European countries are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Intensive care is the last line for the defence to severely ill coronavirus patients, but Europe is now running out of beds, doctors & nurses.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Europe faces shortage of beds, doctors & nurses

Tourists are buying fake COVID-19 test results on the black market to travel as airlines are now requiring proof of a negative coronavirus test before passengers can board a plane to certain countries.

Forged negative coronavirus tests have already been reported in France, Brazil and the UK.

However, it is unlikely that a high number of travellers would be able to use fake test results because protocols are becoming high tech, according to a report from The Washington Post.

“With global coronavirus cases rising, many countries are now requiring negative coronavirus test results for entry, but getting a test in time can be difficult for travellers,” reports The Washington Post.

A small industry of selling false-negative certificates is also cropping up with travellers reportedly ready to cough up $200 for the bogus documents.&nbsp;

Last month four tourists were arrested in Brazil for allegedly falsifying COVID-19 tests in an attempt to reach what some say is the world’s most beautiful beach.

Recently, Security officials of France busted alleged forgery ring that was selling fake test certificates at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport. According to the media reports, the group was asking $180 to $360 (150 to 300 euros) for the digital certificates of a negative result.

Health experts have also warned of a serious consequence if the evil is not nipped in the bid “Now, armed with such a fake report anyone can go for surgery at any hospital and if he or she happens to be Covid-19 positive, the outcome will be explosive, “said an expert.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tourists are buying fake COVID-19 test results on the black market to travel as airlines are now requiring proof of a negative coronavirus test before passengers can board a plane to certain countries.

Tourists are buying fake COVID-19 test results on the black market to travel as airlines are now requiring proof of a negative coronavirus test before passengers can board a plane to certain countries. Forged negative coronavirus tests have already been reported in France, Brazil and the UK. However, it is unlikely that a high number of travellers would be able to use fake test results because protocols are becoming high tech, according to a report from The Washington Post. “With global coronavirus cases rising, many countries are now requiring negative coronavirus test results for entry, but getting a test in time can be difficult for travellers,” reports The Washington Post. A small industry of selling false-negative certificates is also cropping up with travellers reportedly ready to cough up $200 for the bogus documents. Last month four tourists were arrested in Brazil for allegedly falsifying COVID-19 tests in an attempt to reach what some say is the world’s most beautiful beach. Recently, Security officials of France busted alleged forgery ring that was selling fake test certificates at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport. According to the media reports, the group was asking $180 to $360 (150 to 300 euros) for the digital certificates of a negative result. Health experts have also warned of a serious consequence if the evil is not nipped in the bid “Now, armed with such a fake report anyone can go for surgery at any hospital and if he or she happens to be Covid-19 positive, the outcome will be explosive, “said an expert. (With inputs from agencies)

Fake coronavirus negative certificates being sold on the black market to tourists

Stock markets gained on Wednesday, as news of a working COVID-19 vaccine seemed to inoculate investors against worry about surging infections in Europe and the United States, while the kiwi rose as traders thought the central bank sounded upbeat.

India: Sensex trading above 43,500 mark

The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has thanked India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) heads of state virtual meet for its aid amid&nbsp;the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;

Ghani said, "India provided over one- hundred thousand tons of wheat at a time when markets were jittery through the Chabahar corridor and kept the air corridor open."

India had sent&nbsp;75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan with an aim to provide food security to the country during the pandemic. The shipment of wheat was supplied to the country in 10 instalments between April and September via India built Chabahar port in Iran.

The Indian mission in Afghanistan in a statement said the&nbsp;food grains assistance is part of "India’s humanitarian and economic assistance program" and the large scale deliveries from India to Afghanistan "demonstrates the salience and economic viability of the Chabahar Port for Afghanistan’ trade and commerce.".&nbsp;

Earlier, the Afghan foreign minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar had thanked India for the support, with the&nbsp;Afghanistan foreign ministry in a statement saying the aid comes at a when a "humanitarian emergency" is emerging due to the pandemic restricting some citizens’ access to basic food staples such as wheat.

Indian Prime Minister was also present during the SCO virtual meet.&nbsp;Afghanistan is an observer member of SCO grouping.

The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has thanked India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) heads of state virtual meet for its aid amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has thanked India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) heads of state virtual meet for its aid amid the COVID-19 crisis. Ghani said, "India provided over one- hundred thousand tons of wheat at a time when markets were jittery through the Chabahar corridor and kept the air corridor open." India had sent 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan with an aim to provide food security to the country during the pandemic. The shipment of wheat was supplied to the country in 10 instalments between April and September via India built Chabahar port in Iran. The Indian mission in Afghanistan in a statement said the food grains assistance is part of "India’s humanitarian and economic assistance program" and the large scale deliveries from India to Afghanistan "demonstrates the salience and economic viability of the Chabahar Port for Afghanistan’ trade and commerce.". Earlier, the Afghan foreign minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar had thanked India for the support, with the Afghanistan foreign ministry in a statement saying the aid comes at a when a "humanitarian emergency" is emerging due to the pandemic restricting some citizens’ access to basic food staples such as wheat. Indian Prime Minister was also present during the SCO virtual meet. Afghanistan is an observer member of SCO grouping.

At SCO summit, Afghan president thanks India for support amid COVID-19 crisis

The pharmaceutical company Pfizer recently announced that its vaccine is 90% effective. There are several players involved in the race, including India and China. In India, more than 10 candidates are in the final phase of trials. Researchers, governments and the private sector are working hard to find a vaccine. Right now, 52 vaccines are being tested on humans, with 11 in the final stage of trials. At least 87 other candidates - are in the preclinical trial stage, and are being tested on animals.

The Oxford vaccine has a clear lead over most candidates, and is in the final stage of trials. Three countries and the European Union, are now mulling its regulatory approval.

The trial so far hasn't thrown up any major red flags, and the vaccine has been found safe to administer on both the young and the elderly.&nbsp;

China

On the other hand is China, whose Coronavac vaccine’s trials have been suspended in Brazil for triggering a “severe” reaction. This vaccine is made by Sinovac - the state owned vaccine maker of China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/covid-vaccine-news-of-the-dream-team-the-married-couple-behind-pfizers-covid-vaccine-342084" hreflang="en">Of the 'dream team': The married couple behind Pfizer's Covid vaccine</a>

They have injected 90 per cent of their employees and their families with Coronavac. Without the global stamp of approval, Sinovac was running trials in Brazil.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/why-pfizers-ultra-cold-covid-19-vaccine-will-not-be-at-the-local-pharmacy-any-time-soon-342076" hreflang="en">Why Pfizer’s ultra-cold COVID-19 vaccine will not be at the local pharmacy any time soon</a>

In Sao Paulo, the company had signed a deal to build a facility to produce 100 million doses of the Coronavac despite opposition from the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Earlier this month, the people of Sao Paulo protested against Chinese vaccines. No details of the Chinese vaccine have been made public so far. The details of the severe incident also remain unknown.

Russia

Moscow now claims that the Sputnik V vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective, just like the vaccine from Pfizer. But, Russia's assessment is not based on trial data.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/brazil-halts-trials-of-chinese-covid-19-vaccine-342032" hreflang="en">Brazil halts trials of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine</a>

Sputnik V is being tested on 40 thousand people. But claims of efficacy are based on how the people have responded to vaccine doses.

India

The Indian government has backed Covaxin, which could be launched by February. So far, the trials show that Covaxin is effective. Covaxin could be one of the many vaccines to get an early approval if it works. But the supplies may not be enough for everyone to get a shot. According to one estimate, the world will need 15 billion doses to inoculate everyone.

The pharmaceutical company Pfizer recently announced that its vaccine is 90% effective. There are several players involved in the race, including India and China.

The pharmaceutical company Pfizer recently announced that its vaccine is 90% effective. There are several players involved in the race, including India and China. In India, more than 10 candidates are in the final phase of trials. Researchers, governments and the private sector are working hard to find a vaccine. Right now, 52 vaccines are being tested on humans, with 11 in the final stage of trials. At least 87 other candidates - are in the preclinical trial stage, and are being tested on animals. The Oxford vaccine has a clear lead over most candidates, and is in the final stage of trials. Three countries and the European Union, are now mulling its regulatory approval. The trial so far hasn't thrown up any major red flags, and the vaccine has been found safe to administer on both the young and the elderly. China On the other hand is China, whose Coronavac vaccine’s trials have been suspended in Brazil for triggering a “severe” reaction. This vaccine is made by Sinovac - the state owned vaccine maker of China. Also read: Of the 'dream team': The married couple behind Pfizer's Covid vaccine They have injected 90 per cent of their employees and their families with Coronavac. Without the global stamp of approval, Sinovac was running trials in Brazil. Also read: Why Pfizer’s ultra-cold COVID-19 vaccine will not be at the local pharmacy any time soon In Sao Paulo, the company had signed a deal to build a facility to produce 100 million doses of the Coronavac despite opposition from the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Earlier this month, the people of Sao Paulo protested against Chinese vaccines. No details of the Chinese vaccine have been made public so far. The details of the severe incident also remain unknown. Russia Moscow now claims that the Sputnik V vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective, just like the vaccine from Pfizer. But, Russia's assessment is not based on trial data. Also read: Brazil halts trials of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V is being tested on 40 thousand people. But claims of efficacy are based on how the people have responded to vaccine doses. India The Indian government has backed Covaxin, which could be launched by February. So far, the trials show that Covaxin is effective. Covaxin could be one of the many vaccines to get an early approval if it works. But the supplies may not be enough for everyone to get a shot. According to one estimate, the world will need 15 billion doses to inoculate everyone.

