Page 63 - Coronavirus

Mandatory RT-PCR test for six East Asian nations removed as Covid cases dip

The norms have been updated and requirement of compulsory test and uploading of result on the air suvidha portal has been dropped

Foreign tourist footfall now 75% of pre-pandemic level: Tourism min Reddy

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy on Thursday said the footfall of foreign tourists in India has reached 75 per cent level of what it was in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. The minister hoped that by December 2023, the footfall of foreign tourists would not only return to pre-pandemic level, the country would also register a record number of tourists. Reddy was speaking after inaugurating the 30th edition of the South Asia's Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE), being held from February 9 to 11, at the India Expo Mart and Centre in Greater Noida. The number of domestic tourists within the country is also on a rise. For example, Jammu and Kashmir had record number of tourists which was not seen ever earlier. Similarly, foreign tourists have reached 75 per cent of what it was in 2019 before Covid, he said. Australian tourists have come to India in numbers more than it was in 2019, while the number of tourists from the US has reached 85 per cent of the

Singapore to lift remaining Covid-19 measures from February 13, says MOH

Singapore will lift few of its remaining Covid-19 measures from February 13 as the country's pandemic situation has remained stable in recent months, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Thursday

Singapore to scrap Covid-19 border safety measures from Monday as cases dip

Singapore will scrap all COVID-19 border safety measures from next Monday when the country steps down its disease alert to its lowest level. This is due to the improving pandemic situation globally and the low impact of imported cases on Singapore's healthcare capacity said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday. Singapore will also step down its disease alert to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic started three years ago, with face masks no longer mandatory on local public transport as well as at some healthcare and residential care settings from Monday. Once the border measures are scrapped, all travellers, including those who are not vaccinated, will not have to show proof of a negative pre-departure test before entering Singapore. Unvaccinated visitors will also no longer have to purchase COVID-19 travel insurance. Still, Singapore is prepared to reintroduce restrictions under its Vaccinated Travel Framework if there are "international developments of concern", Chan

Covid-19 may affect brain, trigger neurological problems, says doctor

COVID-19 may have been viewed and treated primarily as a respiratory illness, but it is more sinister and pervasive in its impact on the human body as it may affect the brain thereby accelerate or trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to a doctor. Describing the pandemic as 'a beast with a thousand heads', Dr Yatish Agarwal, senior professor, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, says the effect of the COVID-19 extends far beyond the nose, throat, and lungs and may infect the brain, the most vital bodily organ. Vast clinical studies reveal that neurological complications occur in 36-84 per cent of COVID-19 patients. Strangely, many people who experience neurologic symptoms that linger after the disease are less than 50 years old and were healthy prior to the infection, he points out in an exclusive article for Manorama Yearbook 2023. Panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression can occur among

Actual Covid infections in India 17 times higher than reported: BHU study

The actual COVID-19 infections in India may be around 17 times higher than the official figure, a study led by researchers at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) suggests. According to government data, nearly 4.5 crore people in India have been infected with COVID-19 so far. However, the study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases (IJID) estimated that the actual coronavirus cases in the country may be between 58 to 98 crores. The research "has shown that the actual corona infection in India was at least 17 times higher," according to a statement by BHU. "The discrepancy observed in our study is due to the overwhelming number of asymptomatic people, which was several-fold higher than the true official infection," said BHU geneticist Professor Gyaneshwer Chaubey. "Asymptomatic cases were more inclined towards the younger population," Chaubey, who led the study, told PTI. The study involved 88 scientists from 34 research institutes across the country. The team ..

India records 96 new coronavirus cases; active tally rise to 1,785

India on Wednesday recorded 96 fresh COVID-19 cases, while the number of active cases increased to 1,785, according to Union health ministry data. With the new cases, the total tally stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,83,639). The death toll increased to 5,30,746 with one death reported from Uttar Pradesh, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.07 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.08 per cent. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,51,108, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.60 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered 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 August 23

Relax age limit, give extra attempt to civil service aspirants: TN CM to PM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider the civil service aspirants' demand for an extra attempt with corresponding age relaxation to all those who exhausted their last attempt due to COVID-19 pandemic. Taking up the issue with Modi, Stalin said aspirants of various exams conducted by the Centre including Civil Service examinations, who had exhausted their last attempts due to the pandemic, have been requesting since the past two years to extend the age limit to appear for the examination as one-time measure. "The Parliament Standing Committee has also recommended to consider sympathetically the demand of the Civil Service aspirants and to grant an extra attempt with corresponding age relaxation to all aspirants," the Chief Minister said in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, a copy of which was made available to the media here. Also, he pointed out to the Apex Court's advise in various cases to take a lenient view in ...

