers test positive for Omicron COVID-19 variant
Ghana detected the Omicron coronavirus variant in 34 samples from travellers who returned to the country from November 21-25, according…
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Saudi Arabia confirms first case of Omicron variant
Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant as countries tightened restrictions on international travel in…
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Those arguing against vaccine mandates have no legal leg to stand on, says SAHRC
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Monday said citizens who were still arguing about the constitutionality of vaccine…
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SAA cancels Mauritius flights following latest travel ban
South African Airways (SAA) has cancelled all of its flights to and from Mauritius following the imposition of a travel…
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Omicron proves that 4th wave is coming, says Ramaphosa
The emergence of the Omicron variant and the exponential rise in COVID-19 infections in South Africa shows that the fourth…
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South Africans anticipate the worst ahead of holiday season
Since the discovery of the new Omicron variant and the growing number of new COVID-19 infections in the country, South…
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UK confirms first 2 cases of new COVID strain
Britain on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of COVID-19, both linked to travel from…
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South Africa ‘punished’ for detecting Omicron COVID variant, says Dirco
South Africa complained Saturday that it is being “punished” for detecting a new COVID-19 variant Omicron which the World Health…
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Airlines Association of SA slams UK red list decision
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa has slammed the UK’s red list decision. It comes after the new Omicron variant…
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WHO names new COVID-19 variant Omicron
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of COVID-19, first detected in southern Africa, to be a…
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