&nbsp;As coronavirus cases continue increasing in the country, British authorities have announced that booster jabs for locals will be available to book a month in advance now.<o:p></o:p>

The eligible population for booster shots will now receive their booking invitation at least five months after they are inoculated with the second dose of coronavirus vaccines. Earlier, locals were to be sent the booking invitation only after six months, but now changes have been made in the system which will allow locals to book a month early.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-doses-of-covishield-and-pfizer-vaccine-provide-90-safety-from-covid-study-422725">Two doses of Covishield and Pfizer vaccine provide 90% safety from Covid: Study</a></o:p>

This process will come in place from Monday.<o:p></o:p>

As of now, more than nine million booster jabs have already been administered across the country. Authorities are giving first preference to aged people and those with compromised immunity for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine?page=1">booster jabs</a>.<o:p></o:p>

UK’s health secretary, Sajid Javid, said he hopes this will "accelerate the booster programme". He is urging locals to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/was-pfizers-vaccine-trial-compromised-427174">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/was-pfizers-vaccine-trial-compromised-427174/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This announcement has come at a time when a study has claimed that booster shots after every few months will be needed to make sure that locals stay safe from any new variant of coronavirus. <o:p></o:p>

Experts have also claimed that vaccinations are utmost important to keep everyone safe from the deadly pandemic. As pe some studies, fully vaccinated people have nearly 65 per cent less chance of getting asymptomatic infection till at least three months.<o:p></o:p>

However, there are also studies that have claimed that two doses of Covishield and Pfizer can guarantee 90 per cent safety from the deadly virus. <o:p></o:p>

<a name="_Hlk85737729">"</a>With the Delta variant now the dominant strain in many places worldwide and posing a higher risk of hospitalisation than previous variants seen in the UK, it is reassuring to see that vaccination offers such high protection from death very shortly after the second dose," said Professor Aziz Sheikh, Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, and EAVE II study lead. "If you still have not taken up your offer to be vaccinated, I would encourage you to do so based on the clear benefits it offers."<o:p></o:p>

As coronavirus cases continue increasing in the country, British authorities have announced that booster jabs for locals will be available to book a month in advance now.

As coronavirus cases continue increasing in the country, British authorities have announced that booster jabs for locals will be available to book a month in advance now. The eligible population for booster shots will now receive their booking invitation at least five months after they are inoculated with the second dose of coronavirus vaccines. Earlier, locals were to be sent the booking invitation only after six months, but now changes have been made in the system which will allow locals to book a month early. Also read | Two doses of Covishield and Pfizer vaccine provide 90% safety from Covid: Study This process will come in place from Monday. As of now, more than nine million booster jabs have already been administered across the country. Authorities are giving first preference to aged people and those with compromised immunity for booster jabs. UK’s health secretary, Sajid Javid, said he hopes this will "accelerate the booster programme". He is urging locals to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible. WATCH | This announcement has come at a time when a study has claimed that booster shots after every few months will be needed to make sure that locals stay safe from any new variant of coronavirus. Experts have also claimed that vaccinations are utmost important to keep everyone safe from the deadly pandemic. As pe some studies, fully vaccinated people have nearly 65 per cent less chance of getting asymptomatic infection till at least three months. However, there are also studies that have claimed that two doses of Covishield and Pfizer can guarantee 90 per cent safety from the deadly virus. "With the Delta variant now the dominant strain in many places worldwide and posing a higher risk of hospitalisation than previous variants seen in the UK, it is reassuring to see that vaccination offers such high protection from death very shortly after the second dose," said Professor Aziz Sheikh, Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, and EAVE II study lead. "If you still have not taken up your offer to be vaccinated, I would encourage you to do so based on the clear benefits it offers."

Amid Covid surge, UK to send booster shot invite a month early

A close aide of Joe Biden who travelled with him to Scotland for the UN Climate Summit has tested positive for coronavirus.<o:p></o:p>

The aide is a staffer on the National Security Council of the US and had accompanied Biden to Scotland for the UN climate summit. He tested positive somewhere in the past week, as per local reports cited in Bloomberg.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-likely-to-reopen-consulates-shut-in-2020-says-report-426931" hreflang="en">US-China likely to reopen consulates shut in 2020, says report</a>

<o:p></o:p>

However, US President Joe Biden has tested negative for the virus. The aide is not reported to have had close contact with the President a few days before testing positive. After the news, the White House asked other staffers to stay back and return on a different government plane rather than coming back with Biden on Air Force One.<o:p></o:p>

The aide tested positive a few days after White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also got infected by the deadly virus. Psaki was scheduled to travel with the President, but she cancelled the trip as her family members tested positive. "However, today, I tested positive for COVID.&nbsp;While I have not had close contact in person with the president or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday — and tested negative for four days after that last contact — I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency," she said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/worlds-first-pill-to-treat-covid-gets-approval-in-uk-heres-all-you-need-to-know-426907">WATCH |</a>

<o:p></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/worlds-first-pill-to-treat-covid-gets-approval-in-uk-heres-all-you-need-to-know-426907/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Psaki also detailed that she had last seen the President on Tuesday but had maintained her distance and both of them were wearing masks. "Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced&nbsp;mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home.&nbsp;I will&nbsp;plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the ten-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution," she added.<o:p></o:p>

A close aide of Joe Biden who travelled with him to Scotland for the UN Climate Summit has tested positive for coronavirus. The aide is a staffer on the National Security Council of the US and had accompanied Biden to Scotland for the UN climate summit.

A close aide of Joe Biden who travelled with him to Scotland for the UN Climate Summit has tested positive for coronavirus. The aide is a staffer on the National Security Council of the US and had accompanied Biden to Scotland for the UN climate summit. He tested positive somewhere in the past week, as per local reports cited in Bloomberg. Also read | US-China likely to reopen consulates shut in 2020, says report However, US President Joe Biden has tested negative for the virus. The aide is not reported to have had close contact with the President a few days before testing positive. After the news, the White House asked other staffers to stay back and return on a different government plane rather than coming back with Biden on Air Force One. The aide tested positive a few days after White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also got infected by the deadly virus. Psaki was scheduled to travel with the President, but she cancelled the trip as her family members tested positive. "However, today, I tested positive for COVID. While I have not had close contact in person with the president or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday — and tested negative for four days after that last contact — I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency," she said in a statement. WATCH | Psaki also detailed that she had last seen the President on Tuesday but had maintained her distance and both of them were wearing masks. "Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home. I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the ten-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution," she added.

Biden's aide who travelled to Scotland with him tests positive for Covid

Scientists at Oxford University have discovered a gene that can double the risk of lung failure and death in those who are contracted COVID-19.

The study, which was published in Nature Genetics, seeks to find out why some communities in the UK and South Asia are at higher risk from Covid.

They uncovered a “relatively unstudied gene called LZTFL1” which appears to stop cells in the airways and lungs from responding to the virus properly, potentially leading to respiratory failure and death.

They say that around 60% of people from South Asian backgrounds and 15% of people of European ancestry carry the high-risk version of the gene.

It is found in about 15% of those with European ancestry, while only 2% of people with Afro-Caribbean ancestry carry the gene.

Vaccines are key and help significantly reduce these risks, the researchers have asserted.

Professor James Davies, who led the study, said the discovery shows the “way in which the lung responds to the infection is critical”.

&nbsp;“The reason this has proved so difficult to work out is that the previously identified genetic signal affects the ‘dark matter’ of the genome,” he said.

“We found that the increased risk is not because of a difference in gene coding for a protein, but because of a difference in the DNA that makes a switch to turn a gene on,” he added.

The research was conducted by an artificial intelligence algorithm that had been trained by the team to analyse huge quantities of genetic data from hundreds of types of cells from all parts of the body.

The researchers hope that drugs and other therapies could target the mechanism that prevents the lung lining from responding as it should.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists at Oxford University have discovered a gene that can double the risk of lung failure and death in those who are contracted COVID-19. The study, which was published in Nature Genetics, seeks to find out why some communities in the UK and South Asia are at higher risk from Covid.

Scientists at Oxford University have discovered a gene that can double the risk of lung failure and death in those who are contracted COVID-19. The study, which was published in Nature Genetics, seeks to find out why some communities in the UK and South Asia are at higher risk from Covid. They uncovered a “relatively unstudied gene called LZTFL1” which appears to stop cells in the airways and lungs from responding to the virus properly, potentially leading to respiratory failure and death. They say that around 60% of people from South Asian backgrounds and 15% of people of European ancestry carry the high-risk version of the gene. It is found in about 15% of those with European ancestry, while only 2% of people with Afro-Caribbean ancestry carry the gene. Vaccines are key and help significantly reduce these risks, the researchers have asserted. Professor James Davies, who led the study, said the discovery shows the “way in which the lung responds to the infection is critical”. “The reason this has proved so difficult to work out is that the previously identified genetic signal affects the ‘dark matter’ of the genome,” he said. “We found that the increased risk is not because of a difference in gene coding for a protein, but because of a difference in the DNA that makes a switch to turn a gene on,” he added. The research was conducted by an artificial intelligence algorithm that had been trained by the team to analyse huge quantities of genetic data from hundreds of types of cells from all parts of the body. The researchers hope that drugs and other therapies could target the mechanism that prevents the lung lining from responding as it should. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Fatal gene that doubles risk of lung failure from Covid mostly found in South Asians

After a drastic decline last year, global fossil fuel emissions have rebounded sharply in 2021 and are now just slightly below their previous record highs, researchers said Wednesday. It’s yet another sign that countries are still far from their goals of avoiding the worst effects of global warming.

In 2020, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry plummeted 5.4&nbsp;per cent worldwide as businesses shut down and governments ordered people to stay home amid the coronavirus outbreak. It was the largest one-year drop on record.

But experts had long warned that the drop was likely to prove temporary, and the new data, published by the Global Carbon Project, confirms it. In 2021, emissions are projected to rise 4.9&nbsp;per cent as the global economy has rumbled back to life and lockdowns have mostly eased.

Overall, global emissions are now less than 1 per cent&nbsp;below their previous high in 2019, suggesting that any climate impact from the pandemic was fleeting.

“Essentially, we halted the global economy and then brought it back to life with mostly the same fossil fuel-powered cars, trucks, factories and power plants that we had before,” said Pierre Friedlingstein, a climate scientist at the University of Exeter who led the research. “If we want to see a sustained decline in global emissions, we can’t just put the economy on pause during a pandemic. We have to change those systems.”

The new emissions numbers were released during a major United Nations climate summit, where world leaders are discussing how to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change.

When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, many environmentalists and even some world leaders suggested that nations should take the opportunity to shift the global economy to cleaner sources of energy and prevent emissions from rebounding too sharply. But, with a few exceptions, most countries have largely squandered the chance for a “green recovery.”

“I do think the world missed a real opportunity to change direction,” said Rob Jackson, a professor of earth system science at Stanford University who also contributed to the new emissions research. “We might have seen emissions snap back this year in any case, since it’s tough to completely change the global energy system in a single year, but we could have set ourselves up much better for future years.”

After a drastic decline last year, global fossil fuel emissions have rebounded sharply in 2021 and are now just slightly below their previous record highs, researchers said Wednesday.

After a drastic decline last year, global fossil fuel emissions have rebounded sharply in 2021 and are now just slightly below their previous record highs, researchers said Wednesday. It’s yet another sign that countries are still far from their goals of avoiding the worst effects of global warming. In 2020, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry plummeted 5.4 per cent worldwide as businesses shut down and governments ordered people to stay home amid the coronavirus outbreak. It was the largest one-year drop on record. But experts had long warned that the drop was likely to prove temporary, and the new data, published by the Global Carbon Project, confirms it. In 2021, emissions are projected to rise 4.9 per cent as the global economy has rumbled back to life and lockdowns have mostly eased. Overall, global emissions are now less than 1 per cent below their previous high in 2019, suggesting that any climate impact from the pandemic was fleeting. “Essentially, we halted the global economy and then brought it back to life with mostly the same fossil fuel-powered cars, trucks, factories and power plants that we had before,” said Pierre Friedlingstein, a climate scientist at the University of Exeter who led the research. “If we want to see a sustained decline in global emissions, we can’t just put the economy on pause during a pandemic. We have to change those systems.” The new emissions numbers were released during a major United Nations climate summit, where world leaders are discussing how to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change. When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, many environmentalists and even some world leaders suggested that nations should take the opportunity to shift the global economy to cleaner sources of energy and prevent emissions from rebounding too sharply. But, with a few exceptions, most countries have largely squandered the chance for a “green recovery.” “I do think the world missed a real opportunity to change direction,” said Rob Jackson, a professor of earth system science at Stanford University who also contributed to the new emissions research. “We might have seen emissions snap back this year in any case, since it’s tough to completely change the global energy system in a single year, but we could have set ourselves up much better for future years.”

Carbon dioxide emissions rebounded sharply after pandemic dip

After 590 days of the country's international borders being blocked, fully vaccinated Australians may finally go overseas without a visa.

After months of limitations during the coronavirus epidemic, the most severe restrictions on foreign travel will be lifted starting today.

The travel alert was given at a time when the country was seeing a low number of new virus infections.

Millions of Australians in Victoria, New South Wales, and Canberra are finally free to travel after 18 months of some of the world's tightest coronavirus border regulations, which barred individuals from returning to or leaving the country unless granted an exemption.

While the inaugural flights are only for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families, it kicks off a strategy to reopen the country to overseas visitors and employees, both of which are desperately needed to reenergize a tired country.

Thailand and Israel are also welcome vaccinated travellers without quarantine starting Monday, boosting global aviation travel after a difficult 18-month period.&nbsp;

Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday that the travel changes would immediately aid the economy.

(With inputs from agencies)

After 590 days of the country's international borders being blocked, fully vaccinated Australians may finally go overseas without a visa. After months of limitations during the coronavirus epidemic, the most severe restrictions on foreign travel will be lifted starting today.

After 590 days of the country's international borders being blocked, fully vaccinated Australians may finally go overseas without a visa. After months of limitations during the coronavirus epidemic, the most severe restrictions on foreign travel will be lifted starting today. The travel alert was given at a time when the country was seeing a low number of new virus infections. Millions of Australians in Victoria, New South Wales, and Canberra are finally free to travel after 18 months of some of the world's tightest coronavirus border regulations, which barred individuals from returning to or leaving the country unless granted an exemption. While the inaugural flights are only for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families, it kicks off a strategy to reopen the country to overseas visitors and employees, both of which are desperately needed to reenergize a tired country. Thailand and Israel are also welcome vaccinated travellers without quarantine starting Monday, boosting global aviation travel after a difficult 18-month period. Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday that the travel changes would immediately aid the economy. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia is reopening to the world after 590 days of restricted access

US intelligence agencies said they may never be able to conclude whether the COVID-19 virus was developed in a Wuhan lab or transmitted from animal to human, a declassified report has stated.

