Omicron COVID-19 variant : Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya holds meeting with states

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is reportedly holding a virtual meeting with representatives of states over rising concerns regarding the Omicron variant of COVID-19. While India has already postponed the resumption of international flight operations that was slated to return to normalcy on December 15, the government’s response is also likely to be discussed in the Lok Sabha later today.Meanwhile, in a significant development, a South Africa returnee became the US’ first confirmed case of Omicron coronavirus variant in California. Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to US President confirmed the development and said that the individual displayed mild symptoms of Omicron and is improving at a medical facility.”The individual was fully vaccinated & experienced mild symptoms which are improving at this point,” Dr Fauci said. In a statement, the White House urged Americans to get vaccinated with COVID-19 jabs and boosters.As Omicron fear continued to grip the globe countries struggled to reinstate measures that were on the verge of being lifted in light of a dip in COVID-19 cases. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, however, said that imposing travel bans over the new COVID-19 strain Omicron was ‘unfair’ and ‘ineffective’. While no case of Omicron has been detected in India so far, the December 15 target to bring international flight operations to normalcy has been postponed in light of the new coronavirus variant.