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).

At least 32 patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8:00am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Six different Covid-19 vaccines administered as booster doses are safe and elicit strong immune response among people who earlier received both doses of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, according to a study published in the UK medical journal The Lancet.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Asia-Pacific countries today to boost healthcare capacity and fully vaccinate their people to prepare for a surge in Covid-19 cases as the Omicron variant spreads globally despite travel curbs.

As suspected cases of Covid-19 Omicron variant rise, Indian genome scientists have pitched for a booster dose of the vaccines for those above aged 40 and above with a preference for high-risk populations.

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

Malaysia has detected the country's first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Australia on Friday reported its first community transmission of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, but authorities held steady on a plan to reopen the economy amid hopes it would prove to be milder than previous strains.

The United States reported its first known case of community transmission of Omicron on Thursday hours before President Joe Biden was due to lay out his strategy to fight the coronavirus in the winter as the highly contagious variant spread across the globe.

Stern action will be taken against both hotel authorities and the incoming passengers from southern Africa, the epicentre of the Omicron variant of  coronavirus, for breaching quarantine protocols.

The government has suspended its plans to increase the number of in-person classes next year as the world braces for the impact from new Covid-19 variant Omicron.

Bangladesh has suspended on-arrival visas for passengers coming from outside of the country to contain the new Covid-19 variant Omicron.

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.