In an updated assessment of how the virus originated, the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in its report said that a natural origin and a lab leak are both plausible hypotheses for how SARS-COV-2 first infected humans.

But it said the analysts disagree on which is more likely or whether any definitive assessment can be made at all.

The report issued on Friday is an update of a 90-day review that President Joe Biden's administration released in August.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/origin-of-wuhan-virus-needs-to-be-found-386627">Origin of Wuhan virus needs to be found</a>

The report also dismissed suggestions that the coronavirus originated as a bioweapon, saying proponents of this theory "do not have direct access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology" and have been accused of spreading disinformation.

On Friday, China responded by criticizing the report.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virus-origin-probe-poisoned-by-politics-says-who-388122">Virus origin probe 'poisoned by politics', says WHO</a>

“The US moves of relying on its intelligence apparatus instead of scientists to trace the origins of COVID-19 is a complete political farce,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in an emailed statement.

“It will only undermine science-based origins study and hinder the global effort of finding the source of the virus,” the statement said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-calls-on-china-to-release-medical-records-of-wuhan-lab-workers-report-389348">Also read | Fauci calls on China to release medical records of Wuhan lab workers: Report</a>

Chinese authorities had linked early COVID-19 cases to a seafood market in Wuhan, leading many scientists to theorise that the virus first passed to humans from animals.

But earlier this year, there were several US media reports suggesting growing evidence that the virus could instead have emerged from a virology lab in Wuhan.

In May, President Joe Biden ordered intelligence officials to investigate the virus's origins, including the lab leak theory, which is rejected by China.

(With inputs from agencies)

US intelligence agencies said they may never be able to conclude whether the COVID-19 virus was developed in a Wuhan lab or transmitted from animal to human, a declassified report has stated.

US intelligence agencies said they may never be able to conclude whether the COVID-19 virus was developed in a Wuhan lab or transmitted from animal to human, a declassified report has stated. In an updated assessment of how the virus originated, the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in its report said that a natural origin and a lab leak are both plausible hypotheses for how SARS-COV-2 first infected humans. But it said the analysts disagree on which is more likely or whether any definitive assessment can be made at all. The report issued on Friday is an update of a 90-day review that President Joe Biden's administration released in August. Also Read | Origin of Wuhan virus needs to be found The report also dismissed suggestions that the coronavirus originated as a bioweapon, saying proponents of this theory "do not have direct access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology" and have been accused of spreading disinformation. On Friday, China responded by criticizing the report. Also Read | Virus origin probe 'poisoned by politics', says WHO “The US moves of relying on its intelligence apparatus instead of scientists to trace the origins of COVID-19 is a complete political farce,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in an emailed statement. “It will only undermine science-based origins study and hinder the global effort of finding the source of the virus,” the statement said. Also read | Fauci calls on China to release medical records of Wuhan lab workers: Report Chinese authorities had linked early COVID-19 cases to a seafood market in Wuhan, leading many scientists to theorise that the virus first passed to humans from animals. But earlier this year, there were several US media reports suggesting growing evidence that the virus could instead have emerged from a virology lab in Wuhan. In May, President Joe Biden ordered intelligence officials to investigate the virus's origins, including the lab leak theory, which is rejected by China. (With inputs from agencies)

We may never know how COVID-19 originated, say US intelligence officials

It’s time for children to mask on and return to schools for in-person classes. India’s capital city, New Delhi, is now resuming in-person classes for students in grade IX and above.<o:p></o:p>

This decision has been taken after careful consideration of the negative effect the virtual classrooms have had on children. <o:p></o:p>

"The government, the officials in the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and experts are of the opinion that suspension of in-person classes in schools are tremendously affecting overall growth in children. The authority feels it is now safe to restart schools fully," New Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said. "From November 1, all public and private schools will be allowed to open all classes for in-person attendance."

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-schools-shift-back-to-classroom-teaching-are-students-ready-to-be-reintroduced-to-outer-world-421087">As schools shift back to classroom teaching, are students ready to be reintroduced to outer world?</a></o:p>

However, the Delhi government is also mindful of possible hesitations from parents due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has been surging in different parts of the world. Considering the need of precautions in the classrooms, the government has asked schools to make sure that the classrooms only have 50 per cent of the attendance present inside the school premises, and online classes continue.<o:p></o:p>

"No parent will be forced to send their children to schools. Online classes will continue. And schools will have to ensure that there is not more than 50 per cent&nbsp;in-person attendance in classes at any given time, in the light of COVID-19 protocols," Sisodia said.<o:p></o:p>

He has also asked schools to ensure that all teachers have had at least one dose of approved Covid vaccines so that the government schools can achieve 100 per cent vaccination rate as soon as possible.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/are-virtual-classrooms-in-post-pandemic-world-turning-your-kids-into-introverts-than-extroverts-415167">Are virtual classrooms in post-pandemic world turning your kids into introverts than extroverts?</a></o:p>

The instruction has come a few days before the country gears up to celebrate one of the biggest festivals of the country, Diwali. Experts have been warning Indian citizens to stay away from crowded public spaces and opt to celebrate the festival of lights at home with family, rather than organising big, crowded parties.<o:p></o:p>

Locals are also being urged to get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible to ensure safety of not just themselves but also the unvaccinated small children who are not yet eligible for a dose.<o:p></o:p>

It’s time for children to mask on and return to schools for in-person classes. India’s capital city, New Delhi, is now resuming in-person classes for students in grade IX and above.

It’s time for children to mask on and return to schools for in-person classes. India’s capital city, New Delhi, is now resuming in-person classes for students in grade IX and above. This decision has been taken after careful consideration of the negative effect the virtual classrooms have had on children. "The government, the officials in the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and experts are of the opinion that suspension of in-person classes in schools are tremendously affecting overall growth in children. The authority feels it is now safe to restart schools fully," New Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said. "From November 1, all public and private schools will be allowed to open all classes for in-person attendance." Also read | As schools shift back to classroom teaching, are students ready to be reintroduced to outer world? However, the Delhi government is also mindful of possible hesitations from parents due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has been surging in different parts of the world. Considering the need of precautions in the classrooms, the government has asked schools to make sure that the classrooms only have 50 per cent of the attendance present inside the school premises, and online classes continue. "No parent will be forced to send their children to schools. Online classes will continue. And schools will have to ensure that there is not more than 50 per cent in-person attendance in classes at any given time, in the light of COVID-19 protocols," Sisodia said. He has also asked schools to ensure that all teachers have had at least one dose of approved Covid vaccines so that the government schools can achieve 100 per cent vaccination rate as soon as possible. Also read | Are virtual classrooms in post-pandemic world turning your kids into introverts than extroverts? The instruction has come a few days before the country gears up to celebrate one of the biggest festivals of the country, Diwali. Experts have been warning Indian citizens to stay away from crowded public spaces and opt to celebrate the festival of lights at home with family, rather than organising big, crowded parties. Locals are also being urged to get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible to ensure safety of not just themselves but also the unvaccinated small children who are not yet eligible for a dose.

New Delhi schools to reopen from Monday, but online classes to continue: State government

After few months of celebrating Covid-free days, China is now gearing itself for another possible huge outbreak.<o:p></o:p>

A health official has said that China’s Covid infections are expected to alarmingly increase in the next few days and a new outbreak may take over the country soon.<o:p></o:p>

As per Wu Liangyou, an official at the National Health Commission, the outgoing surge in Covid cases is due to the Delta variant.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-fights-new-covid-crisis-outbreaks-linked-to-shanghai-tourists-422812">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-fights-new-covid-crisis-outbreaks-linked-to-shanghai-tourists-422812/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Nearly 11 provinces in the country have reported an alarming increase of Covid infections in the past week. Since October 17, more people have been getting tested with fears of spread of Delta variant getting stronger.<o:p></o:p>

Due to this, Mi Feng, spokesman for the commission, has urged all the affected areas to adopt “emergency mode” as majority of the infected locals have been reported to have cross-region travel histories.<o:p></o:p>

Considering the rise in cases, some areas such as Gansu, Lanzhou, Inner Mangolia and a few more have halted public transport such as bus and taxi services.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, China has reported 26 new Covid infections, out of which four were asymptomatic cases in Hunan and Yunnan, seven in Inner Mongolia, six in Gansu, six in Ningxia, four in Beijing, one in Hebei, one in Hunan and one in Shaanxi, National Health Commission reported.<o:p></o:p>

Due to the rise in cases, the Wuhan Marathon, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, has also been cancelled. Meanwhile, China has also started offering booster shots in Beijing four months before the city hosts Winter Olympics.<o:p></o:p>

Authorities are urging the eligible population to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible to ensure the spread of Covid can be curbed.<o:p></o:p>

After few months of celebrating Covid-free days, China is now gearing itself for another possible huge outbreak. A health official has said that China’s Covid infections are expected to alarmingly increase in the next few days and a new outbreak may take over the country soon.

After few months of celebrating Covid-free days, China is now gearing itself for another possible huge outbreak. A health official has said that China’s Covid infections are expected to alarmingly increase in the next few days and a new outbreak may take over the country soon. As per Wu Liangyou, an official at the National Health Commission, the outgoing surge in Covid cases is due to the Delta variant. WATCH | Nearly 11 provinces in the country have reported an alarming increase of Covid infections in the past week. Since October 17, more people have been getting tested with fears of spread of Delta variant getting stronger. Due to this, Mi Feng, spokesman for the commission, has urged all the affected areas to adopt “emergency mode” as majority of the infected locals have been reported to have cross-region travel histories. Considering the rise in cases, some areas such as Gansu, Lanzhou, Inner Mangolia and a few more have halted public transport such as bus and taxi services. Meanwhile, China has reported 26 new Covid infections, out of which four were asymptomatic cases in Hunan and Yunnan, seven in Inner Mongolia, six in Gansu, six in Ningxia, four in Beijing, one in Hebei, one in Hunan and one in Shaanxi, National Health Commission reported. Due to the rise in cases, the Wuhan Marathon, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, has also been cancelled. Meanwhile, China has also started offering booster shots in Beijing four months before the city hosts Winter Olympics. Authorities are urging the eligible population to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible to ensure the spread of Covid can be curbed.

China should adopt 'emergency mode' as new Covid outbreaks are predicted: Experts

The one place which has been Covid-free since pandemic started

On Thursday, India achieved the milestone of administering one billion Covid vaccines to eligible population. As the world leaders came ahead to congratulate India, the country is already making its way to the next goal.<o:p></o:p>

As per the medical experts of the country, India will be able to achieve the target of administering another billion of vaccines in the next three to four months.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vocal-for-local-pm-modi-urges-people-to-buy-made-in-india-products-on-diwali-422855">‘Vocal for local’: PM Modi urges people to buy ‘Made in India’ products on Diwali</a></o:p>

In an exclusive interview to a media house, NDTV, Dr NK Arora, the chief of Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, said that the government and health experts are aiming to vaccinate almost all of the eligible population by the end of this year. <o:p></o:p>

"How do I reach 100% of the population by the end of the year? At least one dose we should be able to give most of the adults by the end of the year and within the next 4-6 weeks second doses will also be given," he said.<o:p></o:p>

The expert also added that while it took India over nine months to reach this target of administering one billion vaccine, the next billion can be achieved within the next three to four months. He explained that the reason behind this delay of India achieving the target was due to a delay in supply.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-administers-1-billion-doses-of-wuhan-virus-vaccines-422782">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-administers-1-billion-doses-of-wuhan-virus-vaccines-422782/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We finished 50 crores on 7th August. In October, we had expected 100 crores because that was the supply side, we knew about it. Then in the coming three months, we have the arrangement for about 80-90 crore doses. In fact, by January we will have nearly 100 crore doses. We should be able to do it (another 100 crore) within the next three to four months," he said.<o:p></o:p>

Till now, at least 31 per cent of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated and 75 per cent of the eligible population has received the first dose of approved Covid vaccines.<o:p></o:p>

Arora has claimed that as per the current progress, India will be able to vaccinate 100 per cent of the population with at least the first dose. We are left with 20% which is about 18-20 crore people who will have to be given an additional one dose. We think by the end of this year everybody will get at least one dose and there will be few who will be left for the second dose," he explained.<o:p></o:p>

On Thursday, India achieved the milestone of administering one billion Covid vaccines to eligible population. As the world leaders came ahead to congratulate India, the country is already making its way to the next goal.

On Thursday, India achieved the milestone of administering one billion Covid vaccines to eligible population. As the world leaders came ahead to congratulate India, the country is already making its way to the next goal. As per the medical experts of the country, India will be able to achieve the target of administering another billion of vaccines in the next three to four months. Also read | ‘Vocal for local’: PM Modi urges people to buy ‘Made in India’ products on Diwali In an exclusive interview to a media house, NDTV, Dr NK Arora, the chief of Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, said that the government and health experts are aiming to vaccinate almost all of the eligible population by the end of this year. "How do I reach 100% of the population by the end of the year? At least one dose we should be able to give most of the adults by the end of the year and within the next 4-6 weeks second doses will also be given," he said. The expert also added that while it took India over nine months to reach this target of administering one billion vaccine, the next billion can be achieved within the next three to four months. He explained that the reason behind this delay of India achieving the target was due to a delay in supply. WATCH | "We finished 50 crores on 7th August. In October, we had expected 100 crores because that was the supply side, we knew about it. Then in the coming three months, we have the arrangement for about 80-90 crore doses. In fact, by January we will have nearly 100 crore doses. We should be able to do it (another 100 crore) within the next three to four months," he said. Till now, at least 31 per cent of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated and 75 per cent of the eligible population has received the first dose of approved Covid vaccines. Arora has claimed that as per the current progress, India will be able to vaccinate 100 per cent of the population with at least the first dose. We are left with 20% which is about 18-20 crore people who will have to be given an additional one dose. We think by the end of this year everybody will get at least one dose and there will be few who will be left for the second dose," he explained.

India to administer next billion vaccines in next 3-4 months: Vaccine panel head

Thai Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced Thursday that vaccinated travellers from more than 40 countries will be allowed to enter the kingdom without undergoing quarantine come November 1, as it readies for a much-anticipated re-opening.

The 46 countries and territories is a significant jump from the 10 initially announced last week by Prayut, when he unveiled plans to reopen the country next month.

The ballooning list is due to Thailand's urgent need "to stimulate the tourism sector and other related business sectors," said Prayut.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/180000-healthcare-workers-may-have-died-due-to-covid-19-who-422734">180,000 healthcare workers may have died due to COVID-19: WHO</a>

"We need to move faster than that and do it now," he wrote in a post on his official Facebook page.

"This is because waiting for everything to be perfect will be too late."

Beside the United States, Britain and China, vaccinated tourists from a slew of European countries including France and Germany will be allowed in, if they are able to provide a negative Covid RT-PCR test.

