Omicron variant: 9 more Omicron cases detected, 4 each in Maharashtra, Kerala; 1st case reported in Tamil Nadu

The government’s scientific advisory groups are considering a booster or third dose of Covid vaccines for those who are immunocompromised or people at high risk, including elderly, even as new variant Omicron is not as yet seen as a reason to speed up a decision on the third dose.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading swiftly and will become the dominant variant in the British capital in the next 48 hours, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Monday. "No variant of Covid-19 has spread this fast," Javid told parliament.

The Gujarat government has informed the Supreme Court that it has received 22,557 applications for ex gratia from the kin of those who died of Covid-19 in the state, of which it has sanctioned payments in 16,175 cases. The official Covid toll in Gujarat, as declared by the government, stands at 10,099 till Monday and the report submitted to the SC indicates that 6,076 “extra or additional claims” have been added, making Gujarat the latest state to add a significant number to its death tally.