Japan has put on hold a batch of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine after a pharmacist saw what he claims to be black particles in one vial of the vaccine.

According to officials, the pharmacist found the black particles while checking for foreign substances before the vaccine’s use in Kanagawa Prefecture.

It comes less than a week after Japan suspended the use of about 1.63 million Moderna doses due to contamination.

More than 3,000 people had already received shots from the batch. The rest of the batch has now been put on hold.

Local media reports say there has been no evidence so far of any health hazards caused by the potentially contaminated vaccine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-pauses-use-of-moderna-vaccine-batch-over-allergic-reactions-357470">California pauses use of Moderna vaccine batch over allergic reactions</a>

Takeda Pharmaceutical, which sells and distributes the vaccine in Japan, had just last week put three batches of the vaccine on hold after "foreign materials" were found in some doses of a batch of roughly 560,000 vials.

Spanish pharmaceutical firm Rovi, which bottles the vaccine, said in a statement that a manufacturing line in Spain could be the cause of the issue.

It added that it was conducting an investigation.

Japan is battling a surge in Covid cases while it hosts the Paralympic Games.

Local media reports say that Japan’s vaccination roll-out has been relatively slow, with just over 40% of Japanese people fully vaccinated and around 50% having received one dose.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japan has put on hold a batch of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine after a pharmacist saw what he claims to be black particles in one vial of the vaccine. According to officials, the pharmacist found the black particles while checking for foreign substances before the vaccine’s use in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Japan has put on hold a batch of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine after a pharmacist saw what he claims to be black particles in one vial of the vaccine. According to officials, the pharmacist found the black particles while checking for foreign substances before the vaccine’s use in Kanagawa Prefecture. It comes less than a week after Japan suspended the use of about 1.63 million Moderna doses due to contamination. More than 3,000 people had already received shots from the batch. The rest of the batch has now been put on hold. Local media reports say there has been no evidence so far of any health hazards caused by the potentially contaminated vaccine. Also read | California pauses use of Moderna vaccine batch over allergic reactions Takeda Pharmaceutical, which sells and distributes the vaccine in Japan, had just last week put three batches of the vaccine on hold after "foreign materials" were found in some doses of a batch of roughly 560,000 vials. Spanish pharmaceutical firm Rovi, which bottles the vaccine, said in a statement that a manufacturing line in Spain could be the cause of the issue. It added that it was conducting an investigation. Japan is battling a surge in Covid cases while it hosts the Paralympic Games. Local media reports say that Japan’s vaccination roll-out has been relatively slow, with just over 40% of Japanese people fully vaccinated and around 50% having received one dose. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan finds "black substance" in Moderna vaccine, put holds on shots

President of the European Commission Von der Leyen on Tuesday said 70 per cent of adults in the 27-nation bloc have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

She said they have achieved the "end-of-summer target in January itself".

In a video statement posted on Twitter, Leyen welcomed the “great achievement”, saying, “Today, we reached an important milestone in our vaccination campaign. 70 per cent of adults in the EU are now fully vaccinated and that means 250 million people are fully immunised.”

The European Commission, which is the executive organ of the European Union, is responsible for ordering vaccines for the EU states.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccine-passport-the-european-covid-certificate-a-users-guide-386729">Vaccine Passport: The European Covid certificate, a user's guide</a>

The EU's COVID-19 vaccination campaign got off to a slow start due to supply shortages and delays but is now among the most successful worldwide. They had already announced in July that 70 per cent of the adult population in the region had received at least one dose.

Leyen said the union was also a “lead contributor” to the COVAX initiative, which aims to deliver vaccines to low-income nations.

The rate of fully vaccinated adults is about 20 per cent in Bulgaria, 32.8 per cent in Romania, 49 per cent in Slovakia and 58.1 per cent in Poland.

(With inputs from agencies)

President of the European Commission Von der Leyen on Tuesday said 70 per cent of adults in the 27-nation bloc have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. She said they have achieved the "end-of-summer target in January itself".

President of the European Commission Von der Leyen on Tuesday said 70 per cent of adults in the 27-nation bloc have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. She said they have achieved the "end-of-summer target in January itself". In a video statement posted on Twitter, Leyen welcomed the “great achievement”, saying, “Today, we reached an important milestone in our vaccination campaign. 70 per cent of adults in the EU are now fully vaccinated and that means 250 million people are fully immunised.” The European Commission, which is the executive organ of the European Union, is responsible for ordering vaccines for the EU states. Also read | Vaccine Passport: The European Covid certificate, a user's guide The EU's COVID-19 vaccination campaign got off to a slow start due to supply shortages and delays but is now among the most successful worldwide. They had already announced in July that 70 per cent of the adult population in the region had received at least one dose. Leyen said the union was also a “lead contributor” to the COVAX initiative, which aims to deliver vaccines to low-income nations. The rate of fully vaccinated adults is about 20 per cent in Bulgaria, 32.8 per cent in Romania, 49 per cent in Slovakia and 58.1 per cent in Poland. (With inputs from agencies)

70% of Europeans fully vaccinated against COVID-19, says EU chief Von der Leyen

Five states in the US are nearly out of ICU beds as a&nbsp;surge in COVID-19 cases, especially among unvaccinated people, pose a fresh set of problems for the hospitals who are already stretched to their maximum capacity.

According to data from the department of health and human services, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Arkansas are left with less than 10% of their ICU bed capacity.

On Monday, data shared by a vaccine adviser from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a hospitalization rate 16 times higher in the unvaccinated population than in those vaccinated.

“This to me seems to be a strong indication that the current epidemiologic curve that we're seeing is really a reflection of failure to vaccinate, not vaccine failure," Dr Matthew F Daley at the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting told the CNN.

In Georgia, CEO of Northeast Georgia Health Systems Carol Burrell said it had 287 Covid patients on Monday, which is more than the hospital has had since January.

“So, in essence, our hospitals are full," she said, adding, “We're looking to add space in hallways and conference rooms in waiting areas. Our emergency rooms and our urgent care centres are seeing higher volume than they've seen throughout this pandemic."

Kentucky governor Andy Beshear the effect of low vaccination rates are being witnessed in his states where hospitals are overwhelmed with record numbers of COVID-19 patients and 58 of the 96 hospitals are reporting critical staffing shortages.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-recorded-highest-new-covid-19-cases-worldwide-in-past-week-who-401286">US recorded highest new COVID-19 cases worldwide in past week: WHO</a>

"We're living in a reality where some Covid patients who are sick are being treated in their cars when there isn't room for them inside the ER or inside the hospital," CNN quoted Beshear as saying.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of rising cases has also been reported among children, with the number of kids testing positive for Covid-19 earlier this month reaching higher levels than last year.