In the race for a COVID-19 vaccine, who stands where?

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted emergency approval to a synthetic antibody treatment against Covid-19 developed by Eli Lilly, after the drug was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits.

Bamlanivimab at a dose of 700 milligrams was authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults and children aged 12 years and older who are at high risk for progressing to the severe form of the disease.

It is the first drug to be approved that was designed specifically against the new coronavirus.

"As illustrated by today's action, the FDA remains committed to expediting the development and availability of potential COVID-19 treatments," said the agency's chief Stephen Hahn.

The approval was based on a mid-stage clinical trial for outpatients with mild to moderate Covid-19, where the intravenous treatment was shown to reduce viral loads and rates of symptoms and hospitalization.&nbsp;

The FDA said in its statement that the most important evidence that bamlanivimab may be effective came from data that showed that among patients at high risk of severe disease, hospitalizations and emergency room visits occurred in 3 percent of bamlanivimab-treated patients compared to 10 percent who were on the placebo.

The frequency and types of side effects were similar between bamlanivimab and placebo, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity.&nbsp;

The most common were diarrhea, dizziness, headache, itchiness and vomiting.

The trial is ongoing and aims to enroll more than 800 patients across various dosage groups.

An important caveat is that bamlanivimab has not been authorized for patients who are hospitalized -- since no benefit has been shown for patients who are already in this late stage of the disease, when the body's immune defenses go into overdrive and damage organs.

The FDA wrote that administering the drug too late could be associated with worse outcomes, and a trial exploring bamlanivimab in hospitalized patients was suspended last month over a safety incident.

Bamlanivimab is what's known as a monoclonal antibody, a relatively new class of drugs that are best known for treating certain types of cancer and autoimmune disease.

Human immune systems produce antibodies, which are infection-fighting proteins, and vaccines teach our bodies to be prepared to make the right ones for particular pathogens.

Bamlanivimab was based on an effective antibody Lilly found in a recovered patient.

The host immune cells that produce the antibodies can be cultured in a lab to produce the desired proteins en masse.

It works by binding to a surface protein of the coronavirus to stop it from invading human cells.

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted emergency approval to a synthetic antibody treatment against Covid-19 developed by Eli Lilly, after the drug was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits.

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted emergency approval to a synthetic antibody treatment against Covid-19 developed by Eli Lilly, after the drug was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits. Bamlanivimab at a dose of 700 milligrams was authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults and children aged 12 years and older who are at high risk for progressing to the severe form of the disease. It is the first drug to be approved that was designed specifically against the new coronavirus. "As illustrated by today's action, the FDA remains committed to expediting the development and availability of potential COVID-19 treatments," said the agency's chief Stephen Hahn. The approval was based on a mid-stage clinical trial for outpatients with mild to moderate Covid-19, where the intravenous treatment was shown to reduce viral loads and rates of symptoms and hospitalization. The FDA said in its statement that the most important evidence that bamlanivimab may be effective came from data that showed that among patients at high risk of severe disease, hospitalizations and emergency room visits occurred in 3 percent of bamlanivimab-treated patients compared to 10 percent who were on the placebo. The frequency and types of side effects were similar between bamlanivimab and placebo, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity. The most common were diarrhea, dizziness, headache, itchiness and vomiting. The trial is ongoing and aims to enroll more than 800 patients across various dosage groups. An important caveat is that bamlanivimab has not been authorized for patients who are hospitalized -- since no benefit has been shown for patients who are already in this late stage of the disease, when the body's immune defenses go into overdrive and damage organs. The FDA wrote that administering the drug too late could be associated with worse outcomes, and a trial exploring bamlanivimab in hospitalized patients was suspended last month over a safety incident. Bamlanivimab is what's known as a monoclonal antibody, a relatively new class of drugs that are best known for treating certain types of cancer and autoimmune disease. Human immune systems produce antibodies, which are infection-fighting proteins, and vaccines teach our bodies to be prepared to make the right ones for particular pathogens. Bamlanivimab was based on an effective antibody Lilly found in a recovered patient. The host immune cells that produce the antibodies can be cultured in a lab to produce the desired proteins en masse. It works by binding to a surface protein of the coronavirus to stop it from invading human cells.

US grants emergency approval to 'Bamlanivimab' Covid-19 antibodies

For the first time in recent weeks, the daily Covid-19 test positivity rate (TPR) in Kerala on Tuesday came down below 11 per cent with 6,010 people testing positive out of 54,751 samples tested in the past 24 hours. 
 
In October, there were days when the positivity rate crossed the 15 per cent-mark. 
 
In a statement issued here, state Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said on Tuesday that 6,698 people turned Covid negative in the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries in the state to 4,15,158. 
 
There are 78,694 active cases in the state as on Tuesday, while 28 deaths in the past 24 hours took the state`s death toll to 1,742. 
 
There are 3,16,359 people under observation at various centres across the state, including 19,318 at various hospitals. The state at present has 616 hotspots.

For the first time in recent weeks, the daily Covid-19 test positivity rate (TPR) in Kerala on Tuesday came down below 11 per cent with 6,010 people testing positive out of 54,751 samples tested in the past 24 hours.

For the first time in recent weeks, the daily Covid-19 test positivity rate (TPR) in Kerala on Tuesday came down below 11 per cent with 6,010 people testing positive out of 54,751 samples tested in the past 24 hours. In October, there were days when the positivity rate crossed the 15 per cent-mark. In a statement issued here, state Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said on Tuesday that 6,698 people turned Covid negative in the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries in the state to 4,15,158. There are 78,694 active cases in the state as on Tuesday, while 28 deaths in the past 24 hours took the state`s death toll to 1,742. There are 3,16,359 people under observation at various centres across the state, including 19,318 at various hospitals. The state at present has 616 hotspots.

Kerala's COVID positivity rate falls below 11%

Many COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists said on Monday, after a large study found 20% of those infected with the coronavirus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days.

Anxiety, depression and insomnia were most common among recovered COVID-19 patients in the study who developed mental health problems, and the researchers also found significantly higher risks of dementia, a brain impairment condition.

"People have been worried that COVID-19 survivors will be at greater risk of mental health problems, and our findings ... show this to be likely," said Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at Britain`s Oxford University.

Doctors and scientists around the world urgently need to investigate the causes and identify new treatments for mental illness after COVID-19, Harrison said.

"(Health) services need to be ready to provide care, especially since our results are likely to be underestimates (of the number of psychiatric patients)," he added.

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analysed electronic health records of 69 million people in the United States, including more than 62,000 cases of COVID-19.

In the three months following testing positive for COVID-19, 1 in 5 survivors were recorded as having a first time diagnosis of anxiety, depression or insomnia. This was about twice as likely as for other groups of patients in the same period, the researchers said.

The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental illness were 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than those without.

Mental health specialists not directly involved with the study said its findings add to growing evidence that COVID-19 can affect the brain and mind, increasing the risk of a range of psychiatric illnesses.

"This is likely due to a combination of the psychological stressors associated with this particular pandemic and the physical effects of the illness," said Michael Bloomfield, a consultant psychiatrist at University College London.

Simon Wessely, regius professor of psychiatry at King’s College London, said the finding that those with mental health disorders are also at higher risk of getting COVID-19 echoed similar findings in previous infectious disease outbreaks.

"COVID-19 affects the central nervous system, and so might directly increase subsequent disorders. But this research confirms that is not the whole story, and that this risk is increased by previous ill health," he said.

Many COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists said on Monday, after a large study found 20% of those infected with the coronavirus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days.

Many COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists said on Monday, after a large study found 20% of those infected with the coronavirus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days. Anxiety, depression and insomnia were most common among recovered COVID-19 patients in the study who developed mental health problems, and the researchers also found significantly higher risks of dementia, a brain impairment condition. "People have been worried that COVID-19 survivors will be at greater risk of mental health problems, and our findings ... show this to be likely," said Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at Britain`s Oxford University. Doctors and scientists around the world urgently need to investigate the causes and identify new treatments for mental illness after COVID-19, Harrison said. "(Health) services need to be ready to provide care, especially since our results are likely to be underestimates (of the number of psychiatric patients)," he added. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analysed electronic health records of 69 million people in the United States, including more than 62,000 cases of COVID-19. In the three months following testing positive for COVID-19, 1 in 5 survivors were recorded as having a first time diagnosis of anxiety, depression or insomnia. This was about twice as likely as for other groups of patients in the same period, the researchers said. The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental illness were 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than those without. Mental health specialists not directly involved with the study said its findings add to growing evidence that COVID-19 can affect the brain and mind, increasing the risk of a range of psychiatric illnesses. "This is likely due to a combination of the psychological stressors associated with this particular pandemic and the physical effects of the illness," said Michael Bloomfield, a consultant psychiatrist at University College London. Simon Wessely, regius professor of psychiatry at King’s College London, said the finding that those with mental health disorders are also at higher risk of getting COVID-19 echoed similar findings in previous infectious disease outbreaks. "COVID-19 affects the central nervous system, and so might directly increase subsequent disorders. But this research confirms that is not the whole story, and that this risk is increased by previous ill health," he said.

One in five COVID-19 patients develop mental illness within 90 days, study says

Two more people close to the incumbent president of the US, Donald Trump, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has contracted the virus, his deputy chief of staff Coalter Baker told NPR.&nbsp;

"He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery," Baker said in a statement.

According to ABC television, Carson was briefly treated at Walter Reid military hospital outside Washington DC, where Trump himself was treated for the virus.

