A top health official in the state of Tamil Nadu weighed in on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation on Wednesday (May 22), saying that the new wave in Singapore is a "milder infection" and there was no need for panic. He added that the state has the required infrastructure to face any situation.&nbsp;

"There have been no significant (hospital) admissions" in Singapore following the outbreak, Dr TS Selvavinayagam, Director, of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) said.&nbsp;

"In the last few weeks, it has been reported that there are Covid cases in South Asian countries like Singapore. As far as we (TN) are concerned, there is no need for any apprehension. The Singapore variant, KP.2 is a sub-variant of Omicron and has been reported in some parts of India," he added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-water-crisis-aaps-atishi-accuses-bjp-of-stopping-yamuna-flow-hatching-water-conspiracy-724363">Delhi water crisis: AAP’s Atishi accuses BJP of stopping Yamuna flow, hatching ‘water conspiracy’</a>&nbsp;

The official data revealed that as many as 290 cases of KP.2 and 34 cases of KP.1, both sub-lineages of Covid that are responsible for a surge in cases in Singapore, have been found in India.&nbsp;

A report by the news agency PTI revealed that both KP.2 and KP.1 are sub-variants of JN1 and there is no associated increase in hospitalisation and severe cases.&nbsp;

The variant has been "giving only milder infection, no severe infection has been reported so far," Selvavinayagam said in a video released by the DPHPM.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/misleading-ads-case-kerala-court-summons-patanjalis-baba-ramdev-managing-director-724358">Misleading ads case: Kerala court summons Patanjali’s Baba Ramdev, managing director</a>&nbsp;

"Not just that, we have almost totally vaccinated the 18-plus population in Tamil Nadu. So even if there is an infection, it will be a milder form and would not require admission," he added.&nbsp;

He said that any required precaution would include wearing masks in public places and the need for the elderly, those with co-morbidities and pregnant women to be "extra careful", but otherwise, there's no need for any panic.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Brain-eating amoeba kills Kerala girl&nbsp;

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<h2>State-wise cases&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

Cases of KP.1 variant registered in West Bengal (23), Goa (1), Gujarat (2), Haryana (1), Maharashtra (4) Rajasthan (2) and Uttarakhand (1).&nbsp;

Meanwhile, cases of KP.2 have been registered in Maharashtra (148), Delhi (1), Goa (12), Gujarat (23), Haryana (3), Karnataka (4), Madhya Pradesh (1), Odisha (17), Rajasthan (21), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (16) and West Bengal (36). &nbsp;

<h2>Covid in Singapore&nbsp;</h2>

The Singapore's health ministry has implemented a mask mandate again amid a sudden surge in cases. The health authorities have recorded more than 25,900 cases of Covid from May 5 to 11.&nbsp;

Last week, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the nation is at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising.&nbsp;

"So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June," the Straits Times newspaper quoted the minister as saying.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A top health official in the state of Tamil Nadu weighed in on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation on Wednesday (May 22), saying that the new wave in Singapore is a "milder infection" and there was no need for panic.

A top health official in the state of Tamil Nadu weighed in on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation on Wednesday (May 22), saying that the new wave in Singapore is a "milder infection" and there was no need for panic. He added that the state has the required infrastructure to face any situation. "There have been no significant (hospital) admissions" in Singapore following the outbreak, Dr TS Selvavinayagam, Director, of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) said. "In the last few weeks, it has been reported that there are Covid cases in South Asian countries like Singapore. As far as we (TN) are concerned, there is no need for any apprehension. The Singapore variant, KP.2 is a sub-variant of Omicron and has been reported in some parts of India," he added. Also read: Delhi water crisis: AAP’s Atishi accuses BJP of stopping Yamuna flow, hatching ‘water conspiracy’ The official data revealed that as many as 290 cases of KP.2 and 34 cases of KP.1, both sub-lineages of Covid that are responsible for a surge in cases in Singapore, have been found in India. A report by the news agency PTI revealed that both KP.2 and KP.1 are sub-variants of JN1 and there is no associated increase in hospitalisation and severe cases. The variant has been "giving only milder infection, no severe infection has been reported so far," Selvavinayagam said in a video released by the DPHPM. Also read: Misleading ads case: Kerala court summons Patanjali’s Baba Ramdev, managing director "Not just that, we have almost totally vaccinated the 18-plus population in Tamil Nadu. So even if there is an infection, it will be a milder form and would not require admission," he added. He said that any required precaution would include wearing masks in public places and the need for the elderly, those with co-morbidities and pregnant women to be "extra careful", but otherwise, there's no need for any panic. Watch: Brain-eating amoeba kills Kerala girl × State-wise cases Cases of KP.1 variant registered in West Bengal (23), Goa (1), Gujarat (2), Haryana (1), Maharashtra (4) Rajasthan (2) and Uttarakhand (1). Meanwhile, cases of KP.2 have been registered in Maharashtra (148), Delhi (1), Goa (12), Gujarat (23), Haryana (3), Karnataka (4), Madhya Pradesh (1), Odisha (17), Rajasthan (21), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (16) and West Bengal (36). Covid in Singapore The Singapore's health ministry has implemented a mask mandate again amid a sudden surge in cases. The health authorities have recorded more than 25,900 cases of Covid from May 5 to 11. Last week, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the nation is at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising. "So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June," the Straits Times newspaper quoted the minister as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Covid in India: Tamil Nadu health official says no need for any panic

New Delhi on Wednesday (Dec 27) reported the first case of JN.1. Official told the news agencies that out of the three samples sent for genome sequencing, one was JN.1, which is a derivative of BA.2.86. Two were Omicron.&nbsp;

Delhi's Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "JN.1 is a sub-variant of Omicron and is a mild infection. This is the one spreading in south India. There is no need to panic. It causes mild sickness."&nbsp;

<h2>Covid cases in Delhi&nbsp;</h2>

A Delhi government official told India-based news agency PTI reported that a 28-year-old patient, who had co-morbidities, died. The official claimed that Covid was not the primary reason.&nbsp;

As per the official data, Delhi has around 35 active cases with nine fresh infections being reported on Wednesday, the official further told the news provider.&nbsp;

The official told PTI: "The man was not from Delhi and was referred to a private hospital recently. He had multiple comorbidities and the Covid finding was incidental. The sample of the man has been sent for genome sequencing and a report is awaited."&nbsp;

The official said that the deceased was suffering from multi-system inflammatory syndrome and was "highly comorbid".&nbsp;

"The Covid finding was incidental and mostly it has been seen that patients are referred to Delhi when they are in the last stage of a disease," he added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-declares-muslim-league-jammu-kashmir-an-unlawful-association-674090">India declares Muslim League Jammu Kashmir an 'unlawful association'</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Ammonia leak in Chennai's Tamil Nadu leave at least 34 hospitalised&nbsp;

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<h2>JN.1 variant in India&nbsp;</h2>

In India, 40 more cases of the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 were recorded. The tally of cases of the new variant across the nation till December 26 has risen to 109, PTI reported earlier on Wednesday citing official sources.&nbsp;

The health ministry said on Wednesday that India recorded 529 fresh Covid cases in a single day, while the country's active infection count stood at 4,093.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-italy-move-forward-in-melodi-era-with-approval-of-key-migration-and-mobility-pact-674079">India-Italy move forward in ‘Melodi’ era with approval of key migration and mobility pact</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Experts on Covid scare in India&nbsp;</h2>

WION recently spoke to Dr Sushila Kataria, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram. She said that despite its distinct name, the JN.1 variant is not significantly different genetically from the BA variants, and they typically manifest as mild cases.&nbsp;

Talking about preventive measures, Dr Kataria said, "In light of the rising influenza cases, it is crucial to adopt preventive measures. Individuals exhibiting symptoms, regardless of age, should refrain from attending school or work, isolate themselves, wear masks in public spaces, and seek appropriate treatment. Hospital visits are advisable for those experiencing persistent symptoms or difficulties in performing routine activities."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Dr Ankita Baidya, Consultant Infections Disease, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka told WION that the reasons for the rise are a smaller number of people following Covid appropriate behaviour, and the new strain might be having the ability to evade immunity.&nbsp;

"Watch out for the JN.1 variant in India if you experience fever and chills, abdominal discomfort, nausea, loose motion, or a combination of dry cough and sore throat – these symptoms may indicate infection with this variant. Early recognition and precautions can aid timely intervention and management," Dr Baidya added. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

New Delhi on Wednesday (Dec 27) reported the first case of JN.1. Official told the news agencies that out of the three samples sent for genome sequencing, one was JN.

New Delhi on Wednesday (Dec 27) reported the first case of JN.1. Official told the news agencies that out of the three samples sent for genome sequencing, one was JN.1, which is a derivative of BA.2.86. Two were Omicron. Delhi's Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "JN.1 is a sub-variant of Omicron and is a mild infection. This is the one spreading in south India. There is no need to panic. It causes mild sickness." Covid cases in Delhi A Delhi government official told India-based news agency PTI reported that a 28-year-old patient, who had co-morbidities, died. The official claimed that Covid was not the primary reason. As per the official data, Delhi has around 35 active cases with nine fresh infections being reported on Wednesday, the official further told the news provider. The official told PTI: "The man was not from Delhi and was referred to a private hospital recently. He had multiple comorbidities and the Covid finding was incidental. The sample of the man has been sent for genome sequencing and a report is awaited." The official said that the deceased was suffering from multi-system inflammatory syndrome and was "highly comorbid". "The Covid finding was incidental and mostly it has been seen that patients are referred to Delhi when they are in the last stage of a disease," he added. Also read: India declares Muslim League Jammu Kashmir an 'unlawful association' Watch: Ammonia leak in Chennai's Tamil Nadu leave at least 34 hospitalised × JN.1 variant in India In India, 40 more cases of the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 were recorded. The tally of cases of the new variant across the nation till December 26 has risen to 109, PTI reported earlier on Wednesday citing official sources. The health ministry said on Wednesday that India recorded 529 fresh Covid cases in a single day, while the country's active infection count stood at 4,093. Also read: India-Italy move forward in ‘Melodi’ era with approval of key migration and mobility pact Experts on Covid scare in India WION recently spoke to Dr Sushila Kataria, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram. She said that despite its distinct name, the JN.1 variant is not significantly different genetically from the BA variants, and they typically manifest as mild cases. Talking about preventive measures, Dr Kataria said, "In light of the rising influenza cases, it is crucial to adopt preventive measures. Individuals exhibiting symptoms, regardless of age, should refrain from attending school or work, isolate themselves, wear masks in public spaces, and seek appropriate treatment. Hospital visits are advisable for those experiencing persistent symptoms or difficulties in performing routine activities." Meanwhile, Dr Ankita Baidya, Consultant Infections Disease, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka told WION that the reasons for the rise are a smaller number of people following Covid appropriate behaviour, and the new strain might be having the ability to evade immunity. "Watch out for the JN.1 variant in India if you experience fever and chills, abdominal discomfort, nausea, loose motion, or a combination of dry cough and sore throat – these symptoms may indicate infection with this variant. Early recognition and precautions can aid timely intervention and management," Dr Baidya added. (With inputs from agencies)

New Delhi reports first case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1, minister says ‘no need to panic’

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday (December 30) that the coronavirus strategy in the nation was "optimised" to protect the lives of citizens and minimise economic costs of the pandemic. China is currently reeling amid a sudden surge in positive Covid cases, with reports of multiple outbreaks across the country.&nbsp;

Xi's recent remarks are an extension of what he said earlier this week regarding the current Covid situation in China. While speaking for the first time on the recent rise in cases, the Chinese president had urged the authorities to take steps to "protect" lives.&nbsp;

Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday (December 30) that while listing his achievements of 2022, Xi said at an event, "We have optimised Covid control strategy based on time and situation in order to best protect people's lives and health, and minimise the impact on economic and social development."&nbsp;

In the report, Xi used terms like "Covid control strategy," instead of Covid zero policy. Earlier this month, China eased some of the hardline measures which led to a fresh wave of Covid cases.&nbsp;

To curb the spread of Covid virus, China had adopted a strict zero-Covid policy, and to some extent, the authorities were successful too. But the repercussions of lockdowns and restricted trade were massive on the nation's economy.&nbsp;

After a visible impact on the economy and public outrage after the deadly apartment fire in the country's far west, the authorities started relaxing some of the measures following protests.&nbsp;

But the Covid situation in China is continuing to worsen. Also, it is slightly difficult to get updates as the Chinese authorities informed that they have stopped publishing daily Covid figures.&nbsp;

As per the National Health Commission, the decision came into effect on December 25. The drastic step has baffled the experts as the NHC released Covid data for the last three years. But as per studies, around one million people could die over the next few months in China.&nbsp;

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Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday (December 30) that the coronavirus strategy in the nation was "optimised" to protect the lives of citizens and minimise economic costs of the pandemic.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday (December 30) that the coronavirus strategy in the nation was "optimised" to protect the lives of citizens and minimise economic costs of the pandemic. China is currently reeling amid a sudden surge in positive Covid cases, with reports of multiple outbreaks across the country. Xi's recent remarks are an extension of what he said earlier this week regarding the current Covid situation in China. While speaking for the first time on the recent rise in cases, the Chinese president had urged the authorities to take steps to "protect" lives. Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday (December 30) that while listing his achievements of 2022, Xi said at an event, "We have optimised Covid control strategy based on time and situation in order to best protect people's lives and health, and minimise the impact on economic and social development." In the report, Xi used terms like "Covid control strategy," instead of Covid zero policy. Earlier this month, China eased some of the hardline measures which led to a fresh wave of Covid cases. To curb the spread of Covid virus, China had adopted a strict zero-Covid policy, and to some extent, the authorities were successful too. But the repercussions of lockdowns and restricted trade were massive on the nation's economy. After a visible impact on the economy and public outrage after the deadly apartment fire in the country's far west, the authorities started relaxing some of the measures following protests. But the Covid situation in China is continuing to worsen. Also, it is slightly difficult to get updates as the Chinese authorities informed that they have stopped publishing daily Covid figures. As per the National Health Commission, the decision came into effect on December 25. The drastic step has baffled the experts as the NHC released Covid data for the last three years. But as per studies, around one million people could die over the next few months in China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China optimised ‘Covid control strategy’ to protect lives, minimise economic costs, says Xi Jinping

Over the weekend, China's viral cases continued to rise, with hundreds of illnesses being found in the province of Anhui, where two counties were already under lockdown. Following 385 incidents on Saturday, the nation reported 380 cases on Sunday. Infection rates have recently increased after being below 50 for the majority of the preceding two weeks.&nbsp;

The most recent outbreak's epicentre, Anhui, reported 287 cases on Sunday. Northeastern Anhui's Lingbi county, where the neighbouring Si county carried out its sixth mass test on Sunday, went under lockdown starting on Friday afternoon.

While China appears to have contained prior outbreaks in the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing, its Covid-Zero target is once again being put to the test in the country's eastern regions.

Jiangsu province, which is close to Shanghai, recorded 56 cases on Sunday.

On Sunday, Shanghai reported three local instances. After six days of the city reporting no community infections, one was discovered outside of government quarantine. At a briefing on Sunday, Zhao Dandan, a vice director of Shanghai's municipal health commission, warned that there is still a chance that the number of Covid&nbsp;cases will increase. There were no new cases in Beijing on Sunday.

Watch | China's harsh covid-19 lockdowns exacerbate population crisis

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On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping reiterated the need to adhere to the Covid-Zero policy. According to him, loosening Covid regulations would put too many lives at danger in the nation with the largest population, and China would prefer to temporarily slow down its economic growth than endanger the security and health of its citizens.

Ao Ieong U, the secretary for social affairs and culture, said during a briefing on Sunday that Macau, which reported its first two Covid deaths of the epidemic on Sunday, wouldn't rule out locking down the entire city if its virus-control efforts fail to stop transmission.&nbsp;

This week, the city will perform three additional rounds of large-scale testing, and 650 personnel from mainland China have already arrived to assist.