In Florida's 15 largest school districts, at least 21,869 students and 4,481 employees have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of school, according to a CNN analysis.

In Texas, after just the first two weeks of school in the Fort Worth Independent School District, more than 3,000 students have been quarantined due to close contact with individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.

On Monday, the US reported 2,80,403 coronavirus cases.

(With inputs from agencies)

Five states in the US are nearly out of ICU beds as a surge in COVID-19 cases, especially among unvaccinated people, pose a fresh set of problems for the hospitals who are already stretched to their maximum capacity.

Five states in the US are nearly out of ICU beds as a surge in COVID-19 cases, especially among unvaccinated people, pose a fresh set of problems for the hospitals who are already stretched to their maximum capacity. According to data from the department of health and human services, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Arkansas are left with less than 10% of their ICU bed capacity. On Monday, data shared by a vaccine adviser from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a hospitalization rate 16 times higher in the unvaccinated population than in those vaccinated. “This to me seems to be a strong indication that the current epidemiologic curve that we're seeing is really a reflection of failure to vaccinate, not vaccine failure," Dr Matthew F Daley at the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting told the CNN. In Georgia, CEO of Northeast Georgia Health Systems Carol Burrell said it had 287 Covid patients on Monday, which is more than the hospital has had since January. “So, in essence, our hospitals are full," she said, adding, “We're looking to add space in hallways and conference rooms in waiting areas. Our emergency rooms and our urgent care centres are seeing higher volume than they've seen throughout this pandemic." Kentucky governor Andy Beshear the effect of low vaccination rates are being witnessed in his states where hospitals are overwhelmed with record numbers of COVID-19 patients and 58 of the 96 hospitals are reporting critical staffing shortages. Also read | US recorded highest new COVID-19 cases worldwide in past week: WHO "We're living in a reality where some Covid patients who are sick are being treated in their cars when there isn't room for them inside the ER or inside the hospital," CNN quoted Beshear as saying. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of rising cases has also been reported among children, with the number of kids testing positive for Covid-19 earlier this month reaching higher levels than last year. In Florida's 15 largest school districts, at least 21,869 students and 4,481 employees have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of school, according to a CNN analysis. In Texas, after just the first two weeks of school in the Fort Worth Independent School District, more than 3,000 students have been quarantined due to close contact with individuals who tested positive for Covid-19. On Monday, the US reported 2,80,403 coronavirus cases. (With inputs from agencies)

5 US states nearly out of ICU beds as fresh surge of COVID-19 cases stretch hospitals

Organ donation has less uptake in India, when compared to western nations. Covid-19 pandemic raging over the last 18 months, has further dwindled down the number of organ donations, say health experts. 
 
August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day every year to motivate people to pledge organ donation after death and to spread awareness and eliminate myths and fears regarding organ donation. 
 
During Covid pandemic lockdowns, fear of infection, and lack of awareness compounded the reduction in organ donation chances, the experts said. 
 
"The number of organ donations in our country has been very low in comparison to the western countries. Furthermore, there is a significant drop since the start of the pandemic, the reason being Covid recovered patients cannot donate immediately after recovering. Too much focus on Covid and the lack of awareness on organ donation are also the reason why this number has dropped significantly," Vishwanath S, HOD and Consultant - Nephrology, Transplant Physician, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, told IANS. 
 
There are two ways to donate organs: a living donor -- a healthy person who donates one of a pair of organs such as the kidney or part of an organ such as the liver; and/or through Cadaveric donation -- when you harvest organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas) from brain dead people, as well as tissue donation, meaning taking tissues (skin, corneas, tendons, bone) from brain dead as well as those whose heart has stopped, but in that case it has to be done with limited time period. 
 
A single cadaveric donor can give life to about six-nine recipients (two kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, intestine, eyes and tissues). 
 
"Due to Covid-induced lockdowns and reduced traffic on the roads, accidents with consequent head injury and brain death related organ donors have reduced. On the other hand, even the recipients are unable to travel to transplant centres due to intra and interstate travel restrictions," Mukul Rastogi, Additional Director-Hepatology, Fortis Noida, told IANS. 
 
"There is also an apprehension regarding Covid status and potential transmission from deceased donors to recipients and healthcare providers. Similarly, there is a risk of recipients, live donors and the healthcare team inadvertently transmitting Covid to each other," he added. 
 
However, the doctors suggest that it is safe to donate after two-three months of Covid recovery. A complete vaccination before the process can make it safer, protecting both the donor and the recipient from the future infection of Covid. Even if they develop Covid, it will be very mild. 
 
"After the Covid pandemic, doctors have been extra cautious in the procedures of organ donation. It is safe to donate once you recover from Covid. Post-Covid, we assess whether there is any Covid-related involvement of the organs. If any person wants to donate organs post-recovery, we evaluate them completely. In cases when lungs are needed to be donated, we ensure there are no residual problems before donation," Vishwanath said. 
 
Moreover, with the availability of accurate tests (RT -PCR and antibody) for Covid with a rapid turnaround time (4-6 hours), it is possible to determine whether transplant can be safely performed, the doctors said. 
 
In India, every year almost 3.5 lakh people need some form of organ transplant but less than 11,000 transplants are carried out. The overall organ donation rate in India is quite low at around 0.52 per million population, compared with 36.07 donors per million in the US. 
 
The Cardiology Society of India reveals that over 50,000 patients need heart transplantation in a year but less than 250 actually get one. 
 
As per the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation, of the 21,395 kidneys transplanted in India between 1971 and 2015, only 783 were from cadaveric donors. Out of more than 50,000 people who need liver transplant, only 2,000 procedures are being done, according to Indian Society of Gastroenterology. 
 
"Organ donation in India needs to pick up the pace to match the humongous gap that is existing between patients who need organs and organ availability. As critical illnesses are on the rise, harvesting organs from deceased bodies and making it accessible to the one who needs should be the priority," D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, in Hyderabad, told IANS.

Organ donation has less uptake in India, when compared to western nations. Covid-19 pandemic raging over the last 18 months, has further dwindled down the number of organ donations, say health experts.