Carson had spent Tuesday evening at the White House watching the election results come in.

Another top aide to the president, David Bossie, was also at the White House event and tested positive on Sunday and has been self-isolating at home, NBC news said.

Bossie was tapped a few days ago to lead the president's legal challenges to the election results.&nbsp;

On Friday, media reported that Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows had tested positive for the disease after the election.

Several leading members of the administration have contracted the virus in recent weeks, including Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump.

The Washington Post said Meadows was in the crowd in the White House when Trump addressed around 150 of his staff and supporters on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The United States had recorded 238,000 deaths by Monday night and more than 10 million people have been infected.

The pandemic was one of the main issues in the battle for the White House between Trump and former vice president Joe Biden, whom media projected to have won on Saturday. 
&nbsp;

Two more people close to the incumbent president of the US, Donald Trump, have tested positive for the coronavirus. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has contracted the virus, his deputy chief of staff Coalter Baker told NPR.

Two more people close to the incumbent president of the US, Donald Trump, have tested positive for the coronavirus. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has contracted the virus, his deputy chief of staff Coalter Baker told NPR. "He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery," Baker said in a statement. According to ABC television, Carson was briefly treated at Walter Reid military hospital outside Washington DC, where Trump himself was treated for the virus. Carson had spent Tuesday evening at the White House watching the election results come in. Another top aide to the president, David Bossie, was also at the White House event and tested positive on Sunday and has been self-isolating at home, NBC news said. Bossie was tapped a few days ago to lead the president's legal challenges to the election results. On Friday, media reported that Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows had tested positive for the disease after the election. Several leading members of the administration have contracted the virus in recent weeks, including Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. The Washington Post said Meadows was in the crowd in the White House when Trump addressed around 150 of his staff and supporters on Wednesday. The United States had recorded 238,000 deaths by Monday night and more than 10 million people have been infected. The pandemic was one of the main issues in the battle for the White House between Trump and former vice president Joe Biden, whom media projected to have won on Saturday.

Two new cases of Covid-19 in the White House, reports say

US President-elect Joe Biden has elected a new task force in order to fight COVID-19. During an address he said that, fighting COVID-19 is his top priority. He also appealed to Americans to wear a mask.

Joe Biden forms new COVID-19 task force, urges Americans to wear a mask

As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are weighing the risk of pandemic travel against the yearning to visit friends and family. But one group seems all but certain to be heading home in large numbers just in time for turkey and holiday gatherings: college students.

Since the start of the fall semester, most universities have planned to end in-person classes before Thanksgiving and require students to finish the term remotely, partly to avoid an expected wave of cold-weather infections. That means that in a couple of weeks, hundreds of thousands of students will be streaming back to hometowns until the spring semester begins.

So what are colleges and universities doing to reduce the chances that those students might carry the coronavirus with them?

As has been true with so much of the nation’s pandemic response, the answer is a patchwork of policies, with a minority of schools mandating that students test negative for the coronavirus before they can leave campus — and many more offering little more than optional testing and advice.

Indiana University in Bloomington — where dozens of fraternity and sorority houses had to quarantine in September — will open its weekly surveillance testing to all of the 42,000 students living on or near campus. But the testing will be voluntary for most.

Pennsylvania State University — where off-campus parties around the football opener Oct. 24 drew a rebuke from President Eric J. Barron — will offer free exit tests and strongly encourage students to get them but will not make them mandatory for the more than 13,500 students in university housing or the tens of thousands living off-campus.

“We have found that students are responding well to our voluntary, convenient and free walk-up testing sites,” the university said in a statement.

The University of Michigan — where infections recently spiked so severely that local health officials issued a stay-in-place order — will make exit tests mandatory for some 5,000 undergraduates in university housing but voluntary for thousands more living off-campus.

At the other end of the spectrum, a smaller number of schools are insisting on exit testing.

New York state’s university system — whose Oneonta campus ceased in-person classes in September after more than 700 students tested positive for the virus — will require “all students using on-campus facilities in any capacity” to test negative for the virus within 10 days of their departure and to quarantine according to county health rules if they test positive, whether they are on or off-campus. The plan will entail testing about 140,000 students at SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities.

Tulane University in New Orleans will test undergraduates twice in the last week of class, including those living off-campus. Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, will require students to show a minimum of two negative coronavirus tests on the week before departure. Those who test positive at Tulane will be offered housing and support and “strongly advised” not to travel, according to a school spokesman, while Hamilton has reserved quarantine rooms at a local hotel and plans to work with local health officials to track down any student who refuses to isolate.

And in Massachusetts, where cases have been surging, Boston University has asked students not to leave campus, period, until Dec. 10, when classes end.

Epidemiologists recommend that travelers quarantine themselves before traveling for at least a week and receive one or more negative coronavirus test results within three days of departure. Upon arrival, they should again quarantine until receiving one or more negative test results over three days. Those who do not test should quarantine for 14 days before and after traveling.

Calling universities’ Thanksgiving plans “all over the map,” A. David Paltiel, a professor of health policy and management at the Yale School of Public Health, said colleges should be keeping isolation dorms open for students who test positive just before Thanksgiving.

“There’s a responsibility not to unleash little ticking time bombs,” said Paltiel, noting that recently exposed students can feel well and still shed large quantities of the virus. “But this has not yet hit the radar screen of many college administrators.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not issued guidance specific to holiday breaks for college students, though it has advised that “travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.”

The American College Health Association, which represents college health officers, recently issued public health guidelines recommending that schools encourage students to get tested before their Thanksgiving departure, refrain from traveling if they test positive and quarantine for 14 days at home upon arrival. But the association stopped short of calling for mandatory testing.

Gerri Taylor, co-chair of the organization’s COVID-19 task force, said that, while testing is key, many financially strapped colleges could not afford it.

More than a third of the country’s colleges and universities invited students back for the fall with some degree of socially distanced campus housing or face-to-face instruction, according to the College Crisis Initiative and the Chronicle of Higher Education, which have been tracking about 3,000 schools.

The New York Times has documented more than 252,000 coronavirus cases and at least 80 deaths on college campuses since the pandemic began. Most of the deaths involved college employees in the spring. But at least four students have died this semester after contracting COVID-19.

Nationally, the virus has continued to smash records, averaging 111,175 cases per day over the past week. Infected people are most contagious in the days before they display symptoms, and up to 40% are asymptomatic, according to CDC research. That is why epidemiologists cite fast, widespread and frequent testing of people with and without symptoms as the best way to pinpoint and contain outbreaks.

That level of testing has posed an immense financial hurdle for the many colleges that have had to cut budgets, lay off or furlough faculty and spend millions on health measures during the pandemic.

Some schools — mostly small, rural schools with limited sports programs and Greek life — mandated frequent and widespread testing and contact tracing, sent scofflaws home and managed, often at significant cost, to allow students to keep attending face-to-face classes and living in dorms. Others have opted for less aggressive — and generally less successful — measures, such as testing only volunteers or people with symptoms.

Colby College, which has required twice-a-week testing and largely kept the virus at bay throughout the semester, will test its roughly 2,000 students Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. If they test positive, the college will house and feed students for two weeks or work with Maine health authorities on alternate plans for isolation.

It will also offer a free flu shot before sending students home. They will be required to be tested before they return to campus in Waterville, Maine, early next year, and will be immediately tested upon their arrival at school — and then again two days later, remaining in quarantine until they are clear.

Indiana University has been testing a sampling of its faculty, staff and students each week to identify and contain outbreaks. After starting the semester with nearly 6% of those tests returning positive, the Bloomington campus is now about 1%, considered very low, Chuck Carney, a university spokesman, said. The university has recorded more than 3,100 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

But while the university is offering testing to all students just before Thanksgiving, most students will not be required to take one.

“I would rather give people as much information as possible and trust that they’re going to make a decision that’s best for them and their families instead of putting down rules that could be broken,” said Erika Cheng, the university’s deputy director for mitigation testing.

Sheldon Jacobson, a risk assessment specialist and professor of computer science at the University of Illinois who has studied the pandemic’s effect on campuses, said many colleges are getting better at containing outbreaks and reducing infection levels, though some large ones continue to struggle.

“Most of the students will be going to communities with higher infection rates than where they’re leaving,” Jacobson said.

Even so, Paltiel said testing should be mandatory. Voluntary exit tests, he said, merely bring out “the worried well and the symptomatic.” And not testing and quarantining again when students get home ignores the real possibility that they could be infected while traveling. “The last thing you want to do is put a whole bunch of students on planes, trains and automobiles, with many of them potentially exposed but not yet exhibiting symptoms, and ship them home to Mom and Dad,” he said.

As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are weighing the risk of pandemic travel against the yearning to visit friends and family. But one group seems all but certain to be heading home in large numbers just in time for turkey and holiday gatherings: college students.