784 cases in total have been confirmed during the current outbreak, which began on June 18.

The city of Hong Kong's newly appointed chief executive, John Lee, stated that there is no imminent need for a citywide, mandatory Covid testing programme, but he underlined the importance of lowering daily infections, which had reached their highest level since April.

Lee, who was sworn in by Xi on Friday, told TVB on Sunday that the government has to conduct more laboratory nucleic acid testing for Covid but that for the time being, this will not turn into a widespread, mandatory screening campaign.

The chief executive acknowledged the need to stop transmissions, but he left it unclear whether Covid Zero—the strategy used by mainland China, which uses lockdowns and massive testing campaigns to eradicate infections—would be the end aim. 
&nbsp;

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Over the weekend, China's viral cases continued to rise, with hundreds of illnesses being found in the province of Anhui, where two counties were already under lockdown.

Over the weekend, China's viral cases continued to rise, with hundreds of illnesses being found in the province of Anhui, where two counties were already under lockdown. Following 385 incidents on Saturday, the nation reported 380 cases on Sunday. Infection rates have recently increased after being below 50 for the majority of the preceding two weeks. The most recent outbreak's epicentre, Anhui, reported 287 cases on Sunday. Northeastern Anhui's Lingbi county, where the neighbouring Si county carried out its sixth mass test on Sunday, went under lockdown starting on Friday afternoon. While China appears to have contained prior outbreaks in the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing, its Covid-Zero target is once again being put to the test in the country's eastern regions. Jiangsu province, which is close to Shanghai, recorded 56 cases on Sunday. On Sunday, Shanghai reported three local instances. After six days of the city reporting no community infections, one was discovered outside of government quarantine. At a briefing on Sunday, Zhao Dandan, a vice director of Shanghai's municipal health commission, warned that there is still a chance that the number of Covid cases will increase. There were no new cases in Beijing on Sunday. Watch | China's harsh covid-19 lockdowns exacerbate population crisis On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping reiterated the need to adhere to the Covid-Zero policy. According to him, loosening Covid regulations would put too many lives at danger in the nation with the largest population, and China would prefer to temporarily slow down its economic growth than endanger the security and health of its citizens. Ao Ieong U, the secretary for social affairs and culture, said during a briefing on Sunday that Macau, which reported its first two Covid deaths of the epidemic on Sunday, wouldn't rule out locking down the entire city if its virus-control efforts fail to stop transmission. This week, the city will perform three additional rounds of large-scale testing, and 650 personnel from mainland China have already arrived to assist. 784 cases in total have been confirmed during the current outbreak, which began on June 18. The city of Hong Kong's newly appointed chief executive, John Lee, stated that there is no imminent need for a citywide, mandatory Covid testing programme, but he underlined the importance of lowering daily infections, which had reached their highest level since April. Lee, who was sworn in by Xi on Friday, told TVB on Sunday that the government has to conduct more laboratory nucleic acid testing for Covid but that for the time being, this will not turn into a widespread, mandatory screening campaign. The chief executive acknowledged the need to stop transmissions, but he left it unclear whether Covid Zero—the strategy used by mainland China, which uses lockdowns and massive testing campaigns to eradicate infections—would be the end aim. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Covid-19: More cases found through mass testing, China coronavirus outbreak grows

The sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the state of Maharashtra has left the administration worried. On Thursday, the state recorded 1,045 virus&nbsp;cases and active cases stood at 4,599. The state’s positivity rate stands at 4 per cent.&nbsp;

In fact, on June 1, the state had recorded 1,081 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest daily rise in three months. While, a month ago, on May 1, the state had only 169 cases and 955 active cases.&nbsp;

In view of rising COVID-19 cases in the state, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had called a meeting of the COVID-19 task force today to discuss possible reasons for the sudden surge and how the&nbsp;further spread can be averted. &nbsp;

Speaking at the state COVID-19 task force meeting amid a rise in the number of cases over the past few days, Thackeray said the government will keep a watch over the situation for 15 days. He has also appealed to people to wear masks in public places, vaccinate themselves and follow discipline if they do not want restrictions or lockdown again.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

He has also requested people especially aged between 12-18 years and senior citizens to get vaccinated and also take booster shots. In the meeting, the CM also directed officials to increase daily testing. Currently, around 25,000-26,000 COVID19 tests are conducted daily. &nbsp;

The capital city of Mumbai is showing worrying numbers especially with monsoon around the corner. On June 1, the city witnessed the highest single-day jump in 116 days after 739 people tested positive for the virus. On June 2, it recorded 704 cases with no deaths. &nbsp;

The Mumbai Civic Body (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has already directed officials to intensify testing for COVID-19 on a war footing and ask the staff of jumbo field hospitals to be vigilant in view of the significant rise in cases over the past few weeks. &nbsp;

However, experts say there is nothing to panic and the rise in cases could be due to multiple reasons. Vaccination coverage has slowed down and is poor in the under-18 and booster dose segments. Experts believe if proper discipline is followed like wearing masks especially in public places, then cases can come down drastically. &nbsp;

The Maharashtra administration has also warned citizens that if proper disciplined is not followed then the wearing of masks will be made compulsory again across the state. &nbsp;

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The sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the state of Maharashtra has left the administration worried. On Thursday, the state recorded 1,045 virus cases and active cases stood at 4,599.

The sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the state of Maharashtra has left the administration worried. On Thursday, the state recorded 1,045 virus cases and active cases stood at 4,599. The state’s positivity rate stands at 4 per cent. In fact, on June 1, the state had recorded 1,081 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest daily rise in three months. While, a month ago, on May 1, the state had only 169 cases and 955 active cases. In view of rising COVID-19 cases in the state, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had called a meeting of the COVID-19 task force today to discuss possible reasons for the sudden surge and how the further spread can be averted. Speaking at the state COVID-19 task force meeting amid a rise in the number of cases over the past few days, Thackeray said the government will keep a watch over the situation for 15 days. He has also appealed to people to wear masks in public places, vaccinate themselves and follow discipline if they do not want restrictions or lockdown again. He has also requested people especially aged between 12-18 years and senior citizens to get vaccinated and also take booster shots. In the meeting, the CM also directed officials to increase daily testing. Currently, around 25,000-26,000 COVID19 tests are conducted daily. The capital city of Mumbai is showing worrying numbers especially with monsoon around the corner. On June 1, the city witnessed the highest single-day jump in 116 days after 739 people tested positive for the virus. On June 2, it recorded 704 cases with no deaths. The Mumbai Civic Body (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has already directed officials to intensify testing for COVID-19 on a war footing and ask the staff of jumbo field hospitals to be vigilant in view of the significant rise in cases over the past few weeks. However, experts say there is nothing to panic and the rise in cases could be due to multiple reasons. Vaccination coverage has slowed down and is poor in the under-18 and booster dose segments. Experts believe if proper discipline is followed like wearing masks especially in public places, then cases can come down drastically. The Maharashtra administration has also warned citizens that if proper disciplined is not followed then the wearing of masks will be made compulsory again across the state. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Maharashtra witnesses sudden surge in COVID-19 cases

As China continues to grapple with the virus, authorities have suspended a lab after it found it had not conducted the nucleic acid tests properly.

Seventeen people were detained as China's Global Times reported the testing lab "blended three tubes of samples together and diluted the samples on many occasions."

Global Times reported Beijing officials had punished three officials for "violations" during COVID-19 supervision.

Health officials said it exposed "loopholes" and "weaknesses" in supervision. Beijing Municipal Health Commission said due to the error the risk of further spread of the virus increased as officials vowed to tighten supervision and carry out daily inspections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-covid-outbreak-is-worrying-for-new-variants-who-480025">Also Read | N Korea Covid outbreak could lead to new coronavirus variants: WHO</a>

Shanghai endured over a month of strict lockdown as the Omicron variant continued to spread even as authorities carried out mass testing in Beijing.

China's state-run Global Times said Beijing is depending on nucleic acid tests to ensure the capital is not put under lockdown. The Chinese authorities have been following the "Covid zero" policy while locking down cities even with few virus cases.

Watch:&nbsp;Export growth down to single digits as virus curbs hits factories in China

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However, the move has been criticised by international agencies since it has hit supply chain and led to food shortages as experienced by Shanghai residents.&nbsp;

This week authorities announced schools in Shanghai will be gradually reopened with in-person classes to take place in June. Schools were shut down in March before the city was put under lockdown.&nbsp;

China has been battling the worst outbreak since the virus was detected in Wuhan over two years ago. The authorities had closed factories and public transport in Shanghai as the virus spread rapidly two months ago with several rounds of mass testing of residents as people were sent to isolation centres.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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As China continues to grapple with the virus, authorities have suspended a lab after it found it had not conducted the nucleic acid tests properly. Seventeen people were detained as China's Global Times reported the testing lab "blended three tubes of samples together and diluted the samples on many occasions.

As China continues to grapple with the virus, authorities have suspended a lab after it found it had not conducted the nucleic acid tests properly. Seventeen people were detained as China's Global Times reported the testing lab "blended three tubes of samples together and diluted the samples on many occasions." Global Times reported Beijing officials had punished three officials for "violations" during COVID-19 supervision. Health officials said it exposed "loopholes" and "weaknesses" in supervision. Beijing Municipal Health Commission said due to the error the risk of further spread of the virus increased as officials vowed to tighten supervision and carry out daily inspections. Also Read | N Korea Covid outbreak could lead to new coronavirus variants: WHO Shanghai endured over a month of strict lockdown as the Omicron variant continued to spread even as authorities carried out mass testing in Beijing. China's state-run Global Times said Beijing is depending on nucleic acid tests to ensure the capital is not put under lockdown. The Chinese authorities have been following the "Covid zero" policy while locking down cities even with few virus cases. Watch: Export growth down to single digits as virus curbs hits factories in China However, the move has been criticised by international agencies since it has hit supply chain and led to food shortages as experienced by Shanghai residents. This week authorities announced schools in Shanghai will be gradually reopened with in-person classes to take place in June. Schools were shut down in March before the city was put under lockdown. China has been battling the worst outbreak since the virus was detected in Wuhan over two years ago. The authorities had closed factories and public transport in Shanghai as the virus spread rapidly two months ago with several rounds of mass testing of residents as people were sent to isolation centres. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China detains Beijing lab officials after COVID-19 testing 'violations'

Authorities in Shanghai declared the city had achieved "zero-Covid" across all its districts amid the lockdown.

The latest development comes as residents continue to remain in lockdown which was put in place last month as health officials conducted several rounds of mass testing.

The country has been hit by the Omicron variant in the past three months after struggling to contain the Delta outbreak last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-couple-braves-covid-19-lockdown-to-get-married-in-car-park-of-their-building-476884">Also Read:&nbsp;</a><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/shanghai-couple-braves-covid-19-lockdown-to-get-married-in-car-park-of-their-building-476884" hreflang="en">Shanghai couple braves COVID-19 lockdown to get married in car park of their building</a>

Chinese officials said all sixteen districts in Shanghai were Covid-free as the mayor said the city would reopen gradually. However, reports claim over 3 million people are still under strict lockdown even as airlines resumed their domestic operations.

The city witnessed the worst outbreak since the Wuhan virus outbreak in early 2020 which had led to the worldwide pandemic.

Watch:&nbsp;Drop in Omicron cases in Shanghai

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China has stuck to its "zero Covid" policy shutting down entire cities with just a few virus cases, however, the move has been criticised by international agencies since it has led to economic slowdown and supply change issues.

Officials in Beijing had conducted similar mass testing in the capital last month amid a virus surge as people rushed to buy essential supplies fearing a Shanghai-like lockdown.

Chinese health officials said they had identified the &nbsp;Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 which is already pravelent in the United States.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Authorities in Shanghai declared the city had achieved "zero-Covid" across all its districts amid the lockdown. The latest development comes as residents continue to remain in lockdown which was put in place last month as health officials conducted several rounds of mass testing.

Authorities in Shanghai declared the city had achieved "zero-Covid" across all its districts amid the lockdown. The latest development comes as residents continue to remain in lockdown which was put in place last month as health officials conducted several rounds of mass testing. The country has been hit by the Omicron variant in the past three months after struggling to contain the Delta outbreak last year. Also Read: Shanghai couple braves COVID-19 lockdown to get married in car park of their building Chinese officials said all sixteen districts in Shanghai were Covid-free as the mayor said the city would reopen gradually. However, reports claim over 3 million people are still under strict lockdown even as airlines resumed their domestic operations. The city witnessed the worst outbreak since the Wuhan virus outbreak in early 2020 which had led to the worldwide pandemic. Watch: Drop in Omicron cases in Shanghai China has stuck to its "zero Covid" policy shutting down entire cities with just a few virus cases, however, the move has been criticised by international agencies since it has led to economic slowdown and supply change issues. Officials in Beijing had conducted similar mass testing in the capital last month amid a virus surge as people rushed to buy essential supplies fearing a Shanghai-like lockdown. Chinese health officials said they had identified the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 which is already pravelent in the United States. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid lockdown, Shanghai achieves 'zero-Covid' in all districts

According to reports, virus positivity rates in New York reached 20 per cent amid the fifth wave of the pandemic.

Long Island recorded positivity rate of over 21 per cent as Queens reported nearly 15 per cent positivity rate with areas in Manhattan recording similar trends.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virus-wave-could-infect-100-million-americans-this-winter-report-477208">Also Read | Virus wave could infect 100 million Americans this winter: Report</a>

US health officials said the new virus subvariant BA.2.12.1 was more contagious than BA.2. Reports claim virus cases were on the rise in Boston.

New York officials had raised the COVID-19 alert to "medium" last week due to the rising number of virus cases even as Manhattan and Staten Island recorded the highest transmission rates. However, hospitalisations and deaths continued to decline.

Watch:&nbsp;US can't eliminate the COVID-19 virus completely, says Anthony Fauci

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The US is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 82 million COVID-19 cases and more than 998,000 fatalities since the pandemic first took hold in the country in March 2020.

Last week New York had reported transmission rates climbing up 32 per cent over a ten-day period as areas in Manhattan recorded a positivity rate of over 16 per cent.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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According to reports, virus positivity rates in New York reached 20 per cent amid the fifth wave of the pandemic. Long Island recorded positivity rate of over 21 per cent as Queens reported nearly 15 per cent positivity rate with areas in Manhattan recording similar trends.

According to reports, virus positivity rates in New York reached 20 per cent amid the fifth wave of the pandemic. Long Island recorded positivity rate of over 21 per cent as Queens reported nearly 15 per cent positivity rate with areas in Manhattan recording similar trends. Also Read | Virus wave could infect 100 million Americans this winter: Report US health officials said the new virus subvariant BA.2.12.1 was more contagious than BA.2. Reports claim virus cases were on the rise in Boston. New York officials had raised the COVID-19 alert to "medium" last week due to the rising number of virus cases even as Manhattan and Staten Island recorded the highest transmission rates. However, hospitalisations and deaths continued to decline. Watch: US can't eliminate the COVID-19 virus completely, says Anthony Fauci The US is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 82 million COVID-19 cases and more than 998,000 fatalities since the pandemic first took hold in the country in March 2020. Last week New York had reported transmission rates climbing up 32 per cent over a ten-day period as areas in Manhattan recorded a positivity rate of over 16 per cent. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

New York battles COVID-19 surge as virus subvariant spreads

According to the US government, coronavirus infections could surge to 100 million this winter and fall with the virus wave set to claim a significant number of&nbsp;deaths, reports claimed.

The Biden administration official claimed Omicron and its subvariants will continue to spread around the country. The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 997,400&nbsp;deaths and&nbsp; 81 million&nbsp;coronavirus cases since the pandemic took hold in the country over two years ago.

