Covid19

German spy agency says Covid-19 likely leaked from China's Wuhan Institute

The spy agency's assessment was based on an unspecified intelligence operation code-named "Saaremaa" as well as on publicly-available data.

Trump Shocks Nation by Cutting Security for Fauci – Here's Why! | N18G

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Dr. Anthony Fauci could not have government-provided security indefinitely and should hire his own. Trump confirmed that security had been withdrawn from multiple officials, including former national security adviser John Bolton, ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former Iran envoy Brian Hook. Fauci, who led the U.S. COVID-19 response, had received NIH security due to threats. Trump dismissed concerns, stating that officials had "made a lot of money" and should fund their own protection. He refused responsibility if harm came to them, emphasising that government security is not meant to last forever.

“Data Is Untenable” Says ICMR DG Dr Rajiv Bahl | Numbers Includes All Death Not Covid Deaths Alone

On the government rejecting the findings of an international study which shows 11.8 lakh excess deaths in the COVID pandemic in India, ICMR DG Dr Rajiv Bahl said the study's "excess mortality" figure includes deaths from all causes, not just COVID-19. He disputes the study's findings, emphasizing that India's official data collection system is reliable and comprehensive, and should be considered authoritative.

Maharashtra govt keeping tab on Covid-19 situation, necessary precautions in place: Ajit Pawar

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Sassoon General Hospital here, Pawar said that though the JN.1 variant of coronavirus is not very serious, people are advised to use masks.

People above 60, those with comorbidities can get Covid vaccine at dist hospitals: K'taka minister

The minister said testing capacities and healthcare facilities will be augmented in all districts and arrangements have been made for separate oxygen beds and ICUs in all government medical institutions.

Kerala records 128 new COVID-19 cases, one death

With one death reported in the state, the total number of people who have died due to coronavirus in Kerala since its outbreak three years ago reached 72,063.

Covid Variant JN.1: What WHO says about the new Omicron variant? | All you need to know

The new covid variant JN.1 is raising concerns as it's rapidly spreading across US, China and certain parts of India. It is even more alarming because WHO has labelled this as a variant of interest. Where did this variant originate from? What are the necessary steps to be taken? What are the new guidelines issued by the Government? Watch to find out.

How staying fit benefits your health as well as your health insurance premium

According to IRDAI directions, health insurers give reward points to policyholders who engage in physical activity. These reward points can be used to pay their renewal premiums or for saving on prescription costs, diagnostic fees, outpatient visits, and so on.

India will see small waves of COVID-19 but situation is under control: Principal Scientific Advisor

About 9,111 COVID-19 cases and 27 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

No clustering of COVID cases in India, hospitalisation due to XBB variant very low; says INSACOG chief

NK Arora, co-chair of India’s genomic surveillance programme, said the XBB variant and its sub-lineages were being detected from sewage samples, indicating its wide prevalence in the community.

XBB1.16 leading COVID case surge, no rise in hospitalisation, says health ministry

In Maharashtra, the XBB 1.16 subvariant has been detected in 93 percent of COVID samples from Pune. The highly transmissible subvariant was also found in over 75 percent of COVID samples in Nagpur

COVID-19: Experts stress weeks ahead crucial as cases creep up in many states

In light of a rising trend in influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illnesses being witnessed in many states, the Centre also called an interdepartmental review meeting last week

Bariatric surgery for obesity is gaining ground in India, but has a long way to go

Though aggressive public awareness campaigns and programmes are being conducted by different institutions to promote bariatric surgery in the country, the social stigma associated with surgery for obesity, lack of awareness and non-coverage by health insurers are major hurdles.

India saved over 3.4 million lives due to unprecedented scale of COVID vaccination: Report

"A Lancet modelling study estimates that in India around 34,22,00054 deaths were prevented by vaccination in the year 2021, an estimate based on officially reported deaths in India," the report has said.

Union Minister Chandrasekhar says Pfizer tried to bully government into giving indemnity to supply COVID jab

Pfizer had sought an emergency use authorisation for its jab in December 2020 but withdrew the proposal in February 2021 after failing to meet the drug regulator’s demand for a local safety study

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin inching closer to US launch plan?

Covaxin was found to be well-tolerated in vaccine-naïve individuals and in individuals previously vaccinated with mRNA vaccines in the US with no vaccine-related serious adverse events, Bharat Biotech’s partner in the country has announced

COVID-19 testing in mild cases not necessary, may drive panic, say top virologists

Over the past few days, the number of COVID-19 cases in India has risen marginally, owing to a jump in tests even though the test positivity rate stays very low.

India sees rise in Covid variants driving cases abroad, govt steps up surveillance

The detection rate of BA.5 variant, whose sub-strain BF.7 is wreaking havoc in China, went up from 26% in September to 38% in December, while that of BQ.1.1 rose to 33% in December from 27% in September. Official says the rise is marginal

INSACOG closely assessing situation, vigilant on COVID mutant: NK Arora

The co-chair of Indiá’s coronavirus genomic surveillance programme says a coordinated assessment has helped India detect several variants and contain outbreaks in the past

Rentals of residential spaces up by 20-25 percent in Delhi-NCR

The jump in rentals is higher in prime localities such as Defence Colony, Greater Kailash-2 in Delhi, localities around the Dwarka Expressway and Golf Course Road in Gurugram and sectors located around the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and Central Noida, which includes sectors such as 50, 51, 78 and 76.

China warns against extra 'layers' of COVID curbs as outbreaks widen

China is grappling with its highest tallies of coronavirus cases since April, raising questions about its zero-COVID policy that has frustrated the public and inflicted damage on the world’s second-largest economy.

Protests rise in China | Bappi da's 'Jimmy Jimmy' song trends with lockdown protestors | World News

Millions of Chinese suffering from the dreaded lockdown are turning to a retro Bollywood hit to express their frustrations. Bappi Lehri’s iconic song Jimmy Jimmy from the 1982 hit movie Disco Dancer has found a new audience in China where people are using the song to protest China’s stringent lockdown protocol. Watch this video to find out how an iconic Bollywood track from the 80s is now the soundtrack to protests in China.

Recombinant COVID variant detected in three states; Govt says no association with case rise in India