Amidst the Omicron variant scare, authorities in India have arranged for Covid-19 vaccination for foreigners at the Taj Mahal in Agra -- keeping in mind that the 17th-century monument is a hot favourite with international tourists.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen today said passengers arriving from South Africa must undergo a compulsory quarantine period of 14 days.

Laboratory analysis of the antibody-based COVID-19 therapy GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) (GSK) is developing with U.S. partner Vir (VIR.O) has indicated the drug is effective against the new Omicron variant, the British drugmaker said on Thursday.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque today said the number of Covid-19 testing labs will be increased if the number of passengers at Dhaka airport go up.

India today reported its first two cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 infection in the southern state of Karnataka, the Indian Health Ministry said.

At least 108 dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8:00am today, of whom 62 are from outside Dhaka, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Three persons 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).

Greeks who are over age 60 and refuse coronavirus vaccinations will be hit with monthly fines of more than one-quarter of their pensions — a get-tough policy that could prove risky for the country’s politicians.

It could take weeks before we can understand its impact.

South Korea has discovered its first cases of Covid-19’s omicron variant, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday evening.

Moderna Inc could have a COVID-19 booster shot targeting the Omicron variant tested and ready to file for US authorization as soon as March, the company's president said on Wednesday.

A person in California who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant, the White House announced Wednesday as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new virus strain.

Amid the global scare over the new “Omicron” variant of coronavirus, Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday said returnees from the African countries will have to have Covid-19 test reports, done 48 hours prior to departure, while entering Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant coming from a north African country, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

Amid the global scare over the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, Health Minister Zahid Maleque today urged the expatriates, especially those living in Africa, to avoid travel and stay in their respective workplaces.

At least 121 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Two persons 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).

On Friday, November 19, Raquel Viana, Head of Science at one of South Africa's biggest private testing labs, sequenced the genes on eight coronavirus samples - and got the shock of her life.

The government yesterday introduced a ‘no vaccine, no service’ policy and a 14-day institutional quarantine for those arriving from countries where the Omicron variant has been detected, as it scrambles to put its guard up against the new potentially more contagious strain of the coronavirus.

BioNTech and Pfizer's established Covid-19 vaccine will likely offer strong protection against any severe disease from the new Omicron virus variant, BioNTech's Chief Executive told Reuters.