Organ donation has less uptake in India, when compared to western nations. Covid-19 pandemic raging over the last 18 months, has further dwindled down the number of organ donations, say health experts. August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day every year to motivate people to pledge organ donation after death and to spread awareness and eliminate myths and fears regarding organ donation. During Covid pandemic lockdowns, fear of infection, and lack of awareness compounded the reduction in organ donation chances, the experts said. "The number of organ donations in our country has been very low in comparison to the western countries. Furthermore, there is a significant drop since the start of the pandemic, the reason being Covid recovered patients cannot donate immediately after recovering. Too much focus on Covid and the lack of awareness on organ donation are also the reason why this number has dropped significantly," Vishwanath S, HOD and Consultant - Nephrology, Transplant Physician, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, told IANS. There are two ways to donate organs: a living donor -- a healthy person who donates one of a pair of organs such as the kidney or part of an organ such as the liver; and/or through Cadaveric donation -- when you harvest organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas) from brain dead people, as well as tissue donation, meaning taking tissues (skin, corneas, tendons, bone) from brain dead as well as those whose heart has stopped, but in that case it has to be done with limited time period. A single cadaveric donor can give life to about six-nine recipients (two kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, intestine, eyes and tissues). "Due to Covid-induced lockdowns and reduced traffic on the roads, accidents with consequent head injury and brain death related organ donors have reduced. On the other hand, even the recipients are unable to travel to transplant centres due to intra and interstate travel restrictions," Mukul Rastogi, Additional Director-Hepatology, Fortis Noida, told IANS. "There is also an apprehension regarding Covid status and potential transmission from deceased donors to recipients and healthcare providers. Similarly, there is a risk of recipients, live donors and the healthcare team inadvertently transmitting Covid to each other," he added. However, the doctors suggest that it is safe to donate after two-three months of Covid recovery. A complete vaccination before the process can make it safer, protecting both the donor and the recipient from the future infection of Covid. Even if they develop Covid, it will be very mild. "After the Covid pandemic, doctors have been extra cautious in the procedures of organ donation. It is safe to donate once you recover from Covid. Post-Covid, we assess whether there is any Covid-related involvement of the organs. If any person wants to donate organs post-recovery, we evaluate them completely. In cases when lungs are needed to be donated, we ensure there are no residual problems before donation," Vishwanath said. Moreover, with the availability of accurate tests (RT -PCR and antibody) for Covid with a rapid turnaround time (4-6 hours), it is possible to determine whether transplant can be safely performed, the doctors said. In India, every year almost 3.5 lakh people need some form of organ transplant but less than 11,000 transplants are carried out. The overall organ donation rate in India is quite low at around 0.52 per million population, compared with 36.07 donors per million in the US. The Cardiology Society of India reveals that over 50,000 patients need heart transplantation in a year but less than 250 actually get one. As per the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation, of the 21,395 kidneys transplanted in India between 1971 and 2015, only 783 were from cadaveric donors. Out of more than 50,000 people who need liver transplant, only 2,000 procedures are being done, according to Indian Society of Gastroenterology. "Organ donation in India needs to pick up the pace to match the humongous gap that is existing between patients who need organs and organ availability. As critical illnesses are on the rise, harvesting organs from deceased bodies and making it accessible to the one who needs should be the priority," D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, in Hyderabad, told IANS.

Organ donation dropped significantly due to COVID-19: Experts

Videos of Chinese officials keeping citizens inside their houses have appeared on social media as the Delta variation of COVID-19 spreads.

Multiple videos emerged on Weibo, Twitter, and YouTube showing hazmat workers slamming iron bars over people's doors to prevent them from leaving.

According to a Taiwan News report, if someone is discovered to have opened their door more than three times, the authorities will lock them inside. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwij1KjS5K3yAhUCjuYKHXStCbIQFjAAegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw30iaDUzC7Jzu4ibK9Owl3q" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-all-you-need-to-know-about-delta-plus-variant-393450" target="_blank">COVID-19: All you need to know about&nbsp;Delta Plus&nbsp;variant</a>

As shown in a Twitter photo, people wearing full PPE gear can be seen hammering large metallic bars over a doorway in an X pattern at a house.

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The Chinese Communist Party is locking people inside their homes again. 
 
If someone in the building tests positive or has positive contact tracing, the whole building gets sealed for 14 to 21 days, sometimes longer. 
 
August 2021 <a href="https://t.co/LyArs7DQN6">pic.twitter.com/LyArs7DQN6</a>
— Things China Doesn't Want You To Know (@TruthAbtChina) <a href="https://twitter.com/TruthAbtChina/status/1424511477264785411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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大爷出来透一下气。<a href="https://t.co/4cQvpmn9Pt">pic.twitter.com/4cQvpmn9Pt</a>
— 习近彭 (@wakeupfrog01) <a href="https://twitter.com/wakeupfrog01/status/1424687889942679552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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小姑娘感谢来封门。 
专政铁拳，应用到防疫工作上。<a href="https://t.co/5I1s6LAnig">pic.twitter.com/5I1s6LAnig</a>
— 习近彭 (@wakeupfrog01) <a href="https://twitter.com/wakeupfrog01/status/1424669647513612302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On Monday, China reported 143 new cases, up from 125 the day before.

According to authorities, the highly transmissible delta form is mostly responsible for China's recent clusters.

The National Health Commission said that 108 of the new confirmed illnesses, the largest number since Jan. 20, were locally transmitted, up from 94 the day before, while the rest were imported.

Most local infections were in the eastern province of Jiangsu and the central province of Henan.

(With inputs from agencies)

Videos of Chinese officials keeping citizens inside their houses have appeared on social media as the Delta variation of COVID-19 spreads. Multiple videos emerged on Weibo, Twitter, and YouTube showing hazmat workers slamming iron bars over people's doors to prevent them from leaving.

Videos of Chinese officials keeping citizens inside their houses have appeared on social media as the Delta variation of COVID-19 spreads. Multiple videos emerged on Weibo, Twitter, and YouTube showing hazmat workers slamming iron bars over people's doors to prevent them from leaving. According to a Taiwan News report, if someone is discovered to have opened their door more than three times, the authorities will lock them inside. Also read | COVID-19: All you need to know about Delta Plus variant As shown in a Twitter photo, people wearing full PPE gear can be seen hammering large metallic bars over a doorway in an X pattern at a house. The Chinese Communist Party is locking people inside their homes again. If someone in the building tests positive or has positive contact tracing, the whole building gets sealed for 14 to 21 days, sometimes longer. August 2021 pic.twitter.com/LyArs7DQN6 — Things China Doesn't Want You To Know (@TruthAbtChina) August 8, 2021 × 大爷出来透一下气。pic.twitter.com/4cQvpmn9Pt — 习近彭 (@wakeupfrog01) August 9, 2021 × 小姑娘感谢来封门。 专政铁拳，应用到防疫工作上。pic.twitter.com/5I1s6LAnig — 习近彭 (@wakeupfrog01) August 9, 2021 × On Monday, China reported 143 new cases, up from 125 the day before. According to authorities, the highly transmissible delta form is mostly responsible for China's recent clusters. The National Health Commission said that 108 of the new confirmed illnesses, the largest number since Jan. 20, were locally transmitted, up from 94 the day before, while the rest were imported. Most local infections were in the eastern province of Jiangsu and the central province of Henan. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | COVID-19: China locks citizens behind iron bars as Delta variant surge

A few weeks ago YouTube banned the channel of Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the online video platform as it alleged that the media house was posting misinformation about coronavirus.

