Page 8 - Corona

98% people in Punjab have taken Covid vaccine first dose: Balbir Singh

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh on Friday said the state has achieved 98 per cent coverage of the first dose of Covid vaccination and 86 per cent of the second dose for its 18-plus population. This information is based on data available on the CoWIN portal till May 12, he said. According to an official statement, Singh presided over a meeting organised by the USAID and the Punjab health department to share experiences and learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic. It said he lauded the efforts of all NGOs supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for playing a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and strong community engagement were behind enhancing the COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the state, the statement said. He also praised the religious institutions of Punjab, especially the Akal Takht and the 'Deras', for their help to boost the vaccination coverage. The minister underlined the role of Ayurveda and homeopathy

WHO recommends new Covid-19 shots should target only XBB variants

The bivalent booster shots developed and distributed last year targeted two different strains - the Omicron variant as well as the original virus

Covid pushed 51% of Bangladesh's poor people into poverty in 2022

The fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed 51 per cent of Bangladesh's poor people into poverty in 2022, the country's leading think tank said on Wednesday

India logs 1,021 new Covid-19 cases, active infections dip to 11,393

India saw a single-day rise of 1,021 Covid infections while active cases have decreased to 11,393 from 13,037 a day earlier, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The death toll has increased to 5,31,794 with four more fatalities, including two reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.49 crore (4,49,83,152). Active cases now comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.79 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,39,965 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent. According to the health ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

India logs 801 new Covid-19 cases, active infections decline to 14,493

India has logged 801 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have dipped to 14,493 from 15,515, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll has increased to 5,31,778 with eight deaths which includes four reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.49 crore (4,49,81,475). The active cases now comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.78 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,35,204 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Maharashtra sees 111 Covid-19 cases, zero death, active tally at 1,032

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 111 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 81,68,328, the state health department said. The COVID-19 death toll in the state remained unchanged at 1,48,542 as no fresh fatality was reported in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra is now left with 1,032 active cases. A day earlier, the state recorded 121 cases and a single fatality. At 69, Mumbai circle reported the highest number of fresh cases on Saturday, followed by 18 in Pune circle, seven in Nagpur circle, six in Latur circle, four in Akola circle, three in Kolhapur circle, and two each in Aurangabad and Nashik circles, the health department report said. Mumbai city saw 28 fresh cases but zero COVID-19 fatality, which raised the tally of infections to 11,62,580 and the death toll to 19,769. Since January 1 this year, 112 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in Maharashtra and 75 per cent of the deceased were above 60 years of age. While 85 per cent of the deceased had comorbidities, 14 per cent did not

Delhi logs 43 fresh Covid-19 cases, two deaths, positivity rate of 2.07%

Delhi recorded 43 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 2.07 per cent and two Covid-related deaths on Friday, according to data shared by the city government's health department. The complete case sheets on the two fatalities, are, however, awaited from hospital, the latest bulletin said. Delhi recorded 43 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.8 per cent on Thursday. No Covid-linked fatality was reported on that day. With fresh cases, Delhi's Covid case tally has climbed to 20,40,390, while the death toll due to the viral disease rose to 26,651 according to the bulletin issued by the health department. Delhi recorded 75 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 3.43 per cent and one Covid-related fatality on Wednesday. The fresh cases emerged from the 2,076 tests conducted the previous day, the bulletin said. The number of active cases of the infection stands at 399, of which 305 patients are in home isolation. On Tuesday, Delhi logged 77 fresh Covid cas

Covid's seasonal behaviour depends on genetics, global change: Research

Researchers have in two new studies added evidence supporting a seasonal pattern in the behaviour of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes Covid-19 disease, owing to genetics and global change

Maharashtra logs 179 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths; active tally at 1,567

Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 179 fresh coronavirus cases, a jump of more than 100 infections from the previous day, while two more patients succumbed to the disease in the state, the health department said. With these additions, the state's overall COVID-19 tally rose to 81,67,793, while the toll increased to 1,48,540, a health department bulletin said. Mumbai recorded 56 cases during the day. The state had logged 76 cases and one fatality on Monday. Solapur and Sindhdurg districts recorded one fatality each, said the bulletin. The state's coronavirus recovery rate was 98.16 per cent, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.81 per cent. The bulletin said 137 patients recovered from the coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, taking their cumulative count to 80,17,686 and leaving the state with 1,567 active cases. It said at present the dominant variant of COVID-19 was Omicron XBB.1.16 and a total of 1,241 cases of this strain have been found in the state. Also, 13 deaths

Delhi records 77 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths, positivity rate of 3.27%

Delhi on Tuesday logged 77 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 3.27 per cent and two fatalities linked to the infection, according to data shared by the city government's Health department. With this, Delhi's case tally climbed to 20,40,229 and the death toll rose to 26,648, it said. The fresh cases emerged from 2,354 tests conducted the previous day, the bulletin stated. The number of active cases stood at 624, of which 472 patients were in home isolation, according to the bulletin. Delhi recorded 37 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 3.89 per cent and two Covid-linked deaths on Monday. The national capital logged 119 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 5.5 per cent and three Covid-linked deaths on Sunday. It saw 113 cases with a positivity rate of 8.21 per cent and three Covid-linked deaths on Saturday. On Friday, the city reported 142 cases with a positivity rate of 5.43 per cent and one Covid-linked death. It added 199 cases with a positivity rate

Scientists use AI to develop better, simpler hepatitis C, Covid-19 tests

Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to simplify a test that works for both hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The simplified test happens in one small test tube in just a few minutes. With further refinement, it could arrive at doctor's offices soon and, one day, become available as home tests that are as easy as a pregnancy test, the researchers said. "We are trying to build a home-based test that is as reliable as a lab-based test, said Piyush Jain, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Florida (UF) in the US. "Our objective is to develop a simple test that eliminates the need for expensive equipment and provides results in just 10 to 20 minutes," said Jain, who led the research published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. The team is innovating on a system known as a one-pot reaction because the entire test happens in one small test tube. These tests, based on a technology known as RT-LAMP, can amplify small ..

India logs 1,331 new Covid-19 cases , active infections dip to 22,742

India has recorded 1,331 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases have come down to 22,742 from 25,178, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The COVID-19 tally now stands at 4.49 crore (4,49,72,800). The death toll climbed to 5,31,707 with 11 fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. At 22,742, the active cases comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.76 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,18,351, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Maharashtra logs 76 Covid-19 cases, one death; sharp fall in weekly tally

Maharashtra on Monday reported 76 new COVID-19 cases, a drop from nearly 180 infections recorded the previous day, taking the overall tally to 81,67,595, while one more patient succumbed to the viral disease, said the state health department. With the single death -- recorded in Mumbai -- the state-wide toll rose to 1,48,538, said a health department bulletin. On Sunday, Maharashtra reported 177 COVID-19 cases and one death due to the infection. According to the bulletin, 2,515 coronavirus tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, pushing up their cumulative count in the state to 8,70,50,247. The Mumbai administrative circle reported the highest 57 cases followed by 11 in the Pune circle, five in Kolhapur and one each in Akola, Latur and Kolhapur circles, it said. An administrative circle consists of multiple districts. According to the bulletin, Mumbai city logged 28 cases and one death linked to the infection, taking the overall tally to 11,62,373 and the toll to 19,768. The

India logs 1,839 new Covid-19 infections, active cases down to 25,178

India on Monday recorded 1,839 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases came down to 25,178 from 27,212 the day before, according to Union health ministry data. The COVID-19 tally now stands at 4.49 crore (4,49,71,469). The death toll climbed to 5,31,692 with 11 fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. At 25,178, the active cases comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.76 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,14,599, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

US FDA recalls Covid-19 at-home tests by SD Biosensor over bacteria risks

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers and health providers to discontinue using and discard recalled Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests made by SD Biosensor

