Page 65 - Coronavirus

China grants conditional approval for two homegrown Covid-19 drugs

The applications for the innovative drugs XIANNUOXIN and VV116 were submitted by Simcere and a subsidiary of Shanghai Junshi Biosciences, respectively

Long Covid cripples millions, best protection is vaccination, say experts

At least 65 million people are thought to have long Covid, according to a latest review of 200 Covid-19 studies

India records 109 new Covid-19 infections, tally of active cases now 1,842

India has recorded a single-day rise of 109 new COVID-19 infections and its count of active cases now stands at 1,842, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The tally of Covid infections in the country has reached 4.46 crore (4,46,82,639), it showed. The death toll due to the disease stands at 5,30,740 with one death reported by Gujarat, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.07 per cent and the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.08 per cent, as per the data. Active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,41,50,057, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent, the data showed. According to the ministry's website, 220.4 crore doses of vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19

Maharashtra records 17 new Covid cases in a day; active tally at 80

Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 17 new coronavirus cases that raised the tally of infections to 81,37,120, an official from the state health department said. The death toll remained unchanged at 1,48,421, while the count of recoveries reached 79,88,619 after 18 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, the official said. With this, the state is left with 80 active cases, of which Pune accounts for the highest number of 18 cases, followed by Mumbai with 14 and Thane 10, he said. As many as 8,692 swab samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the number of tests conducted across the state to 8,62,29,962, the official said. According to a health department report, Mumbai circle reported the highest seven new cases, followed by four cases in Pune, three in Akola, and one case each in Nashik, Latur and Kolhapur. The recovery rate in the state stands at 98.18 per cent, while the fatality rate is 1.82 per cent, it said. As many as 6,13,962 passengers arrived at Mumbai, Pune and N

India sees single-day rise of 93 Covid cases; active tally down to 1,842

India saw a single day rise of 93 coronavirus infections, while the active cases have declined to 1,842, according to Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. The total tally of Covid cases is 4.46 crore (4,46,82,530) and the death toll stands at 5,30,739, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity has been recorded at 0.07 per cent while the weekly positivity is 0.08 per cent, it stated. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate has increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. There has been a decrease of 54 cases in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours, the data stated. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,49,949, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent, the ministry said. According to its website, 220.38 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered, so far, under the nationwide vaccination drive. Indi

iNCOVACC: All you need to know about world's first intranasal Covid vaccine

The vaccine been approved for use as a primary as well as a heterologous (mix-and-match) booster dose in India

Children's 'rushed' immunity makes them open to Covid reinfection: Study

Scientists have found that children's immune systems, unlike those of adults, do not remember the virus and do not adapt, and so when exposed to SARS-CoV-2 again, their body still treats it as a new threat, risking reinfection. According to the study, children have largely avoided severe COVID-19 symptoms because they have a strong initial 'innate' immune reaction that quickly defeats the virus. And now, researchers led by scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia, have uncovered what this might mean for the immune system, the study published in the journal Clinical Immunology said. "The price that children pay for being so good at getting rid of the virus in the first place is that they don't have the opportunity to develop 'adaptive' memory to protect them the second time they are exposed to the virus," said lead author Tri Phan, Co-Lead of the Precision Immunology Program at Garvan. "Because children haven't been exposed to many viruses, their immune syst

Indian economy yet to revive from effects of Covid-19 pandemic, says CPI(M)

Ahead of the Union Budget, the CPI(M) has alleged the Indian economy is yet to revive from the blow it was dealt with during the Covid pandemic and blamed the government for the way it was handled. The party demanded that taxation and public expenditure be used to tilt distribution in the favour of the working masses, improve the incomes of farmers, generate employment, and attain improved health and educational outcomes. The latest editorial of the party mouthpiece "People's Democracy" said the budget for 2023-24 is to be presented before Parliament at a time when both Indian and world economies are facing a grim situation. "Notwithstanding the tall claims of the (Narendra) Modi government, India's economy is yet to recover from the crippling effects of the Covid pandemic and the disastrous way in which it was handled by the Government of India... "India has to, however, be prepared for not merely a temporary world recession, but the possibility of a prolonged world capitalist cri

China claims Covid wave is past its peak, but experts remain wary

Chinas health authorities have said the Covid-19 wave is past its peak, with rapid decline in both severe cases and deaths in hospitals, but experts remain wary of the governments official data

India records 99 new Covid-19 cases, active count declines to 1,896

India logged 99 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 1,896, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,82,437). The death toll stands at 5,30,739 with one death reported by Maharashtra, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity was recorded at 0.10 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 has increased to 98.81 per cent, the ministry said. A decrease of 10 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 4,41,49,802, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website 220.36 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. Indi

