FILE – People wait in line at a COVID-19 testing site in Times Square in New York on December 13, 2021.
Highlight
- In the US, the FDA is expanding the COVID-19 booster as it faces the Omicron boom.
- Several European countries including the UK, France and Italy are reporting record Covid cases.
- The WHO designated the risks related to the Omicron variant as ‘Very High’.
As the Omicron version of COVID-19 slowly spreads across the world, coronavirus cases are on the rise in many countries, including India. In the US, the FDA is expanding the COVID-19 booster as it faces the Omicron boom. Several studies have found that vaccines still provide protection against serious illness from any type of COVID-19. Although the Omicron version is said to be less lethal than the delta version, the risks of infection still remain.
Here are the number of COVID-19 infections for some countries struggling to cope due to record cases:
- In Italy, the confirmed Covid-19 cases stand at 6,328,076, while 5,119,893 persons have been cured so far. The death toll in Italy due to the infection is 137,646 and the death rate is 2.2 percent. In the last 24 hours, the country has recorded 61,046 fresh COVID cases and 133 deaths.
- In Turkey, the confirmed COVID-19 cases stand at 9,552,801, while 9,108,798 persons have recovered so far. The death toll from the infection in Turkey is 82,635 and the death rate is 0.9 percent. In the last 24 hours, 33,520 new COVID cases and 129 deaths have been recorded in the country.
- In the UK, there are 13,235,401 confirmed Covid-19 cases, while 10,410,273 persons have recovered so far. The death toll from the infection in Britain is 148,851 and the death rate is 1.1 percent. In the last 24 hours, 1,37,583 new COVID cases and 71 deaths have been recorded in the country.
- In the US, there are 56,142,175 confirmed Covid-19 cases, while 41,543,060 persons have recovered so far. The death toll from the infection in the US is 847,408 and the death rate is 1.5 percent. In the last 24 hours, 1,85,122 new COVID cases have been registered and 162 deaths have been reported in the country.
- In France, there are 10,250,358 confirmed Covid-19 cases, while 8,146,786 persons have recovered so far. The death toll from the infection in France is 123,942 and the death rate is 1.2 percent. In the last 24 hours, 58,432 new COVID cases have been registered and 91 deaths have been reported in the country.
America’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, looks forward to controlling the virus in a way “that doesn’t disrupt society, that doesn’t disrupt the economy,” the AP news agency reported.
Read also: England: Face masks mandatory in schools as Omicron spreads
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that there has been a 29% reduction in reported COVID cases in South Africa, a country where the Omicron version of COVID-19 mutated for the first time.
However, more data are needed to understand the severity of omicrons, including data on oxygen use, mechanical ventilation, and deaths. More data is also needed to know how severe Omicron is for people who have been previously infected with COVID-19 and those who have been vaccinated.
More Omicron Updates Here
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