Page 52 - Coronavirus

India records 3,095 new Covid infections, active cases increase to 15,208

India witnessed a single-day rise of 3,095 fresh COVID-19 cases with the active caseload increasing to 15,208, according to Union Health ministry data updated on Friday. The toll has risen to 5,30,867 with five deaths -- one each reported by Goa and Gujarat and three reconciled by Kerala -- in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am said. The daily positivity was recorded at 2.61 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.91 per cent. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,15,786). The active cases now comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections while the national recovery rate has been recorded at 98.78 per cent, according to the ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease is at 4.41 crore (4,41,69,711) while the case fatality was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry website, 220.65 crore Covid vaccine doses have been administered under the nationwide drive so far.

Gun injuries in US surged nearly 40% during pandemic, CDC study shows

For every American killed by gunfire, an estimated two or more more survive, often with terrible injuries a fact that public health experts say is crucial to understanding the full impact of guns on society. A new government study highlights just how violent America's recent past has been by showing a surge in gunfire injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the number of people fatally shooting each other and themselves -- also increased. The number of people injured by gunfire was nearly 40% higher in 2020 and 2021, compared with 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study published Thursday. In 2022, gun injuries tapered off, but were still 20% higher than before the pandemic. Gun injuries rose similarly for men and women over the past three years, while the largest proportional increase occurred among children younger than 15, a subset that remains a small fraction of the overall problem. Experts say the CDC gun injury study, which uses data from .

Our record on vaccine booster shots for Covid is pathetic: Virologist

'Every crack will be used by virus to spread', says T Jacob John, a former professor of Vellore's Christian Medical College

40% jump in cases in a day: Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

India continues to report a spike, but experts are divided on whether the surge is a wave yet or a ripple

Delhi records 295 fresh Covid cases with positivity rate of 12.48%

Delhi recorded 295 fresh Covid cases on Thursday with a positivity rate of 12.48 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. On Wednesday, the city had logged 300 cases, the first time since August 31, and two deaths while the positivity rate had mounted to 13.89 per cent. Delhi had logged 214 cases with a positivity rate of 11.82 per cent on Tuesday, 115 cases with a positivity rate of 7.45 per cent on Monday, 153 cases with a positivity rate of 9.13 per cent on Sunday and 139 cases with a positivity rate of 4.98 per cent on Saturday. The Delhi government is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, adding that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting on the matter on Friday. Bharadwaj also assured people that there was no need to panic since the hospitalisation rate was low. The heath minister held a meeting on the coronavirus situation on Thursday. Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number o

Delhi govt watching Covid-19 situation, Kejriwal's review meeting on Friday

The Delhi government is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting on the matter on Friday, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said. Bharadwaj also assured people that there was no need to panic since the hospitalisation rate was low. He was speaking after holding a meeting on Thursday to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a spurt in cases. The meeting saw the attendance of senior health department officials, medical directors of state-run hospitals, epidemiologists and virologists. "We reviewed the situation. We have asked hospitals to advise coronavirus tests to those who are symptomatic. People visiting hospitals should wear masks," he said. The minister said the health department will brief Kejriwal on Friday on the situation following which he will issue directions to the government. "The chief minister will also be briefed about the Covid situation in other states and how they are tackling

Covid-19 during pregnancy may increase obesity risk in children: Study

Children born to mothers who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy may be more likely to develop obesity, according to a new study. More than 100 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States since 2019, and there is limited information on the long-term health effects of the infection. Pregnant women make up 9 per cent of reproductive-aged women with COVID-19, which exposes millions of babies to maternal infection during foetal development over the next five years. Our findings suggest that children exposed in utero to maternal COVID-19 have an altered growth pattern in early life that may increase their risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease over time, said Lindsay T Fourman, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. There is still a lot of research needed to understand the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women and their children, she said. The researchers studied 150 infants born to mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy and found the

Delhi govt to hold meeting on Thursday amid spurt in Covid-19 cases

The Delhi government will hold a meeting on Thursday to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital amid a spurt in cases, officials said. The meeting has been called by Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj which will see the attendance of senior health department officials, medical directors of state-run hospitals and other stakeholders. The meet comes a day after Delhi's COVID-19 cases climbed to 300 for the first time since August 31 last year, while the positivity rate rose to 13.89 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. Two Covid-related deaths were also reported, it said. Delhi had reported 377 cases on August 31 last along with two fatalities, while the positivity rate was 2.58 per cent. The city has been witnessing an increase in the number of daily Covid cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country. The number of fresh cases had seen a decline over the last few months in Delhi. It had dropped to z