Now, weeks later, Sky News Australia has quietly deleted more than 30 videos in which Covid-related concepts which were unproven were being discussed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/western-media-channel-banned-from-youtube-for-covid-misinformation-402200">Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation</a>

This step was taken by the media house while its chief executive Paul Whittaker readies to appear for a Senate inquiry on Friday. The company will be facing the media diversity inquiry for the allegation of posting misinformation related to Covid, which led to the channel being blocked on YouTube for seven days.

In one of the most controversial videos, an anchor could be seen saying that the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is wrong about the importance of masks. He had also agreed with another pathologist that Covid is nothing but a hoax.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mythical-herd-immunity-not-possible-with-delta-variant-claims-scientist-404675" hreflang="en">'Mythical': Herd immunity not possible with Delta variant, claims scientist</a>

"Well there you are, as I have said all along, there is no epidemiological justification for any of this. Lockdowns, face masks, social distancing," Jones says in the video.

Meanwhile, YouTube has maintained that several of the uploaded videos violated the platform’s regulations. "We have clear and established&nbsp;Covid-19 medical misinformation policies&nbsp;based on local and global health authority guidance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm," YouTube said.

A few weeks ago YouTube banned the channel of Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the online video platform as it alleged that the media house was posting misinformation about coronavirus.

A few weeks ago YouTube banned the channel of Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the online video platform as it alleged that the media house was posting misinformation about coronavirus. Now, weeks later, Sky News Australia has quietly deleted more than 30 videos in which Covid-related concepts which were unproven were being discussed. Also read | Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation This step was taken by the media house while its chief executive Paul Whittaker readies to appear for a Senate inquiry on Friday. The company will be facing the media diversity inquiry for the allegation of posting misinformation related to Covid, which led to the channel being blocked on YouTube for seven days. In one of the most controversial videos, an anchor could be seen saying that the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is wrong about the importance of masks. He had also agreed with another pathologist that Covid is nothing but a hoax. Also read | 'Mythical': Herd immunity not possible with Delta variant, claims scientist "Well there you are, as I have said all along, there is no epidemiological justification for any of this. Lockdowns, face masks, social distancing," Jones says in the video. Meanwhile, YouTube has maintained that several of the uploaded videos violated the platform’s regulations. "We have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies based on local and global health authority guidance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm," YouTube said.

Western media group Sky News Australia deletes videos of Covid misinformation after YouTube bans channel

Apparently there’s a notion that what was shown in the Will Smith starrer ‘I Am Legend’ is what the world is going through in 2021 as we face a new Delta variant of the coronavirus that has put the world to a stop.&nbsp;

'I Am Legend' screenwriter Akiva Goldsman took to Twitter to quash a conspiracy theory that Covid&nbsp;vaccines are causing mutation of the virus leading to newer variants and thus vaccines are not to be taken.

He tweeted, “Oh. My. God. It’s a movie,” and added, “I made that up. It’s. Not. Real.”

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Oh. My. God. It’s a movie. I made that up. It’s. Not. Real.
— Akiva Goldsman (@AkivaGoldsman) <a href="https://twitter.com/AkivaGoldsman/status/1424821175125872647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The theory claims that COVID-19 blowup in the world is thanks to the vaccines that the governments around the world are urging people to take. It claims that the COVID-19 vaccines created its mutant pandemic.&nbsp;

Akiva Goldsman took to social media after writer-podcaster Marc Bernardin tweeted a post and wrote, “We. Are. All. Going. To. Die. Sooner. Than. We. Should.”

His comment was in reference to an August 6 New York Times article ‘Inside One Company’s Struggle to Get All Its Employees Vaccinated’ wherein an employee refused to get vaccine because of her belief in this conspiracy theory that the pandemic is the story of 'I Am Legend' repeating in real life.

&nbsp;

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We. Are. All. Going. To. Die. 
 
Sooner. Than. We. Should. <a href="https://t.co/DqMKTkSxbr">https://t.co/DqMKTkSxbr</a>
— Marc Bernardin (@marcbernardin) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcbernardin/status/1424811060230430720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Taking cue for the conspiracy theory, lot of people are now making excuses to not get the vaccine while&nbsp;some are making memes of those who believe in it. Check for yourself:

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People using I Am Legend as an excuse not to get vaccinated. <a href="https://t.co/nTOUkjUTxz">pic.twitter.com/nTOUkjUTxz</a>
— gabriel (@gvbreal) <a href="https://twitter.com/gvbreal/status/1424826691357184008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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It’s insane to base your vaccine skepticism on the movie I Am Legend, but even if you tried, it was the virus itself that caused the movie’s pandemic, not a vaccine 
 
Also, the hero of the movie is literally a virologist who found a cure—like the experts anti-vaxxers attack. <a href="https://t.co/tkxIsW6Dv0">https://t.co/tkxIsW6Dv0</a>
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/1424830284072116227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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‘I Am Legend’ centered on Robert Neville (Will Smith), a US Army virologist who believes himself to be the sole survivor in New York City, years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into mutants, struggling valiantly to find a cure. 
 
The plague in the film was brought on by a genetically reprogrammed virus, rather than any vaccine.

The Will Smith film was directed by Francis Lawrence and was based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name. Goldsman wrote the script with Mark Protosevich.

&nbsp;

Apparently there’s a notion that what was shown in the Will Smith starrer ‘I Am Legend’ is what the world is going through in 2021 as we face a new Delta variant of the coronavirus that has put the world to a stop.

