Existing COVID-19 vaccines are probably effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation from the newly identified Omicron variant, a top South African infectious disease expert said on Monday.

Two people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00am today, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A South African doctor who was one of the first to suspect a different coronavirus strain among patients said on Sunday that symptoms of the Omicron variant were so far mild and could be treated at home.

The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 recommended limiting mass gatherings and travel bans on countries where the Omicron variant had spread.

A new, heavily mutated Covid-19 variant spread across the globe yesterday, shutting borders, renewing curbs, and sparking fears for the fight against the nearly two-year-old coronavirus pandemic.

The Omicron coronavirus variant kept spreading around the world on Sunday, with 13 cases found in the Netherlands and two each in Denmark and Australia even as more countries imposed travel restriction to try to seal themselves off.

Britain has recorded the third case of the newly identified Omicron coronavirus variant, the UK Health Security Agency said on Sunday, adding that the individual, who was no longer in Britain, was linked to travel to Southern Africa.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has directed the international airports in the country to remain on high alert to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron.

Britain on Saturday, November 27, 2021, announced tougher entry rules for all arriving passengers and the return of a masks mandate, after confirming its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19.

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has recommended ban on travel from countries where the new variant Omicron has spread.

Three people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00am today, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

As India braced to guard against the Omicron variant of Covid-19, two travellers who flew in from South Africa to the Indian IT hub of Bengaluru have tested positive for the virus and their samples have been sent for genome sequencing to ascertain the mutant, officials said.

The Co-Chairs of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response presented their findings recently in the new report titled Losing Time: End this pandemic and secure the future.

The government is preparing to introduce travel bans on South Africa and other countries where the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been found.

Bangladesh yesterday reported 155 Covid-19 cases while the coronavirus claimed overnight two lives.

Fears mounted yesterday that a highly-infectious new coronavirus strain was pushing its way into Europe as the world brought the shutters down to contain the new Omicron variant.

Two cases of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been detected in Britain, health minister Sajid Javid said on Saturday.

One hundred percent of the United Arab Emirates' population has received at least one dose of a vaccine against Covid-19, the health ministry has said.

Dutch health authorities said that 61 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday tested positive for COVID-19, and they were conducting further testing early Saturday to see if any of the infections are with the recently discovered Omicron coronavirus variant.

Two people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).