Coronavirus News highlights: Govt expert panel recommends regular market approval for Covishield, Covaxin

The World Health Organization's chief scientist said there was currently no evidence that healthy children and adolescents need booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, An expert panel of India's central drug authority on Wednesday recommended granting regular market approval to Covid vaccines Covishield and Covaxin for use in adult population subject to certain conditions.

Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded 43,697 cases, 10 per cent more than the previous day, including 214 new Omicron infections, and also saw 49 fatalities linked to the infection.

India captain Yash Dhull, five other players test positive for Covid-19 at ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup in West Indies

Assam reports highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases for third day in a row with 8,339 people testing positive for disease, tally climbs to 6,70,128.

DCGI's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) recommended regular market authorisation to Covishield and Covaxin: PTI sources

Lata Mangeshkar is still in ICU, we are trying our best to ensure she recovers soon: Dr Pratit Samdani, who is treating her at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital told ANI.

Mumbai reported 6,032 new cases, 12 deaths and 18,241 recoveries.

Karnataka govt revises guidelines for testing, isolation and quarantine

Karnataka again sees over 40,000 new cases; yesterday the state reported 41,457 cases

30% people lose vaccine-acquired immunity post 6 months

As much as 30 per cent individuals lose vaccine-acquired immunity after six months, according to a study conducted by AIG Hospitals along with the Asian Healthcare Foundation on Vaccine Immunity. The study was conducted on 1,636 healthcare workers who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a press release from AIG Hospitals said.

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Kerala reports 34,199 Covid cases, 8,193 recoveries and 49 deaths; active caseload at 1,68,383, death toll at 51,160

England's Covid-19 prevalence falls back from record high

The estimated Covid-19 prevalence in England fell back from a record high in the week ending January 15, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday, with an estimated 1 in 20 people infected.

The ONS Infection Survey showed that prevalence had fallen back from the estimated 1 in 15 people who had Covid-19 over the previous two weeks. - Reuters.

Slovenia, Croatia report record high daily Covid-19 cases of 12,285 and 10,427 respectively - Reuters

Omicron wave may cut future severity of Covid-19 disease: Study

The Omicron variant of coronavirus may reduce the incidence of severe Covid-19 disease, and the infection may become less disruptive to individuals and society in future, according to a study conducted by researchers in South Africa.

The findings of the yet-to-be peer-reviewed study are consistent with the previous observations of Omicron displacing Delta, since the variant can elicit immunity which neutralises Delta.

The researchers from Africa Health Research Institute observed in samples from 23 people infected with Omicron in November and December that the variant escapes neutralising immunity elicited by Delta infection.

This indicates that Omicron can re-infect Delta infected individuals but not vice-versa, giving Omicron an advantage over Delta, they said. - PTI.

Ex-Punjab CM Parkash Badal tests positive for Covid-19, admitted to hospital

Betting Omicron has peaked, England set to lift Covid rules

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce the end of most Covid-19 measures introduced to curb the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in England as he looks to live with the virus after an apparent peak in cases.

Britain was the first country to limit international travel over the Omicron variant, raising alarm bells about its mutations, and in December introduced work at home advice, more mask-wearing and vaccine passes to slow its spread.

But while cases soared to record highs, hospitalisations and deaths have not risen by the same extent, in part due to Britain's booster rollout and the variant's lesser severity. - Reuters.

Both Omicron and Delta causing Covid-19 surge in Kerala

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday cautioned people against the rapid spread of Covid-19 in the state during the third wave and said both Delta and Omicron variants of the virus are contributing to the ongoing unprecedented surge in daily cases. Though its severity is lesser, Omicron variant has the potential to spread the disease 5-6 times more than the Delta variant and so it should not be taken lightly.

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84 IAS trainees at LBSNAA, Mussoorie test positive for Covid-19

Eighty-four IAS trainees at Mussoorie's Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration have tested positive for the ovel coronavirus infection, officials said on Wednesday.

Those infected have been isolated and the rest quarantined at the academy, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Manoj Upreti said.

A group of 480 IAS trainees, including those of allied services, arrived here on Sunday from Gujarat on way to the Academy, he said. - PTI.

Delhi's positivity rate not low enough to relax curbs: Minister

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said that Delhi's positivity rate has come down from 30 per cent to 22.5 per cent but it is not low enough to ease the restrictions in the national capital.

