Delta

Researchers sought to gauge the response in cases where post-vaccination infections were caused by a variant other than the original Wuhan strain

The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is less likely to cause long COVID than the Delta strain, according to a study published in The Lancet journal. Long COVID is defined as having new or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after the start of the disease, the researchers said. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of concentration, and joint pain, which can adversely affect day-to-day activities, and in some cases can be severely limiting, they said. The researchers found that the odds of experiencing long COVID were between 20-50 per cent less during the Omicron period versus the Delta period, depending on age and time since vaccination. "The Omicron variant appears substantially less likely to cause Long-COVID than previous variants but still 1 in 23 people who catch COVID-19 go on to have symptoms for more than four weeks," said study lead author Claire Steves from King's College London, UK. The study identified 56,003 UK adult cases first testing positive

Omicron has been the dominant strain across the world since January, quickly replacing the Delta variant that had caused a devastating second wave in India

A new research on Omicron-infected patients suggests that the current Covid wave, driven by the new strain, appears to cause less severe illness and even provide protection against the Delta variant.

Business Standard's Bhaswar Kumar speaks to Dr K Srinath Reddy, president of Public Health Foundation of India to know his views about how the third Covid wave is likely to play out in India

After a scientist in Cyprus claimed that his team has identified a new Covid variant - 'Deltacron', a UK-based virologist termed it a "lab contamination" and not a new strain.

Global Covid-19 cases hit a daily record on Monday

On the contrary, Covid survivors who were also fully vaccinated showed an increased ability to combat the strain

A new study shows that there is "no evidence" that Omicron is less severe than the Delta variant of Covid-19.

Omicron has spread to about one-third of US states, but the Delta version remains the majority of Covid-19 infections as cases rise nationwide

WHO officials said measures put in place and experience gained in dealing with the delta variant should remain the foundation for fighting the pandemic.

INSACOG also said AY.3 has been identified as a new Delta sub-lineage and it is defined by ORF1a: I3731V common AY.1 mutations except for S: K417.

Two new vaccine testing labs set up, Delhi sees a sharp dip in Covid funerals in June, and more-news relevant to India's fight against the pandemic

The Delta variant is more transmissible than other circulating variants

Vaccination likely slows the spread of all the variants and reduce the odds that new, even more dangerous variants emerge.

Study finds Covid variant found in Brazil more severe than the original variant, Delta variant dominant in Bengaluru, and more-news relevant to India's fight against the pandemic

The study also shows that levels of these antibodies that are able to recognise and fight the virus are lower with increasing age

The expanded joint venture replaces two previously approved arrangements in the US-United Kingdom and US-Continental Europe markets

A trip to the Kaveri delta is a revelation. An assurance that the world of traditional Indian craft traditions is alive and well, writes Shonali Madapa

Delta stopped flying to India in 2009, three years after launching its service