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2 hours ago
The severity of omicron seems "slight", according to ministries of health of Asia-Pacific
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt during a press conference at Parliament House on March 24, 2020 in Canberra, Australia.
(Sam Mooy / Getty Images)
Several ministries of health in the Asia-Pacific region said that, although it is too early to draw firm conclusions, the cases of Covid-19 caused by the omicron variant appear to be "mild."
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told a press conference on Friday that while "there is no question" that the omicron variant is transmissible, there is "no real evidence ... of increased severity" compared to previous covid-19 variants.
Of the 25 confirmed omicron cases in the Australian state of New South Wales, the most affected by the new variant, none were admitted to hospital for covid-related care, authorities reported Monday.
Meanwhile, South Korea's health agency, KDCA, warned that, while caution remains, all confirmed cases of omicron in the country were "stable and mild so far."
The country has reported 24 confirmed cases of the variant so far, one of the highest numbers recorded in Asia Pacific.
In addition, the Singapore Ministry of Health said on Sunday that, although "it is too early to conclude on the severity of the disease," cases worldwide "showed mostly mild symptoms", such as "sore throat, tiredness and cough. ".
India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also released a statement saying that although the evidence is evolving, "the severity of the disease is expected to be low."
In Hong Kong, three of the confirmed omicron cases there are being treated at the hospital, which is a requirement for all people who test positive for covid-19.
Those infected in the hospital are stable, the hospital authority said in a statement.
Another patient has already been discharged and is in isolation for 14 days, he added.
2 hours ago
The new covid-19 "green pass" enters into force in Italy
Italy's new covid-19 "super green pass" came into effect this Monday in bars, restaurants, theaters and other closed entertainment venues. The "green super pass" - an extension of the existing green pass in the country - only allows entry to these premises to those who are fully vaccinated or can prove that they have recovered from the coronavirus.
The original green pass, which requires full vaccination, a recovery test or a negative covid test, continues to be applied in workspaces and has been extended to local public transport.
The difference is that the negative test instead of the vaccine no longer works to enter the entertainment venues, forcing more people to get vaccinated.
The measures of the "super green pass" will apply at least until January 15 throughout the country.
1 hour ago
Russia detects the first two cases of the new variant
Russia detected its first cases of the omicron coronavirus variant in two people from South Africa, the country's public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor reported on Monday, according to Russian state media TASS.
Rospotrebnadzor said that 10 people who came to Russia from South Africa tested positive for coronavirus and their samples are being tested.
The new omicron variant was detected in two passengers from South Africa.
No information has yet been released on when they have returned to Russia.
According to TASS, the public health watchdog said the omicron variant was detected as a result of genome sequencing carried out by the Central Institute for Epidemiological Research, led by Rospotrebnadzor.