Delhi records 113 fresh Covid cases, three deaths, positivity rate of 14.3%

Delhi recorded 113 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 8.21 per cent and three Covid-linked deaths on Saturday, according to data shared by the city government's health department. In its latest bulletin, it, however, said the complete case sheets of the three fatalities are awaited from hospitals. With this, Delhi's case tally climbed to 20,39,996 and the death toll rose to 26,641, it said. The fresh cases emerged from 1,376 tests conducted the previous day, the bulletin said. The number of active cases stands at 1,097, and of these, 870 patients are in home isolation, it said. Delhi recorded 142 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.43 per cent and one Covid-linked death on Friday and 199 cases with a positivity rate of 7.07 per cent and three Covid-linked deaths on Thursday. On Wednesday, the city recorded 272 cases with a positivity rate of 8.39 per cent and one death. On Tuesday, the capital logged 289 cases with a positivity rate of 9.74 per cent

Maharashtra logs 176 Covid cases, 2 fatalities, active tally rises to 1,876

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 176 coronavirus cases and two fatalities, the health department said. With the new additions, the state's COVID-19 tally rose to 81,67,342 and the death toll to 1,48,536. A day earlier, Maharashtra reported 299 cases and two fatalities. Mumbai saw 47 fresh infections. The two fresh COVID-19 fatalities were reported from Mumbai and Ratnagiri. The state's case fatality rate now stands at 1.81 per cent, the health department bulletin said. A total of 487 patients recovered from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative recoveries to 80,16,930 in Maharashtra, leaving the state with 1,876 active cases. The recovery rate now stands at 98.16 per cent. With 5,491 tests conducted in the state in the last 24 hours, the overall count of samples examined so far rose to 8,70,40,437, the health department said. Currently, the dominant variant of COVID-19 is Omicron XBB.1.16. and a total of 1,241 cases were found to be infected so far, while 12 pa

Global health need structural changes else we'll be doomed again: Expert

Kamal-Yanni said that people in developing countries should never again wait for the "good will" of rich countries, nor the charitable actions of pharmaceutical companies

Delhi records142 fresh Covid cases, one death, positivity rate of 5.43%

Delhi recorded 142 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 5.43 per cent and one Covid-linked death on Friday, according to data shared by the city government's health department. With this, the national capital's case tally climbed to 20,39,883 and the death toll rose to 26,638, a health department bulletin said and added that COVID-19 was incidental in the single fresh death reported in the city on Friday. The fresh cases emerged from 2,613 tests conducted the previous day, it stated. The number of active cases stands at 1,290 and of these, 1,019 patients are in home isolation, the bulletin said. Delhi recorded 199 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 7.07 per cent and three Covid-linked deaths on Thursday. On Wednesday, the city logged 272 cases with a positivity rate of 8.39 per cent and one death. On Tuesday, the capital logged 289 cases with a positivity rate of 9.74 per cent and one death and on Monday, it reported 259 cases with a positivity rate of 14.3

Maharashtra logs 299 Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths, active cases rises to 2,475

Maharashtra on Friday reported 299 new coronavirus infections and two deaths, the state health department said. It took the caseload in the state to 81,67,166 and death toll to 1,48,534. There are 2,475 active COVID-19 cases in the state now. On Thursday, Maharashtra had reported 361 new cases and four fatalities. As per the report, Mumbai circle reported the highest 171 cases followed by 58 cases in Pune circle, 44 cases in Nagpur circle, 10 cases in Kolhapur circle, eight cases in Nashik circle, five cases in Latur circle, two cases in Aurangabad circle and one case in Akola circle. Pune and Mumbai circles reported single fatality each. Since the start of the year, 104 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in the state, and 74.09 per cent of the deceased were above 60 years of age and 86 per cent had comorbidities. Maharashtra logged 2,189 new COVID-19 cases between April 29 to May 5, compared to 4,478 cases in the week between April 22 to April 28, 2023. Mumbai city on Friday .