Neighbours Cambodia and Malaysia are also on the "low-risk" list, as well as Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

Upon landing in Thailand, travellers will have to take another Covid test and book a single night in a government-approved hotel while awaiting the results -- before being allowed to travel freely.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-administers-1-billion-doses-of-wuhan-virus-vaccines-422782">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-administers-1-billion-doses-of-wuhan-virus-vaccines-422782/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We know that this is a rapid acceleration and there is a risk that the number of infected people will increase, but it's a risk that we have to accept," Prayut said.&nbsp;

Before the pandemic, Thailand attracted nearly 40 million visitors, with tourism making up almost 20 per cent of its national income.

Last year, the country lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue as foreign arrivals plunged 83 percent to 6.7 million.&nbsp;

Prayut had initially said earlier this year that 70 percent of all Thais must be vaccinated before the kingdom fully reopened its borders. To date, nearly 40 per cent have received two vaccine doses.

Thailand is also still registering about 10,000 cases per day -- largely fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant.

The country has more than 1.8 million cases to date and has recorded 18,559 deaths.

Thai Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced Thursday that vaccinated travellers from more than 40 countries will be allowed to enter the kingdom without undergoing quarantine come November 1, as it readies for a much-anticipated re-opening.

Thai Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced Thursday that vaccinated travellers from more than 40 countries will be allowed to enter the kingdom without undergoing quarantine come November 1, as it readies for a much-anticipated re-opening. The 46 countries and territories is a significant jump from the 10 initially announced last week by Prayut, when he unveiled plans to reopen the country next month. The ballooning list is due to Thailand's urgent need "to stimulate the tourism sector and other related business sectors," said Prayut. Also read | 180,000 healthcare workers may have died due to COVID-19: WHO "We need to move faster than that and do it now," he wrote in a post on his official Facebook page. "This is because waiting for everything to be perfect will be too late." Beside the United States, Britain and China, vaccinated tourists from a slew of European countries including France and Germany will be allowed in, if they are able to provide a negative Covid RT-PCR test. Neighbours Cambodia and Malaysia are also on the "low-risk" list, as well as Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Upon landing in Thailand, travellers will have to take another Covid test and book a single night in a government-approved hotel while awaiting the results -- before being allowed to travel freely. WATCH | "We know that this is a rapid acceleration and there is a risk that the number of infected people will increase, but it's a risk that we have to accept," Prayut said. Before the pandemic, Thailand attracted nearly 40 million visitors, with tourism making up almost 20 per cent of its national income. Last year, the country lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue as foreign arrivals plunged 83 percent to 6.7 million. Prayut had initially said earlier this year that 70 percent of all Thais must be vaccinated before the kingdom fully reopened its borders. To date, nearly 40 per cent have received two vaccine doses. Thailand is also still registering about 10,000 cases per day -- largely fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant. The country has more than 1.8 million cases to date and has recorded 18,559 deaths.

Thailand allows vaccinated tourists from 40-plus countries, PM says

As cases are alarmingly increasing in Russia, the capital city has decided to shut all its non-essential services between October 28 and November 07.<o:p></o:p>

Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin&nbsp;has announced an 11-day closure to make sure that the spread of the deadly coronavirus can be stopped.<o:p></o:p>

"Situation in&nbsp;Moscow&nbsp;is continuing to develop according to the worst-case scenario," the Mayor said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/180000-healthcare-workers-may-have-died-due-to-covid-19-who-422734">180,000 healthcare workers may have died due to COVID-19: WHO</a></o:p>

This announcement has come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a nationwide paid week off towards the end of the month. The decision has been taken to curb the spread of the virus.<o:p></o:p>

In addition to this, Putin has also shifted all of his meetings and engagements to virtual mode and has cancelled all in-person meeting. This will continue till the civilians are advised to stay at home and follow a non-working period.<o:p></o:p>

"There will be no face-to-face events taking into account the difficult epidemiological situation," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency RIA Novosti.<o:p></o:p>

During this closure of non-essential businesses in Moscow, all restaurants and cafes will be allowed to only sell take-away food. In addition to this, any large gathering is also prohibited.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-scripted-history-pm-narendra-modi-hails-indias-covid-19-vaccine-drive-422730">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-minister-shah-mahmood-qureshi-arrives-in-kabul-border-management-refugee-crisis-on-agenda-422735/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Schools will remain shut during this time; this closure time has coincided with national school holidays, giving students time to relax.<o:p></o:p>

However, theatres and museums have been allowed to operate but people can enter only if they are able to show the needed QR code on the entrance gate.<o:p></o:p>

Russia had reported 1,036 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours on Thursday. However, as only 35 per cent of the population has been vaccinated, authorities have warned people that the worst is yet to come.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, the government and medical experts are still urging locals to give up vaccine hesitancy and get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible. President Putin has also been fully vaccinated.<o:p></o:p>

As cases are alarmingly increasing in Russia, the capital city has decided to shut all its non-essential services between October 28 and November 07. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced an 11-day closure to make sure that the spread of the deadly coronavirus can be stopped.

As cases are alarmingly increasing in Russia, the capital city has decided to shut all its non-essential services between October 28 and November 07. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced an 11-day closure to make sure that the spread of the deadly coronavirus can be stopped. "Situation in Moscow is continuing to develop according to the worst-case scenario," the Mayor said. Also read | 180,000 healthcare workers may have died due to COVID-19: WHO This announcement has come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a nationwide paid week off towards the end of the month. The decision has been taken to curb the spread of the virus. In addition to this, Putin has also shifted all of his meetings and engagements to virtual mode and has cancelled all in-person meeting. This will continue till the civilians are advised to stay at home and follow a non-working period. "There will be no face-to-face events taking into account the difficult epidemiological situation," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency RIA Novosti. During this closure of non-essential businesses in Moscow, all restaurants and cafes will be allowed to only sell take-away food. In addition to this, any large gathering is also prohibited. WATCH | Schools will remain shut during this time; this closure time has coincided with national school holidays, giving students time to relax. However, theatres and museums have been allowed to operate but people can enter only if they are able to show the needed QR code on the entrance gate. Russia had reported 1,036 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours on Thursday. However, as only 35 per cent of the population has been vaccinated, authorities have warned people that the worst is yet to come. Meanwhile, the government and medical experts are still urging locals to give up vaccine hesitancy and get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible. President Putin has also been fully vaccinated.

Moscow announces closure of non-essential services as Covid cases surge

All members attending the new House of Commons session in Canada will have to be fully vaccinated to be able to attend the parliament.<o:p></o:p>

The new parliament session is scheduled to begin on November 22. The Board of Internal Economy, which administers functions of the house, and is chaired by its speaker, has announced that the all "individuals must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed within the House of Commons precinct".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/viral-infections-could-promote-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-disease-report-422249">Viral infections could promote Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease: Report</a>

This rule will be applicable to every individual entering the premises of the parliament, be it an MP, maintenance worker, researcher, administration employees, press gallery, consultants, business visitors, contractors and more.<o:p></o:p>

Only the people who can show proof of 'medical contradiction' will be allowed to enter the premises without getting fully vaccinated. However, they will have to show a negative Covid result before entering.<o:p></o:p>

"These decisions were made to meet ongoing recommendations from public health authorities to help limit the spread of Covid-19 within the work environment," the statement read

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-cases-witness-stubborn-high-in-uk-daily-cases-above-40000-for-a-week-now-422362">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-cases-witness-stubborn-high-in-uk-daily-cases-above-40000-for-a-week-now-422362/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Along with this, wearing a face mask and maintaining social distance will also be compulsory even if all members are fully vaccinated.<o:p></o:p>

This has come at a time when the government is urging locals to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible to make sure the cases do not increase once again.<o:p></o:p>

Vaccine mandates are about to be enforced at a national level for all public sector employees from the end of this month. The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reportedly, had a telephonic conversation with the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet about the same.<o:p></o:p>

He "emphasised the need for all members of parliament in the House of Commons to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19".<o:p></o:p>

All members attending the new House of Commons session in Canada will have to be fully vaccinated to be able to attend the parliament. The new parliament session is scheduled to begin on November 22.

All members attending the new House of Commons session in Canada will have to be fully vaccinated to be able to attend the parliament. The new parliament session is scheduled to begin on November 22. The Board of Internal Economy, which administers functions of the house, and is chaired by its speaker, has announced that the all "individuals must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed within the House of Commons precinct". Also read | Viral infections could promote Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease: Report This rule will be applicable to every individual entering the premises of the parliament, be it an MP, maintenance worker, researcher, administration employees, press gallery, consultants, business visitors, contractors and more. Only the people who can show proof of 'medical contradiction' will be allowed to enter the premises without getting fully vaccinated. However, they will have to show a negative Covid result before entering. "These decisions were made to meet ongoing recommendations from public health authorities to help limit the spread of Covid-19 within the work environment," the statement read WATCH | Along with this, wearing a face mask and maintaining social distance will also be compulsory even if all members are fully vaccinated. This has come at a time when the government is urging locals to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible to make sure the cases do not increase once again. Vaccine mandates are about to be enforced at a national level for all public sector employees from the end of this month. The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reportedly, had a telephonic conversation with the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet about the same. He "emphasised the need for all members of parliament in the House of Commons to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19".

Canadian MPs told to get fully vaccinated to attend House of Commons

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has rubbished all accusations against him regarding the pandemic and has said that he is 'guilty of nothing'.<o:p></o:p>

He rejected all accusations that were directed towards him in a senate committee report. "We know that we are guilty of absolutely nothing. We know that we did the right thing from the first moment,"&nbsp;he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-future-bolsonaro-sees-only-three-alternatives-prison-death-or-victory-409158">For future, Bolsonaro sees only three alternatives, prison, death or victory</a>

<o:p></o:p>

Bolsonaro has been accused of committing crimes against humanity and a few other charges by mishandling the coronavirus pandemic.<o:p></o:p>

A congressional inquiry has stated that Bolsonaro knowingly mishandled coronavirus pandemic in the country, which led to deaths of more than 600,000 Brazilians, including indigenous citizens.<o:p></o:p>

As per the final draft of the report, Bolsonaro should be charged with nine different offenses for pandemic such as crimes against humanity, propagation of pathogenic germs, fraud/ charlatanism and encouraging others to participate in these crimes too.<o:p></o:p>

"[We must] never forget what happened in this country or the innocent people who lost their lives as a result of the government's reckless handling of the pandemic,"&nbsp;the final report reads, as per the Guardian.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hes-son-of-a-whe-brazil-president-insults-supreme-court-judge-during-live-broadcast-403596">'He's son of a wh**e': Brazil President insults Supreme Court judge during live broadcast</a></o:p>

Some locals and experts believe that Brazil’s death toll of Covid is majorly due to the President’s carelessness and reckless behaviour during the pandemic.<o:p></o:p>

"The president committed many crimes and he will pay for them," the inquiry's president, Senator Omar Aziz said.<o:p></o:p>

If Bolsonaro is prosecuted as [per the charges mentioned in the final report of the report, the President will be sent to jail for his actions.<o:p></o:p>

"The report assigns more than 100 years in prison to the president of the republic. That is what the collection of suggested crimes points to," Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, the inquiry’s vice-president said.<o:p></o:p>

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has rubbished all accusations against him regarding the pandemic and has said that he is 'guilty of nothing'. He rejected all accusations that were directed towards him in a senate committee report.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has rubbished all accusations against him regarding the pandemic and has said that he is 'guilty of nothing'. He rejected all accusations that were directed towards him in a senate committee report. "We know that we are guilty of absolutely nothing. We know that we did the right thing from the first moment," he said. Also read | For future, Bolsonaro sees only three alternatives, prison, death or victory Bolsonaro has been accused of committing crimes against humanity and a few other charges by mishandling the coronavirus pandemic. A congressional inquiry has stated that Bolsonaro knowingly mishandled coronavirus pandemic in the country, which led to deaths of more than 600,000 Brazilians, including indigenous citizens. As per the final draft of the report, Bolsonaro should be charged with nine different offenses for pandemic such as crimes against humanity, propagation of pathogenic germs, fraud/ charlatanism and encouraging others to participate in these crimes too. "[We must] never forget what happened in this country or the innocent people who lost their lives as a result of the government's reckless handling of the pandemic," the final report reads, as per the Guardian. Also read | 'He's son of a wh**e': Brazil President insults Supreme Court judge during live broadcast Some locals and experts believe that Brazil’s death toll of Covid is majorly due to the President’s carelessness and reckless behaviour during the pandemic. "The president committed many crimes and he will pay for them," the inquiry's president, Senator Omar Aziz said. If Bolsonaro is prosecuted as [per the charges mentioned in the final report of the report, the President will be sent to jail for his actions. "The report assigns more than 100 years in prison to the president of the republic. That is what the collection of suggested crimes points to," Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, the inquiry’s vice-president said.

Bolsonaro says he is 'guilty of nothing' as committee accuses him of 'crimes against humanity'

The pandemic period has been tough for everyone and especially the children who have not been able to step outside and have experienced a major change in their daily lifestyle.<o:p></o:p>

Several children complained about not being able to go outdoors when the pandemic hit and everyone was asked to stay indoors at all times. "When the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, my parents told me that I cannot go out to even ride my bicycle and it felt very unreal. I was used to meeting my friends every day but then suddenly I was only allowed to talk to them for some time over call. It felt weird…and I felt incomplete," said Karishma Pundit, a 12-year-old student from New Delhi.<o:p></o:p>

It took children a few months to get accustomed to the inside world — where they were told not to step outdoors unless necessary, wear face masks, hand gloves at all times, not touch anything or talk to anyone, and more. The almost-apocalyptic world became scary at first, but children soon embraced it.

<o:p><img alt="Schools after pandemic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="655980de-da7b-4a1f-ad67-8f7c61ceb550" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Schools%20after%20pandemic.jpg" /></o:p>

However, now that the world is heading out once again and schools are reopening, parents and teachers wonder if the children would be comfortable in their old schedules again, especially the ones who have not seen a world without the pandemic.<o:p></o:p>

"Introduction to the outdoor world has to be done cautiously as they have been a safe environment for a very long time," said Vijayalakshmi K, Head of Student Wellness (Disha), The Narayana Group. "Exposing them to small groups and conduct group games will help them know about each other. They also realised the family values and bonding. Educating the child that peer friendships would help the child to develop holistically."<o:p></o:p>

In addition to this, some experts have also urged parents to slowly, and safely, allow their children to step outdoors and play socially-distanced games. It is important that parents start allowing, in fact accompany, their children to few hours outdoors every evening. This will make sure that they not only get re-accustomed to the outside world but also get some physical exercises and fresh air.

