Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting a high-level discussion on COVID-19 and the country’s immunization status, which is being attended by top government officials.
The meeting comes as scientists have raised concerns about the B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant, known as Omnicron, which has been red-flagged by scientists due to an alarmingly high number of mutations that could make the virus more resistant to vaccines, increase transmissibility, and cause more severe symptoms. The B.1.1.529 variant, which was discovered in South Africa this week and has subsequently been found in Botswana, Hong Kong, Israel, and Belgium, is thought to have 50 mutations, with over 30 in the spike protein and ten in the receptor-binding domain.
Most existing COVID-19 vaccines are designed to target the spike protein, which the virus utilizes to gain entry to our cells. Researchers are currently determining whether this makes the strain more transmissible or fatal than previous versions, as well as whether existing vaccines can defend against it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the B.1.1.529 strain Omicron after classifying it as a “variant of concern.” With the worldwide dominant Delta and its lesser rivals Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, it is classified as a ‘variant of concern,’ putting it in the high-alert category.
The Civil Aviation Ministry stated Friday evening that India will resume scheduled international flights on December 15. The Aviation Ministry declared that 14 countries recognized as “at risk” by the Health Ministry and with which a “air bubble” agreement currently exists will be allowed to resume 75% of pre-Covid operations (or a minimum of seven frequencies per week).
