Page 8 - Coronavirus Tests

Maharashtra to test international passengers for Covid-19; masks advised

The Maharashtra health department on Thursday night said 2 per cent of the international passengers arriving at the state's airports will be tested randomly amid concern of a possible spike in COVID-19 cases due to detection of the BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron which is said to be driving the latest surge in infections in neighbouring China. The state government has not made masks mandatory for people, but has advised their use by elderly persons and high-risk populations, including those with comorbidities (having existing illnesses), the health department said in a statement. A state task force has been formed to guide the government for expert inputs, while district authorities have been asked to review the situation at their own level through existing committees. District administrations and civic bodies have been asked to ramp up testing and every positive RT-PCR swab sample should be sent for genome sequencing to detect any new variant, the health department added. Genomic ...

Karnataka to conduct Covid-19 test of those with influenza-like illness

In view of the increase in coronavirus cases in several countries amid arrival of the new variant, the Karnataka government has decided to conduct Covid test of those with influenza-like illness

Mandaviya to hold meeting with state health ministers over Covid surge

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with health ministers of states and Union territories on Friday over rising COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world. Mandaviya made a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday on India's preparedness. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. There are no direct flights between China and India but people come via other routes," he said. He said the focus is to ensure that no unknown variant of the virus enters India and at the same time there is no impediment to travelling. As China and some other countries witness a surge in Covid cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cautioned against complacency, called for strict vigil and directed that the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports, be strengthened. "Covid is not over yet," Modi reiterated at a high-level Covid review meeting and urged people to wear masks in crowded places. The Union Health Ministry asked the Civil ..

China likely seeing 1 mn Covid infections, 5,000 virus deaths every day

This current wave may see the daily case rate rise to 3.7 million in January, according to Airfinity Ltd., a London-based analytics firm

As Covid-19 cases fall, Indians drag feet to get their booster shots

Less than 30,000 booster doses daily in December, vaccine coverage flat for two months

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.

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

Mask up, take the jab, Covid is not over yet, Centre cautions citizens

A new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant is behind a widespread surge of Covid infections in China

No plans for mass Covid testing in state now: Maharashtra Health Secretary

Maharashtra Health Secretary Sanjay Khandare said that there are no plans to conduct mass testing in the state now

New Omicron subvariants account for nearly 70% of new Covid-19 cases in US

New Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 have accounted for about 70 per cent of new Covid-19 cases in the US as the country's overall caseload has surpassed 100 million

China was not prepared for Covid surge, 3 waves may hit this winter: Report

Epidemiologists predict at least three waves of the virus to hit the country during winter. It is certain that the Chinese government was "under-prepared" as it decided to end its zero-Covid policy

As China cases surge, India must keep an eye on raw material supplies

Epidemiologist forecasts 10% of world population will be infected in next 90-days

Centre to review Covid situation as cases rise in China, other nations

Health ministry asks states to ramp up genome sequencing

China's Covid-19 outbreak has US worried about new mutations of virus

Chinese cities are witnessing a wave of Covid-19 cases, with concerns growing that the government may be hiding the true toll of the virus

Updated Covid booster doses give additional protection against virus: CDC

Bivalent Covid-19 booster doses provided additional protection against Covid-associated emergency department or urgent care encounters and hospitalisations

Los Angeles' Covid deaths, hospitalisations surpass last winter levels

Covid-19 deaths and hospitalisations continue to increase in Los Angeles County, the largest in the US, surpassing the figures recorded at this time of year in 2021

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu tests positive for Covid-19

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was tested Covid-19 positive in New Delhi