SINGAPORE — The new Covid variant omicron will likely “overwhelm the whole world” in the coming months, according to a Singapore-based infectious disease doctor. While vaccines against the strain can be developed quickly, they need to be tested over three to six months to prove that they can provide immunity against the variant, Dr. Leong Hoe Nam of Mount Elizabeth Novena …
Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation Jason Alden | Bloomberg | Getty Images The failure of the wealthiest nations to share Covid-19 vaccines quickly and widely with developing countries is a key reason for the emergence of the new omicron variant, according to Rajiv J. Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation. South African scientists reported their discovery of the …
A lab technician wearing a full body protection suit handles a bottle containing growth media for virus production during coronavirus vaccine research at the Valneva SA laboratories in Vienna, Austria. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images LONDON — As the new omicron Covid variant spreads around the world, hopes are being pinned on vaccine makers’ ability to develop effective shots …
The world is on high alert due to the new omicron Covid strain — but delta is still responsible for most of the current infections globally, the World Health Organization pointed out on Monday. “Over 99% of cases around the world are due to the delta variant and more deaths are occurring in the unvaccinated,” WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan …
The Netherlands confirmed 13 cases of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus on Sunday and Australia found two as the countries half a world apart became the latest to detect it in travelers arriving from southern Africa. A raft of curbs being imposed by nations around the world as they scramble to slow the variant’s spread also grew, with …
U.K. Home Secretary, Sajid Javid. Getty Images Britain, Germany and Italy detected cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new steps to contain the virus, while more nations imposed restrictions on travel from southern Africa. The discovery of the variant has sparked global concern, a wave of travel bans or curbs …
A vial of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Getty Images Pfizer and BioNTech are investigating the new, heavily mutated variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, the companies said Friday morning. “We understand the concern of experts and have immediately initiated investigations on variant B.1.1.529,” the companies said. Pfizer and BioNTech said they expect more data from lab tests in two weeks …
Friday’s sharp decline for stocks, spurred by concerns over a new Covid-19 variant, is not a buying opportunity, according to CNBC’s Jim Cramer. “We’re going to wake up next week and find one [case] in this country, and I’m not going to recommend anyone buy anything today until we’re sure that isn’t going to happen. And I can’t be sure …
QR code with EU COVID digital certificate displayed on a mobile phone. NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images The European Union is considering a nine-month expiration date on its Covid-19 vaccine certificates, which allow tourists certain freedoms to travel while the coronavirus pandemic still rages. The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, proposed Thursday that the EU Digital …
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference organized by Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents (ACANU) amid the COVID-19 outbreak, at the WHO headquarters in Geneva Switzerland July 3, 2020. Fabrice Coffrini | Pool | Reuters The World Health Organization is urging the public to practice Covid mitigation tactics – including masking and distancing – …
