Page 72 - Coronavirus

Covid infection reshapes immune status depending on gender: Study

Scientists have found that the baseline immune statuses in men previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 was altered in ways that changed the response to an exposure different from SARS-CoV-2. The team of researchers systematically analyzed immune responses of healthy people who had been given the flu vaccine. From that data, they then compared the responses between those who had never been infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and those who experienced mild cases but recovered. The team led by John Tsang, an immunobiologist from Yale University, US, found that immune systems of men who had recovered from mild cases of COVID-19 responded more robustly to flu vaccines than women who had had mild cases or men and women who had never been infected. "This was a total surprise," said Tsang. "Women usually mount a stronger overall immune response to pathogens and vaccines, but are also more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases," said Tsang. The long-term effects of ...

Covid-19 pandemic reduces Australian life expectancy, says report

In the first week of August alone there were 4,200 deaths -- 20 per cent higher than the historical weekly average

LIVE: Wells Fargo sacks man who urinated on woman on Air India flight

Latest LIVE: The next date will be announced later, BJP councillor Satya Sharma, the presiding officer overseeing the process, said

Japan reports all-time high 456 coronavirus deaths in a single day

There were concerns that the Covid infection and death numbers would only go up with the New Year festivities

China seeks to minimise Covid-19 risk during Lunar New Year travel rush

China is seeking to minimize the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak during this month's Lunar New Year travel rush following the end of most pandemic containment measures. The Transportation Ministry on Friday called on travelers to reduce trips and gatherings, particularly if they involve elderly people, pregnant women, small children and those with underlying conditions. People using public transport should wear masks and pay special attention to their health and personal hygiene, Vice Minister Xu Chengguang told reporters at a briefing. The call stopped short of asking citizens to stay home entirely, as the government had since the pandemic began, although some local governments have urged migrant workers not to return home. China abruptly ended a strict regime of lockdowns, quarantines and mass testing in December amid growing concerns about the economic impact and rare public protests in a country that permits no open political dissent. China on Sunday is also endin

Not hiding coronavirus infections or death figures, claims China: Report

"China has always shared its information and data responsibly with the international community"

India logs 228 new coronavirus infections, active cases decline to 2,503

India logged 228 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 2,503, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,79,547). The death toll stands at 5,30,714, with four deaths. Two deaths were reconciled by Kerala while one death each was reported from Bihar and Uttarakhand in last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity was recorded at 0.11 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.12 per cent. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, the ministry said. A decrease of 51 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 4,41,46,330, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.12 crore doses of Covid vaccine

As Covid-19 infections surge in China, US begins testing more travellers

Shubham Chandra knows how dangerous the coronavirus can be: He lost his dad during the pandemic. So when he cleared customs at Newark Liberty International Airport and saw people offering anonymous COVID-19 testing, he was happy to volunteer. It's a minimum amount of effort to help a lot of people," said the 27-year-old New York City man, who had just stepped off a plane from Cancun, Mexico. The airport testing is part of the government's early warning system for detecting new variants, which began expanding recently in the wake of a COVID-19 surge in China. With the addition of Los Angeles and Seattle, there are now seven airports where arriving passengers can volunteer for COVID-19 tests. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention program now covers about 500 flights from at least 30 countries, including more than half from China and surrounding areas. As of Thursday, the CDC is also requiring travellers to the US from China, Hong Kong and Macao to take a COVID-19 test no mor

Covid testing jumps 57% in a fortnight, still lower than November level

Among metros, Pune has highest positivity rate of 1.05%; 7 of Kerala's 14 districts have positivity rate of over 1%

Covid cases surge in China after govt abandons Zero-COVID policy: Report

Covid cases have surged in China after the government abandoned its Zero-COVID policy, according to CNN

Covid's XBB.1.5 variant cases rise to seven in India: INSACOG figures

The number of COVID-19's XBB.1.5 variant, responsible for the rise in cases in the US, rose to seven in India as new cases of the variant were found in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, according to INSACOG figures on Thursday. Of the seven cases, three were found in Gujarat and one each in Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said. The XBB.1.5 strain is a relative of the Omicron XBB variant, which is a recombinant of the Omicron BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 subvariants. Combined, XBB and XBB.1.5 make up 44 per cent of cases in the US. The INSACOG data also showed that seven cases of BF.7 strain which is apparently driving China's COVID-19 wave have been found. There are four cases of Omicron sub-variant BF.7 reported in West Bengal, two in Gujarat and one in Odisha. INSACOG reports genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 across the country through sequencing of samples from sentinel sites and international passengers arriving in India.

XBB prevalent Covid variant in international travellers, show India's tests

Omicron variant blamed for 40% of all cases being reported in the US

G20 Presidency: India to focus on health emergency prevention, preparedness

As the pharmacy of the world India has exported drugs and vaccines to over 150 countries globally during the pandemic, the health ministry said

11 Omicron sub-variants found during tests of int'l travellers: Report

Eleven Omicron sub-variants were found during testing of international travellers between December 24 and January 3, and all these variants have been earlier reported in India, official sources said on Thursday. Of the 19,227 international travellers tested during the period, 124 were found Covid positive, they said, adding that all of them were put in isolation. The sources said that of the 124 positive samples, genome sequencing results of 40 were received of which XBB, including XBB.1, was found in 14 samples and BF 7.4.1 in one sample. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has urged citizens not to panic unnecessarily but remain alert and follow the directives issued by the government.

Beds run out at Beijing hospital as Covid-19 brings in more patients

Patients, most of them elderly, are lying on stretchers in hallways and taking oxygen while sitting in wheelchairs as COVID-19 surges in China's capital Beijing. The Chuiyangliu hospital in the city's east was packed with newly arrived patients on Thursday. By midmorning beds had run out, even as ambulances continued to bring those in need. Hard-pressed nurses and doctors rushed to take information and triage the most urgent cases. The surge in severely ill people needing hospital care follows China abandonment of its most severe pandemic restrictions last month after nearly three years of lockdowns, travels bans and school closures that weighed heavily on the economy and prompted street protests not seen since the late 1980s. It also comes as the the European Union on Wednesday strongly encouraged its member states to impose pre-departure COVID-19 testing of passengers from China. Over the past week, EU nations have reacted with a variety of restrictions toward travelers from Chi

China's services activity shrinks in Dec as surging Covid cases hit demand

The Caixin/S&P Global services PMI rose to 48.0 in December from 46.7 in November, but remained below the 50-point mark, which indicates contraction in activity, for a fourth straight month

India records 188 new Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths; active tally drops to 2,554

India has recorded 188 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have declined to 2,554, according to Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. The total tally of Covid cases has been recorded at 4,46,79,319 and the death toll stands at 5,30,710, with three deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity has been recorded at 0.10 per cent while the weekly positivity has been pegged at 0.12 per cent, the ministry said. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. There has been a decrease of 16 cases in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours, it stated, and added that the number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,46,055 while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.12 crore doses of Covid vaccine hav

Covid wave in China has Indian electronics cos worried about parts shortage

Chinese suppliers are already not assuring the delivery timelines for orders placed in the past few weeks due to high Covid-19 infections

Biden raises concern over China's Covid management after WHO questions data

Chinese health officials have said only deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure in patients who had the virus are classified as Covid deaths

China under-representing true impact of Covid-19, especially deaths: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that China is "under-representing the true impact" of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, especially the exact number of deaths.