Apparently there’s a notion that what was shown in the Will Smith starrer ‘I Am Legend’ is what the world is going through in 2021 as we face a new Delta variant of the coronavirus that has put the world to a stop. 'I Am Legend' screenwriter Akiva Goldsman took to Twitter to quash a conspiracy theory that Covid vaccines are causing mutation of the virus leading to newer variants and thus vaccines are not to be taken. He tweeted, “Oh. My. God. It’s a movie,” and added, “I made that up. It’s. Not. Real.” Oh. My. God. It’s a movie. I made that up. It’s. Not. Real. — Akiva Goldsman (@AkivaGoldsman) August 9, 2021 × The theory claims that COVID-19 blowup in the world is thanks to the vaccines that the governments around the world are urging people to take. It claims that the COVID-19 vaccines created its mutant pandemic. Akiva Goldsman took to social media after writer-podcaster Marc Bernardin tweeted a post and wrote, “We. Are. All. Going. To. Die. Sooner. Than. We. Should.” His comment was in reference to an August 6 New York Times article ‘Inside One Company’s Struggle to Get All Its Employees Vaccinated’ wherein an employee refused to get vaccine because of her belief in this conspiracy theory that the pandemic is the story of 'I Am Legend' repeating in real life. We. Are. All. Going. To. Die. Sooner. Than. We. Should. https://t.co/DqMKTkSxbr — Marc Bernardin (@marcbernardin) August 9, 2021 × Taking cue for the conspiracy theory, lot of people are now making excuses to not get the vaccine while some are making memes of those who believe in it. Check for yourself: People using I Am Legend as an excuse not to get vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/nTOUkjUTxz — gabriel (@gvbreal) August 9, 2021 × It’s insane to base your vaccine skepticism on the movie I Am Legend, but even if you tried, it was the virus itself that caused the movie’s pandemic, not a vaccine Also, the hero of the movie is literally a virologist who found a cure—like the experts anti-vaxxers attack. https://t.co/tkxIsW6Dv0 — Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) August 9, 2021 × ‘I Am Legend’ centered on Robert Neville (Will Smith), a US Army virologist who believes himself to be the sole survivor in New York City, years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into mutants, struggling valiantly to find a cure. The plague in the film was brought on by a genetically reprogrammed virus, rather than any vaccine. The Will Smith film was directed by Francis Lawrence and was based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name. Goldsman wrote the script with Mark Protosevich.

'I Am Legend' did not show vaccine turning people into zombies: Screenwriter clears the air on misinformation meme fest

According to a recent study from Shaare Zedek Medical Center, neutralising antibodies begin to fade among kids who catch the virus after only four months.

Researchers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, led by Prof. Yechiel Schlesinger, recently conducted the first-ever study into the prevalence of coronavirus antibodies in children attending the hospital's pediatric ward in collaboration with the Health Ministry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/children-at-risk-of-long-covid-symptoms-new-study-finds-381039">Children at risk of long-Covid symptoms, new study finds</a>

Approximately 1,138 children under the age of 18, with a mean age of 4.4, were surveyed between October 18, 2020, and January 12, 2021, for the study that appeared in Acta Paediatrica. It was found that nearly one-third (or 29 per cent) of the children with coronavirus positive results were lacking neutralizing antibodies during that time.

Schlesinger explained that one-third of the patients didn't have antibodies when they were tested three weeks after onset of the disease.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the antibodies of the other two-thirds who had developed the disease more than four months ago had waned.

The study found that children reach their peak antibody level three months after diagnosis. The number of antibodies decreased significantly - much more than in adults. It may be indicative of a weaker long-term immune reaction among children.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/british-study-finds-almost-one-in-seven-suffer-long-covid-symptoms-374862" hreflang="en">British study finds almost one in seven suffer long Covid symptoms</a>

Schlesinger asserts that the disappearance of antibodies does not suggest these children are not protected. However, the disappearance does make one wonder whether those kids are truly protected.

As antibody levels decline, the likelihood of infection is higher. Separate studies have demonstrated this correlation.

Additionally, the study could have implications for understanding herd immunity, the possibility of a resurgence of an infection wave, and the development of childhood vaccines, he said.

It is also noteworthy that 10&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of children were found to have been infected, even though 41 per cent of those children did not know they were infected.

As a result of subsequent studies conducted in June and July 2021, which have yet to be published and are being written up, Schlesinger said that the percentage of children in Jerusalem with the virus has increased from 10 to 30&nbsp;per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-spread-coronavirus-more-efficiently-than-adults-study-383559">Children spread coronavirus 'more efficiently' than adults: Study</a>

Lastly, the researchers found no correlation between school openings and infection rates among children, as students who continued to attend schools for various reasons during the closed periods did not develop additional antibodies than students who stayed home.

Additionally, when the country reopened schools slowly, morbidity did not decrease.

According to a recent study from Shaare Zedek Medical Center, neutralising antibodies begin to fade among kids who catch the virus after only four months. Researchers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, led by Prof.

According to a recent study from Shaare Zedek Medical Center, neutralising antibodies begin to fade among kids who catch the virus after only four months. Researchers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, led by Prof. Yechiel Schlesinger, recently conducted the first-ever study into the prevalence of coronavirus antibodies in children attending the hospital's pediatric ward in collaboration with the Health Ministry. Also read | Children at risk of long-Covid symptoms, new study finds Approximately 1,138 children under the age of 18, with a mean age of 4.4, were surveyed between October 18, 2020, and January 12, 2021, for the study that appeared in Acta Paediatrica. It was found that nearly one-third (or 29 per cent) of the children with coronavirus positive results were lacking neutralizing antibodies during that time. Schlesinger explained that one-third of the patients didn't have antibodies when they were tested three weeks after onset of the disease. Meanwhile, the antibodies of the other two-thirds who had developed the disease more than four months ago had waned. The study found that children reach their peak antibody level three months after diagnosis. The number of antibodies decreased significantly - much more than in adults. It may be indicative of a weaker long-term immune reaction among children. Also read: British study finds almost one in seven suffer long Covid symptoms Schlesinger asserts that the disappearance of antibodies does not suggest these children are not protected. However, the disappearance does make one wonder whether those kids are truly protected. As antibody levels decline, the likelihood of infection is higher. Separate studies have demonstrated this correlation. Additionally, the study could have implications for understanding herd immunity, the possibility of a resurgence of an infection wave, and the development of childhood vaccines, he said. It is also noteworthy that 10 per cent of children were found to have been infected, even though 41 per cent of those children did not know they were infected. As a result of subsequent studies conducted in June and July 2021, which have yet to be published and are being written up, Schlesinger said that the percentage of children in Jerusalem with the virus has increased from 10 to 30 per cent. Also read | Children spread coronavirus 'more efficiently' than adults: Study Lastly, the researchers found no correlation between school openings and infection rates among children, as students who continued to attend schools for various reasons during the closed periods did not develop additional antibodies than students who stayed home. Additionally, when the country reopened schools slowly, morbidity did not decrease.

Study suggests that Children may have a weaker immune response to Covid

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a> patients and their families are taking over hospitals across the US, seeking doctors and nurses as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta variant</a> spreads coast-to-coast.

As the nation witnessed a fresh outbreak of coronavirus infections, the United States recorded its highest weekly rate of new cases. Bloomberg reports that new cases in the US topped 761,216 in the week ended Sunday, the highest number since early February.

Efforts to mitigate the disease are falling short, the number of unvaccinated patients in intensive care is similar to the winter wave.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warns-citizens-against-travel-to-france-over-covid-concerns-404436">US warns citizens against travel to France over Covid concerns</a>

In the US, Delta began its march in Ozarks and the south, in regions and states with low vaccination rates. However, the surge shows that even the best-vaccinated areas do not have sufficient immunity to prevent the easy-to-spread variant.

