Page 105 - Coronavirus

Oil prices sink as China's tightening anti-Covid curbs hurt demand outlook

Crude has erased the gains made at the start of the quarter, when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia agreed to reduce production by 2 million barrels a day

Indian states' fiscal deficit rose nearly 79 per cent after lockdown: RBI

The RBI's Handbook of Statistics on Indian States showed that apart from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Sikkim and Odisha, all the states saw a higher fiscal deficit in FY21 as compared to FY20

MP sees lone Covid-19 case, no death; recovery count rises by six

Madhya Pradesh on Sunday reported one COVID-19 case, which took the tally to 10,54,888, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,776, an official said. The recovery count increased by six to touch 10,44,091, leaving the state with 22 active cases, the official informed. With 2,902 samples examined during the day, the number of coronavirus tests in MP went up to 3,01,98,008, he added. Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,54,881, new cases One , death toll 10,776, recoveries 10,44,091, active cases 22, number of tests so far 3,01,98,008.

Mumbai airport may 'incur losses in near future' due to Covid impact: MIAL

MIAL's net loss in FY22 would have been higher had it included the annual fee payment - which is 38.7 per cent of revenues - to Centre-run AAI under its head 'total expenditure' of the balance sheet

Covid can deteriorate diabetes, associated heath disease: Scientist

Covid can alter a person's genetic makeup which can enhance the proliferation of disease and cause further deterioration in diabetes and associated heart disease, an Indian-origin researcher revealed

India records 492 new Covid infections in a day; active cases dip to 6,489

India logged 492 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,69,015, while the active cases dipped to 6,489, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll climbed to 5,30,574 with four fatalities which includes three deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. One death has been reported from Maharashtra in a span of 24 hours. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.79 per cent, according to the ministry website. A decrease of 293 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,31,952, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 219.86 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India's COVID-

After Covid-induced lull, HP logs over three-time rise in tourist footfall

Tourism in the hill state has picked up pace after a Covid-induced lull with footfall surging over three times this year till October 31 compared to the corresponding year-ago period. According to data procured from the Tourism department, Himachal Pradesh witnessed the arrival of 1.28 crore tourists, including 28,232 foreigners, between January 1 and October 31. In the corresponding year-ago period, the state had welcomed 41.03 lakh tourists, the data showed. The maximum tourists -- 20.63 lakh -- visited in June while January recorded the lowest footfall at 7.69 lakh. At 30.4 lakh, tourist arrivals in the twin districts of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti accounted for 23.8 per cent of the total footfall in the first 10 months of 2022. The Atal Tunnel -- an all-weather road beneath the 13,058-foot-high mountain in Rohtang Pass -- has emerged as a tourist hotspot. Visitors are also making a beeline to Sissu in Lahaul and Spiti. Amit Kashyap, tourism director and Himachal Pradesh Tourism

Thane records 17 new Covid-19 infections in a day; active case tally at 120

As many as 17 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Maharashtra's Thane district, taking its infection count to 7,47,235, a health official said on Sunday. With the addition of the latest cases on Saturday, there are currently 120 active COVID-19 cases in Thane, which comes under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, he said. The death toll in the district remained unchanged at 11,967. The recovery count has reached 7,35,899 he added.

Confusion and angst follow as China eases coronavirus restrictions

The reaction to China's most significant easing of coronavirus controls has been a jumble of conflicting priorities and public sentiment since Beijing announced the changes a week ago

Odisha withdraws all Covid restrictions over substantial decline in cases

With a significant reduction in cases, the Odisha government on Saturday announced the withdrawal of all COVID-19 restrictions, including mandatory wearing of masks in public places and prohibition on large gatherings, officials said. The Health and Family Welfare Department issued a notification to this effect. "In view of the substantial decline of COVID-19 cases in the state over the past several months, the government after careful consideration is pleased to repeal 'The Odisha COVID-19 Regulations, 2020' as amended from time to time; with immediate effect," it said. However, the government advised people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour voluntarily, as and when needed. A total of 13,36,382 people have tested positive for the coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, and 9,204 people have died due to it, while 53 others succumbed to comorbidities, a health official said. As many as 13,27,039 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said.

Beijing under semi-lockdown as new coronavirus cases rise in China

The coronavirus situation in China has become grim again with the number of COVID-19 cases rising to over 25,000, including more than 500 in Beijing, prompting the city officials to advise millions of residents to stay home this weekend and undergo daily testing. Beijing wore an eerie look on Saturday with most of its residents staying home after several districts in the city on Friday issued advisories to people, calling for less cross-district personnel flow and avoid unnecessary trips during the weekend. An official from Chaoyang district, the worst-hit area and also the most populous district in the city, told residents to stay indoors during the weekend. The sprawling district houses all top government offices, commercial hubs and thousands of residential communities. The district government of Chaoyang also advised residents not to leave the area unless necessary, and if they do, they must provide negative nucleic acid test results taken within 48 hours, official media here .

