Goa likely to be mask free soon, collector to issue notification in this regard soon: CM Sawant

Wearing mask in public places had been enforced in the state soon after the Pandmic began. However, with cases on a downward trend, many states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Telangana, West Bengal have announced the complete relaxation of Covid-19 norms starting from April.

The disclosure of new Covid variants emerging in China and the rise of a potentially more transmissible strain in the U.K. has recast the spotlight on the ongoing risk of the virus, even as health experts say there's no reason to panic.

China meanwhile has seen it’s highest ever caseload today with over 20,000 cases reported. The country has now put 20 million of its Citizens under lockdown in a bid to control the spread of the virus.

The World Health Organization said a hybrid of two omicron strains -- BA.1 and BA.2 -- that was first detected in the U.K. and dubbed XE could be the most transmissible variant yet.

It is estimated to spread 10% more easily than BA.2, which itself was more transmissible than the original omicron famous for its ease of penetration.