Delta wave experts say there won't be the same death toll as last year as vaccinated individuals are much less likely to die than those who are unvaccinated.&nbsp;

Vaccinated areas have generally seen a relatively slow increase in hospitalisations. However, the waves for these infections are just beginning, and sometimes it can take weeks to send people to the ICU.

As a result, there's little doubt the pandemic isn't over with America, and even less so in places where people have refused vaccinations or ignored mask mandates and other safety measures.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-recorded-highest-new-covid-19-cases-worldwide-in-past-week-who-401286">US recorded highest new COVID-19 cases worldwide in past week: WHO</a>

According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, hospital utilisation nationwide is expected to rise in the coming weeks, and there are already too few people to take care of patients.

Although vaccination rates have risen as a result of concerns about the Delta variant, millions of people remain sceptical about the vaccine, especially in conservative-leaning areas.

According to Ajay Sethi, an associate professor of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin, halting transmission would require 90 per cent vaccination, which is impossible since children under 12 are not eligible for shots.

(With inputs from agencies)

Covid patients and their families are taking over hospitals across the US, seeking doctors and nurses as the Delta variant spreads coast-to-coast. As the nation witnessed a fresh outbreak of coronavirus infections, the United States recorded its highest weekly rate of new cases.

Covid patients and their families are taking over hospitals across the US, seeking doctors and nurses as the Delta variant spreads coast-to-coast. As the nation witnessed a fresh outbreak of coronavirus infections, the United States recorded its highest weekly rate of new cases. Bloomberg reports that new cases in the US topped 761,216 in the week ended Sunday, the highest number since early February. Efforts to mitigate the disease are falling short, the number of unvaccinated patients in intensive care is similar to the winter wave. Also read | US warns citizens against travel to France over Covid concerns In the US, Delta began its march in Ozarks and the south, in regions and states with low vaccination rates. However, the surge shows that even the best-vaccinated areas do not have sufficient immunity to prevent the easy-to-spread variant. Delta wave experts say there won't be the same death toll as last year as vaccinated individuals are much less likely to die than those who are unvaccinated. Vaccinated areas have generally seen a relatively slow increase in hospitalisations. However, the waves for these infections are just beginning, and sometimes it can take weeks to send people to the ICU. As a result, there's little doubt the pandemic isn't over with America, and even less so in places where people have refused vaccinations or ignored mask mandates and other safety measures. Also read | US recorded highest new COVID-19 cases worldwide in past week: WHO According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, hospital utilisation nationwide is expected to rise in the coming weeks, and there are already too few people to take care of patients. Although vaccination rates have risen as a result of concerns about the Delta variant, millions of people remain sceptical about the vaccine, especially in conservative-leaning areas. According to Ajay Sethi, an associate professor of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin, halting transmission would require 90 per cent vaccination, which is impossible since children under 12 are not eligible for shots. (With inputs from agencies)

US hospitals overwhelmed as cases of Delta variant caused covid reported

The US State Department has advised Americans to avoid all&nbsp;travel&nbsp;to&nbsp;France&nbsp;over&nbsp;rising <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus cases</a> in the country.

France&nbsp;is battling a fourth wave of the virus even though&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> hospitalisations are still way off previous highs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-imposes-new-covid-restrictions-to-curb-rising-cases-402767">France imposes new Covid restrictions to curb rising cases</a>

The State Department issued a "Level 4: Do Not&nbsp;Travel" advisory for&nbsp;France&nbsp;on Monday, based on a parallel warning from the US Centers for Disease Control, the country's top medical body.

"If you must&nbsp;travel&nbsp;to&nbsp;France, make sure you are fully vaccinated before&nbsp;travel," the CDC said.

France&nbsp;has recorded more than 6 million cases and 111,000 deaths in total, and daily cases have crept back up to around 20,000 a day while deaths remain low compared to the height of the pandemic.

A total of 74 million vaccine doses have been administered in&nbsp;France, according to the World Health Organization, and&nbsp;over&nbsp;55 per cent of the eligible population have received both vaccine doses.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-implements-covid-19-health-pass-despite-nationwide-protest-404232/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

It has also enforced a&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;pass for routine aspects of life.

Anger at President Emmanuel Macron's controversial plan to squeeze infections and encourage vaccinations has seen large protests recently, though polls have shown that a clear majority of French back the&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;pass, even including the extension this week to cafes and restaurants.

The US State Department has advised Americans to avoid all travel to France over rising coronavirus cases in the country. France is battling a fourth wave of the virus even though COVID-19 hospitalisations are still way off previous highs.

The US State Department has advised Americans to avoid all travel to France over rising coronavirus cases in the country. France is battling a fourth wave of the virus even though COVID-19 hospitalisations are still way off previous highs. Also read | France imposes new Covid restrictions to curb rising cases The State Department issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for France on Monday, based on a parallel warning from the US Centers for Disease Control, the country's top medical body. "If you must travel to France, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel," the CDC said. France has recorded more than 6 million cases and 111,000 deaths in total, and daily cases have crept back up to around 20,000 a day while deaths remain low compared to the height of the pandemic. A total of 74 million vaccine doses have been administered in France, according to the World Health Organization, and over 55 per cent of the eligible population have received both vaccine doses. It has also enforced a Covid pass for routine aspects of life. Anger at President Emmanuel Macron's controversial plan to squeeze infections and encourage vaccinations has seen large protests recently, though polls have shown that a clear majority of French back the Covid pass, even including the extension this week to cafes and restaurants.

US warns citizens against travel to France over Covid concerns

China's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus cases</a> hit a seven-month high on Tuesday after a cluster at a test site helped drive up numbers as the Delta variant challenges Beijing's grip on the pandemic.

State media has described the current outbreak -- which has sparked local lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions -- as the most severe since the virus emerged in the central city of Wuhan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-tests-all-residents-as-chinas-virus-cases-reach-six-month-high-404132">Wuhan tests all residents as China's virus cases reach six-month high</a>

Authorities had brought domestic infections down to virtually zero, allowing economic activity to rebound albeit with tight border restrictions.

But now, cases are rising.

On Tuesday, Chinese health authorities reported 143 new coronavirus infections -- 108 of them locally transmitted.

Dozens of cases in recent days have been linked to a COVID-19 testing site in eastern Yangzhou city.

In a sign of the anxiety over even relatively minor outbreaks, several officials have been issued warnings for mishandling mass testing, which city authorities said allowed the virus to spread.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-records-highest-daily-covid-19-cases-in-current-outbreak-403296">China records highest daily COVID-19 cases in current outbreak</a>

Yangzhou city authorities said, "a small number of party members and cadres have yet to perform their duties properly".