<o:p><img alt="Schools post pandemic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4da4a7d9-ce7a-4a03-898d-b6cc9718f828" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Schools%20post%20pandemic.jpg" /></o:p>

"Spending time outdoors is a great immunity booster, channelises energies in the right direction, and keeps children mentally healthy and happy,"&nbsp;said Sandhya Gatti, Head of Pedagogy and Teacher Training, Chaman Bhartiya School. "Parents must give clear instructions to children about how to keep themselves safe with sanitisers and social distancing. When rightly communicated, most children will follow rules because they know it is their only way to keep outdoors accessible."<o:p></o:p>

While it is important to make sure children stay safe from the deadly coronavirus, imposing too many dos and don’ts can have a reverse effect on children and their learning graph. Experts believe that is too many rules and regulations are imposed on children, it can dampen the spirits of children and will also demotivate them from going outdoors.<o:p></o:p>

As children head back to classrooms, it is also important to make sure that they are taught the value of friendships and peer relationships.<o:p></o:p>

"Many students develop a good personality with good friendships. Mental health improves with a good friend, and several problems like highs and low moods can be minimised," Vijayalakshmi K said. "Day to day activities like playing in the sun (team games), playing board games together can improve the relationship with peers. Making the buddy system compulsory will help with academics, and doubt clarification can be done within peers. Constant sharing of age-appropriate topics can boost memory and increase sharp thinking in children."<o:p></o:p>

The pandemic period has been tough for everyone and especially the children who have not been able to step outside and have experienced a major change in their daily lifestyle.

The pandemic period has been tough for everyone and especially the children who have not been able to step outside and have experienced a major change in their daily lifestyle. Several children complained about not being able to go outdoors when the pandemic hit and everyone was asked to stay indoors at all times. "When the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, my parents told me that I cannot go out to even ride my bicycle and it felt very unreal. I was used to meeting my friends every day but then suddenly I was only allowed to talk to them for some time over call. It felt weird…and I felt incomplete," said Karishma Pundit, a 12-year-old student from New Delhi. It took children a few months to get accustomed to the inside world — where they were told not to step outdoors unless necessary, wear face masks, hand gloves at all times, not touch anything or talk to anyone, and more. The almost-apocalyptic world became scary at first, but children soon embraced it. However, now that the world is heading out once again and schools are reopening, parents and teachers wonder if the children would be comfortable in their old schedules again, especially the ones who have not seen a world without the pandemic. "Introduction to the outdoor world has to be done cautiously as they have been a safe environment for a very long time," said Vijayalakshmi K, Head of Student Wellness (Disha), The Narayana Group. "Exposing them to small groups and conduct group games will help them know about each other. They also realised the family values and bonding. Educating the child that peer friendships would help the child to develop holistically." In addition to this, some experts have also urged parents to slowly, and safely, allow their children to step outdoors and play socially-distanced games. It is important that parents start allowing, in fact accompany, their children to few hours outdoors every evening. This will make sure that they not only get re-accustomed to the outside world but also get some physical exercises and fresh air. "Spending time outdoors is a great immunity booster, channelises energies in the right direction, and keeps children mentally healthy and happy," said Sandhya Gatti, Head of Pedagogy and Teacher Training, Chaman Bhartiya School. "Parents must give clear instructions to children about how to keep themselves safe with sanitisers and social distancing. When rightly communicated, most children will follow rules because they know it is their only way to keep outdoors accessible." While it is important to make sure children stay safe from the deadly coronavirus, imposing too many dos and don’ts can have a reverse effect on children and their learning graph. Experts believe that is too many rules and regulations are imposed on children, it can dampen the spirits of children and will also demotivate them from going outdoors. As children head back to classrooms, it is also important to make sure that they are taught the value of friendships and peer relationships. "Many students develop a good personality with good friendships. Mental health improves with a good friend, and several problems like highs and low moods can be minimised," Vijayalakshmi K said. "Day to day activities like playing in the sun (team games), playing board games together can improve the relationship with peers. Making the buddy system compulsory will help with academics, and doubt clarification can be done within peers. Constant sharing of age-appropriate topics can boost memory and increase sharp thinking in children."

As schools shift back to classroom teaching, are students ready to be reintroduced to outer world?

As the UK observes another increase in Covid cases around the country, health experts are urging the Boris Johnson government to reintroduce curbs.<o:p></o:p>

On Wednesday, the healthcare leaders urged the British government to reintroduce Covid-related curbs in the country to make sure that the cases do not increase in the upcoming winter season.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senate-report-calls-for-homicide-charge-against-brazil-president-bolsonaro-over-covid-19-errors-422173">Senate report calls for homicide charge against Brazil President Bolsonaro over COVID-19 errors</a></o:p>

"We've got a very particular problem over this winter, and we need to act," Matthew Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation told Sky News.<o:p></o:p>

He also added that when ministers talk about Covid cases in the country, they are not paying heed to the number of people waiting in the emergency rooms, being treated in ambulances and the hospital backlogs.<o:p></o:p>

Is it better to act early and take measures which don't stop the economy working -- but I recognise they are inconvenient for people -- or do we wait for things to get worse and possibly risk having to take more severe measures?" he added.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-workers-face-job-losses-as-vaccine-mandates-kick-in-422285">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-workers-face-job-losses-as-vaccine-mandates-kick-in-422285/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, the ministers are hesitant about reintroducing curbs as they believe the locals should now learn to live with coronavirus. He also adde3d that hospitals are starting to feel pressure due to the increasing cases, and the government should take immediate action.<o:p></o:p>

The Johnson administration believes that reintroducing Covid-related restrictions — such as restricting number of customers in shops, cafes etc — can be a huge blow to the industry. Ministers have claimed that there is no plan of bringing back those restrictions anytime soon.<o:p></o:p>

"This is a virus that we are learning to live with," Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told the BBC. "Clearly any increase is concerning and we're monitoring the data on a daily basis.&nbsp;But for now, we think that this policy is working."<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, the government is urging the eligible population to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible. They have also added that getting vaccinated can also help protect children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.<o:p></o:p>

As the UK observes another increase in Covid cases around the country, health experts are urging the Boris Johnson government to reintroduce curbs. On Wednesday, the healthcare leaders urged the British government to reintroduce Covid-related curbs in the country to make sure that the cases do not increase in the upcoming winter season.

As the UK observes another increase in Covid cases around the country, health experts are urging the Boris Johnson government to reintroduce curbs. On Wednesday, the healthcare leaders urged the British government to reintroduce Covid-related curbs in the country to make sure that the cases do not increase in the upcoming winter season. Also read | Senate report calls for homicide charge against Brazil President Bolsonaro over COVID-19 errors "We've got a very particular problem over this winter, and we need to act," Matthew Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation told Sky News. He also added that when ministers talk about Covid cases in the country, they are not paying heed to the number of people waiting in the emergency rooms, being treated in ambulances and the hospital backlogs. Is it better to act early and take measures which don't stop the economy working -- but I recognise they are inconvenient for people -- or do we wait for things to get worse and possibly risk having to take more severe measures?" he added. WATCH | However, the ministers are hesitant about reintroducing curbs as they believe the locals should now learn to live with coronavirus. He also adde3d that hospitals are starting to feel pressure due to the increasing cases, and the government should take immediate action. The Johnson administration believes that reintroducing Covid-related restrictions — such as restricting number of customers in shops, cafes etc — can be a huge blow to the industry. Ministers have claimed that there is no plan of bringing back those restrictions anytime soon. "This is a virus that we are learning to live with," Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told the BBC. "Clearly any increase is concerning and we're monitoring the data on a daily basis. But for now, we think that this policy is working." Meanwhile, the government is urging the eligible population to get vaccinated against coronavirus as soon as possible. They have also added that getting vaccinated can also help protect children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

'Bring back Covid regulations', urge health experts as cases in UK rise again

The day was a little gloomy, even though the sun was shining bright. It was a little cold but we had just battled an extreme winter so this March weather didn’t feel that bad. Suddenly when my phone started buzzing, I thought I had forgotten someone's birthday and therefore the group messages are piling. However, the news they were discussing was not something I could have ever imagined. Our schools were getting shut due to Covid and we had no idea when will they reopen.

Vidhi Dahiya, a high school student in India remembers her last 'normal'&nbsp;days in the school. The girl who was once a high-energy, dance-addicted&nbsp;extrovert, has not been infected by Covid yet but has definitely caught on the slow-paced life since the pandemic.

It is not just her; many other students have now gone from hanging out daily with their friends to simply dropping a 'sup?' text message to their friends once a week.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/teachers-day-more-working-hours-lack-of-privacy-and-tech-ghost-how-teachers-coped-with-the-new-normal-of-virtual-teaching-410883">More working hours, lack of privacy and tech ghost: How teachers coped with the 'new normal' of virtual teaching</a>

The coronavirus pandemic not only altered the teaching style in schools, but has also brought a variety of other impacts for children. Sometimes, it seems they are more inclined towards technology now but they have also lost actual communication with their peers.

Some parents are worried that the pandemic-caused virtual teaching might be turning their children into introverts.

<img alt="Virtual classrooms" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="227d4f00-5607-4295-9daa-e18f802b56c0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/SCHOOLS_MAC-13.jpg" />

"I felt I had become more introverted and inhibited during this period. I seem to feel some sort of inhibition towards physical contact, making friends or interacting with strangers," said Shianvi Dogra from Grade 6, Chaman Bhartiya School, Bengaluru, India. "I found it difficult to focus, and because I was isolated, I found it difficult to do my regular schoolwork such as taking notes."

However, experts are not in complete agreement with this as they feel this is a temporary change.

Sense of isolation

"Online sessions may have created a sense of isolation. There may not have been a complete shift for the extroverts but definitely a new perspective mention-worthy," said Vijayalakshmi K, Head of Student Wellness (Disha), The Narayana Group. "While the introverts have gained more comfort and seen their so-called shortcomings, the neutral effect of the work from home scenario has acted as a neutral pacifier."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-independence-these-gems-of-indian-higher-education-are-envy-of-the-world-404595">India Independence: These gems of Indian higher education are envy of the world</a>

Vijayalakshmi K also believes that while virtual classrooms might have been a huge shift, children have been smart enough to utilise their energies into doing something creative while staying indoors.

"The huge spaces came down to small rooms at home. With little or no space where students had to learn to express themselves through social media in order to satisfy their attention needs," the expert said.

"Though play and interaction came down to zero, the students were able to spend their energies mentally through the virtual world."

<img alt="Virtual classrooms" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="40f13f35-9732-46ab-84e8-91d463ea86b3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/download.jpeg" />

Sandhya Gatti, Head of Pedagogy and Teacher Training, Chaman Bhartiya School agrees with Vijayalakshmi K. She also believes that while it may seem like children are turning into introverts, this change is temporary. "When children resume play, their natural personalities will come to the fore and they will be themselves again," Gatti said.

Shianvi Dogra also agreed to it as she has observed her personality changing back to her old-self since she has started going back to school. "The inhibitions I had developed during the pandemic, with regard to interacting with other people or approaching others, have reduced after I have recently started attending physical classes. I also feel more positive and energised and physically active as I cycle to school every day."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/idp-to-buy-british-council-indias-english-testing-service-ielts-for-ps130-million-396823">IDP to buy British Council India's English testing service IELTS for £130 million</a>

However, she also urges parents and teachers to make sure children have the right support to manage this shift in their life. "Setting the right environment and expectations during this transition is crucial. For children who are still at home, it is important, that parents spend time with their children and give them opportunities to meet people and friends, with due precautions in place," she said.

Mental health

A survey conducted by the Gopal Narayan Singh University on more than 1,800 students from tier-1, 2 and 3 cities has revealed that while students do not report such a huge shift in their friend’s personalities, all of them do complain about similar problems — laziness, not motivated to write and not being able to stay without a gadget.

One thing that this survey pointed out was deteriorating mental health of students who were already seeking help from professionals. "Students who had any mental health issues could not reach out to the professionals as the parents wouldn’t encourage this," the survey states. Since they children stayed at home all day, they were also unable to share anything with their therapists and counsellors. "Some students who have had any previous diagnosis of depression or any other concern showed little or no improvement and got very delicate with the excessive care of self (as eating more and no exercise were noticed)."

Happily back on campus

Students are also welcoming the 'back to campus' days now, after staying home for more than a year. They were happy to meet their friends face-to-face and be able to interact with the teachers in pre-Covid normal way. Some students also took a sigh of relief with reopening of schools as poor network connectivity in their areas was leading to them missing out on all important school teachings and social interactions.

<img alt="Virtual classrooms" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6854d720-da88-4d6f-a921-a6da7eeca560" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/download%20%281%29.jpeg" />

While the students are happy about returning back to schools, the constant fear of getting infected, wearing masks, social distancing and constantly sanitising hands is taking away all the fun away from them.

"The one thing that I find irritating about the physical classroom right now, is the fact that I have to constantly sanitise my hands and even though I want to hug my friends, I cannot," Shianvi Dogra frowned.

Parents, pay heed

More experts around the world are now turning their focus on personality changes children have gone through during this pandemic. While we wait for experts to find a solution to this unexpected change, mental health experts are urging parents to pay more attention to their children's needs.

"Parents must allow children a healthy dose of open-air and physical activities for several important reasons. Spending time outdoors is a great immunity booster, channelises energies in the right direction, and keeps children mentally healthy and happy," said Ms Gatti. "Parents must give clear instructions to children about how to keep themselves safe with sanitisers and social distancing. When rightly communicated, most children will follow rules because they know it is their only way to keep outdoors accessible."

She also warns parents to make children aware about the dangers of the Covid pandemic but "we must be careful not to terrify them or project our fears onto them".

The day was a little gloomy, even though the sun was shining bright. It was a little cold but we had just battled an extreme winter so this March weather didn’t feel that bad.