India witnesses 3,016 fresh Covid-19 cases, highest in nearly six months

India saw a single-day rise of 3,016 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in nearly six months, while the active cases increased to 13,509, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. A total of 3,375 cases were recorded on October 2 last year. The country's COVID-19 death toll has increased to 5,30,862 with 14 latest fatalities -- three reported by Maharashtra, two from Delhi and one reported by Himachal Pradesh in a span of 24 hours and eight reconciled by Kerala. According to the ministry data updated at 8 am, the daily positivity was recorded at 2.73 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.71 per cent. The infection tally stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,12,692). 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, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,68,321, while the case

US Pres Biden won't veto Republican-led bill ending Covid emergency

President Joe Biden won't veto a Republican-led measure to end the national COVID emergency, despite having expressed strong objections against it earlier this year, ensuring the bill is on an easy path to becoming law. It marks the second time in the new Congress that the Biden administration has signalled opposition to a Republican measure, rallying most Democrats in Congress to vote against it, only to soften its stance and let the legislation eventually become law. Just weeks ago, Biden stunned many fellow Democrats when he declined to veto a Republican-led bill to upend a new criminal code for the District of Columbia he and others in the president's party opposed, allowing the GOP's tough-on-crime push into the local government to become law. Republicans celebrated the turn of events Wednesday as a sign of their newfound influence in divided Washington, while Democrats quietly complained that the Biden administration had shifted its views. But the White House stood firm, and

Delhi reports 300 coronavirus cases, positivity rate now nears 14%

Delhi on Wednesday reported 300 new Covid infections in the last 24 hours, against 214 cases reported on previous day, as per the government health bulletin

India reports 2,151 fresh Covid cases, highest single-day rise in 5 months

At present, active case load in the country is 11,903 cases, according to Health Ministry; daily positivity rate is 1.51%, while weekly positivity rate is 1.53%

Single-day rise of 2,151 fresh Covid-19 cases in India; highest in 5 months

India recorded a single-day rise of 2,151 new coronavirus cases, the highest in five months, while the active cases increased to 11,903, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday. A total of 2,208 cases were recorded on October 28 last year. The COVID-19 death toll has increased to 5,30,848 with seven latest fatalities -- three reported by Maharashtra, one by Karnataka and three reconciled by Kerala. According to the data updated at 8 am, the daily positivity was recorded at 1.51 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.53 per cent. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,09,676) The active cases now comprises 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.78 per cent, according to the ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,66,925, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the .

South Korea to likely shorten Covid isolation period to 5 days in May

South Korea's mandatory Covid-19 isolation period is expected to be reduced to five days from the current seven starting in early May as the govt is considering downgrading the virus

Eye on growth post-pandemic, ITC to invest Rs 3,000 crore annually in India

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company will use the money to build more manufacturing capabilities

Healthy kids, adolescents may no longer need Covid shots, says WHO

Older people and higher-risk groups - including those with underlying conditions - should get Covid boosters between six and 12 months after their last injections

LIVE: BJP is becoming synonymous with aspirations, progress, says PM Modi

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Experts seek consensus on long Covid definition, bat for treatment protocol

One study found that 65 million patients, or 10% of the 651 million confirmed Covid-19 cases worldwide, have long-Covid. For hospitalised cases, the rate rose to 50-70%

India reported 1,317 H3N2 cases from January 1-March 21: Govt in RS

India reported 1,317 cases of H3N2 from January 1 to March 21, according to information provided by states and Union Territories, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), of the 510 H3N2 cases reported through ILI/SARI surveillance in the last two months, 19 patients required ICU admission, Pawar said in a written reply. As reported by the ICMR, the influenza working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization is reviewing the data for seasonal influenza vaccination, she added. Pawar added that the Union Health Ministry is monitoring the situation and has taken several steps to support the states for management of influenza cases, including H3N2. These include issuing an advisory requesting all the states and Union Territories to take necessary steps such closely following the trend of ILI/SARI (influenza-like illness/severe acute respiratory illness) in their

South Korea's retail sales up 7.9% in Feb amid return to pre-Covid normalcy

Retail sales in South Korea grew 7.9 per cent on-year in February on rising demand for fashion, tourism and other items as people increasingly adapted to post-pandemic life