"We will observe the positivity rate for three to four more days as it has started coming down to take any decision on the restrictions," Jain said.

About the Covid beds occupancy in the city, Jain said that there is not much occupancy in hospitals and beds are lying vacant. He said that around 13,000 beds are still unoccupied in the city. - IANS.

Amid spike in Covid-19 cases, traders body to observe voluntary weekend lockdown in Jammu

A traders body, dealing with essential supplies, on Wednesday announced its decision to observe weekend lockdown here to support the efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to contain the spread ofCovid-19 infection.

On January 15, the Union Territory administration imposed "complete restriction on non-essential movement" during weekends amid a surge inCovidcases.

In the highest single-day spike this month, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday recorded 4,651 fresh cases ofCovid.

Both Omicron & Delta variants causing surge in Covid-19 cases: Kerala health minister

Betting Omicron has peaked, British PM Johnson set to lift Covid rules

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to end mostCovid-19 measures introduced to curb the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in England as he looks to live with the virus and fully reopen the economy after an apparent peak in cases.

Britain was the first country to limit international travel over the Omicron variant, raising alarm bells about its mutations, and in December introduced work at home advice, more mask-wearing and vaccine passes to slow its spread.

But while cases soared to record highs, hospitalisations and deaths have not risen by the same extent, in part due to Britain's booster rollout and the variant's lesser severity.

Health minister Sajid Javid said on Tuesday Britain had likely reached the peak in both cases and hospitalisations, with the so-called Plan B measures due to expire in a week.

Ban on international flights extended till February 28

India will keep scheduled international passenger flights suspended till February 28, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)said on Wednesday.

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Covid may affect foetus even without infection in placenta: US NIH

SARS-CoV-2, the virus causingCovidinfection, during pregnancy may cause inflammatory immune responses in the foetus, even if the virus does not infect the placenta, according to a small study.

For the study, researchers from the US National Institutes of Health evaluated 23 pregnant women. Twelve were positive for SARS-CoV-2, and of these, eight were asymptomatic, one had mild symptoms and three had severeCovid.

After delivery, the researchers compared immune responses between mothers and their newborns by comparing maternal blood and umbilical cord blood.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, showed that the inflammatory immune responses triggered by the virus were observed in women, their neonates and placental tissues regardless of whether the mothers had symptoms.

Bommai hints at relaxing Covid-19 curbs, says government will listen to experts

Hinting at relaxation of the Covid-19 curbs, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the general feeling now is that the infection is “like a flu that comes and goes” with fewer people requiring hospitalisation.

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Bulgaria posts record of more than 11,000 daily Covid-19 cases

Bulgaria reported a record 11,181 coronavirus infections in a single day on Wednesday, official data showed, dominated by the more contagious Omicron variant.

The European Union nation, where less than 30% of the population of 7 million has been vaccinated, added 91 deaths.

Bulgaria's tally of infections exceeds 840,000, with 32,332 deaths since the pandemic began.

The new centrist government has repeatedly appealed to vaccine-sceptical Bulgarians to get inoculated, so as to avoid pressure on hospitals that could force tougher curbs.

About 5,259 people were admitted to hospital on Wednesday, with 554 of them in intensive care.

Supreme Court summons Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar for non-payment of ex-gratia compensation to the kin of the victims of Covid

350 fresh Covid-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh

144313662 cumulative Covid jabs administered in Maharashtra

India reports 2.82 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 441 deaths

The active cases currently stand at18,31,000.

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Not possible to end coronavirus; pandemic viruses end up becoming part of ecosystem, says WHO official

It is not possible to end the Covid-19 virus as such viruses never go away and end up becoming part of the ecosystem, a top WHO official said on Tuesday but asserted that it is possible to end this year the public health emergency caused by Covid-19 with a collaborative approach to fix inherent inequities in the system.

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A BMC health worker collects swab sample of an outstation passenger for Covid-19 test, at Dadar railway station in Mumbai

PTI Photo

Haryana extends Covid curbs till January 28, but gyms, spas can operate with 50% capacity

No evidence healthy kids, adolescents need Covid-19 boosters: WHO top scientist

There is no evidence at present that healthy children and adolescents need booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine, the World Health Organization's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Tuesday.

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