Thailand has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a US citizen who had travelled to the country from Spain late last month, a health official said today.

US health officials said Sunday that while the omicron variant of the coronavirus is rapidly spreading throughout the country, early indications suggest it may be less dangerous than delta, which continues to drive a surge of hospitalizations.

The government has no plan to seal off borders or slap lockdown to prevent Omicron variant, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said yesterday.

At least 68 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours yesterday, of whom 21 are from outside Dhaka, according to DGHS.

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

Sixty-eight dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8:00 am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Health Minister Zahid Maleque today said that all necessary preparations have been made to deal with the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

Australia's medicine regulator on Sunday provisionally approved the Pfizer Inc coronavirus vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11, with the health minister saying the rollout could begin from January 10.

The government is yet to take any effective measures to prevent a possible surge in Covid-19 cases as per recommendations made by the National Technical Advisory Committee.

South Africa reported a recent surge in Covid-19 cases among children, which was not seen in the previous waves of the pandemic even as the country is handling the sharp increase of Omicron variant cases.

At least 53 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday of whom 29 are from outside Dhaka, according to DGHS.

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

India today reported two more cases of Omicron, taking the total number of persons confirmed with the latest variant of Covid-19 to four, officials said.

Two hippos have tested positive for COVID-19 at Antwerp Zoo in Belgium in what could be the first reported cases in the species, zoo staff said.

At least 53 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8:00am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

At least 13 people in Oslo have been infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus following a corporate Christmas party described as a "super spreader event", and their numbers could rise to over 60 cases, authorities said on Friday.

The Omicron variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers.

Incoming passengers from South Africa and six other countries have to stay in 14-day mandatory institutional quarantine at their own expenses in designated hotels from today, said Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday urged countries to boost healthcare capacity and vaccinate their people to fight a surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant, saying that travel curbs could buy time but alone were not the answer.

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