The city of about 4.6 million people has so far conducted five rounds of widespread testing, collecting 1.6 million samples in an attempt to stamp out the spread.

The latest surge started after infections among airport cleaners in neighbouring Nanjing city sparked a chain of cases across the country.

Tuesday's numbers are the highest since January, when the country logged 144 new cases and 126 domestic infections, mostly in the northern regions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-resurgence-in-wuhan-leads-to-testing-of-1123-million-403810">Coronavirus resurgence in Wuhan leads to testing of 11.23 million</a>

Authorities are now working to shore up confidence that the latest resurgence is controllable.

"We have successfully contained the epidemic in Guangzhou, and the epidemic in Nanjing is gradually being put under control," the official Xinhua news agency cited infectious diseases specialist Zhang Wenhong as saying.

China's coronavirus cases hit a seven-month high on Tuesday after a cluster at a test site helped drive up numbers as the Delta variant challenges Beijing's grip on the pandemic.

China's coronavirus cases hit a seven-month high on Tuesday after a cluster at a test site helped drive up numbers as the Delta variant challenges Beijing's grip on the pandemic. State media has described the current outbreak -- which has sparked local lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions -- as the most severe since the virus emerged in the central city of Wuhan. Also read | Wuhan tests all residents as China's virus cases reach six-month high Authorities had brought domestic infections down to virtually zero, allowing economic activity to rebound albeit with tight border restrictions. But now, cases are rising. On Tuesday, Chinese health authorities reported 143 new coronavirus infections -- 108 of them locally transmitted. Dozens of cases in recent days have been linked to a COVID-19 testing site in eastern Yangzhou city. In a sign of the anxiety over even relatively minor outbreaks, several officials have been issued warnings for mishandling mass testing, which city authorities said allowed the virus to spread. Also read | China records highest daily COVID-19 cases in current outbreak Yangzhou city authorities said, "a small number of party members and cadres have yet to perform their duties properly". The city of about 4.6 million people has so far conducted five rounds of widespread testing, collecting 1.6 million samples in an attempt to stamp out the spread. The latest surge started after infections among airport cleaners in neighbouring Nanjing city sparked a chain of cases across the country. Tuesday's numbers are the highest since January, when the country logged 144 new cases and 126 domestic infections, mostly in the northern regions. Also read | Coronavirus resurgence in Wuhan leads to testing of 11.23 million Authorities are now working to shore up confidence that the latest resurgence is controllable. "We have successfully contained the epidemic in Guangzhou, and the epidemic in Nanjing is gradually being put under control," the official Xinhua news agency cited infectious diseases specialist Zhang Wenhong as saying.

China Covid cases hit seven-month high as Delta variant challenges Beijing

After New York, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also suggested making <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccines</a> compulsory for government employees.

His worries have come at a time when the Canada is bracing itself for a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus?page=1">Covid surge</a> due to the Delta variant. "We need to get vaccinated to get through this pandemic, particularly with all the real concerns around the Delta variant we are facing that is striking hardest, obviously, in under-vaccinated and non-vaccinated people," Trudeau said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-germany-and-israel-france-announces-plans-for-booster-shots-despite-whos-warning-403134" hreflang="en">After Germany and Israel, France announces plans for booster shots despite WHO's warning</a>

He also added that the government is focusing on government-regulated workplaces to encourage employees to get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible. If the vaccines are made compulsory, it would lead to nearly 1.3 million government employees getting vaccinated.

Voicing his concern about the danger posed by the Delta variant, Trudeau warned locals that getting vaccinated is “no longer a matter of individual choice”. He stressed that is for the betterment and protection of the "community and our children who haven’t had the opportunity to be vaccinated".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-confusion-cnn-fires-three-employees-for-coming-to-work-unvaccinated-403355" hreflang="en">'No confusion': CNN fires three employees for coming to work unvaccinated</a>

As of now, nearly 65 per cent of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated and almost 80 per cent of the eligible population has received the first dose of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the province of Quebec has decided to rollout 'vaccine passports' which will bring in the vaccine mandate that suggests that all non-essential public spaces such as gyms, restaurants, clubs etc will be available only to those who have been fully vaccinated.

Trudeau has lent support to this move by the government of Quebec.

After New York, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also suggested making coronavirus vaccines compulsory for government employees. His worries have come at a time when the Canada is bracing itself for a Covid surge due to the Delta variant.

After New York, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also suggested making coronavirus vaccines compulsory for government employees. His worries have come at a time when the Canada is bracing itself for a Covid surge due to the Delta variant. "We need to get vaccinated to get through this pandemic, particularly with all the real concerns around the Delta variant we are facing that is striking hardest, obviously, in under-vaccinated and non-vaccinated people," Trudeau said. Also read | After Germany and Israel, France announces plans for booster shots despite WHO's warning He also added that the government is focusing on government-regulated workplaces to encourage employees to get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible. If the vaccines are made compulsory, it would lead to nearly 1.3 million government employees getting vaccinated. Voicing his concern about the danger posed by the Delta variant, Trudeau warned locals that getting vaccinated is “no longer a matter of individual choice”. He stressed that is for the betterment and protection of the "community and our children who haven’t had the opportunity to be vaccinated". Also read | 'No confusion': CNN fires three employees for coming to work unvaccinated As of now, nearly 65 per cent of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated and almost 80 per cent of the eligible population has received the first dose of the vaccine. Meanwhile, the province of Quebec has decided to rollout 'vaccine passports' which will bring in the vaccine mandate that suggests that all non-essential public spaces such as gyms, restaurants, clubs etc will be available only to those who have been fully vaccinated. Trudeau has lent support to this move by the government of Quebec.

Canada's Justin Trudeau suggests compulsory Covid vaccine for government employees

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned in an internal paper that the Delta COVID-19 variant can be passed on even by vaccinated people and may even be deadlier than previous coronavirus strains.

This variant requires a different way to educate the public about the hazard, according to the document "Improving communications around vaccination breakthroughs and vaccine effectiveness."&nbsp;

The document, titled 'Improving communications around vaccine breakthrough and vaccine effectiveness,' stated that the Delta variant necessitated a new approach to help the public understand the threat, including making it clear that unvaccinated people were more than 10 times more likely to become seriously ill or die than those who were vaccinated.&nbsp; 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-expand-state-of-emergency-as-covid-19-shadows-olympics-401684">Japan to expand state of emergency as COVID-19 shadows Olympics</a>

"The immediate next step for the agency is to acknowledge that the war has changed," it said.