The pandemic continues to surge with China still grappling with the virus after it first surfaced in Wuhan in early 2020. Shanghai has become the new epicentre of the virus in China with the financial hub in a lockdown for over a month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-starts-new-covid-19-mass-testing-more-metro-stations-closed-477194">Also Read:&nbsp;Beijing starts new COVID-19 mass testing; more metro stations closed</a>

US Vice President Kamala Harris was recently hit with the virus as she went into self-quarantine. US secretary of state Antony Blinken became the latest high profile government official to be infected with the virus.

As the virus continues in the US, a judge in Florida last month had shot down the mask mandate for public transportation imposed by the Biden administration as the White House called the verdict a "disappointing decision.

Watch |&nbsp;US can't eliminate the COVID-19 virus completely: Anthony Fauci

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The World Health Organisation(WHO) had claimed earlier that nearly 15 million people had died to the virus in the last two years. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention nearly 58 per cent of Americans and over 75 per cent of younger children have been infected with the virus since 2020.

The US has reportedly spent $1 trillion in COVID-19 relief even with&nbsp;over 66 per cent of the population fully vaccinated and 46 per cent people having received their booster doses.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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According to the US government, coronavirus infections could surge to 100 million this winter and fall with the virus wave set to claim a significant number of deaths, reports claimed.

According to the US government, coronavirus infections could surge to 100 million this winter and fall with the virus wave set to claim a significant number of deaths, reports claimed. The Biden administration official claimed Omicron and its subvariants will continue to spread around the country. The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 997,400 deaths and 81 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic took hold in the country over two years ago. The pandemic continues to surge with China still grappling with the virus after it first surfaced in Wuhan in early 2020. Shanghai has become the new epicentre of the virus in China with the financial hub in a lockdown for over a month. Also Read: Beijing starts new COVID-19 mass testing; more metro stations closed US Vice President Kamala Harris was recently hit with the virus as she went into self-quarantine. US secretary of state Antony Blinken became the latest high profile government official to be infected with the virus. As the virus continues in the US, a judge in Florida last month had shot down the mask mandate for public transportation imposed by the Biden administration as the White House called the verdict a "disappointing decision. Watch | US can't eliminate the COVID-19 virus completely: Anthony Fauci The World Health Organisation(WHO) had claimed earlier that nearly 15 million people had died to the virus in the last two years. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention nearly 58 per cent of Americans and over 75 per cent of younger children have been infected with the virus since 2020. The US has reportedly spent $1 trillion in COVID-19 relief even with over 66 per cent of the population fully vaccinated and 46 per cent people having received their booster doses. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Virus wave could infect 100 million Americans this winter: Report

As China grapples with the pandemic in Shanghai, state-run Global Times reported that schools in Beijing have&nbsp;recorded one-third of total coronavirus cases in the capital city.

The Chinese daily added that health authorities had begun nucleic acid testing among students and faculty in a bid to combat the virus.

Beijing reported 46 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 138 coronavirus cases reported in six days in eight districts.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-shanghai-battles-virus-wave-covid-19-clusters-detected-in-construction-sites-473559">Also Read:&nbsp;Mass testing underway in Beijing, COVID-19 clusters detected in Shanghai construction sites</a>

The authorities had earlier begun mass testing in areas affected by the virus. The report added that at least 14 students were affected with the virus in Beijing's Chaoyang district including in Tongzhou with 46 students being infected with the virus so far.

Watch:&nbsp;Lockdown fears spark panic buying in Beijing

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The Chinese newspaper added that 36 COVID-19 cases were reported from a single school in Beijing's Chaoyang district which has become the epicentre of the virus.

Reports claim authorities in Beijing have decided to launch mass testing among all residents amid fears of a Shanghai-like lockdown due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

There were cases of panic buying reported in the capital as authorities began to ramp up testing in the capital as residents feared a lockdown could be announced abruptly like Shanghai earlier.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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As China grapples with the pandemic in Shanghai, state-run Global Times reported that schools in Beijing have recorded one-third of total coronavirus cases in the capital city.

As China grapples with the pandemic in Shanghai, state-run Global Times reported that schools in Beijing have recorded one-third of total coronavirus cases in the capital city. The Chinese daily added that health authorities had begun nucleic acid testing among students and faculty in a bid to combat the virus. Beijing reported 46 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 138 coronavirus cases reported in six days in eight districts. Also Read: Mass testing underway in Beijing, COVID-19 clusters detected in Shanghai construction sites The authorities had earlier begun mass testing in areas affected by the virus. The report added that at least 14 students were affected with the virus in Beijing's Chaoyang district including in Tongzhou with 46 students being infected with the virus so far. Watch: Lockdown fears spark panic buying in Beijing The Chinese newspaper added that 36 COVID-19 cases were reported from a single school in Beijing's Chaoyang district which has become the epicentre of the virus. Reports claim authorities in Beijing have decided to launch mass testing among all residents amid fears of a Shanghai-like lockdown due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases. There were cases of panic buying reported in the capital as authorities began to ramp up testing in the capital as residents feared a lockdown could be announced abruptly like Shanghai earlier. (With inputs from Agencies) Watch WION LIVE Here

Schools in Beijing report surge in COVID-19 cases: Report

Taiwan reported the first death of an infant due to COVID-19 in the New Taipei region.

Doctors said the two-year-old boy died due to brain stem encephalitis which was triggered by the virus as the country continues to battle the pandemic.

Taiwan's health minister had warned earlier this month that coronavirus cases could hit 1,000 a day even as the country reported over 1,600 on Tuesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-economic-data-hints-at-cost-of-zero-covid-strategy-471860">Also Read:&nbsp;China's economic data hints at cost of zero Covid strategy</a>

Taiwan has reported most COVID-19 cases in New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung located in the northern region. The country has recorded&nbsp;854 COVID-19&nbsp;in the past two years even as health minister Chen Shih-chung claimed the "scale of the pandemic is very large".

Several cities have started home quarantine amid surging COVID-19 cases as the country battles the second wave.

Watch: Shanghai prepares to ease lockdown amid surging COVID-19 cases

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The COVID-19 cases began to rise in mid-March and&nbsp;recently hit 1,000 daily cases worrying health officials in the country.

Amid the rising number of cases, Taiwan's health minister had said the country will move away from its&nbsp; "zero-Covid"&nbsp;strategy as it prepares to combat the virus.

Taiwan had mostly closed its borders and kept the virus under check for the past two years while keeping its economic activity in shape although it had imposed social distancing measures last year as COVID-19 cases surged in the country.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Taiwan reported the first death of an infant due to COVID-19 in the New Taipei region. Doctors said the two-year-old boy died due to brain stem encephalitis which was triggered by the virus as the country continues to battle the pandemic.

Taiwan reported the first death of an infant due to COVID-19 in the New Taipei region. Doctors said the two-year-old boy died due to brain stem encephalitis which was triggered by the virus as the country continues to battle the pandemic. Taiwan's health minister had warned earlier this month that coronavirus cases could hit 1,000 a day even as the country reported over 1,600 on Tuesday. Also Read: China's economic data hints at cost of zero Covid strategy Taiwan has reported most COVID-19 cases in New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung located in the northern region. The country has recorded 854 COVID-19 in the past two years even as health minister Chen Shih-chung claimed the "scale of the pandemic is very large". Several cities have started home quarantine amid surging COVID-19 cases as the country battles the second wave. Watch: Shanghai prepares to ease lockdown amid surging COVID-19 cases The COVID-19 cases began to rise in mid-March and recently hit 1,000 daily cases worrying health officials in the country. Amid the rising number of cases, Taiwan's health minister had said the country will move away from its "zero-Covid" strategy as it prepares to combat the virus. Taiwan had mostly closed its borders and kept the virus under check for the past two years while keeping its economic activity in shape although it had imposed social distancing measures last year as COVID-19 cases surged in the country. (With inputs from Agencies)

Taiwan records first infant death due to COVID-19 as two-year old boy dies

India's capital recorded 517 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday as reports claimed Delhi, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat reported a 35 per cent increase in virus cases.

On Sunday, Delhi had recorded daily positivity rate of 4.21 per cent from 5.33 per cent on Saturday. India's capital city had reported 461 COVID-19 cases on Saturday along with two deaths.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-new-coronaviruses-in-bats-in-laos-453919">Also Read:&nbsp;Scientists find new coronaviruses in bats in Laos</a>

India had witnessed a third wave in January and February due the Omicron variant. On Monday, the country witnessed a jump of over 89 per cent in reported cases after registering 2,183 new coronavirus cases and &nbsp;214 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The number of active COVID-19 cases have declined to 11,542. India's health ministry said the nationwide daily positivity rate stands at 0.83 per cent.

Watch:&nbsp;Covid cases rise in India's capital, Delhi's positivity rate climbs

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Meanwhile, India's eastern state of West Bengal recorded 28 new COVID-19 cases which was 15 more than the previous day.

Amid an increase in the number of cases, the Uttar Pradesh government has made wearing face masks mandatory in the state capital Lucknow including in Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Bulandshahr.

(With inputs from Agencies)

India's capital recorded 517 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday as reports claimed Delhi, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat reported a 35 per cent increase in virus cases. On Sunday, Delhi had recorded daily positivity rate of 4.

India's capital recorded 517 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday as reports claimed Delhi, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat reported a 35 per cent increase in virus cases. On Sunday, Delhi had recorded daily positivity rate of 4.21 per cent from 5.33 per cent on Saturday. India's capital city had reported 461 COVID-19 cases on Saturday along with two deaths. Also Read: Scientists find new coronaviruses in bats in Laos India had witnessed a third wave in January and February due the Omicron variant. On Monday, the country witnessed a jump of over 89 per cent in reported cases after registering 2,183 new coronavirus cases and 214 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of active COVID-19 cases have declined to 11,542. India's health ministry said the nationwide daily positivity rate stands at 0.83 per cent. Watch: Covid cases rise in India's capital, Delhi's positivity rate climbs Meanwhile, India's eastern state of West Bengal recorded 28 new COVID-19 cases which was 15 more than the previous day. Amid an increase in the number of cases, the Uttar Pradesh government has made wearing face masks mandatory in the state capital Lucknow including in Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Bulandshahr. (With inputs from Agencies)

Delhi reports increase in COVID-19 cases; weekly cases rise in Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat

Australian health authorities are on alert after detection of XE variant of coronavirus in the country. The sub-variant was detected in an overseas traveller who landed in New South Wales (NSW). It is the most populous state in the country.

XE variant of coronavirus is combonation of BA.2 and BA.1

BA.2 is also known as 'stealth Omicron and BA.1 is the original, highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.&nbsp;

The overseas traveller was found to be positive for the variant XE on April 9. There are no reports of more&nbsp;Covid cases due this specific variant so far.

On Friday (April 15), the country reported more than 40,000 new Covid cases. More than 30 deaths were reported. New South Wales accounted for 16 of these deaths.

Latest data from Department of Health said that a total of&nbsp;5,073,311 Covid cases have been reported in Australia. Number of deaths is at&nbsp;6,693. By Thursday afternoon, there were&nbsp;435,702 active cases in the country.

There were 3,138 coronavirus cases being treated in Australian hospitals including 126 in intensive care units, Xinhua news agency reported.

Over the past week, there have been an average of 49,474 new cases reported each day. The median age of all cases is 30 years and the median age of deaths is 83.

So far, about 69 per cent of the eligible population had received booster vaccines in the country.

On Friday, one state`s strict coronavirus face mask mandate has been lifted after about nine months. People in South Australia (SA) are no longer required to wear masks in most public indoor spaces. The requirement of mandatory Covid tests before entering Australia has been lifted as well.

(With inputs from agencies)

Australian health authorities are on alert after detection of XE variant of coronavirus in the country. The sub-variant was detected in an overseas traveller who landed in New South Wales (NSW).

Australian health authorities are on alert after detection of XE variant of coronavirus in the country. The sub-variant was detected in an overseas traveller who landed in New South Wales (NSW). It is the most populous state in the country. XE variant of coronavirus is combonation of BA.2 and BA.1 BA.2 is also known as 'stealth Omicron and BA.1 is the original, highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus. The overseas traveller was found to be positive for the variant XE on April 9. There are no reports of more Covid cases due this specific variant so far. On Friday (April 15), the country reported more than 40,000 new Covid cases. More than 30 deaths were reported. New South Wales accounted for 16 of these deaths. Latest data from Department of Health said that a total of 5,073,311 Covid cases have been reported in Australia. Number of deaths is at 6,693. By Thursday afternoon, there were 435,702 active cases in the country. There were 3,138 coronavirus cases being treated in Australian hospitals including 126 in intensive care units, Xinhua news agency reported. Over the past week, there have been an average of 49,474 new cases reported each day. The median age of all cases is 30 years and the median age of deaths is 83. So far, about 69 per cent of the eligible population had received booster vaccines in the country. On Friday, one state`s strict coronavirus face mask mandate has been lifted after about nine months. People in South Australia (SA) are no longer required to wear masks in most public indoor spaces. The requirement of mandatory Covid tests before entering Australia has been lifted as well. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia: Authorities on alert as first case of Covid XE variant emerges

Australia reported more than 40,000 new Covid cases and more than 30 deaths on Friday, including 16 in New South Wales, the country`s most populous state.

According to the latest Department of Health data, a total of 5,073,311 Covid cases have been reported in Australia, including 6,693 deaths, and approximately 435,702 active cases as of Thursday afternoon.

There were 3,138 coronavirus cases being treated in Australian hospitals including 126 in intensive care units, Xinhua news agency reported.

Over the past week, there have been an average of 49,474 new cases reported each day. The median age of all cases is 30 years and the median age of deaths is 83.

So far, about 69 per cent of the eligible population had received booster vaccines in the country.

On Friday, one state`s strict coronavirus face mask mandate has been lifted after about nine months. People in South Australia (SA) are no longer required to wear masks in most public indoor spaces.

Masks are still required in high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care facilities and public transport.

Peter Malinauskas, who wwas elected South Australian premier in March, said the new rules would give people more choice.

"Of course, if South Australians want to continue to wear masks, they really have that choice," he said.

Some local businesses hoped customers could still wear masks despite the mandate being dropped.

"I personally would prefer (wearing masks) for everyone`s safety," Fernando Gutierrez, a restaurant owner, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "I know that a lot of them might get upset if I try to enforce something that by law is (optional). I can`t do anything."

Australia reported more than 40,000 new Covid cases and more than 30 deaths on Friday, including 16 in New South Wales, the country`s most populous state. According to the latest Department of Health data, a total of 5,073,311 Covid cases have been reported in Australia, including 6,693 deaths, and approximately 435,702 active cases as of Thursday afternoon.

Australia reported more than 40,000 new Covid cases and more than 30 deaths on Friday, including 16 in New South Wales, the country`s most populous state. According to the latest Department of Health data, a total of 5,073,311 Covid cases have been reported in Australia, including 6,693 deaths, and approximately 435,702 active cases as of Thursday afternoon. There were 3,138 coronavirus cases being treated in Australian hospitals including 126 in intensive care units, Xinhua news agency reported. Over the past week, there have been an average of 49,474 new cases reported each day. The median age of all cases is 30 years and the median age of deaths is 83. So far, about 69 per cent of the eligible population had received booster vaccines in the country. On Friday, one state`s strict coronavirus face mask mandate has been lifted after about nine months. People in South Australia (SA) are no longer required to wear masks in most public indoor spaces. Masks are still required in high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care facilities and public transport. Peter Malinauskas, who wwas elected South Australian premier in March, said the new rules would give people more choice. "Of course, if South Australians want to continue to wear masks, they really have that choice," he said. Some local businesses hoped customers could still wear masks despite the mandate being dropped. "I personally would prefer (wearing masks) for everyone`s safety," Fernando Gutierrez, a restaurant owner, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "I know that a lot of them might get upset if I try to enforce something that by law is (optional). I can`t do anything."

