Covid variant

Home ministry directs departments to finalise arrangements within 10 days

Authorities in the 27-nation EU are analysing another six 'probable' cases

Many countries have imposed travel bans after variant was first detected in South Africa and Botswana

Omicron virus variant takes the world by storm, but the cryptocurrency with the same name soared in the global market.

Countries worry that the variant may spread fast even in vaccinated populations

The report says globally, international tourist arrivals rose 58% between July and September

WHO designated Omicron a 'variant of concern', days after the variant was first reported

Says the variant could have 'severe consequences' in some places

13 people with Omicron variant came to Netherlands from South Africa, say authorities

More than 100 people were evacuated from the hotel following the incident

The outgoing government toughened measures, including a ban on Christmas markets

Restrictions on air travel from South Africa took effect on Sunday

A traveller who returned from South Africa last week tested positive for virus

The variant is potentially more contagious than previous variants of the disease

The government says excellent science should be applauded and not punished

The countries include South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini, Colombo

Scientists say 'B.1.1.529' variant has a 'very unusual constellation' of mutations

The active cases in the country total to 24,483; 41 deaths in the past 24 hours