As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are weighing the risk of pandemic travel against the yearning to visit friends and family. But one group seems all but certain to be heading home in large numbers just in time for turkey and holiday gatherings: college students. Since the start of the fall semester, most universities have planned to end in-person classes before Thanksgiving and require students to finish the term remotely, partly to avoid an expected wave of cold-weather infections. That means that in a couple of weeks, hundreds of thousands of students will be streaming back to hometowns until the spring semester begins. So what are colleges and universities doing to reduce the chances that those students might carry the coronavirus with them? As has been true with so much of the nation’s pandemic response, the answer is a patchwork of policies, with a minority of schools mandating that students test negative for the coronavirus before they can leave campus — and many more offering little more than optional testing and advice. Indiana University in Bloomington — where dozens of fraternity and sorority houses had to quarantine in September — will open its weekly surveillance testing to all of the 42,000 students living on or near campus. But the testing will be voluntary for most. Pennsylvania State University — where off-campus parties around the football opener Oct. 24 drew a rebuke from President Eric J. Barron — will offer free exit tests and strongly encourage students to get them but will not make them mandatory for the more than 13,500 students in university housing or the tens of thousands living off-campus. “We have found that students are responding well to our voluntary, convenient and free walk-up testing sites,” the university said in a statement. The University of Michigan — where infections recently spiked so severely that local health officials issued a stay-in-place order — will make exit tests mandatory for some 5,000 undergraduates in university housing but voluntary for thousands more living off-campus. At the other end of the spectrum, a smaller number of schools are insisting on exit testing. New York state’s university system — whose Oneonta campus ceased in-person classes in September after more than 700 students tested positive for the virus — will require “all students using on-campus facilities in any capacity” to test negative for the virus within 10 days of their departure and to quarantine according to county health rules if they test positive, whether they are on or off-campus. The plan will entail testing about 140,000 students at SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Tulane University in New Orleans will test undergraduates twice in the last week of class, including those living off-campus. Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, will require students to show a minimum of two negative coronavirus tests on the week before departure. Those who test positive at Tulane will be offered housing and support and “strongly advised” not to travel, according to a school spokesman, while Hamilton has reserved quarantine rooms at a local hotel and plans to work with local health officials to track down any student who refuses to isolate. And in Massachusetts, where cases have been surging, Boston University has asked students not to leave campus, period, until Dec. 10, when classes end. Epidemiologists recommend that travelers quarantine themselves before traveling for at least a week and receive one or more negative coronavirus test results within three days of departure. Upon arrival, they should again quarantine until receiving one or more negative test results over three days. Those who do not test should quarantine for 14 days before and after traveling. Calling universities’ Thanksgiving plans “all over the map,” A. David Paltiel, a professor of health policy and management at the Yale School of Public Health, said colleges should be keeping isolation dorms open for students who test positive just before Thanksgiving. “There’s a responsibility not to unleash little ticking time bombs,” said Paltiel, noting that recently exposed students can feel well and still shed large quantities of the virus. “But this has not yet hit the radar screen of many college administrators.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not issued guidance specific to holiday breaks for college students, though it has advised that “travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.” The American College Health Association, which represents college health officers, recently issued public health guidelines recommending that schools encourage students to get tested before their Thanksgiving departure, refrain from traveling if they test positive and quarantine for 14 days at home upon arrival. But the association stopped short of calling for mandatory testing. Gerri Taylor, co-chair of the organization’s COVID-19 task force, said that, while testing is key, many financially strapped colleges could not afford it. More than a third of the country’s colleges and universities invited students back for the fall with some degree of socially distanced campus housing or face-to-face instruction, according to the College Crisis Initiative and the Chronicle of Higher Education, which have been tracking about 3,000 schools. The New York Times has documented more than 252,000 coronavirus cases and at least 80 deaths on college campuses since the pandemic began. Most of the deaths involved college employees in the spring. But at least four students have died this semester after contracting COVID-19. Nationally, the virus has continued to smash records, averaging 111,175 cases per day over the past week. Infected people are most contagious in the days before they display symptoms, and up to 40% are asymptomatic, according to CDC research. That is why epidemiologists cite fast, widespread and frequent testing of people with and without symptoms as the best way to pinpoint and contain outbreaks. That level of testing has posed an immense financial hurdle for the many colleges that have had to cut budgets, lay off or furlough faculty and spend millions on health measures during the pandemic. Some schools — mostly small, rural schools with limited sports programs and Greek life — mandated frequent and widespread testing and contact tracing, sent scofflaws home and managed, often at significant cost, to allow students to keep attending face-to-face classes and living in dorms. Others have opted for less aggressive — and generally less successful — measures, such as testing only volunteers or people with symptoms. Colby College, which has required twice-a-week testing and largely kept the virus at bay throughout the semester, will test its roughly 2,000 students Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. If they test positive, the college will house and feed students for two weeks or work with Maine health authorities on alternate plans for isolation. It will also offer a free flu shot before sending students home. They will be required to be tested before they return to campus in Waterville, Maine, early next year, and will be immediately tested upon their arrival at school — and then again two days later, remaining in quarantine until they are clear. Indiana University has been testing a sampling of its faculty, staff and students each week to identify and contain outbreaks. After starting the semester with nearly 6% of those tests returning positive, the Bloomington campus is now about 1%, considered very low, Chuck Carney, a university spokesman, said. The university has recorded more than 3,100 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. But while the university is offering testing to all students just before Thanksgiving, most students will not be required to take one. “I would rather give people as much information as possible and trust that they’re going to make a decision that’s best for them and their families instead of putting down rules that could be broken,” said Erika Cheng, the university’s deputy director for mitigation testing. Sheldon Jacobson, a risk assessment specialist and professor of computer science at the University of Illinois who has studied the pandemic’s effect on campuses, said many colleges are getting better at containing outbreaks and reducing infection levels, though some large ones continue to struggle. “Most of the students will be going to communities with higher infection rates than where they’re leaving,” Jacobson said. Even so, Paltiel said testing should be mandatory. Voluntary exit tests, he said, merely bring out “the worried well and the symptomatic.” And not testing and quarantining again when students get home ignores the real possibility that they could be infected while traveling. “The last thing you want to do is put a whole bunch of students on planes, trains and automobiles, with many of them potentially exposed but not yet exhibiting symptoms, and ship them home to Mom and Dad,” he said.

Thanksgiving will soon empty campuses. Will students bring coronavirus home?

Scientists on Monday said initial trial results for Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine far outpaced their expectations for protection against a completely new disease, but that many questions remain unanswered.

Pfizer, BioNTech initial vaccine results impress, but scientists remain cautious

China prosecuted more than 15,000 people for wildlife-related crimes in the first nine months of the year, up 66% from 2019, state prosecutors said, as authorities moved to enforce a trafficking ban imposed after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Supreme People`s Procuratorate said in a statement published on its website on Monday that nearly 7,000 of the total arrests involved the violation of fishing restrictions. Around 4,000 people were prosecuted for illegal hunting and 3,000 for illegally purchasing, transporting and selling endangered wild animal products.

The procuratorate warned that a large proportion of the illegal wildlife business had shifted online, with traders using e-commerce platforms to sell prohibited wild animals. The "exotic pet" trade was also a rising challenge, it added.

China`s lucrative and poorly regulated wildlife trade came under the spotlight in January after the first outbreak of COVID-19 in the city of Wuhan was traced to a market selling wildlife products.

Scientists believe the novel coronavirus originated in horseshoe bats and could have infected humans via an intermediary species, with pangolins identified as a potential suspect.

China`s legislature issued a resolution in February that promised to ban the sale and consumption of wild animals, but new legislation is expected to include exemptions for the fur and traditional Chinese medicine trades.

China prosecuted more than 15,000 people for wildlife-related crimes in the first nine months of the year, up 66% from 2019, state prosecutors said, as authorities moved to enforce a trafficking ban imposed after the COVID-19 outbreak.

China prosecuted more than 15,000 people for wildlife-related crimes in the first nine months of the year, up 66% from 2019, state prosecutors said, as authorities moved to enforce a trafficking ban imposed after the COVID-19 outbreak. The Supreme People`s Procuratorate said in a statement published on its website on Monday that nearly 7,000 of the total arrests involved the violation of fishing restrictions. Around 4,000 people were prosecuted for illegal hunting and 3,000 for illegally purchasing, transporting and selling endangered wild animal products. The procuratorate warned that a large proportion of the illegal wildlife business had shifted online, with traders using e-commerce platforms to sell prohibited wild animals. The "exotic pet" trade was also a rising challenge, it added. China`s lucrative and poorly regulated wildlife trade came under the spotlight in January after the first outbreak of COVID-19 in the city of Wuhan was traced to a market selling wildlife products. Scientists believe the novel coronavirus originated in horseshoe bats and could have infected humans via an intermediary species, with pangolins identified as a potential suspect. China`s legislature issued a resolution in February that promised to ban the sale and consumption of wild animals, but new legislation is expected to include exemptions for the fur and traditional Chinese medicine trades.

China wildlife crime prosecutions up sharply after COVID-19 outbreak

The United States became the first nation worldwide since the pandemic began to surpass 10 million coronavirus infections, as the third wave of the COVID-19 virus surges across the nation.

The country reported a record 131,420 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and has reported over 100,000 infections four times in the past seven days, according to a Reuters tally. The country has reported about a million cases in the past 10 days, the highest rate of infections since the nation reported its first novel coronavirus case in Washington.

The grim milestone came as global coronavirus cases exceeded 50 million, according to a Reuters tally on Sunday.

More than 237,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 since the illness caused by the coronavirus first emerged in China late last year.

The daily average of reported new deaths in the United States account for one in every 11 deaths reported worldwide each day, according to a Reuters analysis.

The number of reported deaths nationwide climbed by more than 1,000 for a fifth consecutive day on Saturday, a trend last seen in mid-August, according to a Reuters tally.

Health experts say deaths tend to increase four to six weeks after a surge in infections. 
US President-elect Joe Biden, who spent much of his election campaign criticising President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic, pledged on Saturday to make tackling the pandemic a top priority.

Biden will announce a 12-member task force on Monday to deal with the pandemic that will be led by former surgeon general Vivek Murthy and former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler. The coronavirus task force will be charged with developing a blueprint for containing the disease once Biden takes office in January.