Australia's Covid cases, deaths continue to rise

Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the United States, Philadelphia city authorities announced they will reinstate indoor mask policy.

The mask mandate will be enforced by health officials from April 18 amid 50 per cent increase in coronavirus cases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-tracks-two-new-omicron-subvariants-what-are-ba4-and-ba5-strains-470395">Also Read:&nbsp;WHO tracks two new Omicron subvariants: What are BA.4 and BA.5 strains?</a>

Reports say the cases have surged due to the Omicron BA.2 subvariant which has become the dominant strain in the US.

CDC had earlier dropped the mask mandates as most cities began pulling out coronavirus curbs in February and March. Philadelphia had followed suit and dropped mask requirement in early March.

Health commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole informed that mask requirements would allow restaurants to stay open.

Watch:&nbsp;How likely is Coronavirus reinfection?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-likely-is-coronavirus-reinfection-446957/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in New York City which has been reporting nearly 1,800 virus cases per day which is a huge jump compared to last month.&nbsp;New York has witnessed a surge in cases due to the &nbsp;BA.2 Omicron sub-variant.

Several areas in the US including Monroe, Ontario and Wayne Counties reported a surge in COVID-19 cases including Livingston and Orleans.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-nhs-adds-nine-new-coronavirus-symptoms-to-its-list-check-them-out-468335">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;UK's NHS adds nine new coronavirus symptoms to its list. Check them out!</a>

Reports claim hospitalisations in at least 19 states have been rising in the US with increasing number of virus patients in intensive care units in at least 16 states.

New York has witnessed a surge in cases due to the &nbsp;BA.2 Omicron sub-variant.

&nbsp;Earlier, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had tested positive for the virus as cases continued to surge. There were other high profile politicians who had tested positive including Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Raphael Warnock.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the United States, Philadelphia city authorities announced they will reinstate indoor mask policy. The mask mandate will be enforced by health officials from April 18 amid 50 per cent increase in coronavirus cases.

Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the United States, Philadelphia city authorities announced they will reinstate indoor mask policy. The mask mandate will be enforced by health officials from April 18 amid 50 per cent increase in coronavirus cases. Also Read: WHO tracks two new Omicron subvariants: What are BA.4 and BA.5 strains? Reports say the cases have surged due to the Omicron BA.2 subvariant which has become the dominant strain in the US. CDC had earlier dropped the mask mandates as most cities began pulling out coronavirus curbs in February and March. Philadelphia had followed suit and dropped mask requirement in early March. Health commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole informed that mask requirements would allow restaurants to stay open. Watch: How likely is Coronavirus reinfection? Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in New York City which has been reporting nearly 1,800 virus cases per day which is a huge jump compared to last month. New York has witnessed a surge in cases due to the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant. Several areas in the US including Monroe, Ontario and Wayne Counties reported a surge in COVID-19 cases including Livingston and Orleans. Also Read: UK's NHS adds nine new coronavirus symptoms to its list. Check them out! Reports claim hospitalisations in at least 19 states have been rising in the US with increasing number of virus patients in intensive care units in at least 16 states. New York has witnessed a surge in cases due to the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant. Earlier, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had tested positive for the virus as cases continued to surge. There were other high profile politicians who had tested positive including Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Raphael Warnock. (With inputs from Agencies)

Amid rise in COVID-19 cases in US, Philadelphia reinstates indoor mask policy

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, tested positive for the coronavirus Sunday, his 100th day in office, the mayor’s office announced.

Adams has been focused on reopening the city after cases rose during the omicron surge over the winter. Cases recently started to rise again, fueled by the BA.2 variant.

The mayor, 61, woke up with a raspy voice Sunday and tested negative on a rapid test before testing positive on a PCR test, said Fabien Levy, a spokesman for the mayor. Adams had no other symptoms and is isolating and canceling the rest of his public events for the week, Levy said.

The mayor is fully vaccinated, Levy said, and has had one booster shot.

Adams, who said last week that he takes an at-home rapid test daily, had visited Albany, the state capital, on Saturday for a meeting with lawmakers. He has also been holding a series of interviews to promote his first 100 days in office.

“He is also going to immediately begin taking the antiviral medications offered for free to New York City residents and encourages all New Yorkers eligible for these medications to take them as well,” Levy said in a statement. He said Adams’ doctor said he qualified for the medications and recommended them.

It is difficult to know exactly how or when someone was exposed to and infected with the virus. Adams attended the Gridiron Club dinner in Washington last weekend, after which dozens of attendees have tested positive.

Adams has worn a mask at some recent events, but even as cases rose in the city, he has not frequently worn a mask at others, including after he attended the Gridiron dinner and many other attendees said they had tested positive.

He wrote a book about how he found out he had Type 2 diabetes in 2016 and then lost 30 pounds and said he reversed his diabetes by changing his diet. He speaks often about his mostly vegan diet, meditation and his fitness routine. Diabetes can add to the risk of getting serious illness from COVID partly because diabetes impairs the immune system.

In an interview Wednesday at City Hall, Adams said he had never tested positive for the virus before despite keeping a busy public schedule over the last two years.

“I’ve never had a positive diagnosis,” Adams said. “I’ve felt good, and I haven’t felt the symptoms, and I am around people all the time — even in the heart of COVID. I was at ground zero. For whatever reason, I think it’s a combination of my eating, lifestyle and some luck maybe involved, but no, I never had it.”

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, tested positive for the coronavirus Sunday, his 100th day in office, the mayor’s office announced. Adams has been focused on reopening the city after cases rose during the omicron surge over the winter.

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, tested positive for the coronavirus Sunday, his 100th day in office, the mayor’s office announced. Adams has been focused on reopening the city after cases rose during the omicron surge over the winter. Cases recently started to rise again, fueled by the BA.2 variant. The mayor, 61, woke up with a raspy voice Sunday and tested negative on a rapid test before testing positive on a PCR test, said Fabien Levy, a spokesman for the mayor. Adams had no other symptoms and is isolating and canceling the rest of his public events for the week, Levy said. The mayor is fully vaccinated, Levy said, and has had one booster shot. Adams, who said last week that he takes an at-home rapid test daily, had visited Albany, the state capital, on Saturday for a meeting with lawmakers. He has also been holding a series of interviews to promote his first 100 days in office. “He is also going to immediately begin taking the antiviral medications offered for free to New York City residents and encourages all New Yorkers eligible for these medications to take them as well,” Levy said in a statement. He said Adams’ doctor said he qualified for the medications and recommended them. It is difficult to know exactly how or when someone was exposed to and infected with the virus. Adams attended the Gridiron Club dinner in Washington last weekend, after which dozens of attendees have tested positive. Adams has worn a mask at some recent events, but even as cases rose in the city, he has not frequently worn a mask at others, including after he attended the Gridiron dinner and many other attendees said they had tested positive. He wrote a book about how he found out he had Type 2 diabetes in 2016 and then lost 30 pounds and said he reversed his diabetes by changing his diet. He speaks often about his mostly vegan diet, meditation and his fitness routine. Diabetes can add to the risk of getting serious illness from COVID partly because diabetes impairs the immune system. In an interview Wednesday at City Hall, Adams said he had never tested positive for the virus before despite keeping a busy public schedule over the last two years. “I’ve never had a positive diagnosis,” Adams said. “I’ve felt good, and I haven’t felt the symptoms, and I am around people all the time — even in the heart of COVID. I was at ground zero. For whatever reason, I think it’s a combination of my eating, lifestyle and some luck maybe involved, but no, I never had it.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams tests positive for coronavirus

Authorities in South Korea said on Wednesday that the total number of coronavirus infections in the country had topped 10 million. This is nearly 20 per cent of the country's population.

South Korea has been fighting a Covid wave caused by Omicron, the highly infectious variant of coronavirus.&nbsp;

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 490,881 cases for Tuesday, the second highest daily tally after it peaked at 621,205 on March 16. The total caseload rose to 10,427,247, with 13,432 deaths, up 291 a day before.

The country's infection and death rates are still far below those recorded elsewhere, as almost 87% of its 52 million residents are fully vaccinated and 63% have received booster shots.

But the death toll nearly doubled in just about six weeks, with daily fatalities peaking at 429 last Friday, fuelling demand for funeral arrangements.

The health ministry on Monday instructed the 60 crematories nationwide to operate for longer hours to burn up to seven bodies from five, and the 1,136 funeral parlours capable of storing some 8,700 bodies to expand their facilities.

"Crematories' capacity is increasing," ministry official Son Young-rae said. "But there are still regional differences."

Authorities have already boosted the combined daily cremation capacity from about 1,000 to 1,400 per day starting last week. But a large backlog of bodies and a long wait continued to be reported in the densely populated greater Seoul area, Son said.

Health ministry data showed that the 28 crematories in Seoul city were operating at 114.2% capacity as of Monday, while the ratio stood at about 83% in other regions such as Sejong and Jeju.

Crematories will be temporarily allowed to receive reservations from outside their regions, which is currently banned by some local governments, to ease the pileup, Son said.

The number of critically ill patients has been hovering above 1,000 over the past two weeks, but it could go up to 2,000 in early April, another health ministry official Park Hyang said. Around 64.4% of the intensive care unit beds are occupied as of Wednesday, compared with some 59% two weeks earlier.

As part of efforts to curb severe cases and deaths, South Korea's drug safety agency granted emergency approval for the use of Merck &amp; Co Inc's COVID-19 treatment pill for adults.

The molnupiravir tablet, branded as Lagevrio, is the second oral antiviral to be authorised in South Korea after Pfizer Inc's Paxlovid.

Lagevrio will only be allowed for patients who are aged 18 or older and not pregnant and cannot be treated with injection medications or the highly effective Paxlovid, the drug safety agency said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Authorities in South Korea said on Wednesday that the total number of coronavirus infections in the country had topped 10 million. This is nearly 20 per cent of the country's population.

Authorities in South Korea said on Wednesday that the total number of coronavirus infections in the country had topped 10 million. This is nearly 20 per cent of the country's population. South Korea has been fighting a Covid wave caused by Omicron, the highly infectious variant of coronavirus. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 490,881 cases for Tuesday, the second highest daily tally after it peaked at 621,205 on March 16. The total caseload rose to 10,427,247, with 13,432 deaths, up 291 a day before. The country's infection and death rates are still far below those recorded elsewhere, as almost 87% of its 52 million residents are fully vaccinated and 63% have received booster shots. But the death toll nearly doubled in just about six weeks, with daily fatalities peaking at 429 last Friday, fuelling demand for funeral arrangements. The health ministry on Monday instructed the 60 crematories nationwide to operate for longer hours to burn up to seven bodies from five, and the 1,136 funeral parlours capable of storing some 8,700 bodies to expand their facilities. "Crematories' capacity is increasing," ministry official Son Young-rae said. "But there are still regional differences." Authorities have already boosted the combined daily cremation capacity from about 1,000 to 1,400 per day starting last week. But a large backlog of bodies and a long wait continued to be reported in the densely populated greater Seoul area, Son said. Health ministry data showed that the 28 crematories in Seoul city were operating at 114.2% capacity as of Monday, while the ratio stood at about 83% in other regions such as Sejong and Jeju. Crematories will be temporarily allowed to receive reservations from outside their regions, which is currently banned by some local governments, to ease the pileup, Son said. The number of critically ill patients has been hovering above 1,000 over the past two weeks, but it could go up to 2,000 in early April, another health ministry official Park Hyang said. Around 64.4% of the intensive care unit beds are occupied as of Wednesday, compared with some 59% two weeks earlier. As part of efforts to curb severe cases and deaths, South Korea's drug safety agency granted emergency approval for the use of Merck & Co Inc's COVID-19 treatment pill for adults. The molnupiravir tablet, branded as Lagevrio, is the second oral antiviral to be authorised in South Korea after Pfizer Inc's Paxlovid. Lagevrio will only be allowed for patients who are aged 18 or older and not pregnant and cannot be treated with injection medications or the highly effective Paxlovid, the drug safety agency said. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea: Covid cases top 10 million, funeral homes overwhelmed

Through the Covid pandemic, it has been observed that children were less susceptible to the infection. It was also noted that they were least likely to spread the infection.&nbsp;

A study has shed more light on this and tried to find a reason behind this. The study revealed that children emitting fewer aerosol particles while speaking may be the reason why they are less likely to spread the infection than adults.&nbsp;

Smaller size of their lungs means that children emit fewer aerosol particles.

The study in this regard has been published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface

In the study, it was found that the particle emission rate was about four times lower for children than the same measurements taken from adults participating in the study.

“More precisely, children emitted [particle rates and emissions] during speaking of the same order of magnitude as adults breathing, and while singing, they emitted similar [particle rates and volumes] to the adults while speaking,” said Dr Mario Fleischer from Charité University Medicine Berlin. He was quoted by The Guardian.

“Especially in constellations with high vocal loudness, which are common in the everyday life of children and adolescents, the aerosol emission could be similar for different age groups, as the measurements for the shouting condition show,” said Fleischer. “On the other hand, singing and talking at volumes typical for children might be less restricted if the time frame is limited, like in common school and extracurricular settings.”

Through the Covid pandemic, it has been observed that children were less susceptible to the infection. It was also noted that they were least likely to spread the infection.

Through the Covid pandemic, it has been observed that children were less susceptible to the infection. It was also noted that they were least likely to spread the infection. A study has shed more light on this and tried to find a reason behind this. The study revealed that children emitting fewer aerosol particles while speaking may be the reason why they are less likely to spread the infection than adults. Smaller size of their lungs means that children emit fewer aerosol particles. The study in this regard has been published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface In the study, it was found that the particle emission rate was about four times lower for children than the same measurements taken from adults participating in the study. “More precisely, children emitted [particle rates and emissions] during speaking of the same order of magnitude as adults breathing, and while singing, they emitted similar [particle rates and volumes] to the adults while speaking,” said Dr Mario Fleischer from Charité University Medicine Berlin. He was quoted by The Guardian. “Especially in constellations with high vocal loudness, which are common in the everyday life of children and adolescents, the aerosol emission could be similar for different age groups, as the measurements for the shouting condition show,” said Fleischer. “On the other hand, singing and talking at volumes typical for children might be less restricted if the time frame is limited, like in common school and extracurricular settings.”

Children have low risk of Covid, this study may explain why

A quarter century ago I was walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim route. Two weeks into my 500-mile hike I was anxious, lonely and miserable. Each day was worse than the one before. I felt like a failure and a weakling.

One afternoon while walking through a parched field of cut wheat in the high plateau under blistering sun, I dropped to my knees and began to sob. My tears had caught me unaware and were unstoppable. I cursed whatever God I half believed in and demanded answers for why I felt so alone, so frail, so incomplete. I cried myself out, got to my feet and trudged on, six hours to the next village. I found a bed and fell into dreamless sleep.

The next morning I was back on the trail. Shuffling along, I couldn’t shake the feeling I had forgotten something. I stopped and checked my pack. Twice. Nothing was out of place or missing. An hour later I was taking a break beside a barn, snacking on a wedge of cheese and a hunk of stale bread. As I went to hoist my pack and soldier on, I became aware of hearing birds call, distinct and clear. I noticed how crisp the colors around me appeared, the burnt umber of the earth, the high red of a nearby tractor. The few puffy clouds overhead appeared to morph and shift in a way that felt almost preordained. The sensation was one of being wide-awake. Then it dawned on me — what I had “forgotten,” what I didn’t have, what I was missing. It was fear.

As we enter our third calendar year under the cloud of Covid, I have been thinking a lot about fear, its destabilizing, paralyzing hunger — and about travel and how we need its transformative power more than ever. Despite the slogans early in the pandemic that “we’re all in this together,” so many of the people I know have felt so alone, so isolated, so trapped, and yes, so afraid.