Active Covid-19 cases decline to 1,771 in country, death toll at 530,745

India logged 89 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 1,771, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The death toll stands at 5,30,745, the data updated at 8 am stated. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,83,543). The daily positivity was recorded at 0.14 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.08 per cent. The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.81 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,51,027, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.57 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 August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on Sept

India's domestic air traffic reaches 86% of pre-Covid level in 2022: IATA

India's domestic traffic reached 85.7 per cent of the level of 2019 -- pre-Covid year -- in 2022 even as the recovery in air travel continued in December last year, global aviation body IATA said on Monday. Total traffic in 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 64.4 per cent compared to 2021, International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. It also said that globally, full year 2022 traffic was at 68.5 per cent of pre-pandemic (2019) levels while December 2022 total traffic rose 39.7 per cent compared to December 2021 and reached 76.9 per cent of the December 2019 level. The recovery in air travel continued in December 2022 and for the full year. India's full year domestic traffic rose 48.8 per cent versus 2021, reaching 85.7 per cent of the 2019 level, it stated. International traffic, globally, in 2022 climbed 152.7 per cent versus 2021 and reached 62.2 per cent of 2019 levels. December 2022 international traffic climbed 80.2 per cent over December 2021

India adds 91 new Covid-19 infections, active case tally unchanged at 1,817

India on Monday logged 91 fresh COVID-19 cases, while the number of active cases remained unchanged at 1,817, according to Union health ministry data. With the fresh cases, the COVID-19 caseload climbed to 4.46 crore (4,46,83,454). The death toll stands at 5,30,745, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.14 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was 0.08 per cent. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,50,892, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.57 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered 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 August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and

International flights in South Korea back to 60% of pre-Covid levels in Jan

The number of international flights in South Korea has returned to 60% of pre-Covid levels in January, helped by increased travel to Japan and Asian countries, the Transport Ministry said on Monday

FY22 emerges most profitable for Yash Raj, Dharma despite Covid-19

Results sourced from RoC show YRF reported highest profit in seven years, while Dharma recovered nearly all its pre-Covid profit; listed peers Balaji, Eros in red

Certainly, uncertainty has declined

Over the past year, global macroeconomic stability has improved, which sets the stage for good growth from 2024

Statsguru: How Indian Railways is coming out of Covid-related disruption

The money earned from carrying passengers is expected to surpass the pre-Covid level this year

Kenya expects tourist footfalls from India to reach pre-pandemic level

With recovery in international tourism, Kenya is expecting the tourist footfalls from India to cross the pre-pandemic level this year, Kenya Tourism Board has said. "India is important for us as it is the fifth largest source market in terms of footfalls as well as spending," Kenya Tourism Board acting director - market development, Fiona Ngesa told PTI here. In 2019, Kenya had hosted 1.22 lakh tourists from India and over 20 lakh overall international travellers, she said adding in 2020, there was a standstill due to the pandemic but thereafter from 2021 there has been a steady rise in visitors footfalls. In 2021, Kenya hosted 40,000 visitors from India followed by 83,000 in 2022, she said. "There is a steady increase in footfalls from India and this year we expect the visitor numbers to cross the pre-pandemic level. We are targeting 100 lakh footfalls of overall international travellers by 2027," she added. The African country's top source markets are North America, Uganda, ...

India reports 113 new coronavirus cases; active tally rise to 1,817

India logged 113 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 1,817, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll stands at 5,30,745, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally stood at 4.46 crore (4,46,83,363). The daily positivity was recorded at 0.09 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.08 per cent. The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.81 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,50,801, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.57 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 August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

India logs 128 fresh Covid infections, active cases rise to 1,792

India saw a single-day rise of 128 coronavirus infections, while the active cases have increased to 1,792, according to Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll has increased to 5,30,745 with four deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The total tally of Covid cases is 4.46 crore (4,46,83,250). The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 0.09 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.07 per cent, it stated. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections and the national Covid recovery rate has increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,50,713, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.19 per cent, it stated. According to the ministry's website, 220.56 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far.

Will file complaint against BMC public utility: Somaiya on 'Covid Ki Kamai'

"COVID ki KAMAI" Exposing One more scam of BMC today. 2.30 pm today, I will be meeting Labour Minister Suresh Khade at Mantralaya Mumbai to submit a detailed complaint," the BJP leader said in a tweet

California won't require COVID vaccine to attend schools

Children in California won't have to get the coronavirus vaccine to attend schools, state public health officials confirmed on Friday, ending one of the last major restrictions of the pandemic in the nation's most populous state. Gov. Gavin Newsom first announced the policy in 2021, saying it would eventually apply to all of California's 6.7 million public and private schoolchildren. But since then, the crisis first caused by a mysterious virus in late 2019 has mostly receded from public consciousness. COVID-19 is still widespread, but the availability of multiple vaccines has lessened the viruses' effects for many offering relief to what had been an overwhelmed public health system. Nearly all of the pandemic restrictions put in place by Newsom have been lifted, and he won't be able to issue any new ones after February 28 when the state's coronavirus emergency declaration officially ends. One of the last remaining questions was what would happen to the state's vaccine mandate for