The day was a little gloomy, even though the sun was shining bright. It was a little cold but we had just battled an extreme winter so this March weather didn’t feel that bad. Suddenly when my phone started buzzing, I thought I had forgotten someone's birthday and therefore the group messages are piling. However, the news they were discussing was not something I could have ever imagined. Our schools were getting shut due to Covid and we had no idea when will they reopen. Vidhi Dahiya, a high school student in India remembers her last 'normal' days in the school. The girl who was once a high-energy, dance-addicted extrovert, has not been infected by Covid yet but has definitely caught on the slow-paced life since the pandemic. It is not just her; many other students have now gone from hanging out daily with their friends to simply dropping a 'sup?' text message to their friends once a week. Also read | More working hours, lack of privacy and tech ghost: How teachers coped with the 'new normal' of virtual teaching The coronavirus pandemic not only altered the teaching style in schools, but has also brought a variety of other impacts for children. Sometimes, it seems they are more inclined towards technology now but they have also lost actual communication with their peers. Some parents are worried that the pandemic-caused virtual teaching might be turning their children into introverts. "I felt I had become more introverted and inhibited during this period. I seem to feel some sort of inhibition towards physical contact, making friends or interacting with strangers," said Shianvi Dogra from Grade 6, Chaman Bhartiya School, Bengaluru, India. "I found it difficult to focus, and because I was isolated, I found it difficult to do my regular schoolwork such as taking notes." However, experts are not in complete agreement with this as they feel this is a temporary change. Sense of isolation "Online sessions may have created a sense of isolation. There may not have been a complete shift for the extroverts but definitely a new perspective mention-worthy," said Vijayalakshmi K, Head of Student Wellness (Disha), The Narayana Group. "While the introverts have gained more comfort and seen their so-called shortcomings, the neutral effect of the work from home scenario has acted as a neutral pacifier." Also read | India Independence: These gems of Indian higher education are envy of the world Vijayalakshmi K also believes that while virtual classrooms might have been a huge shift, children have been smart enough to utilise their energies into doing something creative while staying indoors. "The huge spaces came down to small rooms at home. With little or no space where students had to learn to express themselves through social media in order to satisfy their attention needs," the expert said. "Though play and interaction came down to zero, the students were able to spend their energies mentally through the virtual world." Sandhya Gatti, Head of Pedagogy and Teacher Training, Chaman Bhartiya School agrees with Vijayalakshmi K. She also believes that while it may seem like children are turning into introverts, this change is temporary. "When children resume play, their natural personalities will come to the fore and they will be themselves again," Gatti said. Shianvi Dogra also agreed to it as she has observed her personality changing back to her old-self since she has started going back to school. "The inhibitions I had developed during the pandemic, with regard to interacting with other people or approaching others, have reduced after I have recently started attending physical classes. I also feel more positive and energised and physically active as I cycle to school every day." Also read | IDP to buy British Council India's English testing service IELTS for £130 million However, she also urges parents and teachers to make sure children have the right support to manage this shift in their life. "Setting the right environment and expectations during this transition is crucial. For children who are still at home, it is important, that parents spend time with their children and give them opportunities to meet people and friends, with due precautions in place," she said. Mental health A survey conducted by the Gopal Narayan Singh University on more than 1,800 students from tier-1, 2 and 3 cities has revealed that while students do not report such a huge shift in their friend’s personalities, all of them do complain about similar problems — laziness, not motivated to write and not being able to stay without a gadget. One thing that this survey pointed out was deteriorating mental health of students who were already seeking help from professionals. "Students who had any mental health issues could not reach out to the professionals as the parents wouldn’t encourage this," the survey states. Since they children stayed at home all day, they were also unable to share anything with their therapists and counsellors. "Some students who have had any previous diagnosis of depression or any other concern showed little or no improvement and got very delicate with the excessive care of self (as eating more and no exercise were noticed)." Happily back on campus Students are also welcoming the 'back to campus' days now, after staying home for more than a year. They were happy to meet their friends face-to-face and be able to interact with the teachers in pre-Covid normal way. Some students also took a sigh of relief with reopening of schools as poor network connectivity in their areas was leading to them missing out on all important school teachings and social interactions. While the students are happy about returning back to schools, the constant fear of getting infected, wearing masks, social distancing and constantly sanitising hands is taking away all the fun away from them. "The one thing that I find irritating about the physical classroom right now, is the fact that I have to constantly sanitise my hands and even though I want to hug my friends, I cannot," Shianvi Dogra frowned. Parents, pay heed More experts around the world are now turning their focus on personality changes children have gone through during this pandemic. While we wait for experts to find a solution to this unexpected change, mental health experts are urging parents to pay more attention to their children's needs. "Parents must allow children a healthy dose of open-air and physical activities for several important reasons. Spending time outdoors is a great immunity booster, channelises energies in the right direction, and keeps children mentally healthy and happy," said Ms Gatti. "Parents must give clear instructions to children about how to keep themselves safe with sanitisers and social distancing. When rightly communicated, most children will follow rules because they know it is their only way to keep outdoors accessible." She also warns parents to make children aware about the dangers of the Covid pandemic but "we must be careful not to terrify them or project our fears onto them".

Are virtual classrooms in post-pandemic world turning your kids into introverts than extroverts?

In pics | Social distancing goes for a toss at Grand Mosque in Mecca

In what can be called an outrage against harsh COVID-19 policies in Australia, social media seems to be abuzz with several comments, reposts, etc after a video went viral, where Melbourne police can be seen checking a man’s coffee cup to see if it was empty or not to verify his excuse for not wearing a mask. &nbsp;

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Melbourne Police grabs a guy’s coffee cup to check if there is coffee in it otherwise, he would of fined him for not wearing a mask 👀 
 
Coffee is known to kill COVID 🙃☕️ <a href="https://t.co/7wUB1lBXDF">pic.twitter.com/7wUB1lBXDF</a>
— DIOGO THE FIVE8 (@Diogothefive8) <a href="https://twitter.com/Diogothefive8/status/1449208824380854275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The video footage, which shows several police officers confronting a man at a park trail, has caught attention of several users. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-island-state-enters-snap-lockdown-421275" hreflang="en">Australia island state enters snap lockdown</a>

It is unclear when the 10-second clip was recorded exactly. It had gone viral on social media on Friday and Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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It's a police state, when you have a policeman checking your coffee cup so he can fine you for not wearing a mask if it's empty. Defunding the police seems like the natural next step. This country is in a big authoritarian mess with no leaders
— antoniopablo1967 (@APablo1967) <a href="https://twitter.com/APablo1967/status/1449329589918973956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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An officer grabs the man’s coffee cup, while asking, “Do you mind if I check if there’s actually anything in that?” The cop shakes the cup, and after getting satisfied that there was liquid inside, he returns it and tells the man, “Enjoy your coffee.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-new-zealand-vaccinates-25-population-in-one-day-421337" hreflang="en">COVID-19: New Zealand vaccinates 2.5% population in one day</a>

At the end, the man tells the police, “Jesus loves you all. God bless. I’ll be praying for you all.” &nbsp;

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Why wasn’t the officer forced to change his gloves to touch another person’s property? He could easily spread Covid
— Grant Fairley (@grant_fairley) <a href="https://twitter.com/grant_fairley/status/1449285707529285636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Although the parkgoer dealt with the confrontation calmly and cordially, the netizens saw it as another example of Australia’s apparent Covid-19 “authoritarianism.” &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what can be called an outrage against harsh COVID-19 policies in Australia, social media seems to be abuzz with several comments, reposts, etc after a video went viral, where Melbourne police can be seen checking a man’s coffee cup to see if it was empty or not to verify his excuse for not wearing a mask.

In what can be called an outrage against harsh COVID-19 policies in Australia, social media seems to be abuzz with several comments, reposts, etc after a video went viral, where Melbourne police can be seen checking a man’s coffee cup to see if it was empty or not to verify his excuse for not wearing a mask. Melbourne Police grabs a guy’s coffee cup to check if there is coffee in it otherwise, he would of fined him for not wearing a mask 👀 Coffee is known to kill COVID 🙃☕️ pic.twitter.com/7wUB1lBXDF — DIOGO THE FIVE8 (@Diogothefive8) October 16, 2021 × The video footage, which shows several police officers confronting a man at a park trail, has caught attention of several users. Also Read: Australia island state enters snap lockdown It is unclear when the 10-second clip was recorded exactly. It had gone viral on social media on Friday and Saturday. It's a police state, when you have a policeman checking your coffee cup so he can fine you for not wearing a mask if it's empty. Defunding the police seems like the natural next step. This country is in a big authoritarian mess with no leaders — antoniopablo1967 (@APablo1967) October 16, 2021 × An officer grabs the man’s coffee cup, while asking, “Do you mind if I check if there’s actually anything in that?” The cop shakes the cup, and after getting satisfied that there was liquid inside, he returns it and tells the man, “Enjoy your coffee.” Also Read: COVID-19: New Zealand vaccinates 2.5% population in one day At the end, the man tells the police, “Jesus loves you all. God bless. I’ll be praying for you all.” Why wasn’t the officer forced to change his gloves to touch another person’s property? He could easily spread Covid — Grant Fairley (@grant_fairley) October 16, 2021 × Although the parkgoer dealt with the confrontation calmly and cordially, the netizens saw it as another example of Australia’s apparent Covid-19 “authoritarianism.” (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Australian cops check man’s beverage to verify excuse for not wearing mask, enrage netizens

Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund Gita Gopinath said on Tuesday that India is doing well in terms of vaccinating its own people, which is undoubtedly beneficial to its economy, as the global financial organisation forecast 9.5 per cent growth for India in 2021 in its current projection. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-economy-to-grow-at-95-per-cent-in-2021-imf-420211">Also read | Indian economy to grow at 9.5 per cent in 2021: IMF</a>

"We haven't changed our growth projection for India for this year.I mean, India got out of a very, very challenging second wave, which resulted in a huge downgrade in July, but we have no change (in its growth rate predictions) as of now, said Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of the IMF, during a virtual conference call with reporters on Tuesday.&nbsp;

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<h5>She stated that in order to ensure consistent growth, India must maintain its vaccination rate, and that public infrastructure investment will accelerate economic recovery.</h5>
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Watch | India to resume export of COVID-19 vaccines

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-to-resume-export-of-covid-19-vaccines-419098/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India's growth estimate in the current World Economic Outlook is unchanged from the previous WEO update in July this summer, although it is three percentage points lower in 2021 and 1.6 percentage points lower than in April.

According to the most recent WEO update, issued before of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, India's GDP, which fell by 7.3% last year owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, is predicted to expand by 9.5% in 2021 and 8.5% in 2022.

The global economy is expected to grow at a 5.9 percent annual rate in 2021 and 4.9 percent in 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund Gita Gopinath said on Tuesday that India is doing well in terms of vaccinating its own people, which is undoubtedly beneficial to its economy, as the global financial organisation forecast 9.

Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund Gita Gopinath said on Tuesday that India is doing well in terms of vaccinating its own people, which is undoubtedly beneficial to its economy, as the global financial organisation forecast 9.5 per cent growth for India in 2021 in its current projection. Also read | Indian economy to grow at 9.5 per cent in 2021: IMF "We haven't changed our growth projection for India for this year.I mean, India got out of a very, very challenging second wave, which resulted in a huge downgrade in July, but we have no change (in its growth rate predictions) as of now, said Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of the IMF, during a virtual conference call with reporters on Tuesday. She stated that in order to ensure consistent growth, India must maintain its vaccination rate, and that public infrastructure investment will accelerate economic recovery. × Watch | India to resume export of COVID-19 vaccines India's growth estimate in the current World Economic Outlook is unchanged from the previous WEO update in July this summer, although it is three percentage points lower in 2021 and 1.6 percentage points lower than in April. According to the most recent WEO update, issued before of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, India's GDP, which fell by 7.3% last year owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, is predicted to expand by 9.5% in 2021 and 8.5% in 2022. The global economy is expected to grow at a 5.9 percent annual rate in 2021 and 4.9 percent in 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

High vaccination rate will aid India's economic recovery: Gita Gopinath

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has revealed he received nasty messages from people after contracting COVID-19 during the first leg of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in India which led to the tournament getting postponed and later shifted to the UAE. The current edition of the IPL is the first to be taking place across two legs.

IPL 2021 kicked off in India in April this year but had to be stalled in May after a string of positive COVID-19 tests across the camps of several teams. The league was suspended midway and the overseas players were sent back home amid chaos.&nbsp;

KKR spinner Chakravarthy was the first player to test positive for the infection on May 02. Following his positive test, another KKR player Sandeep Warrier had also tested positive for the virus. Chakravarthy opened up on contracting the infection which led to the suspension of the league in May this year, and revealed how he was abused by people on social media, with some even cursing him to death.

“I remember when Dr. Srikanth just called and I still remember the words he told me, it’s unfortunately positive Varun. So that just shattered everything. I really didn’t know that it is going to blow up so much. I even got emails and messages on Instagram where people told me “Rather you should have been dead," Chakravarthy said in a video released by KKR on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on Sunday (October 10).

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In a world where you can be anything, be kind 
 
This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldMentalHeathDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldMentalHeathDay</a>, let's pledge to refrain from social media trolling as you never know the damage it may cause.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRFilms?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRFilms</a> x Payments on <a href="https://twitter.com/amazonIN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@amazonIN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PayAmazonSe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PayAmazonSe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/EQO3ZvTOn5">pic.twitter.com/EQO3ZvTOn5</a>
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1447110922351251461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/everyone-wanted-him-to-be-like-ms-dhoni-yuzvendra-chahal-recalls-rishabh-pants-initial-struggles-419679">'Everyone wanted him to be like MS Dhoni': Yuzvendra Chahal recalls Rishabh Pant's initial struggles</a>

Former Kolkata Knight Riders captain and wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik also shared his views on online trolling and its impact on the mental health of the players, who are already under immense pressure. Karthik said social media needs to be kinder to people at times.

“And that’s where I feel sometimes social media needs to be a kinder place. People don’t realize the gravity of what they say. Be it memes, be it videos, be it you know just the use of words. It is a spur of the moment thing for them at that point of time instinctively what they feel, they just put it out there, not realizing what the person reading it will go through,” said Karthik.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has revealed he received nasty messages from people after contracting COVID-19 during the first leg of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in India which led to the tournament getting postponed and later shifted to the UAE.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has revealed he received nasty messages from people after contracting COVID-19 during the first leg of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in India which led to the tournament getting postponed and later shifted to the UAE. The current edition of the IPL is the first to be taking place across two legs. IPL 2021 kicked off in India in April this year but had to be stalled in May after a string of positive COVID-19 tests across the camps of several teams. The league was suspended midway and the overseas players were sent back home amid chaos. KKR spinner Chakravarthy was the first player to test positive for the infection on May 02. Following his positive test, another KKR player Sandeep Warrier had also tested positive for the virus. Chakravarthy opened up on contracting the infection which led to the suspension of the league in May this year, and revealed how he was abused by people on social media, with some even cursing him to death. “I remember when Dr. Srikanth just called and I still remember the words he told me, it’s unfortunately positive Varun. So that just shattered everything. I really didn’t know that it is going to blow up so much. I even got emails and messages on Instagram where people told me “Rather you should have been dead," Chakravarthy said in a video released by KKR on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on Sunday (October 10). In a world where you can be anything, be kind This #WorldMentalHeathDay, let's pledge to refrain from social media trolling as you never know the damage it may cause.#KKRFilms x Payments on @amazonIN #PayAmazonSe #KKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/EQO3ZvTOn5 — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 10, 2021 × Also Read: 'Everyone wanted him to be like MS Dhoni': Yuzvendra Chahal recalls Rishabh Pant's initial struggles Former Kolkata Knight Riders captain and wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik also shared his views on online trolling and its impact on the mental health of the players, who are already under immense pressure. Karthik said social media needs to be kinder to people at times. “And that’s where I feel sometimes social media needs to be a kinder place. People don’t realize the gravity of what they say. Be it memes, be it videos, be it you know just the use of words. It is a spur of the moment thing for them at that point of time instinctively what they feel, they just put it out there, not realizing what the person reading it will go through,” said Karthik.