Fear seems to be the one commonality of the pandemic. And no one I know reacts well under sustained exposure to fear. Not all my fearful decisions have been bad, but nearly all my bad decisions have been made from a place of fear.

It strikes me now as strange that I had not been aware of fear’s presence in my life until that moment of its first absence. But anxieties born in childhood had become such a part of my rhythm that they were accepted without thought. Beside the barn I suddenly felt myself fully, without need to justify my being. It was a feeling like none I had known. I was, for the moment at least, free. Finally, I thought, here I am. And I wanted more of it.

Since I had experienced this sensation while on the road, it naturally followed — my reasoning went — that by traveling more I could build on this moment. In the void created by the absence of so much fear, feelings of joy and generosity rushed in, which led to connection with others and the world at large. I traveled to Asia and Africa, throughout Europe and South America. I met people who seemed so different, yet on closer inspection shared the same feelings I did. The farther from home I got, the more at home in myself I grew.

As variants spike and recede, it seems that Covid, in one form or another, will remain with us. Fear needs to be mitigated. And fear is a cunning and dangerous foe, a subtle and corrosive taskmaster, and it can bludgeon like a hammer. Not unlike the virus we now combat, or a politician hungry to remain in power, fear mutates, and finds a way to endure. Franklin Roosevelt. assured us that we had nothing to fear but fear itself. He knew, as many of us seem to have forgotten, that wherever fear calls the shots, trouble follows.

Fear demands submission while hiding behind good intentions. It incites wanton disregard in the name of independence. And when called out, fear is quick to justify itself: “If you’re smart, you’ll be afraid. Very afraid.”

Maybe there’s another answer, one that is paradoxical to the narrative we’ve been living. Whatever the effectiveness of closing borders, there’s little doubt that it has succeeded in exacerbating our (not always) latent fear of the “other.” But isolation is a devil’s garden. Of course, due diligence and responsible behavior are required in such a fluid situation, but taking back our agency has its own rewards. With the proper precautions, travel may provide a most unlikely way out of this quagmire of fear in which we find ourselves.

The great travel writer Paul Theroux said that “travel is optimism in action.” Confronted with ever-changing restrictions, complicated and confusing testing protocols, and inconsistent messaging, travelers today need all the optimism they can muster. But reduced services and limitations that we have learned to take in stride at home during the pandemic have created in us an adaptability that is an ideal quality for the road. If you have a willingness to be flexible, the rewards of travel still await.

I recently returned from Ireland, where fewer travelers lent the place a homey feel I hadn’t experienced since before the Celtic Tiger roared. I fell in love with the Irish anew and returned energized and expansive — feelings in short supply during Covid.

Over the summer, inspired by my desire to allay the fear that had built up in me over the pandemic, I again walked across Spain for a month on the Camino de Santiago, this time with my 19-year-old son. The liberation we both experienced was profound. The tyrannical rule of fear could not stand up under the force of human connection. Optimism returned. And I’m headed to Antarctica, where I trust all that fresh air and open space to keep me safe. The thought of encountering blue ice elicits a sense of hope that has been absent for too long.

It might feel counterintuitive to leave what is familiar and seemingly safe to venture out into the unknown in order to be free of life’s terrors, but that is exactly what has been my liberation. It’s always easier to sit on the couch than to get up and go. But maybe the couch is no longer the answer. Perhaps it’s time, with the proper safeguards, to get back out there. Travel still has the power to amaze, to delight and surprise, to awe and inspire, to unite, and most important right now, to obliterate fear.

A quarter century ago I was walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim route. Two weeks into my 500-mile hike I was anxious, lonely and miserable.

A quarter century ago I was walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim route. Two weeks into my 500-mile hike I was anxious, lonely and miserable. Each day was worse than the one before. I felt like a failure and a weakling. One afternoon while walking through a parched field of cut wheat in the high plateau under blistering sun, I dropped to my knees and began to sob. My tears had caught me unaware and were unstoppable. I cursed whatever God I half believed in and demanded answers for why I felt so alone, so frail, so incomplete. I cried myself out, got to my feet and trudged on, six hours to the next village. I found a bed and fell into dreamless sleep. The next morning I was back on the trail. Shuffling along, I couldn’t shake the feeling I had forgotten something. I stopped and checked my pack. Twice. Nothing was out of place or missing. An hour later I was taking a break beside a barn, snacking on a wedge of cheese and a hunk of stale bread. As I went to hoist my pack and soldier on, I became aware of hearing birds call, distinct and clear. I noticed how crisp the colors around me appeared, the burnt umber of the earth, the high red of a nearby tractor. The few puffy clouds overhead appeared to morph and shift in a way that felt almost preordained. The sensation was one of being wide-awake. Then it dawned on me — what I had “forgotten,” what I didn’t have, what I was missing. It was fear. As we enter our third calendar year under the cloud of Covid, I have been thinking a lot about fear, its destabilizing, paralyzing hunger — and about travel and how we need its transformative power more than ever. Despite the slogans early in the pandemic that “we’re all in this together,” so many of the people I know have felt so alone, so isolated, so trapped, and yes, so afraid. Fear seems to be the one commonality of the pandemic. And no one I know reacts well under sustained exposure to fear. Not all my fearful decisions have been bad, but nearly all my bad decisions have been made from a place of fear. It strikes me now as strange that I had not been aware of fear’s presence in my life until that moment of its first absence. But anxieties born in childhood had become such a part of my rhythm that they were accepted without thought. Beside the barn I suddenly felt myself fully, without need to justify my being. It was a feeling like none I had known. I was, for the moment at least, free. Finally, I thought, here I am. And I wanted more of it. Since I had experienced this sensation while on the road, it naturally followed — my reasoning went — that by traveling more I could build on this moment. In the void created by the absence of so much fear, feelings of joy and generosity rushed in, which led to connection with others and the world at large. I traveled to Asia and Africa, throughout Europe and South America. I met people who seemed so different, yet on closer inspection shared the same feelings I did. The farther from home I got, the more at home in myself I grew. As variants spike and recede, it seems that Covid, in one form or another, will remain with us. Fear needs to be mitigated. And fear is a cunning and dangerous foe, a subtle and corrosive taskmaster, and it can bludgeon like a hammer. Not unlike the virus we now combat, or a politician hungry to remain in power, fear mutates, and finds a way to endure. Franklin Roosevelt. assured us that we had nothing to fear but fear itself. He knew, as many of us seem to have forgotten, that wherever fear calls the shots, trouble follows. Fear demands submission while hiding behind good intentions. It incites wanton disregard in the name of independence. And when called out, fear is quick to justify itself: “If you’re smart, you’ll be afraid. Very afraid.” Maybe there’s another answer, one that is paradoxical to the narrative we’ve been living. Whatever the effectiveness of closing borders, there’s little doubt that it has succeeded in exacerbating our (not always) latent fear of the “other.” But isolation is a devil’s garden. Of course, due diligence and responsible behavior are required in such a fluid situation, but taking back our agency has its own rewards. With the proper precautions, travel may provide a most unlikely way out of this quagmire of fear in which we find ourselves. The great travel writer Paul Theroux said that “travel is optimism in action.” Confronted with ever-changing restrictions, complicated and confusing testing protocols, and inconsistent messaging, travelers today need all the optimism they can muster. But reduced services and limitations that we have learned to take in stride at home during the pandemic have created in us an adaptability that is an ideal quality for the road. If you have a willingness to be flexible, the rewards of travel still await. I recently returned from Ireland, where fewer travelers lent the place a homey feel I hadn’t experienced since before the Celtic Tiger roared. I fell in love with the Irish anew and returned energized and expansive — feelings in short supply during Covid. Over the summer, inspired by my desire to allay the fear that had built up in me over the pandemic, I again walked across Spain for a month on the Camino de Santiago, this time with my 19-year-old son. The liberation we both experienced was profound. The tyrannical rule of fear could not stand up under the force of human connection. Optimism returned. And I’m headed to Antarctica, where I trust all that fresh air and open space to keep me safe. The thought of encountering blue ice elicits a sense of hope that has been absent for too long. It might feel counterintuitive to leave what is familiar and seemingly safe to venture out into the unknown in order to be free of life’s terrors, but that is exactly what has been my liberation. It’s always easier to sit on the couch than to get up and go. But maybe the couch is no longer the answer. Perhaps it’s time, with the proper safeguards, to get back out there. Travel still has the power to amaze, to delight and surprise, to awe and inspire, to unite, and most important right now, to obliterate fear.

Travel is my antidote for fear. As Covid eases, I’m heading out again

Covid is a problem enough but the aftereffects of the infection are increasingly getting looked at. Many symptoms and tendencies are seen among those who have recovered from Covid in the year following the infection.

A study now says that Covid survivors were 40 per cent more likely to develop symptoms of depression. The study also says that people may also struggle sleeping. The survivors have also been found to 20 per cent more likely to abuse substances within a year of catching Covid.

Suicidal thoughts were found to be 46 per cent more common among Covid survivors.&nbsp;

The study was carried out by researchers from St Louis University who observed 150,000 people who were military veterans. The cohort was mostly male, in their 60s. People from this group were tested positive up to January 2021.

There was a correlation seen between Covid infection and mental health issues. People were also found to be at higher risk to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and panic attacks.

For the purpose of this study, the military veterans who were observed were compared to a group of 5.6 million veterans who had not caught the virus till date.

The study was observational in nature. It has been published in British Medical Journal (BMJ). No direct cause was established as to why Covid survivors were showing symptoms of mental health issues.

Covid is a problem enough but the aftereffects of the infection are increasingly getting looked at. Many symptoms and tendencies are seen among those who have recovered from Covid in the year following the infection.

Covid is a problem enough but the aftereffects of the infection are increasingly getting looked at. Many symptoms and tendencies are seen among those who have recovered from Covid in the year following the infection. A study now says that Covid survivors were 40 per cent more likely to develop symptoms of depression. The study also says that people may also struggle sleeping. The survivors have also been found to 20 per cent more likely to abuse substances within a year of catching Covid. Suicidal thoughts were found to be 46 per cent more common among Covid survivors. The study was carried out by researchers from St Louis University who observed 150,000 people who were military veterans. The cohort was mostly male, in their 60s. People from this group were tested positive up to January 2021. There was a correlation seen between Covid infection and mental health issues. People were also found to be at higher risk to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and panic attacks. For the purpose of this study, the military veterans who were observed were compared to a group of 5.6 million veterans who had not caught the virus till date. The study was observational in nature. It has been published in British Medical Journal (BMJ). No direct cause was established as to why Covid survivors were showing symptoms of mental health issues.

Covid survivors at increased risk to develop depression, use drugs: Study

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is meeting heads of federal&nbsp;states on Wednesday. Reuters said citing a meeting draft that among possible steps is easing Covid curbs. Shoppers at non-essential stores may no longer have to show proof of negative Covid tests or proof of vaccination. &nbsp;

The draft also included plans to increase the number of people allowed at indoor private gatherings to 20 if all of them are vaccinated.

In a second phase of easing, night clubs could re-open and unvaccinated Germans would be allowed into restaurants from March 4, the draft showed.

A requirement to wear masks indoors and on public transportation is to remain in place.

Germany's expert panel said on Sunday that the government needed to put plans in place for easing curbs, given the current wave of infections was expected to flatten in the coming weeks, but it warned against loosening restrictions too soon.

"Thanks to the milder course of the disease, we are entering a new phase of the pandemic, which allows prospects for gradual opening," Hendrik Wuest, the prime minister of Germany's most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia, told Welt newspaper.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner also called on federal and state governments to decide on a comprehensive easing at their meeting on Wednesday, adding that there must be a "noticeable difference in everyday life" afterwards.

Coronavirus case numbers have slightly dropped in Germany, as the government plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions in Europe's biggest economy.

Germany reported 76,465 new daily coronavirus cases on Monday, down 20% from the same day last week. The 7-day infection incidence per 100,000 people also fell to 1,460 from 1,467 on Sunday.

(With inputs from&nbsp;agencies)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is meeting heads of federal states on Wednesday. Reuters said citing a meeting draft that among possible steps is easing Covid curbs.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is meeting heads of federal states on Wednesday. Reuters said citing a meeting draft that among possible steps is easing Covid curbs. Shoppers at non-essential stores may no longer have to show proof of negative Covid tests or proof of vaccination. The draft also included plans to increase the number of people allowed at indoor private gatherings to 20 if all of them are vaccinated. In a second phase of easing, night clubs could re-open and unvaccinated Germans would be allowed into restaurants from March 4, the draft showed. A requirement to wear masks indoors and on public transportation is to remain in place. Germany's expert panel said on Sunday that the government needed to put plans in place for easing curbs, given the current wave of infections was expected to flatten in the coming weeks, but it warned against loosening restrictions too soon. "Thanks to the milder course of the disease, we are entering a new phase of the pandemic, which allows prospects for gradual opening," Hendrik Wuest, the prime minister of Germany's most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia, told Welt newspaper. Finance Minister Christian Lindner also called on federal and state governments to decide on a comprehensive easing at their meeting on Wednesday, adding that there must be a "noticeable difference in everyday life" afterwards. Coronavirus case numbers have slightly dropped in Germany, as the government plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions in Europe's biggest economy. Germany reported 76,465 new daily coronavirus cases on Monday, down 20% from the same day last week. The 7-day infection incidence per 100,000 people also fell to 1,460 from 1,467 on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany plans comprehensive easing of Covid curbs 

France has eased Covid restrictions for British travellers who are fully vaccinated. These travellers will now not be required to undergo Covid tests if they want to go France.

The announcement of relaxation of Covid rules has been made by Guillaume Bazard, the French consul-general in London.&nbsp;

“As of 12 February, tests will no longer be necessary for travellers with a complete vaccination schedule traveling from the UK to France. Our website will be updated as soon as further details are published,” he said on Twitter.

There were hints of relaxation in travel rules earlier this week. France's Europe minister, Clement Beaune had suggested that requirement of Covid test for fully vaccinated British travellers would be done away with.

Before the relaxation, people travelling to France from outside the European Union, including from UK, had to present a negative Covid test taken 48 hours before. Even fully vaccinated travellers had to present such test results.

Britain has already ended testing requirement for fully vaccinated incoming travellers. The decision was taken on Friday.

French move has followed a similar easing of Covid rules by Spain. Travel rules for British passengers aged 12 to 17 have been relaxed. Presently, such teenagers who have not received vaccines jabs are allowed to travel to Spain and enter the country.

France has eased Covid restrictions for British travellers who are fully vaccinated. These travellers will now not be required to undergo Covid tests if they want to go France.

France has eased Covid restrictions for British travellers who are fully vaccinated. These travellers will now not be required to undergo Covid tests if they want to go France. The announcement of relaxation of Covid rules has been made by Guillaume Bazard, the French consul-general in London. “As of 12 February, tests will no longer be necessary for travellers with a complete vaccination schedule traveling from the UK to France. Our website will be updated as soon as further details are published,” he said on Twitter. There were hints of relaxation in travel rules earlier this week. France's Europe minister, Clement Beaune had suggested that requirement of Covid test for fully vaccinated British travellers would be done away with. Before the relaxation, people travelling to France from outside the European Union, including from UK, had to present a negative Covid test taken 48 hours before. Even fully vaccinated travellers had to present such test results. Britain has already ended testing requirement for fully vaccinated incoming travellers. The decision was taken on Friday. French move has followed a similar easing of Covid rules by Spain. Travel rules for British passengers aged 12 to 17 have been relaxed. Presently, such teenagers who have not received vaccines jabs are allowed to travel to Spain and enter the country.

