Coronavirus

Why are there so many new Omicron sub-variants? Is the virus mutating faster?

All viruses, SARS-CoV-2 included, mutate constantly. The vast majority of mutations have little to no effect on the ability of the virus to transmit from one person to another or to cause severe disease.

India reports 3,451 new COVID-19 cases, 40 fatalities in last 24 hours

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.96 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.83 per cent, according to the ministry.

India doesn't agree to WHO's estimate of COVID-19 deaths: Mansukh Mandaviya

India records its deaths due to Covid through a transparent and legal process and does not agree to the WHO's estimate of Covid mortality for the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.

India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered crosses 190 crore-mark

All those above the age of 18 who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose are eligible for the precaution dose.

Calculation of India’s Covid deaths complex, modelling changes can affect numbers: Ex-ICMR Scientist

Gangakhedkar, who was involved in the prevention and control strategies against the HIV epidemic in India, said such random modelling exercises threw surprising results while estimating HIV prevalence

India reports 3,805 fresh COVID-19 cases, 22 fatalities in last 24 hours

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.78 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 0.79 per cent, the ministry said.

China's Xi Signals That He’s Holding Firm on 'Zero-COVID'

On Friday, China reported 4,439 cases, including 4,088 in Shanghai. Recent outbreaks in Beijing, the country’s capital, and Zhengzhou, a city of 12 million, have led to lockdowns of many neighbourhoods.

CCHFW passes resolution terming WHO's modelling for India's Covid death estimate flawed

India has been consistently objecting to the methodology adopted by the WHO to project excess mortality estimates based on mathematical models, the health ministry said in a statement.

Delhi records 1,656 COVID-19 cases, highest in 3 months; positivity rate 5.39%

Eminent epidemiologist Dr Chandrakant Lahariya had earlier said the test positivity rate is stagnant, and it means the infection is spreading at the same rate and that there is no wave.

Covid-19: 10 crore doses of SII's Covovax approved for exports by govt lab, stock rolled out for teens

Covovax, the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under licence from US firm Novavax, will be available at Rs 225 per dose, excluding taxes, at private healthcare facilities.

WHO estimates 4.74 mn COVID-19 deaths in India in 2020, 2021; nearly 10 times the official toll

As per the UN body, there were 14.9 mn excess deaths associated with COVID-19 by end-2021. The official count of deaths directly attributable to COVID-19 and reported to WHO in that period -- from January 2020 to the end of December 2021 -- is slightly more than 5.4 million. This means that the estimated toll is 9.5 million higher than the recorded fatalities.

COVID-19 Vaccination India | Covovax is now available for children aged 12-17 years: Adar Poonawalla

Covovax is the only vaccine manufactured in India that is also sold in Europe and has an efficacy of over 90 percent, Poonawalla said while making the announcement on Twitter.

Fitch Ratings cuts China’s 2022 growth forecast amid uptick in COVID-19 cases

The ratings agency has; however, revised its 2023 growth forecast for China from 5.1 percent to 5.2 percent based on the assumption that Beijing would gradually phase out its ‘dynamic zero-Covid’ policy over the next year.

India reports 2,568 fresh COVID-19 cases; total active cases decline to 19,137

A decrease of 363 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

SII's COVID-19 vaccine Covovax now available for 12-17 age group at private centres

A dose of Covovax will cost Rs 900 plus GST at private vaccination centres, in addition to a hospital service charge of Rs 150.

No individual can be forced to get vaccinated: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court also directed the Centre to publish reports on adverse events of vaccines from people and doctors on a publicly accessible system, without compromising data of the individuals reporting them.

Beijing escalates restrictions, but still stops short of lockdown

As the five-day May Day holiday began Saturday, local officials announced a ban on dining in restaurants until Wednesday.

1,520 fresh COVID-19 cases in Delhi; positivity rate 5.10%

With these new cases, the national capital's overall Covid tally has increased to 18,83,075, while the death toll has risen to 26,175.

COVID-19 update | NTAGI recommends Covovax for use in 12-17-year-olds in India

This is the Indian version of the COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by the the US based Novavax.

China to permit 'some' Indian students to return: Chinese Foreign Ministry

As per earlier reports, over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine in Chinese colleges, are stuck in India after they returned home as the coronavirus broke out in China in December 2019.

South Africa says it may be entering fifth COVID-19 wave

Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a briefing that although hospitalisations were picking up there was so far no dramatic change in admissions to intensive care units or deaths.

COVID-19 surveillance reports disrupted for three months after ministry sought to vet bulletins

The health ministry’s interference is said to have been triggered by a report that said the Omicron variant was in community transmission in India. It was also unhappy with a previous bulletin that recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all above 40 years

85% of fresh COVID-19 cases in Haryana are from Gurugram alone

Gurugram's COVID-19 positivity rate has jumped from 5.97 per cent on April 18 to 10.25 per cent on April 25. Of the 417 Covid cases reported in Haryana on Sunday, 331 were from Gurugram and 72 from Faridabad.

COVID-19 update | Delhi adds 1,011 cases, positivity rate rises to 6.42%

The infection tally in the national capital now stands at 18,75,887 and the death toll at 26,170, the bulletin stated.