Page 4 - Health Crisis

New Omicron subvariant BQ.1 detected in Pune; Covid cases surge in state

The Maharashtra health department has cautioned that the COVID-19 cases could rise especially during winters and the festive season, citing new variants like BA.2.3.20 and BQ.1 reported from the state. These variants have been detected for the first time in the country, it said. It also said that the new XBB variant of coronavirus has a growth advantage over BA.2.75 and has immune evasive property. A health bulletin on Monday said the COVID-19 cases rose by 17.7 per cent in the state between October 10 and 16 as compared to between October 3 and 9. This rise has been noticed particularly in the densely populated districts of Thane, Raigad and Mumbai, it said. "Some experts are predicting a rise in the coming winter season especially in the festive environment. In WGS (whole genome sequencing), the proportion of BA.2.75 has decreased to 76 per cent from 95 per cent," the bulletin said. "The state has reported XBB which is a new variant having growth advantage over BA.2.75 and immu

Data story: India adds 1,542 new Covid cases; death toll at 528,913

India has added 16,036 cases in the past 7 days

New Covid-19 variant BQ.1 behind 1 in every 10 cases in US: CDC

New Covid strains are gaining ground across the world and in the US, new variant BQ.1 now makes up one in 10 cases nationwide, new data from the CDC has estimated

Data story: India adds 2,430 new cases of Covid; active tally at 26,618

India has added 17,110 cases in the past 7 days

Data story: India adds 2,786 new Covid cases; active tally rises to 26,509

India has added 16,856 cases in the past 7 days

One in 20 people suffer long-term effects of Covid-19, says study

One in 20 people suffer long-term effects after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to one of the largest such studies to date. The research, published recently in the journal Nature Communications, found that long-COVID symptoms were more likely following severe infections requiring hospitalisation. The most reported long-COVID symptoms included breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations, and confusion, or 'brain fog', the researchers said. Long-COVID was also more likely in individuals who were older, female and those from deprived communities, they said. The Long-CISS (COVID In Scotland Study) -- found that 1 in 20 people who took part in the research had not recovered from having COVID-19 at their most recent follow up -- between six and 18 months following infection with SARS-CoV-2. The CISS study was set up in May 2021 to understand the long-term impact of COVID-19, and compare it with the health and wellbeing of people who had not yet been ..

Not 'lying flat': China to persist with tough Covid policies amid new surge

China has been grappling with a COVID resurgence after the National Day "Golden Week" holiday this month and the emergence of new Omicron subvariants

Singapore monitoring XBB Covid strain very closely: Health Minister

Singapore is watching the XBB strain of Covid-19 very closely, but there is no evidence that the new sub-variant is leading to more severe outcomes, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Tuesday. "XBB is demonstrating characteristics that it is dominating over all other sub-variants. It has been detected in many parts of the world but in Singapore is rising very fast within three weeks from nothing, it is now over half of all the daily cases," he said. "But so far, what is good is that there's no evidence that it leads to more severe outcomes," Channel News Asia quoted the minister as saying. Singapore reported 11,732 new Covid-19 infections on Tuesday but the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it was initiating action against rumours circulating via WhatsApp about a rapid and large increase in severe illness and deaths due to XBB strain, another Omicron subvariant. MOH said on Tuesday that it was initiating the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) action agains

Data story: India records 1,957 new Covid cases, lowest count in 140 days

India has added 16,928 cases in the past 7 days

Data story: India adds 2,424 new Covid cases; active tally at 28,079

On October 10, it added 2,424 cases to take its total caseload to 44,614,437

Data story: India adds 2,696 new Covid cases; active tally at 28,593

India has added 17,526 cases in the past 7 days

N Korea draws up guidelines for emergency health crisis, natural disasters

North Korea has come up with new guidelines on how to cope with the country's emergency health crisis and natural disasters at a key parliamentary meeting, its state media said on Friday

Data story: India records 2,468 new Covid cases; death toll at 528,733

India has added 22,846 cases in the past 7 days

End of the pandemic in sight, but is it time to let down the guard?

While the world is moving away from the most basic Covid-19 protocols, some experts say it is too early to declare that the pandemic is over

Data story: India records 1,968 Covid cases, 7 deaths in 24 hours

India's new Covid cases count, at 1,968, was the lowest in 133 days

Data story: India adds 3,011 new Covid cases; active tally at 36,126

India has added 25,255 cases in the past 7 days.

Data story: India adds 3,375 new Covid cases; death toll reaches 528,673

India has added 26,373 cases in the past 7 days

Data story: India logs 4,272 new Covid cases; active tally at 40,750

India has added 30,318 cases in the past 7 days

Simple blood test with AI help can predict who will get long Covid

As long Covid becomes a burden for health care providers globally, researchers now report that a blood test taken at the time of infection could predict who is most likely to develop the same

Data story: India adds 3,615 new Covid cases; death toll at 528,584

India has added 31,489 cases in the past 7 days