France: Covid restrictions eased for vaccinated British travellers

Last January, a team of researchers searching for the coronavirus in New York City’s wastewater spotted something strange in their samples. The viral fragments they found had a unique constellation of mutations that had never been reported before in human patients — a potential sign of a new, previously undetected variant.

For the past year, these oddball sequences, or what the scientists call “cryptic lineages,” have continued to pop up in the city’s wastewater.

There is no evidence that the lineages, which have been circulating for at least a year without overtaking delta or omicron, pose an elevated health risk to humans. But the researchers, whose findings were published in Nature Communications on Thursday, still have no idea where they came from.

“At this point, what we can say is that we haven’t found the cryptic lineages in human databases, and we have looked all over,” said Monica Trujillo, a microbiologist at Queensborough Community College and an author of the new paper.

The researchers themselves are torn about the lineages’ origins. Some lean toward the explanation that the virus is coming from people whose infections aren’t being captured by sequencing. But others suspect that the lineages may be coming from virus-infected animals, possibly the city’s enormous population of rats. Even then, the favored theory can change from day-to-day or hour-to-hour.

Answers remain elusive. “I think it’s really important that we find the source, and we have not been able to pin that down,” said John Dennehy, a virologist at Queens College and an author of the paper.

Strange Sequences

The researchers — who also include Marc Johnson, a virologist at the University of Missouri; Davida Smyth, a microbiologist at Texas A&amp;M University and others — have been sampling wastewater from 14 treatment plants in New York City since June 2020. In January of 2021, they began doing targeted sequencing of the samples, focusing on part of the gene for the virus’s all-important spike protein.

Although this approach provides a limited look at the viral genome, it allows researchers to extract a lot of data from wastewater, in which the virus is typically fragmented. Viral fragments with novel patterns of mutations appeared repeatedly at a handful of treatment plants, the researchers found. (They could not disclose the specific plants or areas of the city, they said.)

“To date we have not seen these variants among clinical patients in NYC,” said Michael Lanza, a spokesperson for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found similar sequences in one California sewershed, said Rose Kantor, a microbiologist at the university.

The scientists’ continuing quest to figure out where the sequences are coming from highlights both the potential of wastewater surveillance, which can help scientists keep tabs on how the virus is evolving, and the challenge of making sense of any anomalies pulled out of the murk.

“We really struggled trying to understand what it was that we had,” Trujillo said.

The lineages could be coming from people whose infections have escaped detection or whose virus has not been sequenced. But the fact that they kept turning up at the same few wastewater plants makes this theory less likely, the researchers said, given that New Yorkers, and any variants they may be carrying, tend to move throughout the city without restriction.

Still, Dennehy speculated that the sequences could be coming from people who are confined to long-term health care facilities in just a few areas of the city. But he has not been able to prove it.

“We were able to pin it down to a very small area of the sewershed,” Dennehy said. “And I emailed doctors and hospitals in those areas and never once got a response to my emails.”

Indeed, people who have compromised immune systems may have more difficulty fighting off the virus, giving it more opportunities to mutate. Many scientists theorize that omicron emerged from an immunocompromised patient.

Intriguingly, some of the cryptic lineages have some of the same mutations as Omicron, or mutations in the same locations. Laboratory experiments suggest that these lineages may also be able to evade some antibodies.

The New York City lineages might be a result of the same kind of selective pressure to evade some of the body’s immune defenses, the researchers theorize.

An Animal Origin?

On the other hand, the lineages have been circulating for long enough now that they should have appeared in at least one sample sequenced from an infected person, some scientists said.

“To have something in a sewershed that you’re detecting, you need a fair bit of it around,” said Dr. Adam Lauring, a virologist at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the research.

Johnson, the Missouri virologist, agrees. He favors the hypothesis that the sequences are coming from animals, perhaps a few specific populations with limited territories. In May and June of 2021, when the number of human COVID-19 cases in the city was low, the mysterious lineages made up a greater proportion of the viral RNA in wastewater, suggesting that they may have come from a nonhuman source.

The researchers initially considered a diverse array of potential hosts, from squirrels to skunks. “This is a very promiscuous virus,” Johnson said. “It can infect all kinds of species.”

To narrow down the possibilities, they went back to the wastewater, assuming that any animal that was shedding virus might be leaving its own genetic material behind, too.

Although a vast majority of the genetic material in the water came from humans, small amounts of RNA from dogs, cats and rats were also present, the scientists found.

Johnson has been considering rats, which roam the city by the millions. In his lab, he created pseudoviruses — harmless, nonreplicating viruses — with the same mutations present in the cryptic sequences. The pseudoviruses were able to infect both mouse and rat cells, he found. The original version of the virus does not appear able to infect rodents, although some other variants, like beta, can.

“So in and of itself, that isn’t huge data, but it is at least consistent with the idea that it’s coming from rodents,” Johnson said.

Since last summer, the scientists have been working with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to look for signs of the virus in blood and fecal samples from local rats. So far, they’ve come up empty.

“Maybe we’re not hitting the right animals,” Dennehy said.

Or maybe rats aren’t the source of the mystery lineages. Scientists have repeatedly found that human can pass the virus to animals, especially pets, zoo animals, farmed mink and others with which they are in frequent contact. That has raised concerns that the virus might establish itself in an animal reservoir, where it might mutate and get passed back to humans.

But rats have not typically been high on the list of concern, and there has not been any evidence that the virus is circulating in wild rats. The pathway by which humans could have infected rats is also unknown.

“Nothing makes perfect sense,” Johnson said.

But some kind of animal origin remains a possibility, scientists said.

“It’s just as plausible, if not more plausible, than a human origin,” Lauring said.

So the search continues. Johnson has developed a new technique that can amplify only non-omicron sequences, which should make it easier to detect the lineages. He has also begun searching for similar lineages in sewage samples from other states, which might help provide further clues to their origins.

“We will know eventually,” Johnson said.

Last January, a team of researchers searching for the coronavirus in New York City’s wastewater spotted something strange in their samples. The viral fragments they found had a unique constellation of mutations that had never been reported before in human patients — a potential sign of a new, previously undetected variant.

Last January, a team of researchers searching for the coronavirus in New York City’s wastewater spotted something strange in their samples. The viral fragments they found had a unique constellation of mutations that had never been reported before in human patients — a potential sign of a new, previously undetected variant. For the past year, these oddball sequences, or what the scientists call “cryptic lineages,” have continued to pop up in the city’s wastewater. There is no evidence that the lineages, which have been circulating for at least a year without overtaking delta or omicron, pose an elevated health risk to humans. But the researchers, whose findings were published in Nature Communications on Thursday, still have no idea where they came from. “At this point, what we can say is that we haven’t found the cryptic lineages in human databases, and we have looked all over,” said Monica Trujillo, a microbiologist at Queensborough Community College and an author of the new paper. The researchers themselves are torn about the lineages’ origins. Some lean toward the explanation that the virus is coming from people whose infections aren’t being captured by sequencing. But others suspect that the lineages may be coming from virus-infected animals, possibly the city’s enormous population of rats. Even then, the favored theory can change from day-to-day or hour-to-hour. Answers remain elusive. “I think it’s really important that we find the source, and we have not been able to pin that down,” said John Dennehy, a virologist at Queens College and an author of the paper. Strange Sequences The researchers — who also include Marc Johnson, a virologist at the University of Missouri; Davida Smyth, a microbiologist at Texas A&M University and others — have been sampling wastewater from 14 treatment plants in New York City since June 2020. In January of 2021, they began doing targeted sequencing of the samples, focusing on part of the gene for the virus’s all-important spike protein. Although this approach provides a limited look at the viral genome, it allows researchers to extract a lot of data from wastewater, in which the virus is typically fragmented. Viral fragments with novel patterns of mutations appeared repeatedly at a handful of treatment plants, the researchers found. (They could not disclose the specific plants or areas of the city, they said.) “To date we have not seen these variants among clinical patients in NYC,” said Michael Lanza, a spokesperson for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found similar sequences in one California sewershed, said Rose Kantor, a microbiologist at the university. The scientists’ continuing quest to figure out where the sequences are coming from highlights both the potential of wastewater surveillance, which can help scientists keep tabs on how the virus is evolving, and the challenge of making sense of any anomalies pulled out of the murk. “We really struggled trying to understand what it was that we had,” Trujillo said. The lineages could be coming from people whose infections have escaped detection or whose virus has not been sequenced. But the fact that they kept turning up at the same few wastewater plants makes this theory less likely, the researchers said, given that New Yorkers, and any variants they may be carrying, tend to move throughout the city without restriction. Still, Dennehy speculated that the sequences could be coming from people who are confined to long-term health care facilities in just a few areas of the city. But he has not been able to prove it. “We were able to pin it down to a very small area of the sewershed,” Dennehy said. “And I emailed doctors and hospitals in those areas and never once got a response to my emails.” Indeed, people who have compromised immune systems may have more difficulty fighting off the virus, giving it more opportunities to mutate. Many scientists theorize that omicron emerged from an immunocompromised patient. Intriguingly, some of the cryptic lineages have some of the same mutations as Omicron, or mutations in the same locations. Laboratory experiments suggest that these lineages may also be able to evade some antibodies. The New York City lineages might be a result of the same kind of selective pressure to evade some of the body’s immune defenses, the researchers theorize. An Animal Origin? On the other hand, the lineages have been circulating for long enough now that they should have appeared in at least one sample sequenced from an infected person, some scientists said. “To have something in a sewershed that you’re detecting, you need a fair bit of it around,” said Dr. Adam Lauring, a virologist at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the research. Johnson, the Missouri virologist, agrees. He favors the hypothesis that the sequences are coming from animals, perhaps a few specific populations with limited territories. In May and June of 2021, when the number of human COVID-19 cases in the city was low, the mysterious lineages made up a greater proportion of the viral RNA in wastewater, suggesting that they may have come from a nonhuman source. The researchers initially considered a diverse array of potential hosts, from squirrels to skunks. “This is a very promiscuous virus,” Johnson said. “It can infect all kinds of species.” To narrow down the possibilities, they went back to the wastewater, assuming that any animal that was shedding virus might be leaving its own genetic material behind, too. Although a vast majority of the genetic material in the water came from humans, small amounts of RNA from dogs, cats and rats were also present, the scientists found. Johnson has been considering rats, which roam the city by the millions. In his lab, he created pseudoviruses — harmless, nonreplicating viruses — with the same mutations present in the cryptic sequences. The pseudoviruses were able to infect both mouse and rat cells, he found. The original version of the virus does not appear able to infect rodents, although some other variants, like beta, can. “So in and of itself, that isn’t huge data, but it is at least consistent with the idea that it’s coming from rodents,” Johnson said. Since last summer, the scientists have been working with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to look for signs of the virus in blood and fecal samples from local rats. So far, they’ve come up empty. “Maybe we’re not hitting the right animals,” Dennehy said. Or maybe rats aren’t the source of the mystery lineages. Scientists have repeatedly found that human can pass the virus to animals, especially pets, zoo animals, farmed mink and others with which they are in frequent contact. That has raised concerns that the virus might establish itself in an animal reservoir, where it might mutate and get passed back to humans. But rats have not typically been high on the list of concern, and there has not been any evidence that the virus is circulating in wild rats. The pathway by which humans could have infected rats is also unknown. “Nothing makes perfect sense,” Johnson said. But some kind of animal origin remains a possibility, scientists said. “It’s just as plausible, if not more plausible, than a human origin,” Lauring said. So the search continues. Johnson has developed a new technique that can amplify only non-omicron sequences, which should make it easier to detect the lineages. He has also begun searching for similar lineages in sewage samples from other states, which might help provide further clues to their origins. “We will know eventually,” Johnson said.

In New York City sewage, a mysterious coronavirus signal

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), the third COVID-19 wave due to the Omicron variant affected the younger population the most.

ICMR said the data was compiled from 37 hospitals with at least 1,520 individuals analysed from&nbsp;across the country. The data showed patients in the average age group of 44 years infected compared to the earlier average age of 55.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-researchers-claim-to-have-discovered-a-godsend-antibody-that-can-defeat-omicron-450057">Also Read:&nbsp;Chinese researchers claim to have discovered a 'godsend' antibody that can defeat Omicron</a>

"There were two time periods which we studied. One was November 15 to December 15, which was presumed to be dominated by the strain of Delta, and the other was December 16 to January 17, when the presumed dominant strain was Omicron," ICMR's Balram Bhargava said.

The ICMR official added that "co-morbidities present in this younger population were pretty high" while pointing out that "about 46 per cent had co-morbidities, these are the people who are younger but nearly half of them had some co-morbidities."

The patients primarily complained of sore throat, cough and fever which were the predominant symptom. The was also lesser use of drugs reported, the government report noted. The report said the number of complications arising out of the virus was also reportedly less in renal failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-update-india-reports-dip-in-virus-cases-1733-deaths-in-24-hours-449783">Also Read:&nbsp;COVID-19 update: India reports dip in virus cases</a>

The ICMR informed that the&nbsp;death rate was 10 per cent among those who were vaccinated and 22 per cent in those who were unvaccinated.

"Nine out of 10 had co-morbidities in this young population who died and were vaccinated. Of the unvaccinated, 83 per cent had co-morbidities. So not being vaccinated and having co-morbidities really are the drivers which decide the course of the patient," Bhargava said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), the third COVID-19 wave due to the Omicron variant affected the younger population the most. ICMR said the data was compiled from 37 hospitals with at least 1,520 individuals analysed from across the country.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), the third COVID-19 wave due to the Omicron variant affected the younger population the most. ICMR said the data was compiled from 37 hospitals with at least 1,520 individuals analysed from across the country. The data showed patients in the average age group of 44 years infected compared to the earlier average age of 55. Also Read: Chinese researchers claim to have discovered a 'godsend' antibody that can defeat Omicron "There were two time periods which we studied. One was November 15 to December 15, which was presumed to be dominated by the strain of Delta, and the other was December 16 to January 17, when the presumed dominant strain was Omicron," ICMR's Balram Bhargava said. The ICMR official added that "co-morbidities present in this younger population were pretty high" while pointing out that "about 46 per cent had co-morbidities, these are the people who are younger but nearly half of them had some co-morbidities." The patients primarily complained of sore throat, cough and fever which were the predominant symptom. The was also lesser use of drugs reported, the government report noted. The report said the number of complications arising out of the virus was also reportedly less in renal failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Also Read: COVID-19 update: India reports dip in virus cases The ICMR informed that the death rate was 10 per cent among those who were vaccinated and 22 per cent in those who were unvaccinated. "Nine out of 10 had co-morbidities in this young population who died and were vaccinated. Of the unvaccinated, 83 per cent had co-morbidities. So not being vaccinated and having co-morbidities really are the drivers which decide the course of the patient," Bhargava said. (With inputs from Agencies)

Younger population infected more in third wave, says ICMR

India reported 2,35,532 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours along with 871 deaths, the health ministry said.

The number of active cases now stands at 20,04,333, the health ministry added with the daily positivity cases at over 13 per cent.

The number of recoveries nationwide reached 3,35,939, according to health officials.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka state government&nbsp;said the Omicron variant has replaced the Delta variant with the positivity rate at 67 per cent. The state had recorded 31,198 new COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths on Friday with the positivity rate at over 20 per cent.

The country had reported&nbsp;2,51,209 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours along with 627 deaths on Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-is-back-in-news-with-revelation-on-neocov-check-out-what-who-has-to-say-448471">Also Read:&nbsp;Wuhan is back in news with revelation on NeoCov. Check out what WHO has to say</a>

India's eastern state of West Bengal recorded a drop in coronavirus cases reporting 3,805 COVID-19 infections with 34 deaths. The number of active cases in the state stands at 45,729 with the positivity rate at over 6 per cent.

