Page 58 - Coronavirus

US CDC lifts Covid-19 test requirements for travellers from China

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lifted mandatory Covid-19 test requirements for travellers from China

India sent medicines to 150 countries during Covid crisis: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said that India sent medicines to 150 countries during covid crisis without increasing the price and compromising on the quality of the medicines

US House votes to declassify information about origins of Covid-19

The House voted unanimously Friday to declassify U.S. intelligence information about the origins of COVID-19, a sweeping show of bipartisan support near the third anniversary of the start of the deadly pandemic. The vote was final approval of the bill, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. Debate was brief and to the point: Americans have questions about how the deadly virus started and what can be do to prevent future outbreaks. The order to declassify focused on intelligence related to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology, citing potential links between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19. U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether a lab leak or a spillover from animals is the likely source of the virus. Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic may not be known for many years if ever.

Lung cancer patient who died recently in Haryana, had tested H3N2 in Jan

A 56-year-old man from Haryana, a lung cancer patient who died recently, had tested positive for the H3N2 virus in January, a health department official said on Friday. "As per preliminary information, patient, 56-year-old male, resident of Jind district, died on 08-02-23 at home, was a lung cancer patient. He had tested positive for H3N2 virus in January at PGIMS hospital in Rohtak," the official said. The official said the patient had tested positive for the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus on January 17.

Long Covid much less likely after Omicron infection, reveals study

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is much less likely to lead to long Covid than the variant circulating at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, new research shows

Amid rising cases in the country, two individuals succumb to H3N2 virus

The H3N2 influenza virus is one of the many variants of the influenza virus. The virus can affect human health adversely. So far, India has reported a total of 90 cases of H3N2 influenza

India reports 440 new Covid cases, one death; active tally rises to 3,294

India recorded 440 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,294, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll stands at 5,30,779 with one death reported by Rajasthan, one by Karnataka and one fatality reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,89,512). The national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.80 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,55,439, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

India reports 379 new Covid cases, one death; active tally rises to 3,177

India logged 379 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases rose to 3,177, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll stands at 5,30,776 with one fatality reported by Maharashtra, the data updated at 8 am stated The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,89,072). The national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,55,119, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Rise in Covid cases not of huge concern, outbreak in endemic stage: Experts

Experts stressed that the Covid-19 outbreak is in the endemic stage and the spurts in cases are not of a huge concern

Covid-19 can increase risk of liver problems, acid reflux, ulcers: Study

People infected with Covid can also see an increased likelihood of constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating and vomiting

Covid-19 lab leak fight obscures the global rise of high-security biolabs

There are 69 so-called Biosafety Level 4, or BSL-4, facilities designed to study dangerous infectious pathogens in operation, under construction or planned worldwide, according to Global Biolabs

India logs 326 new Covid-19 infections, active cases cross 3,000-mark

India saw a single-day rise of 326 fresh coronavirus cases, while the active cases crossed the 3,000-mark after 67 days, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday. The country's COVID-19 death toll stands at 5,30,775, while the active cases increased to 3,076, the data updated at 8 am stated. The infection tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,88,693). The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,54,842, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

China's foreign minister warns of conflict unless US changes course

China's foreign minister has warned Washington of conflict and confrontation if it fails to change course in relations with Beijing, striking a combative tone amid conflicts over Taiwan, COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Qin Gang's language appeared to defy hopes China's might abandon confrontational wolf warrior rhetoric. It followed an accusation by Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the United States were trying to encircle and suppress China. Washington's China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track, Qin said at a news conference Tuesday during annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature. China's relations with Washington and Japan, India and other Asian neighbours have soured as Xi's government has pursued assertive policies abroad. If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation,

Biden administration to relax Covid testing rules for travellers from China

The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travellers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the administration has decided to roll back the testing requirements as cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining in China and the US has gathered better information about the surge. The restrictions were put in place on December 28 and took effect on January 5 amid a surge in infections in China after the nation sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as US health officials expressed concerns that their Chinese counterparts were not being truthful to the world about the true number of infections and deaths. At the time, US officials also said the restriction was necessary to protect US citizens and communities because there was a lack of transparency from the Chinese government "about the size of the sur

Saving lives and livelihoods during Covid-19 pandemic

A Stanford University report assesses economic impact of India's vaccination and related measures

Silicon, gold, copper, electric fields could help fight Covid-19: Study

The spike proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus become trapped when they come in contact with silicon, gold and copper, according to a study which also found that electric fields can be used to destroy these proteins, likely killing the virus. The spike protein is used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter and infect the human cells. The study, published in the journal Chemical Science, found that the spike proteins of coronaviruses attached and became stuck to certain types of surfaces. "Coronaviruses have spike proteins on their periphery that allow them to penetrate host cells and cause infection and we have found these proteins becomes stuck to the surface of silicon, gold and copper through a reaction that forms a strong chemical bond," said study lead researcher Nadim Darwish, from Curtin University in Australia. "We believe these materials can be used to capture coronaviruses by being used in air filters, as a coating for benches, tables and walls or in the fabric of wipe cloths and f

India reports 266 new Covid-19 cases, active tally rises to 2,970

India saw a single-day rise of 266 fresh coronavirus cases, while active cases have increased to 2,970, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday. The country's infection tally stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,88,367), the data updated at 8 am stated. The COVID-19 death toll stands at 5,30,775. The active cases now comprise 0.00 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,54,622 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

India is not immune to the stagflation that felled its neighbours

Not much help is expected from the global economy. Financial conditions are tight almost everywhere, and demand tepid

Retail auto sales up 16% YoY in Feb but still lower than pre-Covid level

The change in onboard diagnostics and the wedding season were the key drivers of growth in the month

Chinese planners promise 12 million jobs, economic rebound following Covid

Chinese economic officials expressed confidence Monday they can meet this year's growth target of around 5 per cent by generating 12 million new jobs and encouraging consumer spending following the end of anti-virus controls that kept millions of people at home. The Cabinet planning officials announced no details of spending or other initiatives to revive growth that slumped to 3 per cent last year, the second-lowest in decades. But they said they plan an array of measures to meet goals announced Sunday by Premier Li Keqiang by raising incomes and encouraging innovation. Efforts to revive the Chinese economy have global implications after weak retail, auto and housing sales depressed demand for imports. The country is the biggest export market for its Asian neighbours and an important revenue source for Western companies. There are many policy tools in our toolbox, the deputy chairman of the National Reform and Development Commission, Li Chunlin, said at a news conference held durin