Got messages saying you should have been dead: Varun Chakravarthy on contracting COVID-19 during IPL's 1st leg

As the world grapples with COVID-19, influenza is not getting much attention these days. But the flu’s global impact is staggering: 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness every year and up to 650,000 deaths. Every few decades, a new flu strain spills over from animals and leads to a pandemic.

The deadly toll of influenza is all the more striking when you consider that we have had vaccines to fight it for eight decades. But they remain mediocre. A flu shot is good for only one flu season, and its effectiveness typically reaches somewhere between 40 per cent and 60 per cent. In some years, it is as low as 10 per cent.

But a new generation of highly effective flu vaccines may emerge in the next few years, based on the same mRNA technology that has protected hundreds of millions of people against COVID.

Although traditional influenza vaccines are grown for months in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines are manufactured relatively quickly from scratch. In theory, their faster production may make them better matched to each season’s flu strains. And when they are injected into people, they may provoke a stronger immune response than traditional flu vaccines do.

Two companies — Moderna, the Massachusetts biotech company that produced one of the authorized mRNA vaccines for COVID, and Sanofi, a French maker of vaccines — began trials for mRNA flu vaccines this summer. Pfizer and BioNTech, the companies that produced the other mRNA COVID vaccine, started their own flu trial last month. And Seqirus, a vaccine producer based in England, is planning to test another mRNA vaccine for the flu early next year.

No one can say for sure how well any of these four seasonal flu vaccines will turn out, but many experts are optimistic. And further down the line, mRNA technology may be tailored to make vaccines that work for years against a wide range of influenza strains.

“I am beyond excited for the future of flu vaccination,” said Jenna Bartley, an immunologist at the University of Connecticut.

Not Good Enough

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the worst in modern history, killing between 50 million and 100 million people. As the death toll climbed, doctors responded by inoculating people by the thousands with an assortment of experimental vaccines. None of them worked.

Scientists at the time wrongly believed that disease was caused by bacteria, not viruses. That error led them to make vaccines from the microbes they gathered in the sputum of flu patients. The vaccines were useless at mounting an immune defense against the viral disease.

It was not until 1933 that British virologists isolated the influenza virus, finally making it possible to design an effective vaccine. Researchers injected influenza viruses into chicken eggs, where they multiplied. Once they had extracted and purified the new viruses, they killed them with chemicals and injected the inactivated viruses into people.

The United States licensed the first commercial influenza vaccine in 1945. The Nobel-prize-winning virus expert Wendell Stanley hailed the milestone, declaring that the vaccine would prevent influenza from ever again becoming “one of the great destroyers of human life.”

But the vaccine did not quite live up to Stanley’s hopes. Influenza outfoxed it with an awesome power to mutate.

During an influenza infection, cells in our airway begin copying the virus’s genome, allowing it to proliferate. The copying process results in lots of genetic errors. Sometimes these mutations will enable the virus to escape the body’s immune response spurred by a vaccine.

Flu viruses also have another route to rapid evolution. If two types of flu viruses infect the same cell, it can produce a genetic hybrid, which may evade vaccine-triggered immunity even more successfully.

This extraordinary capacity for change also explains why several strains of flu may circulate in a single flu season and new strains may rise to dominance the following year.

“The flu virus, for lack of a better word, is just kind of a jerk,” Bartley said.

Vaccine makers have responded by including up to four different strains in their annual formulations. But because producing vaccines in chicken eggs is such a slow process, scientists must choose which strains to include several months before a flu season, often leading to a mismatch when the shape-shifting virus actually arrives.

“It’s an educated guessing game,” said Dr. Alicia Widge, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center. “We’re always catching up with the virus.”

Between 2004 and 2019, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine ranged from as high as 60&nbsp;per cent to as low as 10 per cent. Even that modest protection translates into a lot of benefit, however, because so many people get the flu every year. In addition to lowering the odds of getting infected, the vaccine also lowers the chances that people sick with the flu have to go to the hospital.

In the 2018-19 flu season, the flu vaccine — with an effectiveness of just 29&nbsp;per cent — prevented an estimated 4.4 million illnesses in the United States alone, plus 58,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, according to one study.

If scientists could make more robust flu vaccines, they could potentially save thousands of additional lives.

“The bottom line is that the flu vaccines we have aren’t good enough,” said Nicholas Heaton, a virus expert at Duke University School of Medicine.

Immune Factories

In the 1990s, a few researchers set out on an entirely new course, making flu vaccines from mRNA.

The idea behind the technology was radically different from the chicken egg approach. In effect, the new shots would turn people’s own cells into vaccine factories.

Scientists would create an mRNA molecule with the instructions for making an influenza protein, then deliver it into cells. Those cells would then make copies of the viral protein, some of which would end up on their surface. Immune cells passing by would detect the alien proteins and respond with a defense against the virus.

In 1993, a team of French scientists conducted the first experiments on an mRNA vaccine for the flu. The vaccines produced promising responses in mice but were still primitive. For one thing, the animal’s cells sometimes responded to the vaccine’s mRNA by destroying it, as if it belonged to a foreign enemy. It took more than two decades of additional lab work before mRNA vaccines were ready for human trials.

When Moderna formed in 2010 to bring mRNA vaccines to the clinic, influenza was one of the first diseases it tackled. The company started with vaccines for two flu strains that normally infected birds but sometimes sickened people — exactly the kind of viruses that might give rise to new pandemics.

Moderna's first clinical trial results, in 2016, were encouraging. The volunteers produced antibodies against the viruses, although they also had side effects such as fever and fatigue. The results spurred Moderna to build a new factory in Norwood, Massachusetts, where the company could make large quantities of mRNA for more clinical trials.

The company began developing a new flu vaccine, this one for seasonal influenza rather than for pandemics. And the researchers worked on making the side effects of the vaccine less severe.

“You want folks to feel comfortable strolling into CVS and getting their shot, and not be worried about adverse events,” said Rose Loughlin, vice president for research and development strategy at Moderna.

But then in early 2020, just as they were hoping to begin a new flu trial, the scientists had to shelve the plan. A new coronavirus was exploding in China.

Combo Shots

Over the next year, Moderna made and tested a COVID mRNA vaccine with record speed. And its shot, like that of its primary competitor, Pfizer-BioNTech, was remarkably protective, with an efficacy rate around 95 per cent.

The success of mRNA vaccines delivered huge revenues to both companies. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is on track to become the bestselling medicine of all time. And Moderna’s market cap since the beginning of the pandemic increased nineteenfold to around $123 billion.

Riding the mRNA wave, these companies, along with Sanofi and Seqirus, are moving on to seasonal flu projects.

Jean-François Toussaint, Sanofi Pasteur’s head of global research and development, cautioned that the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID did not guarantee similar results for influenza.

“We need to be humble,” he said. “The data will tell us if it works.”

But some studies suggest that mRNA vaccines might prove more potent than traditional ones. In animal studies, mRNA vaccines seem to provide a broader defense against influenza viruses. They prompt the animals’ immune systems to make antibodies against the virus and also train immune cells to attack infected cells.

But perhaps most importantly for the flu, mRNA vaccines can be made rapidly. The speed of mRNA manufacturing may allow vaccine makers to wait a few extra months before picking which influenza strains to use, potentially leading to a better match.

“If you could guarantee 80&nbsp;per cent every year, I think that would be a major public health benefit,” said Dr. Philip Dormitzer, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer.

The technology also makes it easier for mRNA vaccine makers to create combination shots. Along with mRNA molecules for different strains of influenza, they can also add mRNA molecules for entirely different respiratory diseases.

At a Sept. 9 presentation for investors, Moderna shared results from a new experiment in which researchers gave mice vaccines combining mRNAs for three respiratory viruses: seasonal flu, COVID and a common virus called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The mice produced high levels of antibodies against all three viruses.

Other researchers have been searching for a universal flu vaccine that could protect people for many years by fending off a broad range of influenza strains. Rather than an annual shot, people might need only a booster every few years. In the best-case scenario, one vaccination might even work for a lifetime.

At the University of Pennsylvania, a team of researchers led by Norbert Pardi is developing mRNA vaccines that encode proteins from influenza viruses that mutate only rarely. Experiments in animals hint that these vaccines could remain effective from year to year.

Although Moderna is not working on a universal flu vaccine at the moment, “it’s absolutely something we’d be interested in for the future,” said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, the company’s head of infectious disease research.

Even if mRNA flu vaccines live up to expectations, they will probably need a few years to gain approval. Trials for mRNA flu vaccines will not get the tremendous government support that COVID vaccines did. Nor will regulators be allowing them to get emergency authorization. Seasonal flu is hardly a new threat, and it can already be countered with licensed vaccines.

So the manufacturers will have to take the longer path to full approval. If the early clinical trials turn out well, vaccine makers will then have to move on to large-scale trials that may need to stretch through several flu seasons.

“It should work,” said Bartley of the University of Connecticut. “But obviously that’s why we do research — to make sure ‘should’ and ‘does’ are the same thing.”

As the world grapples with COVID-19, influenza is not getting much attention these days. But the flu’s global impact is staggering: 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness every year and up to 650,000 deaths.

As the world grapples with COVID-19, influenza is not getting much attention these days. But the flu’s global impact is staggering: 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness every year and up to 650,000 deaths. Every few decades, a new flu strain spills over from animals and leads to a pandemic. The deadly toll of influenza is all the more striking when you consider that we have had vaccines to fight it for eight decades. But they remain mediocre. A flu shot is good for only one flu season, and its effectiveness typically reaches somewhere between 40 per cent and 60 per cent. In some years, it is as low as 10 per cent. But a new generation of highly effective flu vaccines may emerge in the next few years, based on the same mRNA technology that has protected hundreds of millions of people against COVID. Although traditional influenza vaccines are grown for months in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines are manufactured relatively quickly from scratch. In theory, their faster production may make them better matched to each season’s flu strains. And when they are injected into people, they may provoke a stronger immune response than traditional flu vaccines do. Two companies — Moderna, the Massachusetts biotech company that produced one of the authorized mRNA vaccines for COVID, and Sanofi, a French maker of vaccines — began trials for mRNA flu vaccines this summer. Pfizer and BioNTech, the companies that produced the other mRNA COVID vaccine, started their own flu trial last month. And Seqirus, a vaccine producer based in England, is planning to test another mRNA vaccine for the flu early next year. No one can say for sure how well any of these four seasonal flu vaccines will turn out, but many experts are optimistic. And further down the line, mRNA technology may be tailored to make vaccines that work for years against a wide range of influenza strains. “I am beyond excited for the future of flu vaccination,” said Jenna Bartley, an immunologist at the University of Connecticut. Not Good Enough The 1918 influenza pandemic was the worst in modern history, killing between 50 million and 100 million people. As the death toll climbed, doctors responded by inoculating people by the thousands with an assortment of experimental vaccines. None of them worked. Scientists at the time wrongly believed that disease was caused by bacteria, not viruses. That error led them to make vaccines from the microbes they gathered in the sputum of flu patients. The vaccines were useless at mounting an immune defense against the viral disease. It was not until 1933 that British virologists isolated the influenza virus, finally making it possible to design an effective vaccine. Researchers injected influenza viruses into chicken eggs, where they multiplied. Once they had extracted and purified the new viruses, they killed them with chemicals and injected the inactivated viruses into people. The United States licensed the first commercial influenza vaccine in 1945. The Nobel-prize-winning virus expert Wendell Stanley hailed the milestone, declaring that the vaccine would prevent influenza from ever again becoming “one of the great destroyers of human life.” But the vaccine did not quite live up to Stanley’s hopes. Influenza outfoxed it with an awesome power to mutate. During an influenza infection, cells in our airway begin copying the virus’s genome, allowing it to proliferate. The copying process results in lots of genetic errors. Sometimes these mutations will enable the virus to escape the body’s immune response spurred by a vaccine. Flu viruses also have another route to rapid evolution. If two types of flu viruses infect the same cell, it can produce a genetic hybrid, which may evade vaccine-triggered immunity even more successfully. This extraordinary capacity for change also explains why several strains of flu may circulate in a single flu season and new strains may rise to dominance the following year. “The flu virus, for lack of a better word, is just kind of a jerk,” Bartley said. Vaccine makers have responded by including up to four different strains in their annual formulations. But because producing vaccines in chicken eggs is such a slow process, scientists must choose which strains to include several months before a flu season, often leading to a mismatch when the shape-shifting virus actually arrives. “It’s an educated guessing game,” said Dr. Alicia Widge, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center. “We’re always catching up with the virus.” Between 2004 and 2019, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine ranged from as high as 60 per cent to as low as 10 per cent. Even that modest protection translates into a lot of benefit, however, because so many people get the flu every year. In addition to lowering the odds of getting infected, the vaccine also lowers the chances that people sick with the flu have to go to the hospital. In the 2018-19 flu season, the flu vaccine — with an effectiveness of just 29 per cent — prevented an estimated 4.4 million illnesses in the United States alone, plus 58,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, according to one study. If scientists could make more robust flu vaccines, they could potentially save thousands of additional lives. “The bottom line is that the flu vaccines we have aren’t good enough,” said Nicholas Heaton, a virus expert at Duke University School of Medicine. Immune Factories In the 1990s, a few researchers set out on an entirely new course, making flu vaccines from mRNA. The idea behind the technology was radically different from the chicken egg approach. In effect, the new shots would turn people’s own cells into vaccine factories. Scientists would create an mRNA molecule with the instructions for making an influenza protein, then deliver it into cells. Those cells would then make copies of the viral protein, some of which would end up on their surface. Immune cells passing by would detect the alien proteins and respond with a defense against the virus. In 1993, a team of French scientists conducted the first experiments on an mRNA vaccine for the flu. The vaccines produced promising responses in mice but were still primitive. For one thing, the animal’s cells sometimes responded to the vaccine’s mRNA by destroying it, as if it belonged to a foreign enemy. It took more than two decades of additional lab work before mRNA vaccines were ready for human trials. When Moderna formed in 2010 to bring mRNA vaccines to the clinic, influenza was one of the first diseases it tackled. The company started with vaccines for two flu strains that normally infected birds but sometimes sickened people — exactly the kind of viruses that might give rise to new pandemics. Moderna's first clinical trial results, in 2016, were encouraging. The volunteers produced antibodies against the viruses, although they also had side effects such as fever and fatigue. The results spurred Moderna to build a new factory in Norwood, Massachusetts, where the company could make large quantities of mRNA for more clinical trials. The company began developing a new flu vaccine, this one for seasonal influenza rather than for pandemics. And the researchers worked on making the side effects of the vaccine less severe. “You want folks to feel comfortable strolling into CVS and getting their shot, and not be worried about adverse events,” said Rose Loughlin, vice president for research and development strategy at Moderna. But then in early 2020, just as they were hoping to begin a new flu trial, the scientists had to shelve the plan. A new coronavirus was exploding in China. Combo Shots Over the next year, Moderna made and tested a COVID mRNA vaccine with record speed. And its shot, like that of its primary competitor, Pfizer-BioNTech, was remarkably protective, with an efficacy rate around 95 per cent. The success of mRNA vaccines delivered huge revenues to both companies. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is on track to become the bestselling medicine of all time. And Moderna’s market cap since the beginning of the pandemic increased nineteenfold to around $123 billion. Riding the mRNA wave, these companies, along with Sanofi and Seqirus, are moving on to seasonal flu projects. Jean-François Toussaint, Sanofi Pasteur’s head of global research and development, cautioned that the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID did not guarantee similar results for influenza. “We need to be humble,” he said. “The data will tell us if it works.” But some studies suggest that mRNA vaccines might prove more potent than traditional ones. In animal studies, mRNA vaccines seem to provide a broader defense against influenza viruses. They prompt the animals’ immune systems to make antibodies against the virus and also train immune cells to attack infected cells. But perhaps most importantly for the flu, mRNA vaccines can be made rapidly. The speed of mRNA manufacturing may allow vaccine makers to wait a few extra months before picking which influenza strains to use, potentially leading to a better match. “If you could guarantee 80 per cent every year, I think that would be a major public health benefit,” said Dr. Philip Dormitzer, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer. The technology also makes it easier for mRNA vaccine makers to create combination shots. Along with mRNA molecules for different strains of influenza, they can also add mRNA molecules for entirely different respiratory diseases. At a Sept. 9 presentation for investors, Moderna shared results from a new experiment in which researchers gave mice vaccines combining mRNAs for three respiratory viruses: seasonal flu, COVID and a common virus called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The mice produced high levels of antibodies against all three viruses. Other researchers have been searching for a universal flu vaccine that could protect people for many years by fending off a broad range of influenza strains. Rather than an annual shot, people might need only a booster every few years. In the best-case scenario, one vaccination might even work for a lifetime. At the University of Pennsylvania, a team of researchers led by Norbert Pardi is developing mRNA vaccines that encode proteins from influenza viruses that mutate only rarely. Experiments in animals hint that these vaccines could remain effective from year to year. Although Moderna is not working on a universal flu vaccine at the moment, “it’s absolutely something we’d be interested in for the future,” said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, the company’s head of infectious disease research. Even if mRNA flu vaccines live up to expectations, they will probably need a few years to gain approval. Trials for mRNA flu vaccines will not get the tremendous government support that COVID vaccines did. Nor will regulators be allowing them to get emergency authorization. Seasonal flu is hardly a new threat, and it can already be countered with licensed vaccines. So the manufacturers will have to take the longer path to full approval. If the early clinical trials turn out well, vaccine makers will then have to move on to large-scale trials that may need to stretch through several flu seasons. “It should work,” said Bartley of the University of Connecticut. “But obviously that’s why we do research — to make sure ‘should’ and ‘does’ are the same thing.”