Maharashtra which is the worst-hit state due to the virus recorded 24,948 new COVID-19 cases with 103 deaths in 24 hours. The state health department said there were 110 new Omicron cases with over 45,000 recoveries. The number of active cases in the state is at over 2,00,000.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-mu-delta-ihu-to-neocov-here-is-a-list-of-the-many-variants-of-coronavirus-448422">Also Read:&nbsp;From Mu, Delta, IHU to NeoCov, here is a list of the many variants of coronavirus</a>

The Gujarat government said night curfew will remain in place in cities across the state till February 4 after as over 12,000 COVID-19 cases were reported in 24 hours with 30 deaths.

India's capital Delhi reported over 4,000 COVID-19 cases with 25 deaths in 24 hours on Thursday. There are currently over 29,000 active cases in the city with the daily positivity rate at over 8 per cent.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

India reported 2,35,532 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours along with 871 deaths, the health ministry said. The number of active cases now stands at 20,04,333, the health ministry added with the daily positivity cases at over 13 per cent.

India reported 2,35,532 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours along with 871 deaths, the health ministry said. The number of active cases now stands at 20,04,333, the health ministry added with the daily positivity cases at over 13 per cent. The number of recoveries nationwide reached 3,35,939, according to health officials. Meanwhile, the Karnataka state government said the Omicron variant has replaced the Delta variant with the positivity rate at 67 per cent. The state had recorded 31,198 new COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths on Friday with the positivity rate at over 20 per cent. The country had reported 2,51,209 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours along with 627 deaths on Friday. Also Read: Wuhan is back in news with revelation on NeoCov. Check out what WHO has to say India's eastern state of West Bengal recorded a drop in coronavirus cases reporting 3,805 COVID-19 infections with 34 deaths. The number of active cases in the state stands at 45,729 with the positivity rate at over 6 per cent. Maharashtra which is the worst-hit state due to the virus recorded 24,948 new COVID-19 cases with 103 deaths in 24 hours. The state health department said there were 110 new Omicron cases with over 45,000 recoveries. The number of active cases in the state is at over 2,00,000. Also Read: From Mu, Delta, IHU to NeoCov, here is a list of the many variants of coronavirus The Gujarat government said night curfew will remain in place in cities across the state till February 4 after as over 12,000 COVID-19 cases were reported in 24 hours with 30 deaths. India's capital Delhi reported over 4,000 COVID-19 cases with 25 deaths in 24 hours on Thursday. There are currently over 29,000 active cases in the city with the daily positivity rate at over 8 per cent. (With inputs from Agencies)

India reports drop in coronavirus cases; 871 deaths in 24 hours

It is one of many mysteries about long COVID: Who is more prone to developing it? Are some people more likely than others to experience physical, neurological or cognitive symptoms than can emerge, or linger for, months after their coronavirus infections have cleared?

Now, a team of researchers who followed more than 200 patients for two to three months after their COVID diagnoses report that they have identified biological factors that might help predict if a person will develop long COVID.

The study, published Tuesday by the journal Cell, found four factors that could be identified early in a person’s coronavirus infection that appeared to correlate with increased risk of having lasting symptoms weeks later.

The researchers said they had found that there was an association between these factors and long COVID (which goes by the medical name post acute sequelae of COVID-19, or PASC) whether the initial infection was serious or mild. They said that the findings might suggest ways to prevent or treat some cases of long COVID, including the possibility of giving people antiviral medications soon after an infection has been diagnosed.

“It’s the first real solid attempt to come up with some biologic mechanisms for long COVID,” said Dr. Steven Deeks, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study.

He and other experts, along with the study authors, cautioned that the findings were exploratory and would need to be verified by considerably more research.

Still, Deeks said, “They’ve identified these four major factors. Each is biologically plausible, consistent with theories that other people are pursuing, and importantly, each is actionable. If these pathways get confirmed, we as clinicians can actually design interventions to make people better. That is the take-home message.”

One of the four factors researchers identified is the level of coronavirus RNA in the blood early in the infection, an indicator of viral load. Another is the presence of certain autoantibodies — antibodies that mistakenly attack tissues in the body as they do in conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. A third factor is the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, a virus that infects most people, often when they are young, and then usually becomes dormant.

The final factor is having Type 2 diabetes, although the researchers and other experts said that in studies involving larger numbers of patients, it might turn out that diabetes is only one of several medical conditions that increase the risk of long COVID.

“I think this research stresses the importance of doing measurements early in the disease course to figure out how to treat patients, even if we don’t really know how we’re going to use all that information yet,” said Jim Heath, principal investigator of the study and president of the Institute for Systems Biology, a nonprofit biomedical research organization in Seattle.

“Once you can measure something, then you may be able to start doing something about it,” Heath said, adding: “We did this analysis because we know patients will go to physicians and they’ll say that they’re tired all the time or whatever, and the physician just tells them to get more sleep. That’s not very helpful. So, we wanted to actually have a way to quantify and say that there’s actually something wrong with these patients.”

The complex study had several components and involved dozens of researchers at several universities and centers including the Institute for Systems Biology, the University of Washington and Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, where the study’s lead medical author, Dr. Jason Goldman, is an infectious disease specialist.

The primary group of patients included 209 people, ages 18 to 89, who were infected with the coronavirus during 2020 or early 2021 and were seen at Swedish Medical Center or an affiliated clinic. Many were hospitalized for their initial infections, but some were seen only as outpatients. Researchers analyzed blood and nasal swabs when patients were diagnosed, during the acute phase of their infections and two to three months later.

They surveyed the patients about 20 symptoms associated with long COVID, including fatigue, brain fog and shortness of breath, and corroborated those reports with electronic health records, Heath said.

He said 37% of the patients had reported three or more symptoms of long COVID two or three months after infection. A further 24% reported one or two symptoms, and 39% reported no symptoms. Of patients reporting three or more symptoms, 95% had one or more of the four biological factors identified in the study when they were diagnosed with COVID-19, Heath said.

The most influential factor appeared to be autoantibodies, which were associated with two-thirds of the cases of long COVID, Heath said. Each of the other three factors showed up in about a third of the cases, he said, and there was considerable overlap, with several factors identified in some patients.

The researchers corroborated some of their findings in a separate group of 100 patients, many with mild initial infections, from research led by Dr. Helen Chu at the University of Washington. The researchers also compared their results to data from 457 healthy people.

“The study is large and comprehensive and is a great resource for the community studying long COVID,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale, who was not involved in the research.

Dr. Avindra Nath, who is chief of the section on infections of the nervous system at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and was not involved in the study, called the study well designed but pointed out several weaknesses, including the fact that patients had been followed for only two to three months. “This might be too short a time frame,” he said. “Some might just improve spontaneously with time.”

Iwasaki noted that 71% of the patients in the primary group had been hospitalized, limiting the ability to conclude that the biological factors were equally relevant for people with mild initial infections.

One persuasive conclusion, several experts said, was the suggestion that because patients with high viral loads early on often developed long COVID, giving people antivirals soon after diagnosis might help prevent long-term symptoms.

“The quicker one can eliminate the virus, the less likelihood of developing persistent virus or autoimmunity, which may drive long COVID,” Iwasaki said.

That some patients had reactivated Epstein-Barr virus also made sense, Nath said, because other diseases have reawakened that virus, and its reactivation has been linked to conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, which some cases of long COVID resemble, and multiple sclerosis. Deeks said it might be possible to give antivirals or immunotherapy to patients with reactivated Epstein-Barr virus.

There were other intriguing findings that experts said needed more substantiation. One was a suggestion that because people with lingering respiratory problems had low levels of the stress hormone cortisol, they might benefit from cortisol replacement therapy, which Heath said some doctors were already trying.

In another finding that he said might provide a way to document that patients’ neurological symptoms resulted from long COVID, the blood of people with lingering neurological issues contained elevated levels of proteins associated with disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep/wake cycles.

One patient in the study’s primary group was John Gillotte, 40, a software engineer who contracted the coronavirus in March 2020. He was on a ventilator for about six days, after which he experienced delirium in the hospital when he closed his eyes.

“I saw the devil, who was like 50 feet tall, screaming at me, throwing limbs that he dismembered off of other people,” recalled Gillotte, who later had an image of the demon tattooed on his right arm, with depictions of hell below and heaven above to symbolize his progress from illness to recovery.

Gillotte, who moved from Seattle to Manhattan last year, said that for several months after his infection, he experienced muscle weakness, lack of stamina, brain fog that impaired his concentration at work, an altered sense of smell and the perception that most food tasted like ashes.

He said that before COVID, he had a spontaneous ability to visualize specific colors with certain foods — pink when he sprinkled pepper, blue with a type of liquor — but now, he is dismayed to have lost those automatic connections.

Gillotte said he doesn’t have diabetes and didn’t know if he had the other three factors because researchers said the study protocol prevented them from disclosing data about participants.

Heath, however, noted that Gillotte had been reinfected with the coronavirus in October 2020, which might reflect one theory that emerged from their study: that patients with higher levels of autoantibodies had lower levels of protective antibodies against the coronavirus, possibly making them more vulnerable to reinfection.

Deeks said lower protective antibody levels could also be a pathway leading to long-term symptoms. “If you don’t have a good antibody response, you don’t clear the virus; you have more virus around, and that leads to more long COVID,” he said.

Still, Heath said that overall, the research had showed that the four biological factors intersected and overlapped, suggesting that there might be relatively straightforward ways to forestall long COVID early on. Months later, “all these vague symptoms are so hard to track down, because you’ve sort of lost that information, but if you look back when those symptoms are first triggered, it actually looks like it’s manageable.”

It is one of many mysteries about long COVID: Who is more prone to developing it? Are some people more likely than others to experience physical, neurological or cognitive symptoms than can emerge, or linger for, months after their coronavirus infections have cleared?

It is one of many mysteries about long COVID: Who is more prone to developing it? Are some people more likely than others to experience physical, neurological or cognitive symptoms than can emerge, or linger for, months after their coronavirus infections have cleared? Now, a team of researchers who followed more than 200 patients for two to three months after their COVID diagnoses report that they have identified biological factors that might help predict if a person will develop long COVID. The study, published Tuesday by the journal Cell, found four factors that could be identified early in a person’s coronavirus infection that appeared to correlate with increased risk of having lasting symptoms weeks later. The researchers said they had found that there was an association between these factors and long COVID (which goes by the medical name post acute sequelae of COVID-19, or PASC) whether the initial infection was serious or mild. They said that the findings might suggest ways to prevent or treat some cases of long COVID, including the possibility of giving people antiviral medications soon after an infection has been diagnosed. “It’s the first real solid attempt to come up with some biologic mechanisms for long COVID,” said Dr. Steven Deeks, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study. He and other experts, along with the study authors, cautioned that the findings were exploratory and would need to be verified by considerably more research. Still, Deeks said, “They’ve identified these four major factors. Each is biologically plausible, consistent with theories that other people are pursuing, and importantly, each is actionable. If these pathways get confirmed, we as clinicians can actually design interventions to make people better. That is the take-home message.” One of the four factors researchers identified is the level of coronavirus RNA in the blood early in the infection, an indicator of viral load. Another is the presence of certain autoantibodies — antibodies that mistakenly attack tissues in the body as they do in conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. A third factor is the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, a virus that infects most people, often when they are young, and then usually becomes dormant. The final factor is having Type 2 diabetes, although the researchers and other experts said that in studies involving larger numbers of patients, it might turn out that diabetes is only one of several medical conditions that increase the risk of long COVID. “I think this research stresses the importance of doing measurements early in the disease course to figure out how to treat patients, even if we don’t really know how we’re going to use all that information yet,” said Jim Heath, principal investigator of the study and president of the Institute for Systems Biology, a nonprofit biomedical research organization in Seattle. “Once you can measure something, then you may be able to start doing something about it,” Heath said, adding: “We did this analysis because we know patients will go to physicians and they’ll say that they’re tired all the time or whatever, and the physician just tells them to get more sleep. That’s not very helpful. So, we wanted to actually have a way to quantify and say that there’s actually something wrong with these patients.” The complex study had several components and involved dozens of researchers at several universities and centers including the Institute for Systems Biology, the University of Washington and Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, where the study’s lead medical author, Dr. Jason Goldman, is an infectious disease specialist. The primary group of patients included 209 people, ages 18 to 89, who were infected with the coronavirus during 2020 or early 2021 and were seen at Swedish Medical Center or an affiliated clinic. Many were hospitalized for their initial infections, but some were seen only as outpatients. Researchers analyzed blood and nasal swabs when patients were diagnosed, during the acute phase of their infections and two to three months later. They surveyed the patients about 20 symptoms associated with long COVID, including fatigue, brain fog and shortness of breath, and corroborated those reports with electronic health records, Heath said. He said 37% of the patients had reported three or more symptoms of long COVID two or three months after infection. A further 24% reported one or two symptoms, and 39% reported no symptoms. Of patients reporting three or more symptoms, 95% had one or more of the four biological factors identified in the study when they were diagnosed with COVID-19, Heath said. The most influential factor appeared to be autoantibodies, which were associated with two-thirds of the cases of long COVID, Heath said. Each of the other three factors showed up in about a third of the cases, he said, and there was considerable overlap, with several factors identified in some patients. The researchers corroborated some of their findings in a separate group of 100 patients, many with mild initial infections, from research led by Dr. Helen Chu at the University of Washington. The researchers also compared their results to data from 457 healthy people. “The study is large and comprehensive and is a great resource for the community studying long COVID,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale, who was not involved in the research. Dr. Avindra Nath, who is chief of the section on infections of the nervous system at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and was not involved in the study, called the study well designed but pointed out several weaknesses, including the fact that patients had been followed for only two to three months. “This might be too short a time frame,” he said. “Some might just improve spontaneously with time.” Iwasaki noted that 71% of the patients in the primary group had been hospitalized, limiting the ability to conclude that the biological factors were equally relevant for people with mild initial infections. One persuasive conclusion, several experts said, was the suggestion that because patients with high viral loads early on often developed long COVID, giving people antivirals soon after diagnosis might help prevent long-term symptoms. “The quicker one can eliminate the virus, the less likelihood of developing persistent virus or autoimmunity, which may drive long COVID,” Iwasaki said. That some patients had reactivated Epstein-Barr virus also made sense, Nath said, because other diseases have reawakened that virus, and its reactivation has been linked to conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, which some cases of long COVID resemble, and multiple sclerosis. Deeks said it might be possible to give antivirals or immunotherapy to patients with reactivated Epstein-Barr virus. There were other intriguing findings that experts said needed more substantiation. One was a suggestion that because people with lingering respiratory problems had low levels of the stress hormone cortisol, they might benefit from cortisol replacement therapy, which Heath said some doctors were already trying. In another finding that he said might provide a way to document that patients’ neurological symptoms resulted from long COVID, the blood of people with lingering neurological issues contained elevated levels of proteins associated with disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep/wake cycles. One patient in the study’s primary group was John Gillotte, 40, a software engineer who contracted the coronavirus in March 2020. He was on a ventilator for about six days, after which he experienced delirium in the hospital when he closed his eyes. “I saw the devil, who was like 50 feet tall, screaming at me, throwing limbs that he dismembered off of other people,” recalled Gillotte, who later had an image of the demon tattooed on his right arm, with depictions of hell below and heaven above to symbolize his progress from illness to recovery. Gillotte, who moved from Seattle to Manhattan last year, said that for several months after his infection, he experienced muscle weakness, lack of stamina, brain fog that impaired his concentration at work, an altered sense of smell and the perception that most food tasted like ashes. He said that before COVID, he had a spontaneous ability to visualize specific colors with certain foods — pink when he sprinkled pepper, blue with a type of liquor — but now, he is dismayed to have lost those automatic connections. Gillotte said he doesn’t have diabetes and didn’t know if he had the other three factors because researchers said the study protocol prevented them from disclosing data about participants. Heath, however, noted that Gillotte had been reinfected with the coronavirus in October 2020, which might reflect one theory that emerged from their study: that patients with higher levels of autoantibodies had lower levels of protective antibodies against the coronavirus, possibly making them more vulnerable to reinfection. Deeks said lower protective antibody levels could also be a pathway leading to long-term symptoms. “If you don’t have a good antibody response, you don’t clear the virus; you have more virus around, and that leads to more long COVID,” he said. Still, Heath said that overall, the research had showed that the four biological factors intersected and overlapped, suggesting that there might be relatively straightforward ways to forestall long COVID early on. Months later, “all these vague symptoms are so hard to track down, because you’ve sort of lost that information, but if you look back when those symptoms are first triggered, it actually looks like it’s manageable.”

