Page 6 - Coronavirus Tests

Covid New Variant: Everything you need to know about JN.1 found in Kerala

Karnataka, Kerala's neighbouring state, has instructed senior citizens to wear masks. State health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday said an order would be issued accordingly

21 new cases of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 found in 3 states: NITI Aayog

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the Covid-19 situation and preparedness of public health systems in view of rising Covid cases

Be alert but don't panic: Mandaviya after reviewing Covid-19 situation

Amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness of health facilities and impressed upon the states to be alert and increase surveillance. Assuring the states of receiving all support from the Centre, he said, "We need to be on the alert but there is no need to panic." It is important to be prepared with mock drills of hospital preparedness, increased surveillance and effective communication with people, the minister said. The health minister stressed on holding mock drills in all hospitals once every three months and urged states to ensure preventive measures are taken during the winter season ahead of festivities. "There should be no laxity in our preparedness. Health is not an area for any politics. The Union Health Ministry is available for every support," Mandaviya said, adding that it was time to work together in a "whole-of-government" approach. Mandaviya held the review meeting virtually with he

Covid infections down in Singapore but experts call for precaution

The number of COVID-19 infections in Singapore appear to have plateaued over the past week, but experts have urged people to be cautious and mask up in crowded enclosed places as a precaution. Last week, Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a 75 per cent jump with 56,043 cases, compared with 32,035 cases in the previous week. The seven-day moving average of the infection was 7,870 on December 12 and decreased slightly to 7,730 on December 17, The Straits Times newspaper reported. Experts have urged people to be socially responsible and mask up in crowded, enclosed places, even if they feel well, since the transmission of the virus occurs a day or two before symptoms appear. "It'll be a bell curve confounded by Christmas parties," Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital (NUH), said. "You don't know if it's peaked until after it's peaked," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper on Tuesday. While the numbers remai

Uttarakhand govt issues advisory to follow Covid prevention guidelines

With an uptick in COVID-19 cases in some states and detection of the first case of its sub variant JN.1 in the country, the Uttarakhand government has issued an advisory to all districts to keep a tab on the situation and strictly adhere to prevention guidelines. However, no case of JN.1 sub variant of the coronavirus has been detected in the state so far, Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar said. Still, all districts have been asked to strictly follow the operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy in context of COVID-19, he said. The advisory issued on Tuesday asked district medical authorities to monitor influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). Influenza and Covid tests of ILI and SARI patients should be conducted and their detalis entered into the Integrated Health Information Platform portal, it said. All hospitals should be readied in terms of arrangements for Covid management, the advisory said. Awareness should also be created amo

Only 18% tested, India risks undetected community spread of JN.1: Study

JN.1 cases have been detected in the US, China, and India. Official figures from India show just over 1700 active cases nationwide

Kerala Covid-19 update: 1,634 active cases, 1 death reported in state

Health Minister Veena George said that 1,957 oxygen beds, 2,454 ICU beds, and 937 ICU beds with ventilators have been arranged in Kerala

Covid-19: Karnataka asks people over 60 years of age to mask up

Covid-19 cases: Authorities in Karnataka have been on a state of vigil as reports suggested that the number of active coronavirus cases in Kerala rose to around 1,144 on Sunday

Masks return as Singapore sees Covid-19 uptick, rise in hospitalisations

Covid-19 cases: The Singapore government stated that the dominant strain causing these infections has been identified as JN.1, a sublineage of BA.2.86

JN.1 detected in Kerala: All you need to know about the Covid variant

The JN.1 sub-variant of Covid-19, first identified in Luxembourg and since spreading to several countries, is a descendant of the Pirola variant (BA.2.86)

Covid-19 variant JN.1 in Kerala: 4 deaths reported, Karnataka on alert

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao ruled out the need to restrict movement on the border at present amid the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in neighbouring Kerala

India seeks 5 yr patent waiver for Covid diagnostics, therapeutics from WTO

India is among eight other developing nations pushing for a patent waiver that has already been authorised for the use of the Covid-19 vaccine

Mystery pneumonia in China has some Indian states in alert mode already

The Centre has also issued an advisory asking for 'active and passive surveillance' of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases

India records 36 new Covid-19 cases in one day; active cases stands at 215

India saw a single-day rise of 36 fresh COVID-19 infections while the active cases have been recorded at 215, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The country's COVID-19 case tally stands at 4.50 crore (4,50,01,691) and the death toll at 5,33,295, the data updated at 8 am stated. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,44,68,179 and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, it stated. The case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.67 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the country so far.

Loss of smell caused by coronavirus takes upto three years to return: Study

More than a quarter of the Covid group still experienced olfactory dysfunction two years after infection, but after three years, the condition wasn't significantly more common than in controls

Children infected with Omicron variant remain infectious for 3 days: Study

Children infected with the Omicron variant remain infectious for three days on average after testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a study. Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) and Stanford University in the US noted that school policies that require students with COVID-19 to stay out of the classroom for five days are more than sufficient. "We are basically saying five days is more than sufficient; public health and education leaders may consider shorter durations, said study co-author Neeraj Sood, Director of the COVID-19 Initiative and a senior fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center. The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found that the median time of infectivity was three days, with 18.4 per cent and 3.9 per cent of children still infectious on day five and day 10, respectively. The researchers also found no association between how long children were infectious and whether they were vaccinated, suggesting return-to-school polici

Biden admin announces $600 mn to produce Covid tests; will reopen website

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months. The Department of Health and Human Services says orders can be placed at COVIDTests.gov starting Sept 25, and that no-cost tests will be delivered for free by the United States Postal Service. Twelve manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online, the department said. Federal officials said that will help guard against supply chain issues that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID tests made overseas during past surges in ..

50 new Covid cases in a day, active cases reach 1,520: Health Ministry

India logged 50 new coronavirus infections in a day while active cases were recorded at 1,520, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The death toll was recorded at 5,31,930, the data updated at 8 am stated. The country's Covid case tally is 4.49 crore. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,44,63,717, and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The case fatality rate is at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far.

India records 61 fresh Covid cases, total cases at 1,522: Health Ministry

India saw a single-day rise of 61 new coronavirus infections while the active cases were recorded at 1,522, according to Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday. The death toll was recorded at 5,31,929, the data updated at 8 am showed. The country's Covid case tally is 4.49 crore (4,49,97,117). The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,44,63,666, and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The case fatality rate stands at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in the country so far.

India registers 60 new Covid-19 infections, active cases at 1,503

India saw a single day rise of 60 new coronavirus infections while the active cases stood at 1,503, according to Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll was recorded at 5,31,928, the data updated at 8 am stated. The country's Covid case tally is 4.49 crore. The number of people who have recuperated from the infection has increased to 4.45 crore, and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The case fatality rate stands at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far.