CORONAVIRUS IN US

The Midwest remains the hardest-hit region based on the most cases per capita with North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska the top five worst-affected U.S. states.

Illinois emerged as the new epicentre in the Midwest, with the state reporting over 60,000 COVID-19 infections in the last seven days, the highest in the country, according to Reuters data. The state reported more than 12,454 new cases on Saturday, the highest single-day number so far.

Texas, which accounts for 10% of total US cases, is the hardest-hit state and became the first to surpass a million coronavirus cases in the United States on Saturday.

New York, with over 33,000 fatalities, remains the state with highest number of deaths and accounts for about 14% of total US deaths.

(with inputs)

The United States became the first nation worldwide since the pandemic began to surpass 10 million coronavirus infections, as the third wave of the COVID-19 virus surges across the nation.

The United States became the first nation worldwide since the pandemic began to surpass 10 million coronavirus infections, as the third wave of the COVID-19 virus surges across the nation. The country reported a record 131,420 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and has reported over 100,000 infections four times in the past seven days, according to a Reuters tally. The country has reported about a million cases in the past 10 days, the highest rate of infections since the nation reported its first novel coronavirus case in Washington. The grim milestone came as global coronavirus cases exceeded 50 million, according to a Reuters tally on Sunday. More than 237,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 since the illness caused by the coronavirus first emerged in China late last year. The daily average of reported new deaths in the United States account for one in every 11 deaths reported worldwide each day, according to a Reuters analysis. The number of reported deaths nationwide climbed by more than 1,000 for a fifth consecutive day on Saturday, a trend last seen in mid-August, according to a Reuters tally. Health experts say deaths tend to increase four to six weeks after a surge in infections. US President-elect Joe Biden, who spent much of his election campaign criticising President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic, pledged on Saturday to make tackling the pandemic a top priority. Biden will announce a 12-member task force on Monday to deal with the pandemic that will be led by former surgeon general Vivek Murthy and former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler. The coronavirus task force will be charged with developing a blueprint for containing the disease once Biden takes office in January. CORONAVIRUS IN US The Midwest remains the hardest-hit region based on the most cases per capita with North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska the top five worst-affected U.S. states. Illinois emerged as the new epicentre in the Midwest, with the state reporting over 60,000 COVID-19 infections in the last seven days, the highest in the country, according to Reuters data. The state reported more than 12,454 new cases on Saturday, the highest single-day number so far. Texas, which accounts for 10% of total US cases, is the hardest-hit state and became the first to surpass a million coronavirus cases in the United States on Saturday. New York, with over 33,000 fatalities, remains the state with highest number of deaths and accounts for about 14% of total US deaths. (with inputs)

US sets a grim record, becomes first nation to cross 10 million COVID-19 cases

State councillor Aung Suu Kyi's party takes the lead as counting get underway in Myanmar elections. Supporters of Suu Kyi's party, defied COVID-19 restrictions to celebrate the early results.

Myanmar Election: Suu Kyi's party expected to win 2nd term, supporters celebrate early results

Actor Charlie Hunnam feels he might have COVID-19 again.

The 40-year-old actor, was on a video chat with&nbsp;Jimmy Kimmel&nbsp;to talk about&nbsp;his new film, 'Jungleland.'

"I'm not sure what I have," he told Jimmy.

"I have a little bit of persistent fever, a dry cough, a little bit of fatigue, so … it could be COVID. I went and had a test earlier this week, a rapid test, and it came back negative. So I could just be unfairly jumping to conclusions. But it feels consistent." 
 
Charlie had previously tested positive for the coronavirus, which would make this his second bout with the illness.

"I had it earlier this year, and it didn't feel like this," he continued. "It wasn't particularly acute, I just lost my sense of taste and smell for about 10 days, and had a little bit of fatigue. This feels very, very different. This feels much more like flu." 
 
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Comparing the two experiences, he said he initially contracted the virus "very early on" in the pandemic. At that point, he recalled, even less was known about COVID-19 symptoms and transmission, including the now relatively common symptom of losing one's ability to smell and taste. 
 
The actor said that he's been strictly following all the quarantine rules and the only time he went out was to take his cat to the vet. 
&nbsp;

"Whether I just have a cold or flu or something, the only time I've ever been in any sort of contact with the outside world was taking her to the vet," Charlie said, "… and it turns out what she has is feline coronavirus."

Actor Charlie Hunnam feels he might have COVID-19 again. The 40-year-old actor, was on a video chat with Jimmy Kimmel to talk about his new film, 'Jungleland.' "I'm not sure what I have," he told Jimmy.

Actor Charlie Hunnam feels he might have COVID-19 again. The 40-year-old actor, was on a video chat with Jimmy Kimmel to talk about his new film, 'Jungleland.' "I'm not sure what I have," he told Jimmy. "I have a little bit of persistent fever, a dry cough, a little bit of fatigue, so … it could be COVID. I went and had a test earlier this week, a rapid test, and it came back negative. So I could just be unfairly jumping to conclusions. But it feels consistent." Charlie had previously tested positive for the coronavirus, which would make this his second bout with the illness. "I had it earlier this year, and it didn't feel like this," he continued. "It wasn't particularly acute, I just lost my sense of taste and smell for about 10 days, and had a little bit of fatigue. This feels very, very different. This feels much more like flu." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charlie Hunnam (@charliiehunnam) on Nov 7, 2020 at 12:57am PST × Comparing the two experiences, he said he initially contracted the virus "very early on" in the pandemic. At that point, he recalled, even less was known about COVID-19 symptoms and transmission, including the now relatively common symptom of losing one's ability to smell and taste. The actor said that he's been strictly following all the quarantine rules and the only time he went out was to take his cat to the vet. "Whether I just have a cold or flu or something, the only time I've ever been in any sort of contact with the outside world was taking her to the vet," Charlie said, "… and it turns out what she has is feline coronavirus."

Charlie Hunnam feels he might have COVID-19 again

Worldwide coronavirus cases crossed 50 million-mark and the death toll jumped to 1,253,110, according to Johns Hopkins University on Sunday.

Europe, with 12.6 million confirmed cases for more than 305,000 deaths, is the worst-hit region, ahead of Latin America and the Caribbean with 11.6 million infections and 411,000 and Asia with 11 million cases and nearly 177,000 deaths.

October was the worst month for the pandemic so far, with the United States becoming the first country to report more than 100,000 daily cases. A surge in Europe contributed to the rise.

The pandemic's recent acceleration has been ferocious. It took 32 days for the number of cases to rise from 30 million to 40 million. It took just 21 days to add another 10 million.

In Asia, India has the world's second-highest caseload but has seen a steady slowdown since September, despite the start of the Hindu festival season. Total cases exceeded 8.5 million cases on Friday and the daily average is 46,200.

(With inputs from agencies)

Worldwide coronavirus cases crossed 50 million-mark and the death toll jumped to 1,253,110, according to Johns Hopkins University on Sunday. Europe, with 12.6 million confirmed cases for more than 305,000 deaths, is the worst-hit region, ahead of Latin America and the Caribbean with 11.

Worldwide coronavirus cases crossed 50 million-mark and the death toll jumped to 1,253,110, according to Johns Hopkins University on Sunday. Europe, with 12.6 million confirmed cases for more than 305,000 deaths, is the worst-hit region, ahead of Latin America and the Caribbean with 11.6 million infections and 411,000 and Asia with 11 million cases and nearly 177,000 deaths. October was the worst month for the pandemic so far, with the United States becoming the first country to report more than 100,000 daily cases. A surge in Europe contributed to the rise. The pandemic's recent acceleration has been ferocious. It took 32 days for the number of cases to rise from 30 million to 40 million. It took just 21 days to add another 10 million. In Asia, India has the world's second-highest caseload but has seen a steady slowdown since September, despite the start of the Hindu festival season. Total cases exceeded 8.5 million cases on Friday and the daily average is 46,200. (With inputs from agencies)

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 50 million-mark

Donald Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden said he would he waste no time in addressing the Covid pandemic upon taking office, as he closed in on winning the US presidency.

"I want everyone, everyone to know on day one we're going to put our plan to control this virus into action," Biden said in a late night address Friday from his hometown Wilmington, in Delaware.

Biden expressed confidence that he would defeat President Donald Trump as vote counting dragged on from Tuesday's election but stopped short of declaring himself the winner. He pledged to unite a bitterly divided nation.

The virus has killed more than 231,000 Americans and infected over 9 million others.

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"It's time for us to come together as a nation to heal," Biden said, adding it was "clear and convincing" that he is going to win the race for the White House.

"We don't have the final declaration victory yet. But the numbers tell us it is clear... Clear and convincing story. We are going to win this race," he said.

As per the latest projections, Biden has 264 electoral college votes and Trump trails behind with 213. Biden was leading in four of the five key battleground states where counting of ballots was still going on. Trump was trailing behind Biden in Arizona (by 38,455 votes), Georgia (4,224), Nevada (22,657) and Pennsylvania (19,500) but leading in North Carolina with 76,587 votes.

To be declared the winner of the US election, either of the two candidates needs at least 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

Donald Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden said he would he waste no time in addressing the Covid pandemic upon taking office, as he closed in on winning the US presidency.