Covid deaths increase in Tibet due to restrictions on access to hospitals

The Covid mortality surge has made lives of Tibetans increasingly difficult due to current restrictions on access to hospitals and other medical facilities, reported Tibet Press.Tibetans are not allowed to use the medical facilities, and the entire problem is being handled behind closed doors without anyone in the outside world knowing.Tibetans endure unending suffering and death at the hands of ruthless Chinese rule, as well as the current Covid pandemic, reported Tibet Press.Due to the current restrictions on access to hospitals and other medical facilities. Four individuals, including two local government workers, perished on January 7 in Dragyab county, Chamdo prefecture, according to sources who spoke with Radio Free Asia (RFA).Additionally, according to some sources, the dead are reportedly being transported in huge numbers from nearby districts to the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Serta county, Sichuan, for cremation.According to sources, the Chinese government has in the ...

China faces challenge due to flawed Covid policies, vaccines: Report

China is facing a significant challenge in the form of Covid-19, due to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) flawed and regressive containment policies and ineffective domestically produced vaccines

People dying from cardiovascular disease up by 6.2% in US, says study

The number of people dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the US escalated during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic by 6.2 per cent, according to a study. The rise in the number of CVD deaths in 2020, from 874,613 CVD-related deaths recorded in 2019 to 928,741 in 2020, represents the largest single-year increase since 2015 and topped the previous high of 910,000 recorded in 2003, according to the latest available data from the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2023 Update of the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, the study said. The study has been published in the journal Circulation. "While the total number of CVD-related deaths increased from 2019 to 2020, what may be even more telling is that our age-adjusted mortality rate increased for the first time in many years and by a fairly substantial 4.6 per cent," said the volunteer chair of the Statistical Update writing group Connie W. Tsao, an assistant professor at Harvard Medica

Budget 2023-24 wishlist: Here're the key challenges in healthcare sector

Covid has highlighted the need for adequate infrastructure and health care workforce, especially doctors and nurses

India reports 132 new coronavirus cases, active tally decline to 1,906

India saw a single-day rise of 132 new coronavirus infections, while active cases declined to 1,906, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4,46,82,338. The death toll stood at 5,30,738 with one previous death reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.08 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.08 per cent. Active cases now account for 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. A decrease of 16 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 4,41,49,694, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.35 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the

Most sectors of Indian economy have shaken off pandemic effects: Prez Murmu

Most sectors of the Indian economy have shaken off effects of COVID-19 which has hurt it badly in the initial phase, President Droupadi Murmu said in her maiden address to the nation on the eve of 74th Republic Day. "With the outbreak of the pandemic, the world has changed within a matter of days. During these three years, whenever we have felt that we have finally put the virus behind, it raises its ugly head," she said. Asking people to not let the guard down and remain alert, the President said "there is no need to panic" because the country has learnt in this period that "our leadership, our scientists and doctors, our administrators and corona warriors" will make every possible effort to meet any situation. Speaking on the economic front, the President said last year, India became the fifth largest economy in the world. She underlined that this achievement comes against the backdrop of high economic uncertainties around the world. "The pandemic has entered the fourth year, ..

India's retail health insurance could be a $25 bn market in 5 yrs: Report

Avendus Capital study says low penetration coupled with rising disposable incomes, and product innovation by insurers could act as catalysts for the segment

Booster dose of Covishield offers best immune response: Lancet study

A booster dose of Covishield offers the best immune response, irrespective of whether the primary doses were of Covishield or Covaxin, according to a new study conducted in India and published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal. According to the study, even though homologous and heterologous boosting with Covishield or Covaxin in Covishield or Covaxin primed individuals are immunogenic and safe, boosting with Covishield produced better binding and functional antibodies, irrespective of whether the primary vaccination series used Covishield or Covaxin. Primary SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has been shown to wane with time and provide lower protection from disease with new viral variants, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recommend the administration of booster doses. The study, conducted by researchers from Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, determined the safety and ...

India records 102 new coronavirus cases, active tally dips to 1,922

India logged 102 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 1,922, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,82,206). The death toll stands at 5,30,737, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity was recorded at 0.07 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 health ministry said. A decrease of nine 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 4,41,49,547 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.32 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 t

Human trafficking moving deeper underground due to Covid-19: UN report

Covid-19 resulted in a decline in number of detected human trafficking victims as there were fewer opportunities for traffickers to operate and some trafficking forms were less likely to be detected