First, impressive vaccines for COVID. Next up: the flu.

Dining with a view? Thai locals rush to dine at flooded restaurant

Russia has reported the highest number of daily Covid-related deaths on Wednesday becoming the fifth worst-hit country in the world.<o:p></o:p>

Vladimir Putin-led government reported 929 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours. This is the highest death toll the country has reported since the pandemic took over the world in the start of 2020.<o:p></o:p>

Russia is now the fifth worst-hit country by coronavirus in the world now as the total coronavirus cases rose to more than 7.5 million infections.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-stole-millions-of-covid-vaccines-from-uk-in-an-act-of-war-report-418646">France 'stole' millions of Covid vaccines from UK in an 'act of war': Report</a></o:p>

This has come at a time when the country has been facing a surge in Covid cases due to the Delta variant which has been infecting more people in Russia.<o:p></o:p>

Although people in Russia are being inoculated with Russian-made vaccines, the hesitancy among locals seems to be growing. People have been trying to stay away from getting vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus.<o:p></o:p>

As of now, less than 30 per cent of the total population has been vaccinated, out of 146 million. While the 30 per cent population has been fully vaccinated, the remaining population is not coming forward to get inoculated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-vatican-swiss-guards-resign-over-covid-vaccination-mandate-says-report-418499">Three Vatican Swiss Guards resign over Covid vaccination mandate, says report</a>

<o:p></o:p>

Some surveys have also revealed that more than half of the Russian population is planning on not getting a Covid shot, increasing concerns for the medical experts.<o:p></o:p>

Experts have also reported that the Covid-related deaths are higher in the unvaccinated population, rather than the vaccinated people. Authorities are suing these polls and surveys to spread awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-struggles-with-high-coronavirus-cases-record-929-deaths-in-24-hours-418706">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-struggles-with-high-coronavirus-cases-record-929-deaths-in-24-hours-418706/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, authorities have also cleared the air about lockdowns. Kremlin spokesperson Dmity Peskov&nbsp;has said that lockdowns are "an absolutely undesirable scenario for any region" especially as several regions are "taking action individually"&nbsp;to control the spread of coronavirus.<o:p></o:p>

Russia has reported the highest number of daily Covid-related deaths on Wednesday becoming the fifth worst-hit country in the world. Vladimir Putin-led government reported 929 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours.

Russia has reported the highest number of daily Covid-related deaths on Wednesday becoming the fifth worst-hit country in the world. Vladimir Putin-led government reported 929 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours. This is the highest death toll the country has reported since the pandemic took over the world in the start of 2020. Russia is now the fifth worst-hit country by coronavirus in the world now as the total coronavirus cases rose to more than 7.5 million infections. Also read | France 'stole' millions of Covid vaccines from UK in an 'act of war': Report This has come at a time when the country has been facing a surge in Covid cases due to the Delta variant which has been infecting more people in Russia. Although people in Russia are being inoculated with Russian-made vaccines, the hesitancy among locals seems to be growing. People have been trying to stay away from getting vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus. As of now, less than 30 per cent of the total population has been vaccinated, out of 146 million. While the 30 per cent population has been fully vaccinated, the remaining population is not coming forward to get inoculated. Also read | Three Vatican Swiss Guards resign over Covid vaccination mandate, says report Some surveys have also revealed that more than half of the Russian population is planning on not getting a Covid shot, increasing concerns for the medical experts. Experts have also reported that the Covid-related deaths are higher in the unvaccinated population, rather than the vaccinated people. Authorities are suing these polls and surveys to spread awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated. WATCH | However, authorities have also cleared the air about lockdowns. Kremlin spokesperson Dmity Peskov has said that lockdowns are "an absolutely undesirable scenario for any region" especially as several regions are "taking action individually" to control the spread of coronavirus.

Russia reports highest daily Covid deaths as Delta variant surges

After months of controlled border entry rules, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has decided to include more countries in the quarantine-free travel list.<o:p></o:p>

Fully vaccinated travellers from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and a few more will now be allowed to enter and roam around the UK without having to quarantine. Till now, travellers had to first quarantine themselves for 10 days in government-designated hotels.<o:p></o:p>

However, with the new changes, travellers coming to the country in the later half of October will not have to quarantine for 10 days.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-uk-in-talks-for-early-resolution-on-covid-travel-rules-row-417581">India, UK in talks for early resolution on Covid travel rules row</a></o:p>

Johnson is set to announce changes on Thursday. These new and relaxed rules are expected to bring in more travellers and give a much-needed boost to the tourism industry of the UK. <o:p></o:p>

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the early months of 2019, the UK has been strict about quarantine rules for incoming travellers, especially for the ‘red list’ countries. While people co-operated in the beginning, the policies and quarantine costs were criticised recently.<o:p></o:p>

The hotel quarantine cost in the UK for the travellers coming from high-risk countries is nearly £2,285 per adult. This has adversely affected the number of travellers entering the country and has brought a downward spiral for the tourism industry.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bring-a-friend-get-rewarded-swiss-nationals-to-get-gifts-for-bringing-friends-for-covid-jabs-417540">'Bring a friend, get rewarded': Swiss nationals to get gifts for bringing friends for Covid jabs</a></o:p>

However, now the government is also planning to completely scrap the ‘amber list’ for medium-risk countries and instead allow all fully-vaccinated to enter the country by taking a Covid test.<o:p></o:p>

In addition to this, all travellers coming to the UK from non-red list countries will not have to take two Covid PCR tests. They will now be given the option to skip the PCR test usually taken two days after the arrival and can opt for cheaper lateral flow test.<o:p></o:p>

After months of controlled border entry rules, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has decided to include more countries in the quarantine-free travel list.

After months of controlled border entry rules, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has decided to include more countries in the quarantine-free travel list. Fully vaccinated travellers from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and a few more will now be allowed to enter and roam around the UK without having to quarantine. Till now, travellers had to first quarantine themselves for 10 days in government-designated hotels. However, with the new changes, travellers coming to the country in the later half of October will not have to quarantine for 10 days. Also read | India, UK in talks for early resolution on Covid travel rules row Johnson is set to announce changes on Thursday. These new and relaxed rules are expected to bring in more travellers and give a much-needed boost to the tourism industry of the UK. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the early months of 2019, the UK has been strict about quarantine rules for incoming travellers, especially for the ‘red list’ countries. While people co-operated in the beginning, the policies and quarantine costs were criticised recently. The hotel quarantine cost in the UK for the travellers coming from high-risk countries is nearly £2,285 per adult. This has adversely affected the number of travellers entering the country and has brought a downward spiral for the tourism industry. Also read | 'Bring a friend, get rewarded': Swiss nationals to get gifts for bringing friends for Covid jabs However, now the government is also planning to completely scrap the ‘amber list’ for medium-risk countries and instead allow all fully-vaccinated to enter the country by taking a Covid test. In addition to this, all travellers coming to the UK from non-red list countries will not have to take two Covid PCR tests. They will now be given the option to skip the PCR test usually taken two days after the arrival and can opt for cheaper lateral flow test.

UK set to discontinue compulsory 10-day quarantine rule

A 15-year-old girl lost her battle to the deadly coronavirus on the same day when she was scheduled to get her vaccine.<o:p></o:p>

Governments and medical experts have been urging people all around the world to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The reason is that unvaccinated people have been falling prey to the deadly COVID-19 more than vaccinated people.<o:p></o:p>

Jorja Halliday from Portsmouth, too, sadly, fell prey to coronavirus. She tested positive for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> a few days ago and died from the disease in less than a week.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-to-discontinue-compulsory-10-day-quarantine-rule-417795">UK set to discontinue compulsory 10-day quarantine rule</a></o:p>

Halliday was a GCSE student at the Portsmouth Academy and was known for her talents of kickboxing and music.<o:p></o:p>

"She was very active, she liked to go out and spend time with her friends and loved spending time with her brothers and sisters," her 40-year-old mother, Tracey Halliday, said. "Growing up, she turned into a beautiful young lady, always wanting to help others, always there for everybody. It’s heart-wrenching because your kids are always meant to outlive you, and that’s the one thing I can’t get over."<o:p></o:p>

The 15-year-old is not reported to have any underlying health issues. However, one day she developed flu-like symptoms. Her family got her tested for Covid immediately, and found out she had COVID-19.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-kingdom-in-talks-with-india-over-certificate-row-417708">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-kingdom-in-talks-with-india-over-certificate-row-417708/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As soon as she tested positive, Jorja was isolated in her home, but her condition kept worsening and it became difficult for her to swallow any food item. She was prescribed antibiotics by her doctor but was soon admitted to the hospital after her heart race became the double than what it should be.<o:p></o:p>

"They realised how serious it was and I was still allowed to touch her, hold her hand, hug her and everything else. They did allow me that. I’m at the point where I can’t comprehend that it’s happened,"&nbsp;her mother said. "I was with her the whole time. They tried to put her on a ventilator to give her body a chance to recover. Her heart rate didn’t stabilise. Her heart couldn’t take the strain. They worked as well as I think they could medically, but were unable to save her."<o:p></o:p>

A 15-year-old girl lost her battle to the deadly coronavirus on the same day when she was scheduled to get her vaccine. Governments and medical experts have been urging people all around the world to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

A 15-year-old girl lost her battle to the deadly coronavirus on the same day when she was scheduled to get her vaccine. Governments and medical experts have been urging people all around the world to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The reason is that unvaccinated people have been falling prey to the deadly COVID-19 more than vaccinated people. Jorja Halliday from Portsmouth, too, sadly, fell prey to coronavirus. She tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago and died from the disease in less than a week. Also read | UK set to discontinue compulsory 10-day quarantine rule Halliday was a GCSE student at the Portsmouth Academy and was known for her talents of kickboxing and music. "She was very active, she liked to go out and spend time with her friends and loved spending time with her brothers and sisters," her 40-year-old mother, Tracey Halliday, said. "Growing up, she turned into a beautiful young lady, always wanting to help others, always there for everybody. It’s heart-wrenching because your kids are always meant to outlive you, and that’s the one thing I can’t get over." The 15-year-old is not reported to have any underlying health issues. However, one day she developed flu-like symptoms. Her family got her tested for Covid immediately, and found out she had COVID-19. WATCH | As soon as she tested positive, Jorja was isolated in her home, but her condition kept worsening and it became difficult for her to swallow any food item. She was prescribed antibiotics by her doctor but was soon admitted to the hospital after her heart race became the double than what it should be. "They realised how serious it was and I was still allowed to touch her, hold her hand, hug her and everything else. They did allow me that. I’m at the point where I can’t comprehend that it’s happened," her mother said. "I was with her the whole time. They tried to put her on a ventilator to give her body a chance to recover. Her heart rate didn’t stabilise. Her heart couldn’t take the strain. They worked as well as I think they could medically, but were unable to save her."

UK: 15-year-old dies from Covid on day she was scheduled for vaccine

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced an 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from next month, easing one of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions imposed globally.

Reopening the international border for citizens and permanent residents will be linked to the establishment of home quarantine in Australia`s eight states and territories, Morrison said, meaning that some parts of the country will reopen sooner than others.

The first phase of the plan will focus on citizens and permanent residents being allowed to leave Australia, with further changes expected to permit foreign travellers to enter the country.

"It`s time to give Australians their lives back. We`ve saved lives," Morrison said during a televised media conference. "We`ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country."

Morrison slammed the international border shut in March 2020. Since then, only a limited number of people have been granted a permit to leave the country for critical business or humanitarian reasons.

Citizens and permanent residents have been allowed to return from abroad, subject to quota limits and a mandatory 14-day quarantine period in a hotel at their own expense. There have also been a few high-profile exceptions granted for entry for business purposes, including Hollywood actors to film movies and TV shows.

Morrison said he expects the first home quarantine systems to be up and running in November, but the timetable will be set by individual states and territories.

He has previously said it wants all state and international borders reopened when the national vaccination rate for people aged over 16 reaches 80 per cent, expected by the end of next month.