With war in Europe, world encountering food, energy crisis: Shaktikanta Das

The war in Europe brought with it new challenges, just when the economy was about to normalise fully despite the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and suddenly, the world encountered a severe food and energy crisis, Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Saturday. Delivering the inaugural address at the annual research conference of the Department of Economic and Policy Research of RBI here, Das said the COVID-19 pandemic crisis created an opportunity to explore and harness the power of big data and strengthen direct feedback mechanisms while working from home. He further said the pandemic also posed new research issues and analytical challenges for policy-making as it caused a demand shock or a supply shock, the size and nature of policy stimulus required, and their effectiveness, among others. The RBI Governor said the first major challenge was data collection during the first wave of the pandemic and the associated statistical break in data. During the second wave which

China's Covid-19 restrictions hit oldest Jixiang theatre in Beijing

Performances have been suspended at one of Beijing's oldest and most renowned theaters as part of a new wave of shop and restaurant closures in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Chinese capital. The Jixiang Theater in the downtown Wangfujing shopping district was originally built in 1906 and recently moved to its present location on the 8th floor of a shopping mall that also houses shops and a fast food restaurant. It is famed for performances of Peking opera and other traditional art forms. Performances were due to resume Nov. 27, but such dates for re-opening have frequently been extended. China reported 24,263 new cases Saturday, 515 of them in Beijing. The vast majority were asymptomatic. Despite that, lockdowns and other strict control measures have been put in place around the country, with many Beijing residents sent notices advising them not to leave home unless absolutely necessary. Restaurants, malls and shops deemed non-essential have been closed and foot tra

Maharashtra sees 119 new Covid cases, one death in a day; active tally 821

Maharashtra on Friday recorded 119 new cases of coronavirus and a fatality that raised the tally of infections to 81,35,010 and toll to 1,48,403, an official from the state health department said. At least 156 patients recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours, taking the count of recoveries to 79,85,786, he said. On Thursday, the state had recorded 108 cases and zero fatality. As per a bulletin issued by the health department, of the latest infections, Mumbai accounted for 13 cases, while the only casualty of the day was reported in Pune. With this, the state is now left with 821 active cases, it said. The fatality rate stands at 1.82 per cent, while the recovery rate is at 98.17 per cent, it was stated. As many as 15,410 swab samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of tests conducted to 8,55,05,054. Maharashtra's coronavirus figures for the day: Fresh cases: 119; Fatality: 1; Active cases: 821; Tests: 15,410.

Australia reports 38% spike in new Covid cases amid fourth pandemic wave

An average of 10,799 new infections were reported nationally every day in the week to Friday, reports Xinhua

India records 656 new Covid-19 infections in a day; active tally declines

India logged 656 new coronavirus infections taking the tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,67,967, while the active cases declined to 7,034, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,30,553 with seven fatalities which includes two deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.02 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.79 per cent, according to the ministry website. A decrease of 141 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,30,380, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website 219.84 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on Augus

Covid-19 infection may reactivate several latent viruses in body: Study

COVID-19 can reactivate several latent viruses lurking in the body's cells following previous infections, particularly in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a study. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, contribute to our understanding of the causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME/CFS, and prospects of reaching a diagnosis. Severe, long-term fatigue, post-exertional malaise, pain and sleep problems are characteristic signs of the disease. The causes of the condition are not known with certainty, although it has been established that the onset in most cases follows a viral or bacterial infection. "Our study now shows that objective measurements are available that show physiological differences in the body's reaction to viruses between ME patients and healthy controls," said Anders Rosen, a professor at Linkoping University, Sweden, and leader of the study. The extensive spread of the SARS-CoV-2 ...

Maharashtra sees 108 new Covid cases, 131 recover; active tally 859

Maharashtra on Thursday recorded 108 COVID-19 cases and 131 recoveries, while the fatality count stood unchanged, a health official said. The state's tally is 81,34,891, its recovery count stands at 79,85,630, and the toll remains 1,48,402, he said. The addition to the tally is a dip from the 156 cases reported on Wednesday, he added. The active tally of the Maharashtra was 859, he added. Mumbai led with 26 of the new cases, the official said. As per health department data, the recovery rate in the state stands at 98.17 per cent. So far, 8,54,89,644 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Maharashtra, including 13,617 in the last 24 hours, as per official data. Maharashtra's coronavirus figures for the day: Fresh cases: 108; Fatality: 0; Active cases: 859; Tests: 13,617.

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Chinese city Guangzhou plans 250,000 quarantine beds to fight Covid

China's southern metropolis of Guangzhou announced plans on Thursday to build quarantine facilities for nearly 250,000 people to fight surging coronavirus outbreaks even as the national government tries to reduce the impact of anti-disease controls that have confined millions of people to their homes. Guangzhou, a city of 13 million people and the biggest of a series of hot spots across China with outbreaks since early October, reported 9,680 new cases in the past 24 hours. That was about 40 per cent of the 23,276 cases reported nationwide. China's infection numbers are low compared with the United States and other major countries, but the ruling Communist Party is trying to isolate every case. Repeated closures of neighbourhoods, schools and businesses are fuelling public frustration and clashes with health workers. The epidemic situation in Guangzhou still is very serious," said a city official, Wang Baosen, according to the South Metropolis Daily newspaper. Authorities in Guangz