Meeting informed 33 per cent of Pakistan's eligible vaccination fully vaccinated.

Launches drive to offer free-of-cost booster doses at all its designated vaccination centres in the province.

EU chief mulls mandatory Covid jabs.

Health expert says variant has been detected in a traveller who returned from South Africa on Nov 22.

The case has been detected in a citizen coming from a North African country, official says.

Forum directs provinces to adopt zero-tolerance policy to ensure implementation of "obligatory vaccine regime".

“All the scientists I’ve talked to are like ‘this is not going to be good’,” he says.

The new guidelines will be applicable from Dec 1 (tomorrow) to Dec 15.

We must do better. The Omicron variant illustrates that clearly the world can’t afford to wait any longer.

Lookups for “vaccine” increased 601 per cent over 2020.

The government’s messaging around the coronavirus and the potential threat of Omicron must be reactivated.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho says "no evidence yet" of the Omicron variant being present in Pakistan.

The emergence of Omicron has revived worries about the economic recovery from the two-year pandemic.

Apart from financial misappropriations, USC officials procured food items unfit for human consumption.

Disease experts say there are strong grounds already for believing that Omicron will render vaccines less effective.

Many countries are introducing bans, though they go against the advice of the WHO, which has warned against any overreaction.

Minister stresses need for citizens to get vaccinated and complete their doses, announces new measures.

Christmas is 40 per cent of annual revenue for many retailers and restaurateurs.

Booster jab will be offered to people who were already vaccinated with any of the Chinese vaccines.

No one was injured in the fire; police official says the woman is in custody.

Scientists are racing to determine the threat posed by Omicron — particularly whether it can evade existing vaccines.

Health dept committee also says staff untrained, not following infection prevention guidelines.

"The govt must take immediate measures to prevent the new variant from entering into the country," says PMA official.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wants a treaty to end the sorry cycle of “neglect and panic”.

“The processes of how one goes about developing a new vaccine are increasingly well-oiled," he says.

“We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event," says ICC official.

The conference has already been postponed once before due to the pandemic.

Australia and Thailand have joined the US, Brazil, Canada and others in restricting travel from southern Africa.

Travel has been restricted from South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and Hong Kong.

Despite medical experts warning against any overreaction, a jittery world fears the worst.

Medical experts and bodies have warned against any overreaction before the variant is better understood.

Cambridge University expert says data so far suggest Omicron has mutations “consistent with enhanced transmissibility”.

The largest digital currency fell as much as 7.8pc to $54,377, its lowest since October 12.

Germany has seen a recent resurgence of the pandemic with intensive care beds rapidly filling up.

Covid-19 outbreak drove 6,000 students back home two years ago.

Passengers from 6 countries including India and Pakistan will no longer be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Increasing vaccination uptake is important as there is every possibility of another wave.

Ministry of National Health Services official says over six million children aged 12 to 17 years have been vaccinated.

WHO says the evidence is growing that vaccine-induced protection against infection and mild disease is declining.

Belgium, Netherlands condemn clashes that rocked weekend protests against new anti-Covid measures.

Official data showed that 90pc of the residents of the city have been partially vaccinated.

Britain has recorded more than 143,000 coronavirus deaths, the highest total in Europe after Russia.

For now, the spike in infections has not led to a massive influx of Covid patients into hospitals.

Covid-19 vaccine administration for children between 12-15 years will remain suspended till Nov 27.

Europe is battling a fresh wave of infections and several countries have tightened curbs.

USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen says fighting the pandemic will take significant resources and an urgent, collective effort.

The deal is for around twice as many treatment courses as Merck & Co Inc has agreed to supply the United States.

Says Germany needs to increase Covid-19 vaccination rates to significantly above 75pc, from 67.7pc at present.

Calls for joint efforts to fully restore educational activities across the country.

Dr Javaid Usman says that a decrease in the temperature was the only reason for the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Decides to establish call centres and chatbots to reach citizens eligible for Covid-19 vaccination.

The pill cut the chance of hospitalisation or death for adults at risk of severe disease by 89pc in a clinical trial.

Number of active cases is 22,626 and 1,141 patients are in hospitals, while 116 ventilators are in use across the country.

Pakistan had recorded its all-time lowest Covid-19 positivity ratio on Saturday at 0.78pc.

Low vaccination rate cited as the main reason for the decision.

Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar calls for maintaining the vaccination rate in all parts of the country.

The move prohibits unvaccinated individuals older than age 12 from leaving their homes except for basic activities.

NCOC decides to suspend Covid-19 vaccination for children aged between 12 and 15 years for two weeks.

Foreign travellers can use the Eatmarna and Tawakkalna apps to book their Umrah trips and visit the Two Holy Mosques.

Official insists anti-dengue activities will continue.

German chancellor warns of "difficult weeks" ahead.

Drap takes notice of unavailability of medicine administered to Covid-19 and dengue patients.

Infections, deaths have been climbing steeply since mid-October, in an outbreak blamed on Germany’s low vaccination rate of 67pc.

637 more infected with Covid in single day.

The country made another record by administering 1.7 million doses in a single day.

Team director says Suele is fully vaccinated and does not have any symptoms.

Update means that travellers from Pakistan who have received the full doses will be exempt from mandatory home quarantine.

To cope with surging demand, airlines have increased the number of transatlantic flights and plan to use larger planes.

NCOC emphasises on stepping up administration of second dose to eligible individuals.

The national positivity rate, which was around 9pc three months ago, is down to 1.2pc.

Merck and Pfizer's treatments, which so far have not shown many side effects, will entail taking around 10 doses over five days.

It could secure US regulatory approval by the end of the year.

Rapid Antigen Testing on arrival at airport for all inbound passengers abolished except for people from high-risk countries.

Around 60 per cent of people with South Asian ancestry carry the high-risk gene, researchers say.

Soaring numbers of cases have prompted debate on whether to reintroduce curbs on movement before Christmas.

The antiviral, called molnupiravir, works by decreasing the ability of a virus to replicate, thereby slowing down the disease.

National average reaches 48pc; 580 persons get infected, 19 succumb to virus in single day.

Iran, Russia and Afghanistan among countries placed in high-risk category for continuous monitoring.

Vaccinations resume after govt officials hold talks with the protesting staffers, assure them they would be paid their dues soon

The US, EU, Britain and Brazil account for one-eighth of the world’s population but nearly half of all reported deaths.

WHO report analysing Italy's early response concluded the country's pandemic preparedness plan was outdated.

Experts say the pandemic's future path will depend greatly on vaccinations.

The Indian players have been on the road since the IPL began in April.

People visiting centres without CNIC or Form-B are cited as the main reason.

Official says 60pc vaccination has been achieved in Mandi Bahauddin, 40pc to 60pc in Pindi and Jhelum and 45pc in Lahore.

Islamabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Gilgit and Mirpur have fully vaccinated over 60pc of the vaccine-eligible population.

Public transport, restaurants to be checked to immunise those who are not vaccinated.

About 6m people are under lockdown across the country.

Expert advises people to still be cautious and follow Covid-19 prevention measures.

Committee calls for further research into masks, vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics “for long-term control of the pandemic”.

International monitoring body warns that the world doesn’t have the capacity to end the pandemic in the near future.

Points out violations of rules, including fewer rows for suspected virus cases and lack of PPE.

Pindi district’s positivity ratio dropped to 0.8pc whereas the ratio in Islamabad stood at 1.05pc.

PM’s aide says Pakistan is close to eradicating polio.