Donald Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden said he would he waste no time in addressing the Covid pandemic upon taking office, as he closed in on winning the US presidency. "I want everyone, everyone to know on day one we're going to put our plan to control this virus into action," Biden said in a late night address Friday from his hometown Wilmington, in Delaware. Biden expressed confidence that he would defeat President Donald Trump as vote counting dragged on from Tuesday's election but stopped short of declaring himself the winner. He pledged to unite a bitterly divided nation. The virus has killed more than 231,000 Americans and infected over 9 million others. × "It's time for us to come together as a nation to heal," Biden said, adding it was "clear and convincing" that he is going to win the race for the White House. "We don't have the final declaration victory yet. But the numbers tell us it is clear... Clear and convincing story. We are going to win this race," he said. As per the latest projections, Biden has 264 electoral college votes and Trump trails behind with 213. Biden was leading in four of the five key battleground states where counting of ballots was still going on. Trump was trailing behind Biden in Arizona (by 38,455 votes), Georgia (4,224), Nevada (22,657) and Pennsylvania (19,500) but leading in North Carolina with 76,587 votes. To be declared the winner of the US election, either of the two candidates needs at least 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

Biden addresses US, vows action against coronavirus

Denmark's State Serum Institute, which deals with infectious diseases, has found mink-related versions of coronavirus in 214 people since June.

One strain of the mutated coronavirus, which has prompted Denmark to cull its entire herd of mink, has however only been found in 12 people and on five mink farms so far.

Denmark announced strict new lockdown rules on Thursday in the north of the country after authorities discovered a mutated coronavirus strain in minks bred in the region, prompting a nationwide cull that will devastate the large pelt industry.

The government said on Wednesday that it would cull all minks - up to 17 million - to prevent human contagion with a mutated coronavirus, which authorities said could be more resistant against future vaccines.

Seven municipalities in northern Denmark, home to most of the country's mink farms, will face restrictions on movement across county lines, while restaurants and bars will be closed, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference.

Schools will be closed and all public transport will be shut until December 3, she said, encouraging inhabitants in the region to stay within their municipality and get tested.

For Denmark's mink pelt industry, which racked up exports of around $800 million last year and employs 4,000 people, the cull could amount to a death knell. The industry association for Danish breeders called the move a "black day for Denmark".

Meanwhile, Denmark is taking steps to prevent the establishment of "a new animal reservoir for this virus", the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove said on Friday, after the country reported widespread coronavirus outbreaks in mink farms.

(with inputs)

Denmark's State Serum Institute, which deals with infectious diseases, has found mink-related versions of coronavirus in 214 people since June. One strain of the mutated coronavirus, which has prompted Denmark to cull its entire herd of mink, has however only been found in 12 people and on five mink farms so far.

Denmark's State Serum Institute, which deals with infectious diseases, has found mink-related versions of coronavirus in 214 people since June. One strain of the mutated coronavirus, which has prompted Denmark to cull its entire herd of mink, has however only been found in 12 people and on five mink farms so far. Denmark announced strict new lockdown rules on Thursday in the north of the country after authorities discovered a mutated coronavirus strain in minks bred in the region, prompting a nationwide cull that will devastate the large pelt industry. The government said on Wednesday that it would cull all minks - up to 17 million - to prevent human contagion with a mutated coronavirus, which authorities said could be more resistant against future vaccines. Seven municipalities in northern Denmark, home to most of the country's mink farms, will face restrictions on movement across county lines, while restaurants and bars will be closed, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference. Schools will be closed and all public transport will be shut until December 3, she said, encouraging inhabitants in the region to stay within their municipality and get tested. For Denmark's mink pelt industry, which racked up exports of around $800 million last year and employs 4,000 people, the cull could amount to a death knell. The industry association for Danish breeders called the move a "black day for Denmark". Meanwhile, Denmark is taking steps to prevent the establishment of "a new animal reservoir for this virus", the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove said on Friday, after the country reported widespread coronavirus outbreaks in mink farms. (with inputs)

Denmark has found 214 people infected with mink-related coronavirus

The United States has set a third straight daily record for new Covid-19 infections, notching more than 127,000 cases.

The death toll as of 8:30 pm (0130 GMT) over the past 24 hours was 1,149.

Friday was also the fourth day in a row that fatalities were above 1,000.&nbsp;The last time people were dying of Covid-19 &nbsp;at that rate in the US was early September.

The outbreak has been surging for weeks across the country, with the Midwest worst-hit even as the number of new diagnoses were approaching springtime levels in the south, northeast and west.

As of Friday evening, the US -- the worst hit country in the world in terms of deaths and total cases -- had more than 236,000 coronavirus-related fatalities and 9.7 million known infections.

Reasons that deaths are down from their peak include the fact that as cases are more spread out geographically than they were at the start of the US epidemic,&nbsp;hospitals are better able to cope with the caseload.&nbsp;

Two vaccine makers, Moderna and Pfizer, say they might be ready to apply for emergency use authorizations towards the end of the month.

But if and when vaccines do become available, they're only expected to be moderately effective, meaning that people will need to continue to adhere to masking, social distancing and hand hygiene to bring an end to the pandemic.

Cases are expected to increase as the country moves into colder weather and people switch to socializing primarily indoors, prime conditions for passing the virus from person to person.

Colder, drier weather might also play a role in creating favorable conditions for the virus to linger in air and on surfaces.

(with inputs)

The United States has set a third straight daily record for new Covid-19 infections, notching more than 127,000 cases. The death toll as of 8:30 pm (0130 GMT) over the past 24 hours was 1,149.

The United States has set a third straight daily record for new Covid-19 infections, notching more than 127,000 cases. The death toll as of 8:30 pm (0130 GMT) over the past 24 hours was 1,149. Friday was also the fourth day in a row that fatalities were above 1,000. The last time people were dying of Covid-19 at that rate in the US was early September. The outbreak has been surging for weeks across the country, with the Midwest worst-hit even as the number of new diagnoses were approaching springtime levels in the south, northeast and west. As of Friday evening, the US -- the worst hit country in the world in terms of deaths and total cases -- had more than 236,000 coronavirus-related fatalities and 9.7 million known infections. Reasons that deaths are down from their peak include the fact that as cases are more spread out geographically than they were at the start of the US epidemic, hospitals are better able to cope with the caseload. Two vaccine makers, Moderna and Pfizer, say they might be ready to apply for emergency use authorizations towards the end of the month. But if and when vaccines do become available, they're only expected to be moderately effective, meaning that people will need to continue to adhere to masking, social distancing and hand hygiene to bring an end to the pandemic. Cases are expected to increase as the country moves into colder weather and people switch to socializing primarily indoors, prime conditions for passing the virus from person to person. Colder, drier weather might also play a role in creating favorable conditions for the virus to linger in air and on surfaces. (with inputs)

Covid-19 cases in US hit record for third day, topping 127,000

Amid a recent resurgence of new Covid-19 cases across Pakistan, the country has decided to impose fines for not wearing face masks in public spaces, the media reported on Saturday. 
 
The measure is part of the latest guidelines issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday, which also includes a ban on indoor marriages and allowing "work from home" for 50 per cent the staff in public and private institutions, reports Dawn news. 
 
While the wearing of mask and `work from home` policies have been made mandatory throughout the country from Saturday onwards, the ban on indoor marriages will be enforced from November 20. 
 
A senior NCOC official told Dawn news that since 16 major cities of the country were highly sensitive due to the high Covid-19 positivity, the "non-pharmaceutical interventions" (NPIs) or new guidelines would remain in force till January 2021. 
 
The cities are Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit, Muzzafarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Abbottabad. 
 
Pakistan has so far reported a total of 341,753 coronavirus cases and 6,943 deaths, while the number of recovered persons stood at 317,898. 
&nbsp;

Amid a recent resurgence of new Covid-19 cases across Pakistan, the country has decided to impose fines for not wearing face masks in public spaces, the media reported on Saturday.

Amid a recent resurgence of new Covid-19 cases across Pakistan, the country has decided to impose fines for not wearing face masks in public spaces, the media reported on Saturday. The measure is part of the latest guidelines issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday, which also includes a ban on indoor marriages and allowing "work from home" for 50 per cent the staff in public and private institutions, reports Dawn news. While the wearing of mask and `work from home` policies have been made mandatory throughout the country from Saturday onwards, the ban on indoor marriages will be enforced from November 20. A senior NCOC official told Dawn news that since 16 major cities of the country were highly sensitive due to the high Covid-19 positivity, the "non-pharmaceutical interventions" (NPIs) or new guidelines would remain in force till January 2021. The cities are Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit, Muzzafarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Abbottabad. Pakistan has so far reported a total of 341,753 coronavirus cases and 6,943 deaths, while the number of recovered persons stood at 317,898.

