![Breakthrough infections may be less contagious; vaccine protection wanes faster in cancer patients Breakthrough infections may be less contagious; vaccine protection wanes faster in cancer patients](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/61642463277_mural.jpg)
Breakthrough infections may be less contagious; vaccine protection wanes faster in cancer patients
Shortness of breath is among the most common symptoms reported by people with long COVID.
Fri May 27 2022
![World tourism won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024: UN World tourism won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024: UN](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/71642734065_WASHINGTON.jpg)
World tourism won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024: UN
The highly contagious Omicron variant, though mild, will "disrupt the recovery" in early 2022 after last year saw four pct growth over 2020.
Fri Jan 21 2022
![Thailand reports first death from Omicron variant Thailand reports first death from Omicron variant](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/71641387723_Omicron.jpg)
Thailand reports first death from Omicron variant
Thailand reported its first death - an 86-year-old woman from Hatyai - from the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Sun Jan 16 2022
![Germany's Scholz urges compulsory COVID-19 jabs for all adults Germany's Scholz urges compulsory COVID-19 jabs for all adults](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/41642039191_OlafScholz.jpg)
Germany's Scholz urges compulsory COVID-19 jabs for all adults
Germany reported a record 80,430 new infections yesterday due to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Thu Jan 13 2022
![Ecuador mandates jabs, Italy to enforce masks outdoors as Omicron rages Ecuador mandates jabs, Italy to enforce masks outdoors as Omicron rages](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/51640340983_vaccine.jpg)
Ecuador mandates jabs, Italy to enforce masks outdoors as Omicron rages
Omicron is highly contagious and could still lead to more overall severe cases.
Fri Dec 24 2021
![More contagious, less severe: What we know about Omicron More contagious, less severe: What we know about Omicron](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/51638340744_varianOmicroncovi.jpg)
More contagious, less severe: What we know about Omicron
What isn't clear is how the newest variant will change the face of the pandemic.
Fri Dec 24 2021
![Sixth COVID wave, fuelled by Omicron, to hit France in January - Paris hospital's executive Sixth COVID wave, fuelled by Omicron, to hit France in January - Paris hospital's executive](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61625119997_PARIS.jpg)
Sixth COVID wave, fuelled by Omicron, to hit France in January - Paris hospital's executive
France will be hit by a sixth COVID-19 wave next month due to the emergence of the new, more contagious, Omicron variant.
Mon Dec 13 2021
![Omicron variant: Transition to endemic phase temporarily paused - Hishammuddin Omicron variant: Transition to endemic phase temporarily paused - Hishammuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/51638275257_TunHussein.jpg)
Omicron variant: Transition to endemic phase temporarily paused - Hishammuddin
Efforts to transition to the endemic phase have been paused for a while as the government looks to find out more about the new COVID-19 variant - Omicron - which is said to be more contagious.
Tue Nov 30 2021
![Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness drops after 6 months - Study Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness drops after 6 months - Study](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51627262245_vaccineNYC.jpg)
Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness drops after 6 months - Study
The data suggests that the drop is due to waning efficacy, rather than more contagious variants, researchers said.
Tue Oct 05 2021
![Fauci backs COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US school children Fauci backs COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US school children](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/71628207343_DrAnthonyFauci.jpg)
Fauci backs COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US school children
Fauci supports COVID-19 vaccine mandates for children attending schools as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to fuel a surge.
Mon Aug 30 2021
![US coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000 US coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/41630041115_USA.jpg)
US coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000
A resurgence of COVID-19 spurred by the highly contagious Delta variant strains the nation's health care system.
Fri Aug 27 2021
![Perspective: Staying nearby not an excuse to visit parents during MCO Perspective: Staying nearby not an excuse to visit parents during MCO](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/81602055909_TEMCO.jpg)
Perspective: Staying nearby not an excuse to visit parents during MCO
As of now, experts have identified the Delta variant as the most contagious COVID-19 mutant as it is airborne.
Tue Aug 03 2021
![Delta variant sweeps Asia, prompting curbs as vaccination remains tepid Delta variant sweeps Asia, prompting curbs as vaccination remains tepid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/81625218018_INDIA.jpg)
Delta variant sweeps Asia, prompting curbs as vaccination remains tepid
The highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is surging through Asia this week.
Fri Jul 02 2021
![Delta variant threatens new pandemic challenge Delta variant threatens new pandemic challenge](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/51624717328_DELTA.jpg)
Delta variant threatens new pandemic challenge
Delta is so contagious that experts say you would need to inoculate more than 80 per cent of a population in order to contain it.
Sun Jun 27 2021
![Sacrifice today for tomorrow's safety - Mahathir Sacrifice today for tomorrow's safety - Mahathir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/41620629293_tunMahathir.jpg)
Sacrifice today for tomorrow's safety - Mahathir
Dr Mahathir says the situation has become critical now with the new variants that are more contagious.
Mon May 10 2021