New research hints at 4 factors that may increase chances of long COVID

India reported 3,37,704 new coronavirus cases with 448 deaths in 24 hours, the health ministry said.

The daily positivity cases stands at over 17 per cent in the country with the number of active cases at over &nbsp;2100000.

The health ministry informed that 10,050 total Omicron cases were detected in the country. The number of Omicron cases rose by over 3 per cent since Friday, the ministry added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pics-health-workers-at-loc-continue-vaccination-process-amid-extreme-weather-conditions-446500">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Health workers at LOC continue vaccination process amid extreme weather conditions</a>

India's western state of Maharashtra which is the worst-hit state since the pandemic began recorded over 48,200 new coronavirus cases along with 52 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases in the state stands at 2,64,000 with 2,343 Omicron cases detected.

India's southern state of Kerala reported over 41,000 COVID-19 cases along with 33 deaths on Friday. The state government informed that the number of active COVID-19 currently stands at 2,23,548.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-5720-new-infections-jammu-kashmir-reports-uptick-in-covid-cases-446560">Also Read:&nbsp;With 5,720 new infections, Jammu &amp; Kashmir reports uptick in Covid cases</a>

Meanwhile, the Gujarat state government announced that night curfew will be imposed in 17 more towns as the state reported&nbsp;21,225 coronavirus cases with 16 deaths in the last 24 hours. Night curfew is currently underway in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar and other towns in the state.

Another southern state Tamil Nadu reported 29,870 new coronavirus cases with 33 deaths in the last 24 hours.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

India reported 3,37,704 new coronavirus cases with 448 deaths in 24 hours, the health ministry said. The daily positivity cases stands at over 17 per cent in the country with the number of active cases at over 2100000.

India reported 3,37,704 new coronavirus cases with 448 deaths in 24 hours, the health ministry said. The daily positivity cases stands at over 17 per cent in the country with the number of active cases at over 2100000. The health ministry informed that 10,050 total Omicron cases were detected in the country. The number of Omicron cases rose by over 3 per cent since Friday, the ministry added. Also Read in Pics: Health workers at LOC continue vaccination process amid extreme weather conditions India's western state of Maharashtra which is the worst-hit state since the pandemic began recorded over 48,200 new coronavirus cases along with 52 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases in the state stands at 2,64,000 with 2,343 Omicron cases detected. India's southern state of Kerala reported over 41,000 COVID-19 cases along with 33 deaths on Friday. The state government informed that the number of active COVID-19 currently stands at 2,23,548. Also Read: With 5,720 new infections, Jammu & Kashmir reports uptick in Covid cases Meanwhile, the Gujarat state government announced that night curfew will be imposed in 17 more towns as the state reported 21,225 coronavirus cases with 16 deaths in the last 24 hours. Night curfew is currently underway in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar and other towns in the state. Another southern state Tamil Nadu reported 29,870 new coronavirus cases with 33 deaths in the last 24 hours. (With inputs from Agencies)

COVID-19 update: India reports over 9k less cases; 488 deaths in 24 hours

India on Friday reported 3,47,254 new coronavirus cases with 703 deaths in 24 hours.

The number of active cases rose to 20,18,825, India's health ministry said adding that the daily positivity rate was at over 17 per cent.

The COVID-19 cases have increased by 29,722 in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/do-healthy-kids-need-booster-shots-against-covid-whos-chief-scientist-answers-445974">Also Read:&nbsp;Do healthy kids need booster shots against COVID? WHO's chief scientist answers</a>

The number of recoveries in the last 24 hours stands at 2,51,777. The health ministry informed there were 9,692 Omicron cases detected in the country which was an increase of over 4 per cent since Thursday.

India's western state of Maharashtra reported 46,197 new COVID-19 cases with over 2,00000 active cases. The death toll due to the virus on Thursday was 37, the state health department said. There were 125 Omicron variant cases detected.

Mumbai recorded 5,708 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths on Thursday with the number of active cases at over 22,000.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India's eastern state of West Bengal reported 10,959 coronavirus cases with 37 deaths on Thursday with over 1,44,00 active cases. The state health department said the COVID-19 positivity rate is at over 16 per cent.

India's southern state of Tamil Nadu continued to witness a surge in cases recorded 28,561 COVID-19 cases along with 39 deaths with the number of active cases at over 1,79,000.

(With inputs from Agencies)

India on Friday reported 3,47,254 new coronavirus cases with 703 deaths in 24 hours. The number of active cases rose to 20,18,825, India's health ministry said adding that the daily positivity rate was at over 17 per cent.

India on Friday reported 3,47,254 new coronavirus cases with 703 deaths in 24 hours. The number of active cases rose to 20,18,825, India's health ministry said adding that the daily positivity rate was at over 17 per cent. The COVID-19 cases have increased by 29,722 in the last 24 hours, the ministry said. Also Read: Do healthy kids need booster shots against COVID? WHO's chief scientist answers The number of recoveries in the last 24 hours stands at 2,51,777. The health ministry informed there were 9,692 Omicron cases detected in the country which was an increase of over 4 per cent since Thursday. India's western state of Maharashtra reported 46,197 new COVID-19 cases with over 2,00000 active cases. The death toll due to the virus on Thursday was 37, the state health department said. There were 125 Omicron variant cases detected. Mumbai recorded 5,708 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths on Thursday with the number of active cases at over 22,000. Meanwhile, India's eastern state of West Bengal reported 10,959 coronavirus cases with 37 deaths on Thursday with over 1,44,00 active cases. The state health department said the COVID-19 positivity rate is at over 16 per cent. India's southern state of Tamil Nadu continued to witness a surge in cases recorded 28,561 COVID-19 cases along with 39 deaths with the number of active cases at over 1,79,000. (With inputs from Agencies)

India reports over 29k COVID-19 cases; death toll rises to 703 in 24 hours

India on Thursday reported 3,17,532 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours with 491 deaths, the health ministry said.

The daily positivity cases in the country stands at over 16 per cent with 19,24,051 active cases.&nbsp;

There were 2,23,990 recoveries, the ministry added. The number of Omicron cases have reached 9,287 which is an increase of over 3 per since Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/do-healthy-kids-need-booster-shots-against-covid-whos-chief-scientist-answers-445974">Also Read:&nbsp;Do healthy kids need booster shots against COVID? WHO's chief scientist answers</a>

The country had reported &nbsp;2,82,970 coronavirus cases on Wednesday

India's western city of Maharashtra which has been hit hard due to the virus reported 43,697 coronavirus cases and 49 deaths with the number of active cases at 2,64,708. There were 214 patients detected with the Omicron varient in 24 hours, the state health department said.&nbsp;

Pune city in Maharashtra reported 12,633 new coronavirus cases with 12 deaths, health officials said while Mumbai reported 6,032 new cases and 12 deaths.&nbsp;

India's capital Delhi reported 13,785 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday with 35 deaths. The number of active cases in the capital stands at 75,282 with the positivity rate at over 5 per cent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-surge-in-omicron-infection-mumbai-records-its-first-case-of-black-fungus-in-2022-445810">Also Read:&nbsp;Amid surge in Omicron infection, Mumbai records its first case of black fungus in 2022</a>

Meanwhile, Karnataka reported 40,499 new coronavirus cases with 21 deaths. India's sourthern state of Tamil Nadu which has witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases saw 26,981 new coronavirus cases along with 35 deaths in 24 hours.

The number of coronavirus cases dipped in the eastern state of West Bengal with 11,447 new virus cases detected and 38 deaths, the state health department said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

India on Thursday reported 3,17,532 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours with 491 deaths, the health ministry said. The daily positivity cases in the country stands at over 16 per cent with 19,24,051 active cases.

India on Thursday reported 3,17,532 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours with 491 deaths, the health ministry said. The daily positivity cases in the country stands at over 16 per cent with 19,24,051 active cases. There were 2,23,990 recoveries, the ministry added. The number of Omicron cases have reached 9,287 which is an increase of over 3 per since Wednesday. Also Read: Do healthy kids need booster shots against COVID? WHO's chief scientist answers The country had reported 2,82,970 coronavirus cases on Wednesday India's western city of Maharashtra which has been hit hard due to the virus reported 43,697 coronavirus cases and 49 deaths with the number of active cases at 2,64,708. There were 214 patients detected with the Omicron varient in 24 hours, the state health department said. Pune city in Maharashtra reported 12,633 new coronavirus cases with 12 deaths, health officials said while Mumbai reported 6,032 new cases and 12 deaths. India's capital Delhi reported 13,785 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday with 35 deaths. The number of active cases in the capital stands at 75,282 with the positivity rate at over 5 per cent. Also Read: Amid surge in Omicron infection, Mumbai records its first case of black fungus in 2022 Meanwhile, Karnataka reported 40,499 new coronavirus cases with 21 deaths. India's sourthern state of Tamil Nadu which has witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases saw 26,981 new coronavirus cases along with 35 deaths in 24 hours. The number of coronavirus cases dipped in the eastern state of West Bengal with 11,447 new virus cases detected and 38 deaths, the state health department said on Wednesday. (With inputs from Agencies)

COVID-19 update: India reports over 34k cases; 491 deaths in 24 hours

As Los Angeles grapples with the virus wave, a child tested positive for "flurona". The family of the child had visited&nbsp;Mexico, US authorities said.

It is the first case of "flurona" detected in Los Angeles.

What is "flurona"?

"Flurona" is described as a co-infection of flu and coronavirus. The first case of the "flurona"&nbsp;was reportedly detected in a pregnant woman in Israel who had mild symptoms. The woman who wasn't vaccinated earlier received her shots and was later released from the hospital.

The World Health Organisation(WHO) terms the combination of flu and coronavirus as a respiratory disease.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-shuts-supermarkets-after-virus-traces-found-in-dragon-fruit-from-vietnam-442545">Also Read:&nbsp;China shuts supermarkets after virus traces found in dragon fruit from Vietnam</a>

What are the symptoms of "flurona"?

Health officials are still trying to find more about the new health condition. Reports say "flurona" symptoms include soar throat, fever, headache, fatigue and cough which is similar to COVID-19.&nbsp;

Is it a virus variant?

"Flurona" is not a virus variant but a dual infection. Flu is known as a bad cold. Health officials in Los Angles have warned flu and COVID-19 will be circulating in the area while recommending people to get flu immunization.

Health officials recommend tests to be conducted if a person detects symptoms of "flurona". US health officials say flu onset usually take 1-4 days.&nbsp;COVID-19 comparatively takes less time with 1-14 days as a person loses taste and red swollen eyes. There is vaccine available for both flu and COVID-19.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Los Angeles grapples with the virus wave, a child tested positive for "flurona". The family of the child had visited Mexico, US authorities said. It is the first case of "flurona" detected in Los Angeles.

As Los Angeles grapples with the virus wave, a child tested positive for "flurona". The family of the child had visited Mexico, US authorities said. It is the first case of "flurona" detected in Los Angeles. What is "flurona"? "Flurona" is described as a co-infection of flu and coronavirus. The first case of the "flurona" was reportedly detected in a pregnant woman in Israel who had mild symptoms. The woman who wasn't vaccinated earlier received her shots and was later released from the hospital. The World Health Organisation(WHO) terms the combination of flu and coronavirus as a respiratory disease. Also Read: China shuts supermarkets after virus traces found in dragon fruit from Vietnam What are the symptoms of "flurona"? Health officials are still trying to find more about the new health condition. Reports say "flurona" symptoms include soar throat, fever, headache, fatigue and cough which is similar to COVID-19. Is it a virus variant? "Flurona" is not a virus variant but a dual infection. Flu is known as a bad cold. Health officials in Los Angles have warned flu and COVID-19 will be circulating in the area while recommending people to get flu immunization. Health officials recommend tests to be conducted if a person detects symptoms of "flurona". US health officials say flu onset usually take 1-4 days. COVID-19 comparatively takes less time with 1-14 days as a person loses taste and red swollen eyes. There is vaccine available for both flu and COVID-19. (With inputs from Agencies)

Child in Los Angeles detected with 'flurona'; what are the symptoms?

A court in Holland has banned a right-wing political leader from comparing coronavirus restrictions to the Holocaust on social media. The ban came after legal action by World War 2 survivors and Jewish organisations. Thierry Baudet, the MP who drew court's ire heads the populist Forum for Democracy Party.

He had said on Twitter that "the unvaccinated are the new Jews, those who look away from the exclusions are the new Nazis".

He also posted side-by-side a photo of a young Dutch boy prevented from attending a festive St Nicholas party and one of a Jewish boy from a Polish ghetto before his deportation during World War II.

Baudet, 38, must delete the relevant social media posts within 48 hours and can no longer use pictures of the Holocaust in debates over Dutch health restrictions, local media reported.

He risks incurring a daily fine of 25,000 euros ($28,000) for breaking the court order.

A judge ruled against Baudet for "pointlessly offending Holocaust victims and their relatives".

"The right to freedom of expression is not unlimited for a representative of the people," Dutch press agency ANP quoted the judge as saying. 
Baudet had also shared a photo of the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany with the comment: "How is it POSSIBLE to not see how history is repeating itself."

Four Jewish World War II survivors, Dutch Jewish organisations and an anti-Semitism monitoring group had initiated proceedings.

"Incomprehensible, crazy ruling. We are angry and ready to fight. And of course, we will appeal," Baudet wrote on Twitter afterwards.

Baudet, who is well-known for his opposition to Covid-19 vaccinations and health measures, received a warning from Twitter in March 2021, one week before legislative elections.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A court in Holland has banned a right-wing political leader from comparing coronavirus restrictions to the Holocaust on social media. The ban came after legal action by World War 2 survivors and Jewish organisations.

A court in Holland has banned a right-wing political leader from comparing coronavirus restrictions to the Holocaust on social media. The ban came after legal action by World War 2 survivors and Jewish organisations. Thierry Baudet, the MP who drew court's ire heads the populist Forum for Democracy Party. He had said on Twitter that "the unvaccinated are the new Jews, those who look away from the exclusions are the new Nazis". He also posted side-by-side a photo of a young Dutch boy prevented from attending a festive St Nicholas party and one of a Jewish boy from a Polish ghetto before his deportation during World War II. Baudet, 38, must delete the relevant social media posts within 48 hours and can no longer use pictures of the Holocaust in debates over Dutch health restrictions, local media reported. He risks incurring a daily fine of 25,000 euros ($28,000) for breaking the court order. A judge ruled against Baudet for "pointlessly offending Holocaust victims and their relatives". "The right to freedom of expression is not unlimited for a representative of the people," Dutch press agency ANP quoted the judge as saying. Baudet had also shared a photo of the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany with the comment: "How is it POSSIBLE to not see how history is repeating itself." Four Jewish World War II survivors, Dutch Jewish organisations and an anti-Semitism monitoring group had initiated proceedings. "Incomprehensible, crazy ruling. We are angry and ready to fight. And of course, we will appeal," Baudet wrote on Twitter afterwards. Baudet, who is well-known for his opposition to Covid-19 vaccinations and health measures, received a warning from Twitter in March 2021, one week before legislative elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Court punishes Dutch MP for comparing Covid restrictions to Holocaust

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