Pakistan to impose fine for not wearing masks

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided on Thursday to organise a special session on December 3 and 4 on ramping up international cooperation to deal with coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

"The special session of United Nations General Assembly on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is a historic moment, and a test, for multilateralism. It will be defined by our collective action on one of the most critical issues of our time," said Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UNGA, in his remarks ahead of the adoption of the Modalities Resolution for the 31st Special Session of the General Assembly on the pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/20-years-witnessed-rise-in-natural-disasters-especially-in-asia-united-nations-334738">20 years witnessed rise in natural disasters, especially in Asia: United Nations&nbsp; &nbsp; </a>

As many as 150 of the 193 UNGA member states adopted the resolution. No country voted against the resolution, however, the US, Israel and Armenia did not participate in the voting.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/united-nations-faces-crisis-of-confidence-pm-modi-in-unga-address-329308">United Nations faces 'crisis of confidence': PM Modi in UNGA address</a>

"It is vital that the special session provides an inclusive platform which has the capacity to hear from and address the concerns of member states and other stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and private sector experts pioneering the development of vaccines. To this end, the second day will feature interactive multistakeholder dialogue panels on different aspects of Covid-19," the UNGA president said.&nbsp;

The special session on Covid-19 will feature an opening statement, a general debate and a closing segment, reports news agency IANS.&nbsp;

On the first day, the general debate will be held along with statements by member and observer states and the European Union and, if time allows, a limited number of representatives from relevant organisations attending the event.&nbsp;

World leaders will be making their address in pre-recorded statements, which will be aired in General Assembly Hall. The speakers will be allotted seven minutes on behalf of a group of states.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided on Thursday to organise a special session on December 3 and 4 on ramping up international cooperation to deal with coronavirus pandemic.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided on Thursday to organise a special session on December 3 and 4 on ramping up international cooperation to deal with coronavirus pandemic. "The special session of United Nations General Assembly on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is a historic moment, and a test, for multilateralism. It will be defined by our collective action on one of the most critical issues of our time," said Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UNGA, in his remarks ahead of the adoption of the Modalities Resolution for the 31st Special Session of the General Assembly on the pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported. Also read | 20 years witnessed rise in natural disasters, especially in Asia: United Nations As many as 150 of the 193 UNGA member states adopted the resolution. No country voted against the resolution, however, the US, Israel and Armenia did not participate in the voting. Also read | United Nations faces 'crisis of confidence': PM Modi in UNGA address "It is vital that the special session provides an inclusive platform which has the capacity to hear from and address the concerns of member states and other stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and private sector experts pioneering the development of vaccines. To this end, the second day will feature interactive multistakeholder dialogue panels on different aspects of Covid-19," the UNGA president said. The special session on Covid-19 will feature an opening statement, a general debate and a closing segment, reports news agency IANS. On the first day, the general debate will be held along with statements by member and observer states and the European Union and, if time allows, a limited number of representatives from relevant organisations attending the event. World leaders will be making their address in pre-recorded statements, which will be aired in General Assembly Hall. The speakers will be allotted seven minutes on behalf of a group of states.

UNGA to hold special session on coronavirus pandemic in December

India is fast-tracking its homegrown vaccine for Covid-19. Government scientists say it could be rolled out as early as February 2021.

Covaxin is India’s big bet against covid-19, it is being developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR. A fully indigenous project.

Watch |&nbsp;

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As last-stage trials begin this month and studies have so far shown it is safe and effective, a senior government scientist said.

“The vaccine has shown good efficacy,” senior ICMR scientist Rajni Kant, who is also a member of its Covid-19 task-force, said at the research body’s New Delhi headquarters on Thursday.

“It is expected that by the beginning of next year, February or March, something would be available.”

A launch in February would make COVAXIN the first India-made vaccine to be rolled out.

India’s cases of coronavirus infections rose by 50,201 cases on Thursday to 8.36 million, second only to the United States. Deaths rose by 704, with the total now at 124,315. The daily rise in infections and deaths has slowed since a peak in mid-September.

Until now — India's hopes were pinned on Britain's AstraZeneca, but work on the vaccine is taking longer than expected. Reports say — deliveries will run late, this means India will have to look elsewhere. A homegrown jab looks like the best bet.

India is not alone in doing this, Australia is set to buy 135 million doses of various vaccines.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he does not want to put all his eggs in the same basket.

India's Wuhan Virus outbreak is tapering off, since mid-September — daily cases have plunged significantly. But as we've seen in Europe and the US — a second wave is always a possibility.

Covaxin could be crucial in holding off new infections.

(With inputs from agencies)

India is fast-tracking its homegrown vaccine for Covid-19. Government scientists say it could be rolled out as early as February 2021. Covaxin is India’s big bet against covid-19, it is being developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR.

India is fast-tracking its homegrown vaccine for Covid-19. Government scientists say it could be rolled out as early as February 2021. Covaxin is India’s big bet against covid-19, it is being developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR. A fully indigenous project. Watch | As last-stage trials begin this month and studies have so far shown it is safe and effective, a senior government scientist said. “The vaccine has shown good efficacy,” senior ICMR scientist Rajni Kant, who is also a member of its Covid-19 task-force, said at the research body’s New Delhi headquarters on Thursday. “It is expected that by the beginning of next year, February or March, something would be available.” A launch in February would make COVAXIN the first India-made vaccine to be rolled out. India’s cases of coronavirus infections rose by 50,201 cases on Thursday to 8.36 million, second only to the United States. Deaths rose by 704, with the total now at 124,315. The daily rise in infections and deaths has slowed since a peak in mid-September. Until now — India's hopes were pinned on Britain's AstraZeneca, but work on the vaccine is taking longer than expected. Reports say — deliveries will run late, this means India will have to look elsewhere. A homegrown jab looks like the best bet. India is not alone in doing this, Australia is set to buy 135 million doses of various vaccines. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he does not want to put all his eggs in the same basket. India's Wuhan Virus outbreak is tapering off, since mid-September — daily cases have plunged significantly. But as we've seen in Europe and the US — a second wave is always a possibility. Covaxin could be crucial in holding off new infections. (With inputs from agencies)

Covaxin could be available as early as February, says ICMR scientist

According to reports, India's Covaxin vaccine for the Wuhan Virus could be ready by February next year. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you what this means for India's fight against the pandemic.

Gravitas: Wuhan Coronavirus: India to get a vaccine in February?

A new study published on Thursday has found that children infected with novel coronavirus have generated weaker antibodies and fewer in type as compared to adults.&nbsp;

Other studies have revealed that an overly strong immune system may be responsible for people who become severely ill or die from the deadly virus. It can also be the reason why children are less likely to transmit the virus to others.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-study-explains-long-covid-or-persistence-of-coronavirus-symptoms-340789">New study explains 'long COVID', or persistence of coronavirus symptoms</a>

A weaker immune response in children may suggest why they eliminate the virus before it has had a chance to cause trouble, and may help explain why children are mostly able to keep away the severe symptoms of Covid-19.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasal-spray-prevents-covid-infection-in-ferrets-study-finds-340981">Nasal spray prevents COVID infection in ferrets, study finds</a>

"They may be infectious for a shorter time," said Donna Farber, an immunologist at Columbia University in New York who led the study, as quoted by The New York Times.&nbsp;

Other experts also said weaker and fewer antibodies do not mean that children face more risks of re-infections.&nbsp;

"You don't really need a huge, overly robust immune response to maintain protections over some period of time," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson.&nbsp;

"I don’t know that I would be especially worried that kids have a little bit lower antibody response."

The study, which was published in journal Nature Immunology looked at antibody levels in children at a particular point in time and was too small to suggest how the levels may change with age.&nbsp;

But it could put forward questions for certain antibody tests that may be absent from children who have been infected with Covid-19.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

A new study published on Thursday has found that children infected with novel coronavirus have generated weaker antibodies and fewer in type as compared to adults.

A new study published on Thursday has found that children infected with novel coronavirus have generated weaker antibodies and fewer in type as compared to adults. Other studies have revealed that an overly strong immune system may be responsible for people who become severely ill or die from the deadly virus. It can also be the reason why children are less likely to transmit the virus to others. Also read | New study explains 'long COVID', or persistence of coronavirus symptoms A weaker immune response in children may suggest why they eliminate the virus before it has had a chance to cause trouble, and may help explain why children are mostly able to keep away the severe symptoms of Covid-19. Also read | Nasal spray prevents COVID infection in ferrets, study finds "They may be infectious for a shorter time," said Donna Farber, an immunologist at Columbia University in New York who led the study, as quoted by The New York Times. Other experts also said weaker and fewer antibodies do not mean that children face more risks of re-infections. "You don't really need a huge, overly robust immune response to maintain protections over some period of time," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "I don’t know that I would be especially worried that kids have a little bit lower antibody response." The study, which was published in journal Nature Immunology looked at antibody levels in children at a particular point in time and was too small to suggest how the levels may change with age. But it could put forward questions for certain antibody tests that may be absent from children who have been infected with Covid-19.

Children generate weaker Covid-19 antibodies: Study

The UK heads into lockdown for the second time, WION brings you a report on how people spend their last night on the eve of the lockdown.

Londoners made last minute purchases as UK is going into second lockdown

According to reports, India's Covaxin vaccine for the Coronavirus could be ready by February next year. The question of course is how safe is this? WION brings you a report.

India made Coronavirus vaccine to be ready by February?

COVID-19 patient can experience a variety of symptoms, these are usually physical symptoms, such as fever or chills, a cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. 
 
Although the neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 have received much less attention than the physical symptoms, the researchers suggest that they are common among people with severe forms of the illness.

But a research, published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy, suggests that together with the loss of the senses of taste and smell, and headaches that occur in the days prior to the manifestation of coughing and breathing difficulties, some patients also develop delirium.

As such, the manifestation of this state of confusion, when accompanied by high fever, should be considered an early marker of the disease, particularly in the case of elderly patients.

"Delirium is a state of confusion in which the person feels out of touch with reality as if they are dreaming," explained Javier Correa from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) in Spain.

"We need to be on the alert, particularly in an epidemiological situation like this, because an individual presenting certain signs of confusion may be an indication of infection," said Correa, who carried out this study at the University of Bordeaux in France.

Correa, together with UOC researcher Diego Redolar Ripoll, reviewed scientific work published on the effects of COVID-19 in relation to the central nervous system, i.e. the brain.

The review found that there are growing indications that the novel coronavirus also affects the central nervous system, and produces neurocognitive alterations, such as headaches and delirium, as well as psychotic episodes.

"The main hypotheses which explain how the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain point to three possible causes: hypoxia or neuronal oxygen deficiency, inflammation of brain tissue due to cytokine storm and the fact that the virus has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to directly invade the brain," said Correa.