However, a Delta variant-fuelled outbreak that has locked down the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra for weeks has divided state and territory leaders. Some presiding over virus-free parts of the country have indicated they will defy the federal plan.

Under the plan announced on Friday, Australians who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel abroad and complete a 7-day quarantine at home on their return. People who are not vaccinated will be required to undertake 14 days of quarantine at a hotel when they return. 
Morrison said his government was working towards quarantine free travel with countries such as New Zealand when "safe to do so".

An Australian government source said plans were being discussed to allow foreign visitors to enter the country, but it was not possible to yet state a timetable.

Vaccine approval

Australia`s strict border closure has been credited with keeping both fatalities and infections relatively low. It has recorded just over 107,000 COVID-19 cases and about 1,300 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The country on Friday reported 2,084 new COVID-19 cases, the bulk of which were detected in New South Wales and Victoria states. The results marked a small decline in case numbers from those reported one day earlier, but authorities warned against complacency.

Australia will also expand its list of authorised COVID-19 vaccines, allowing thousands of citizens and permanent residents still abroad to return via the home quarantine system, Morrison said.

Australia currently only recognises vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. The source said China`s Sinovac and Covishield, a version of AstraZeneca`s vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, would be added to the list.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced an 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from next month, easing one of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions imposed globally.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced an 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from next month, easing one of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions imposed globally. Reopening the international border for citizens and permanent residents will be linked to the establishment of home quarantine in Australia`s eight states and territories, Morrison said, meaning that some parts of the country will reopen sooner than others. The first phase of the plan will focus on citizens and permanent residents being allowed to leave Australia, with further changes expected to permit foreign travellers to enter the country. "It`s time to give Australians their lives back. We`ve saved lives," Morrison said during a televised media conference. "We`ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country." Morrison slammed the international border shut in March 2020. Since then, only a limited number of people have been granted a permit to leave the country for critical business or humanitarian reasons. Citizens and permanent residents have been allowed to return from abroad, subject to quota limits and a mandatory 14-day quarantine period in a hotel at their own expense. There have also been a few high-profile exceptions granted for entry for business purposes, including Hollywood actors to film movies and TV shows. Morrison said he expects the first home quarantine systems to be up and running in November, but the timetable will be set by individual states and territories. He has previously said it wants all state and international borders reopened when the national vaccination rate for people aged over 16 reaches 80 per cent, expected by the end of next month. However, a Delta variant-fuelled outbreak that has locked down the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra for weeks has divided state and territory leaders. Some presiding over virus-free parts of the country have indicated they will defy the federal plan. Under the plan announced on Friday, Australians who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel abroad and complete a 7-day quarantine at home on their return. People who are not vaccinated will be required to undertake 14 days of quarantine at a hotel when they return. Morrison said his government was working towards quarantine free travel with countries such as New Zealand when "safe to do so". An Australian government source said plans were being discussed to allow foreign visitors to enter the country, but it was not possible to yet state a timetable. Vaccine approval Australia`s strict border closure has been credited with keeping both fatalities and infections relatively low. It has recorded just over 107,000 COVID-19 cases and about 1,300 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The country on Friday reported 2,084 new COVID-19 cases, the bulk of which were detected in New South Wales and Victoria states. The results marked a small decline in case numbers from those reported one day earlier, but authorities warned against complacency. Australia will also expand its list of authorised COVID-19 vaccines, allowing thousands of citizens and permanent residents still abroad to return via the home quarantine system, Morrison said. Australia currently only recognises vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. The source said China`s Sinovac and Covishield, a version of AstraZeneca`s vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, would be added to the list.

Australia to ease international border restrictions from November

South Korea extended social distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day, particularly in the capital.

The rapid resurgence in the greater Seoul area prompted authorities to extend distancing restrictions until October&nbsp;17, including a ban in the region on dining out after 10 p.m. and gatherings of more than two people after 6 pm.

The country recorded 2,486 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), with the daily tally having topped 3,000 for the first time last week.

The daily average exceeded 2,635 over the past week - the highest-ever level and easily more than twice the level a month before, the KDCA said.

The capital Seoul and neighbouring regions remain the hotspot, reporting almost 2,000 cases every day for the last week, up about 42 per cent within just one week.

"We`re in a very dangerous situation where the virus is spreading surrounding the Seoul metropolitan area," said Lee Ki-il, deputy minister of health care policy, speaking during a briefing.

The upcoming two weeks is an important period as the government is revamping its anti-virus policy to facilitate a phased return to normal activities starting November, he added.

Among new incentives introduced to encourage people to get vaccinated, the deputy minister said wedding ceremonies can be held with up to 199 attendees if they included 150 fully vaccinated people.

"If the vaccination rate constantly rises and the scales of outbreaks are stably controlled for the next two weeks, we should be able to set out on phased back to normal in earnest," Lee said.

Around 77 per cent of South Korea`s 52 million population had received one shot of vaccine as of Thursday, with about 50 per cent fully vaccinated, as the country has quickly ramped up its inoculation campaign despite a shaky start.

The government aims to vaccinate 80 per cent of all adults by the end of October, and is considering introducing a 'vaccine pass' to allow those who have been fully inoculated to use public facilities and travel more freely. 
&nbsp;

South Korea extended social distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day, particularly in the capital.

South Korea extended social distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day, particularly in the capital. The rapid resurgence in the greater Seoul area prompted authorities to extend distancing restrictions until October 17, including a ban in the region on dining out after 10 p.m. and gatherings of more than two people after 6 pm. The country recorded 2,486 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), with the daily tally having topped 3,000 for the first time last week. The daily average exceeded 2,635 over the past week - the highest-ever level and easily more than twice the level a month before, the KDCA said. The capital Seoul and neighbouring regions remain the hotspot, reporting almost 2,000 cases every day for the last week, up about 42 per cent within just one week. "We`re in a very dangerous situation where the virus is spreading surrounding the Seoul metropolitan area," said Lee Ki-il, deputy minister of health care policy, speaking during a briefing. The upcoming two weeks is an important period as the government is revamping its anti-virus policy to facilitate a phased return to normal activities starting November, he added. Among new incentives introduced to encourage people to get vaccinated, the deputy minister said wedding ceremonies can be held with up to 199 attendees if they included 150 fully vaccinated people. "If the vaccination rate constantly rises and the scales of outbreaks are stably controlled for the next two weeks, we should be able to set out on phased back to normal in earnest," Lee said. Around 77 per cent of South Korea`s 52 million population had received one shot of vaccine as of Thursday, with about 50 per cent fully vaccinated, as the country has quickly ramped up its inoculation campaign despite a shaky start. The government aims to vaccinate 80 per cent of all adults by the end of October, and is considering introducing a 'vaccine pass' to allow those who have been fully inoculated to use public facilities and travel more freely.

S.Korea extends social distancing curbs as COVID-19 cases rise in Seoul

Sri Lanka on Friday lifted a near six-week lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus but maintained a night curfew and a ban on public gatherings and parties.

Daily deaths had jumped to over 250 with 4,000 infections after Sri Lankans celebrated the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year in mid-April, but case numbers have since eased.

The health ministry on Friday urged companies to encourage staff to work from home but there was no decision yet on reopening schools that have been closed since March last year.

"It is imperative to maintain the progress made to curb COVID-19 infections and the dreaded daily death toll," Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Official figures show that nearly 13,000 people have died of the virus, with more than half a million infections, but health sector experts say the actual numbers could be at least twice as much.

The easing of restrictions came as the government aggressively pushes a vaccination drive, fully inoculating 56 per cent of the population of 21 million.

Alongside the six-hour night curfew, the health ministry said that inter-provincial travel would remain banned.

Numbers attending weddings and funerals will be restricted to a maximum of 10 till October 15.&nbsp;

Permission has been granted for sporting events to go ahead but without spectators. 
&nbsp;

Sri Lanka on Friday lifted a near six-week lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus but maintained a night curfew and a ban on public gatherings and parties.

Sri Lanka on Friday lifted a near six-week lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus but maintained a night curfew and a ban on public gatherings and parties. Daily deaths had jumped to over 250 with 4,000 infections after Sri Lankans celebrated the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year in mid-April, but case numbers have since eased. The health ministry on Friday urged companies to encourage staff to work from home but there was no decision yet on reopening schools that have been closed since March last year. "It is imperative to maintain the progress made to curb COVID-19 infections and the dreaded daily death toll," Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. Official figures show that nearly 13,000 people have died of the virus, with more than half a million infections, but health sector experts say the actual numbers could be at least twice as much. The easing of restrictions came as the government aggressively pushes a vaccination drive, fully inoculating 56 per cent of the population of 21 million. Alongside the six-hour night curfew, the health ministry said that inter-provincial travel would remain banned. Numbers attending weddings and funerals will be restricted to a maximum of 10 till October 15. Permission has been granted for sporting events to go ahead but without spectators.

Sri Lanka lifts virus lockdown, retains night curfew

United Airlines had ordered its employees to get fully vaccinated against coronavirus by September 27, or face dire consequences. Following on the promise, the company has fired nearly 600 staff members for not complying to these rules.

There were 593 staff members who have refused to get coronavirus vaccine and have also not applied for exemption on basis of religion or medical excuse. These employees now face termination of their services with the airlines.

"Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United's US-based employees was simple - to keep our people safe - and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work," its chief executive Scott Kirby and president Brett Hart said. "This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-vitamin-a-help-in-treating-covid-caused-loss-of-smell-experts-answer-416845">Can Vitamin A help in treating Covid-caused loss of smell? Experts answer</a>

However, the company is also boasting about achieving 99 per cent of vaccination completion rate within the company.&nbsp;

A vast majority of employees from the totality of 67,000 have been fully vaccinated and have been able to procure proof of vaccination by the deadline of Monday.&nbsp;

Additionally, nearly 2,000 employees have requested (and have been granted) exemption from getting vaccinated on religious and medical grounds.

United Airlines has still decided to give a second chance to the 593 staff members. If these employees have, by chance, been jabbed but have only failed to submit the proof, they can submit the document before the authorities conduct formal meetings over this issue and their jobs will be safe.

It has also been made clear that any new employee will be hired only if he/she is fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

United Airlines had ordered its employees to get fully vaccinated against coronavirus by September 27, or face dire consequences. Following on the promise, the company has fired nearly 600 staff members for not complying to these rules.

United Airlines had ordered its employees to get fully vaccinated against coronavirus by September 27, or face dire consequences. Following on the promise, the company has fired nearly 600 staff members for not complying to these rules. There were 593 staff members who have refused to get coronavirus vaccine and have also not applied for exemption on basis of religion or medical excuse. These employees now face termination of their services with the airlines. "Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United's US-based employees was simple - to keep our people safe - and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work," its chief executive Scott Kirby and president Brett Hart said. "This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority." Also read | Can Vitamin A help in treating Covid-caused loss of smell? Experts answer However, the company is also boasting about achieving 99 per cent of vaccination completion rate within the company. A vast majority of employees from the totality of 67,000 have been fully vaccinated and have been able to procure proof of vaccination by the deadline of Monday. Additionally, nearly 2,000 employees have requested (and have been granted) exemption from getting vaccinated on religious and medical grounds. United Airlines has still decided to give a second chance to the 593 staff members. If these employees have, by chance, been jabbed but have only failed to submit the proof, they can submit the document before the authorities conduct formal meetings over this issue and their jobs will be safe. It has also been made clear that any new employee will be hired only if he/she is fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

United Airlines to fire nearly 600 employees for not getting vaccinated; 99% company fully jabbed

India's capital city has decided that all unvaccinated staff members will be marked as 'on leave' from October 15.

The Delhi government has declared that&nbsp;if any teaching and non-teaching staff member is not vaccinated till October 15, they will not be allowed to return to school till they are fully vaccinated. To top it, their absence from the school campus will be marked as a leave.

"We all are aware that the country is threatened with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, it is necessary to take all effective measures to prevent the spread of the same," said Directorate of Education (DoE) Director Udit Raj in an official order.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-vitamin-a-help-in-treating-covid-caused-loss-of-smell-experts-answer-416845">Can Vitamin A help in treating Covid-caused loss of smell? Experts answer</a>

This decision comes as the local schools are slowly reopening after months of staying closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The schools under DoE have been reopened in a phased manner, so it is the prime concern of the Delhi government that the environment of the schools remain safe with the appropriate implementation of SoPs and measures," he said.&nbsp;"All such teachers and school staff who have not got themselves vaccinated by October 15 should not be allowed to attend the school and their absence would be treated as on leave."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/are-virtual-classrooms-in-post-pandemic-world-turning-your-kids-into-introverts-than-extroverts-415167">Are virtual classrooms in post-pandemic world turning your kids into introverts than extroverts?</a>

However, this decision has not come as a shock. A little while ago the DoE had ordered all government schools to make sure their staff members are fully <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a> before the students return to classrooms.

Meanwhile, the decision to reopen school for students of classes VI to VIII will be declared after the incoming Indian festivals are over, the minister reported.

"As suggested by the experts, it was decided to consider opening middle school classes 6-8, after the festive season. As suggested by the experts, it was decided to consider opening middle school classes 6-8, after the festive season," Baijal said in a tweet.

India's capital city has decided that all unvaccinated staff members will be marked as 'on leave' from October 15. The Delhi government has declared that if any teaching and non-teaching staff member is not vaccinated till October 15, they will not be allowed to return to school till they are fully vaccinated.

India's capital city has decided that all unvaccinated staff members will be marked as 'on leave' from October 15. The Delhi government has declared that if any teaching and non-teaching staff member is not vaccinated till October 15, they will not be allowed to return to school till they are fully vaccinated. To top it, their absence from the school campus will be marked as a leave. "We all are aware that the country is threatened with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to take all effective measures to prevent the spread of the same," said Directorate of Education (DoE) Director Udit Raj in an official order. Also read | Can Vitamin A help in treating Covid-caused loss of smell? Experts answer This decision comes as the local schools are slowly reopening after months of staying closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. "The schools under DoE have been reopened in a phased manner, so it is the prime concern of the Delhi government that the environment of the schools remain safe with the appropriate implementation of SoPs and measures," he said. "All such teachers and school staff who have not got themselves vaccinated by October 15 should not be allowed to attend the school and their absence would be treated as on leave." Also read | Are virtual classrooms in post-pandemic world turning your kids into introverts than extroverts? However, this decision has not come as a shock. A little while ago the DoE had ordered all government schools to make sure their staff members are fully vaccinated before the students return to classrooms. Meanwhile, the decision to reopen school for students of classes VI to VIII will be declared after the incoming Indian festivals are over, the minister reported. "As suggested by the experts, it was decided to consider opening middle school classes 6-8, after the festive season. As suggested by the experts, it was decided to consider opening middle school classes 6-8, after the festive season," Baijal said in a tweet.

Delhi schools to mark unvaccinated teachers on 'leave' after October 15

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