Page 172 - Coronavirus Tests

Covid: Mask usage declining, we're operating at a risky level, warns govt

Dr V K Paul, Member-Health of NITI Aayog, on Friday expressed concern over the decline in the use of face masks in the country

Amid Omicron scare, NCP to mark Pawar's 81st birthday with virtual rally

Pawar will turn 81 on December 12 and the party has organised an event in Nehru Centre in Worli

Dharavi resident who returned from Tanzania tests positive for Omicron

The man landed in Mumbai on December 4 and his samples were sent for genome sequencing when he tested positive for coronavirus

25 Omicron cases detected in India so far, symptoms mostly mild: Govt

The government on Friday said 25 cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been detected in India so far and that mostly mild symptoms have been noted in all the cases. Clinically, Omicron is not posing burden on the healthcare system yet, but the vigil has to be maintained, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). At a joint press briefing on the pandemic, the government said 25 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in India -- 10 in Maharashtra, nine in Rajasthan, three in Gujarat, two in Karnataka, and one in Delhi. "Mainly mild symptoms have been seen in the cases of Omicron variant detected so far," Health Ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said. According to the government, the WHO has highlighted that compliance to public health and social measures is declining globally with the increase in vaccination rates. Another official said the government has not received any recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on ...

18 cases of Delta sub-variant AY.4.2 detected in India: Govt

There are 18 cases of COVID-19 Delta sub-variant AY.4.2 that have been detected in India, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. Such mutated variants of coronavirus are likely to evolve as like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 also evolves over time, Pawar said in a written reply. Of the 18 cases of AY.4.2 detected so far in the country (as on December 3, 2021), 10 cases are from Gujarat, four from Tamil Nadu, two from Assam, and one each from Maharashtra and Telangana, she said in response to a question on whether the central government is aware that amid worries about a potential third wave of COVID-19, as many as 17 cases of the Delta variant AY.4.2 strain, which is spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom, has emerged in India. Responding to a question on whether the central government is aware that Biotech Lab namely HLL Biotech Limited Integrated Vaccine Complex (IVC), a public sector vaccine manufacturing plant in Chengalpattu, near Chennai

Booster shot of Pfizer can cut mortality from Delta variant by 90%: Study

The third dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine can reduce mortality due to the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by 90 per cent, according to a study conducted in Israel.

Five of 7 Omicron patients in Pune test negative for Covid-19: Ajit Pawar

Five out of seven COVID-19 patients in Pune district, who were earlier detected with Omicron, the new variant of coronavirus, have now tested negative for the infection, Maharashtra Dy CM said

Two more test positive for Omicron in Gujarat, total 25 cases in India

The wife and brother-in-law of an NRI man, who had been found infected with Omicron variant of Covid in Gujarat a week back, were also detected with the new strain

PM Johnson tightens Covid norms over Omicron fear, calls for work from home

Mandates vax passports in large venues

Africa's confirmed Covid cases near 8.8 million-mark, says CDC

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Ethiopia are among the countries with the most cases in the continent, according to the agency

Omicron four times more transmissible than Delta variant, finds new study

Concerns are swirling globally that omicron could deal the world a bigger blow than even delta, and the World Health Organization has cautioned that it could fuel surges with 'severe consequences'

Mumbai reports 218 fresh coronavirus cases; tally rises to 764,662

The cumulative number of recovered patients rose to 7,43,966 in Mumbai

Delhi records 55 fresh coronavirus cases; positivity rate at 0.09%

The number of cumulative cases stood at 1,441,569

Indians support vaccine, mask mandate for workplace: WEF survey

The survey covered nearly 14,500 employed adults across 33 countries between October 22 and November 5, 2021

INSACOG says booster shot suggestion not its mandate, didn't recommend it

Says immunity and protection from SARS-CoV-2 is multifactorial with several unknown factors and further compounded by emerging variants of concern

Maharashtra logs 789 new infections, 7 deaths; no new Omicron case reported

Maharashtra recorded 789 new cases and seven fatalities, but no new patient of the recently discovered Omicron variant

Germany's vaccination panel recommends doses for children aged 5-11

Germany's independent vaccination advisory panel on Thursday said it was recommending COVID-19 shots for children aged 5 to 11 with pre-existing conditions or who are in close contact to vulnerable people. The expert panel also said that young kids without pre-existing conditions can be vaccinated if there is an individual desire to do so a step short of advising that all children in that age group get the shots. The panel, known by its German acronym STIKO, said in a statement that children aged 5-11 should receive two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, three to six weeks apart. The recommendation, which isn't binding and may still be amended after consultation with health officials, means doctors in Germany will likely begin offering vaccinations to younger children next week, when the appropriate shots become available. About 69.3% of the country's total population is fully vaccinated.

UK's Omicron Covid variant cases nearly double in a day, tally at 817

The number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Britain has nearly doubled in one day after a further 249 cases were confirmed on Thursday, bringing the UK total to 817. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said if the growth rate and doubling time continue at the rate seen in the last two weeks, they expect to see at least 50 per cent of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases to be caused by Omicron variant in the next two to four weeks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier said that the variant's doubling rate could be between two to three days as he announced tougher measures of expanded compulsory face masks in indoor settings, work from home guidance and COVID vaccine certification for entry into venues. "It is increasingly evident that Omicron is highly infectious and there is emerging laboratory and early clinical evidence to suggest that both vaccine-acquired and naturally acquired immunity against infection is reduced for this variant. It is therefore absolutely critic

US dollar edges higher as Omicron restrictions hurt risk sentiment

Investors were also awaiting U.S. inflation data on Friday that could set the tone for the Federal Reserve's strategy on interest rate hikes.

Telangana sees 201 new coronavirus cases today, death toll at 4,003

Telangana on Thursday registered 201 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing the cumulative to 6,77,747, while the toll rose to 4,003 with one more fatality.