He noted that any one of these three factors has the potential to result in delirium.

The evidence of hypoxia-related brain damage has been observed in autopsies carried out on patients who have died from the infection, and it has been possible to isolate the virus from the cerebral tissue, Correa said.

According to the researchers, delirium, cognitive deficits and behavioural anomalies are most likely to be the result of systemic inflammation of the organ and a state of hypoxia, which also causes the neuronal tissue to become inflamed and cause damage in areas such as the hippocampus.

This is associated with the cognitive dysfunctions and behavioural alterations presented by patients suffering delirium, they said.

(With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19 patient can experience a variety of symptoms, these are usually physical symptoms, such as fever or chills, a cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Although the neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 have received much less attention than the physical symptoms, the researchers suggest that they are common among people with severe forms of the illness.

COVID-19 patient can experience a variety of symptoms, these are usually physical symptoms, such as fever or chills, a cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Although the neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 have received much less attention than the physical symptoms, the researchers suggest that they are common among people with severe forms of the illness. But a research, published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapy, suggests that together with the loss of the senses of taste and smell, and headaches that occur in the days prior to the manifestation of coughing and breathing difficulties, some patients also develop delirium. As such, the manifestation of this state of confusion, when accompanied by high fever, should be considered an early marker of the disease, particularly in the case of elderly patients. "Delirium is a state of confusion in which the person feels out of touch with reality as if they are dreaming," explained Javier Correa from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) in Spain. "We need to be on the alert, particularly in an epidemiological situation like this, because an individual presenting certain signs of confusion may be an indication of infection," said Correa, who carried out this study at the University of Bordeaux in France. Correa, together with UOC researcher Diego Redolar Ripoll, reviewed scientific work published on the effects of COVID-19 in relation to the central nervous system, i.e. the brain. The review found that there are growing indications that the novel coronavirus also affects the central nervous system, and produces neurocognitive alterations, such as headaches and delirium, as well as psychotic episodes. "The main hypotheses which explain how the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain point to three possible causes: hypoxia or neuronal oxygen deficiency, inflammation of brain tissue due to cytokine storm and the fact that the virus has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to directly invade the brain," said Correa. He noted that any one of these three factors has the potential to result in delirium. The evidence of hypoxia-related brain damage has been observed in autopsies carried out on patients who have died from the infection, and it has been possible to isolate the virus from the cerebral tissue, Correa said. According to the researchers, delirium, cognitive deficits and behavioural anomalies are most likely to be the result of systemic inflammation of the organ and a state of hypoxia, which also causes the neuronal tissue to become inflamed and cause damage in areas such as the hippocampus. This is associated with the cognitive dysfunctions and behavioural alterations presented by patients suffering delirium, they said. (With inputs from agencies)

Delirium or mental confusion could be an early sign of Covid-19: Study 

Spain has the second highest caseload in Western Europe after France, but unlike France, Germany and Britain, which have announced full nationwide lockdowns, Spain has adopted a regional response, leading to a patchwork of different regulations.

Coronavirus Outbreak: COVID-19 cases rise in France and Spain

Long COVID, explained

The COVID-19 pandemic is raging across the world, and a new study sheds light on why someone experiences “long COVID”, whereby people continue to experience symptoms for a long period, more than the average period of 14-15 days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/denmark-to-cull-millions-of-minks-amid-mutation-fears-for-coronavirus-vaccine-340577" hreflang="en">Denmark to cull millions of minks amid mutation fears for coronavirus vaccine</a>

After observing the lungs of people who had succumbed to COVID-19, doctors found persistent and long-lasting damage to their lungs, which could explain “long COVID”.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/coronavirus-can-trigger-range-of-neurological-problems-338461/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It’s important to note here that doctors and scientists are still learning news things about coronavirus.

Coronavirus: Unique characteristics

Doctors found COVID-19 has unique characteristics, which could explain why it inflicts so much harm in extreme cases.

“The findings indicate that COVID-19 is not simply a disease caused by the death of virus-infected cells, but is likely the consequence of these abnormal cells persisting for long periods inside the lungs,” Mauro Giacca, a professor at Kings College London, one of the scientists heading the study said, as quoted by The Hindu.

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To ascertain the intensity of the damage done by COVID-19, doctors took tissue samples from heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys from 41 patients who had died between February and April 2020 in Italy’s University Hospital of Trieste.

“It could very well be envisaged that one of the reasons why there are cases of long COVID is because there is vast destruction of lung (tissue),” Giacca told Reuters.&nbsp;

“Even if someone recovers from COVID, the damage that is done could be massive”, the scientist added.

Lingering symptoms of COVID-19

According to many studies emerging from different parts of the world, coronavirus can continue to cause symptoms in patients even after recovering. These include shortness of breath, fatigue, and fugue, or in simpler words - “long COVID”.

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Additionally, among the 41 deceased patients, characteristics that are unique to COVID-19 were found by doctors, as opposed to the regular symptoms shown by pneumonia.

The research published in the Lancet journal&nbsp;“Lancet eBioMedicine”.

Long COVID, explained The COVID-19 pandemic is raging across the world, and a new study sheds light on why someone experiences “long COVID”, whereby people continue to experience symptoms for a long period, more than the average period of 14-15 days.

Long COVID, explained The COVID-19 pandemic is raging across the world, and a new study sheds light on why someone experiences “long COVID”, whereby people continue to experience symptoms for a long period, more than the average period of 14-15 days. Also read: Denmark to cull millions of minks amid mutation fears for coronavirus vaccine After observing the lungs of people who had succumbed to COVID-19, doctors found persistent and long-lasting damage to their lungs, which could explain “long COVID”. It’s important to note here that doctors and scientists are still learning news things about coronavirus. Coronavirus: Unique characteristics Doctors found COVID-19 has unique characteristics, which could explain why it inflicts so much harm in extreme cases. “The findings indicate that COVID-19 is not simply a disease caused by the death of virus-infected cells, but is likely the consequence of these abnormal cells persisting for long periods inside the lungs,” Mauro Giacca, a professor at Kings College London, one of the scientists heading the study said, as quoted by The Hindu. Also read: Travellers to New York must quarantine for three days, then get coronavirus test To ascertain the intensity of the damage done by COVID-19, doctors took tissue samples from heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys from 41 patients who had died between February and April 2020 in Italy’s University Hospital of Trieste. “It could very well be envisaged that one of the reasons why there are cases of long COVID is because there is vast destruction of lung (tissue),” Giacca told Reuters. “Even if someone recovers from COVID, the damage that is done could be massive”, the scientist added. Lingering symptoms of COVID-19 According to many studies emerging from different parts of the world, coronavirus can continue to cause symptoms in patients even after recovering. These include shortness of breath, fatigue, and fugue, or in simpler words - “long COVID”. Also read: White House backtracks on listing 'ending coronavirus' as Donald Trump's achievement Additionally, among the 41 deceased patients, characteristics that are unique to COVID-19 were found by doctors, as opposed to the regular symptoms shown by pneumonia. The research published in the Lancet journal “Lancet eBioMedicine”.

New study explains 'long COVID', or persistence of coronavirus symptoms

With a fresh spike of 50,210 coronavirus infections and 704 deaths in 24 hours, India`s tally on Wednesday rose to 83,64,086, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 
 
Delhi recorded a single day spike of 6,842 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest so far, taking the total Delhi tally to 4,09,938. 
 
Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit with a total of 16,98,198 cases, including 44,548 deaths; followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. 
 
Out of the total Covid-19 cases in the country, 5,27,962 are currently active, 77,11,809 have been discharged, and 1,24,315 lost the battle against the pandemic. 
 
While the recovery rate stands at 92.09 per cent, the fatality rate is 1.49 per cent, the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed. 
 
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted 12,09,425 sample tests in a single day on Wednesday, taking the total number of samples tested so far to 11,42,08,384. 
 
The overall number of global coronavirus cases was nearing the 48 million mark, while the deaths have surged to more than 12,23,450, according to Johns Hopkins University. 
 
As of Thursday morning, the total caseload and death toll stood at 4,79,97,816 and 12,23,456, respectively, the University`s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update. 
 
The US is the worst-hit country with the world`s highest number of cases and deaths at 94,77,709 and 2,33,651, respectively, according to the CSSE.

With a fresh spike of 50,210 coronavirus infections and 704 deaths in 24 hours, India`s tally on Wednesday rose to 83,64,086, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

With a fresh spike of 50,210 coronavirus infections and 704 deaths in 24 hours, India`s tally on Wednesday rose to 83,64,086, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Delhi recorded a single day spike of 6,842 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest so far, taking the total Delhi tally to 4,09,938. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit with a total of 16,98,198 cases, including 44,548 deaths; followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Out of the total Covid-19 cases in the country, 5,27,962 are currently active, 77,11,809 have been discharged, and 1,24,315 lost the battle against the pandemic. While the recovery rate stands at 92.09 per cent, the fatality rate is 1.49 per cent, the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted 12,09,425 sample tests in a single day on Wednesday, taking the total number of samples tested so far to 11,42,08,384. The overall number of global coronavirus cases was nearing the 48 million mark, while the deaths have surged to more than 12,23,450, according to Johns Hopkins University. As of Thursday morning, the total caseload and death toll stood at 4,79,97,816 and 12,23,456, respectively, the University`s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update. The US is the worst-hit country with the world`s highest number of cases and deaths at 94,77,709 and 2,33,651, respectively, according to the CSSE.

India adds over 50,000 new coronavirus cases in a day

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