Page 88 - Coronavirus

Taj Mahal on alert, no entry for tourists without Covid-19 testing

With surge in Covid cases in China and other countries, one of the most popular tourist attractions of the country Taj Mahal in Agra is put on alert, confirmed the District Health Information Officer

Covid-19: TN health deptt issues alert against new Omicron variant BF.7

The TN health department has issued an alert to all the District Medical Officers against the reported Omicron variant BF.7 and the increase in the number of Covid positive cases in several countries

LNJP director asks people to wear masks, take Covid-19 precaution dose

LNJP Hospital medical director Suresh Kumar on Thursday urged people to take the precaution dose of COVID-19 and not let their guard down during the upcoming festive season. Kumar's appeal comes after the Centre urged all states and Union Territories to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants amid a spike in Covid cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the US. The British-era hospital located in central Delhi has 2,000 beds and was the first to be turned into a Covid care facility soon after the first case of coronavirus was reported in early March in 2020. At present, the hospital has 450 dedicated Covid beds, including 50 ICU beds, Kumar told PTI. "We have a genome sequencing lab at the hospital. Covid is not over yet but at the same time we are fully prepared," he added. In October this year, the Delhi government issued an order withdrawing the Rs 500 fine for not wearing masks in public places in the capital. The orde

Uttarakhand CM orders drive to administer Covid-19 vaccines booster doses

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asked the state health department on Thursday to launch a drive to administer booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the beneficiaries for effectively controlling the pandemic. He asked officials of the department to start holding camps to administer booster doses to people from Friday. Awareness about the importance of the booster dose should be raised and people should be encouraged to get vaccinated against the viral disease, Dhami said, adding that if fresh cases are reported, the samples should be sent for genome sequencing. The Covid control rooms should be activated in all the districts, he said. Dhami issued the instructions while chairing a high-level meeting of health department officials to discuss steps to curb the spread of the virus. Uttarakhand Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat joined the meeting virtually and emphasised the importance of booster doses. Held at the secretariat, the meeting was also attended by Chief Secr

Step up surveillance, wear masks: Mandaviya says in LS amid Covid concerns

Amid a spurt in Covid cases in some parts of the world, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday asked states to remain alert and create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers, especially in view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations. Making a statement in Lok Sabha, Mandaviya said the continuously evolving nature of the virus poses threat to global health in a way that impacts virtually every country. The minister said India has been reporting 153 new cases on an average every day as against 5.87 lakh on a daily basis across the world. "In view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations, states also need to focus on ensuring effective awareness within the community on adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour which includes use of masks, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene practices, besides following physical distancing," he said. Mandaviya said states have been advised to focus on heightened surveillance within the community and to ...

No need to panic, but should voluntarily follow Covid norms: Anil Vij

In the wake of a sudden spurt in Covid cases in some countries, Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said there was no need to panic, but asked people to voluntarily follow precautionary measures like wearing of masks in crowded places and using hand sanitiser. Vij said if any specific guidelines or directions pertaining to Covid come from the Centre, they will be fully implemented in the state. "There is no need to panic. But people must themselves follow measures against Covid like wearing masks, using sanitisers etc. Everyone should voluntarily follow these measures," Vij said in a statement. He said Haryana has adequate stocks of medicine and RT-PCR test facility in every district. Ventilators are also available in sufficient numbers. "We are fully prepared to fight against corona. Taking experience from the previous Covid waves, we are ready in all respects," he said. Vij further said "earlier there was a problem of oxygen but now we have installed PSA plants in all

Delhi CM Kejriwal should stop BJY over Covid scare: Swami Chakrapani

Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, National President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, has asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the wake of Covid scare

Raya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar asks MPs to mask up amid spurt in Covid cases

Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday asked MPs to wear masks and practice social distancing in view of the surging COVID-19 cases in the world, saying the House needs to lead the nation by example. When the House met for the day, he referred to rising Covid cases in other countries. "I urge all the members to be extra-cautious about the surging Covid cases in the world," Dhankhar said. "It is our ardent duty to set an example before our countrymen." India, he said, had overcome the challenges of COVID-19 in the past due to coordinated efforts of the administration, doctors, healthcare professionals and the sanitation workers. Over two billion doses of free Covid vaccines were administered in record time, an unparalleled fleet in the world. Besides, these were digitally recorded and certificates issued, again another unparallel example in the world for its scale, size and speed. "Currently, the Covid situation is getting alarming. We need to

No order issued by govt to stop flights to and from China: Report

Government sources said that there is no order issued by the central government to curb incoming flights from China where a wave of Covid cases has been reported

Infection rate could be over 50% in Beijing, situation critical: Report

China ceased its strict zero-Covid policy in November and since then, the country has seen a spike and the spread has been faster than anticipated

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urges MPs to wear masks, follow Covid norms

Amid fresh concerns over coronavirus, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday advised parliamentarians to wear a mask and spread awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour. Birla came to the House wearing a mask himself and said Covid cases are once again on the rise in certain countries. He said the government has taken quick steps and asked people to wear masks in crowded place and follow Covid-related protocols. "We should be vigilant keeping in mind the past trends of the pandemic," he told the members. He also said masks have been made available for MPs at the gates and they should all wear one. Covid is back at the centre of India's health and political map with the government on Wednesday advising people to get vaccinated and mask up, and saying random sample testing will be conducted at airports for passengers arriving from China and other countries.

Study finds how long Covid causes smell loss for months, even years

Scientists have uncovered details about the reason behind loss of smell continuing as part of long Covid symptoms, according to a new study. The reason some people fail to recover their sense of smell after COVID-19 is linked to an ongoing immune assault on olfactory nerve cells and an associated decline in the number of those cells, a team of scientists from Duke University, US, report. Olfactory nerve cells are associated with our ability to distinguish scents and smells. The findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, provide an important insight into a vexing problem that has plagued millions who have not fully recovered their sense of smell after COVID-19, the study said. While focusing on the loss smell, the findings also shed light on the possible underlying causes of other long COVID-19 symptoms - including generalized fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog - that might be triggered by similar biological mechanisms. "One of the first symptoms th

Chadha seeks discussion in Parl on Covid surge, demands ban on flights

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Thursday gave a Suspension of Notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha

Japan sees 8th wave of Covid pandemic, records 206,943 new cases

Amidst an ongoing eighth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Japan registered 206,943 new cases, marking the first time that the single-day tally has surpassed the 200,000-mark since August 25

Bihar govt issues order to conduct random Covid-19 tests at crowded places

Conforming to the Centre's advisory, random Covid tests will be conducted at airports, railway stations and bus stands of Bihar, state health officials said on Thursday

India logs 185 new Covid infections; active cases decline to 3,402

India logged 185 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 3,402, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,76,515). The death toll stands at 5,30,681 with one fatality being reported from Delhi in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry website. A decrease of six 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 4,41,42,432, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.03 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, 2

PM Modi to review Covid related situation in country at high-level meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the situation related to COVID-19 in the country at a high-level meeting Thursday afternoon, officials said. The meeting comes a day after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the situation and asked people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, and getting vaccinated. Official sources have said random sample testing will be done at airports for international passengers arriving from China and other countries. There has been a sudden spurt in Covid cases in China and some other countries.

Amid Covid resurgence, China's hospitals seem to be filling up: WHO

The top health official's remarks come despite Chinese authorities saying that the number of people in hospitals due to Covid-19 are "relatively low"

Chinese cities give out free fever drugs as Covid infections flare

The head of the World Health Organization said it is concerned about the spike in infections and is supporting the government to focus on vaccinating those at the highest risk

Ensure genome sequencing, boost scrutiny as Covid surges: Centre to states

Amid a fresh global surge in Covid-19 cases, the central government has briefed all states to conduct genome sequencing of samples, the additional chief secretary of Health informed