According to the study, recommended preventive actions include making vaccinations mandatory for health care providers in order to protect the vulnerable, as well as a return to universal face mask use.

Vaccinated people were less likely to become infected, according to the CDC. Experts also stressed that vaccinated individuals represent a very small amount of transmissions in the country, and majority of the hospitalisations and deaths are unvaccinated people.

Meanwhile, the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is causing a sudden surge in cases in China, with 15 cities, including the capital Beijing, reporting clusters of positive cases, according to official media on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-16-more-cases-of-covid-19-emerge-taking-the-total-number-to-169-401091">Tokyo Olympics: 16 more cases of COVID-19 emerge taking the total number to 169</a>

This is the most widespread domestic contagion since the virus outbreak in Wuhan in December 2019.&nbsp;

According to the Global Times, a new wave of COVID-19 cases began at an airport in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province in east China, and has since spread to five other provinces, including the Beijing municipality.

All flights have been halted in Nanjing after a number of airport employees tested positive, according to the city.&nbsp;

The fast-spreading Delta variant has been recorded in 15 Chinese cities.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned in an internal paper that the Delta COVID-19 variant can be passed on even by vaccinated people and may even be deadlier than previous coronavirus strains.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned in an internal paper that the Delta COVID-19 variant can be passed on even by vaccinated people and may even be deadlier than previous coronavirus strains. This variant requires a different way to educate the public about the hazard, according to the document "Improving communications around vaccination breakthroughs and vaccine effectiveness." The document, titled 'Improving communications around vaccine breakthrough and vaccine effectiveness,' stated that the Delta variant necessitated a new approach to help the public understand the threat, including making it clear that unvaccinated people were more than 10 times more likely to become seriously ill or die than those who were vaccinated. Also read | Japan to expand state of emergency as COVID-19 shadows Olympics "The immediate next step for the agency is to acknowledge that the war has changed," it said. According to the study, recommended preventive actions include making vaccinations mandatory for health care providers in order to protect the vulnerable, as well as a return to universal face mask use. Vaccinated people were less likely to become infected, according to the CDC. Experts also stressed that vaccinated individuals represent a very small amount of transmissions in the country, and majority of the hospitalisations and deaths are unvaccinated people. Meanwhile, the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is causing a sudden surge in cases in China, with 15 cities, including the capital Beijing, reporting clusters of positive cases, according to official media on Friday. Also read | Tokyo Olympics: 16 more cases of COVID-19 emerge taking the total number to 169 This is the most widespread domestic contagion since the virus outbreak in Wuhan in December 2019. According to the Global Times, a new wave of COVID-19 cases began at an airport in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province in east China, and has since spread to five other provinces, including the Beijing municipality. All flights have been halted in Nanjing after a number of airport employees tested positive, according to the city. The fast-spreading Delta variant has been recorded in 15 Chinese cities. (With inputs from agencies)

Delta COVID-19 variant can be passed on even by those vaccinated: US top health body

The Olympics host city&nbsp;Tokyo, as well as&nbsp;Thailand&nbsp;and&nbsp;Malaysia, announced a&nbsp;record&nbsp;number of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;infections&nbsp;on Saturday, mostly driven by the highly transmissible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta&nbsp;variant</a>&nbsp;of the disease.

Cases surged in Sydney as well, where police cordoned off the central business district to prevent a protest against a strict lockdown that will last until the end of August.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-expand-state-of-emergency-as-covid-19-shadows-olympics-401684">Japan to expand state of emergency as COVID-19 shadows Olympics</a>

Police closed train stations, banned taxis from dropping passengers off downtown and deployed 1,000 officers to set up checkpoints and to disperse groups. The government of New South Wales reported 210 new&nbsp;infections&nbsp;in Sydney and surrounding areas from the&nbsp;Delta&nbsp;variant&nbsp;outbreak.

Tokyo's metropolitan government announced a&nbsp;record&nbsp;number of 4,058&nbsp;infections&nbsp;in the past 24 hours, topping 4,000 for the first time. Olympics organisers reported 21 new&nbsp;COVID-19 cases related to the Games, bringing the total to 241 since July 1.

The&nbsp;record&nbsp;comes a day after Japan extended its state of emergency for&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;to the end of August, expanding it to three prefectures near&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;and the western prefecture of Osaka in light of the recent spike in&nbsp;infections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-16-more-cases-of-covid-19-emerge-taking-the-total-number-to-169-401091">Tokyo Olympics: 16 more cases of COVID-19 emerge taking the total number to 169</a>

Olympics organisers said on Saturday they had revoked accreditation of a Games-related person or people for leaving the athletes' village for sightseeing, a violation of measures imposed to hold the Olympics safely amid the pandemic.

The organisers did not disclose how many people had their accreditation revoked, if the person or people involved were athletes, or when the violation took place.

Malaysia, one of the hotspots of the disease, reported 17,786 coronavirus cases on Saturday, a&nbsp;record&nbsp;number of&nbsp;infections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-to-bar-travel-from-malaysia-thailand-to-curb-deltas-spread-399928">Philippines to bar travel from Malaysia, Thailand to curb Delta's spread</a>

More than 100 people gathered in the centre of the capital Kuala Lumpur, expressing dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the pandemic and calling on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to quit.

Protesters carried black flags and held up placards that read “Kerajaan Gagal” (failed government) – a hashtag that has been popular on social media for months.

Thailand&nbsp;reported a daily&nbsp;record&nbsp;of 18,912 new coronavirus&nbsp;infections, bringing the country's total accumulated cases to 597,287. The country also reported 178 new deaths, also a daily&nbsp;record, taking total fatalities to 4,857.

The government said the&nbsp;Delta&nbsp;variant&nbsp;accounted for more than 60 per cent of the cases in the country and 80 per cent&nbsp;of the cases in Bangkok.

The&nbsp;Delta&nbsp;variant&nbsp;is not necessarily more lethal than other&nbsp;variants, but much more transmissible, Supakit Sirilak, the director-general of the Medical Science Department, told Reuters.

China is also battling an outbreak of the&nbsp;Delta&nbsp;variant&nbsp;in the eastern city of Nanjing, traced to airport cleaners who worked on a flight from Russia.

COVID-19&nbsp;infections&nbsp;have increased by 80 per cent&nbsp;over the past four weeks in most regions of the world, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.

"Hard-won gains are in jeopardy or being lost, and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed," Tedros told a news conference.

The US&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control said the&nbsp;variant, first detected in India and now dominant across the globe, is as contagious as chickenpox and far more contagious than the common cold or flu. It can be passed on even by vaccinated people, and may cause more serious disease than earlier coronavirus strains.

The Olympics host city Tokyo, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, announced a record number of COVID-19 infections on Saturday, mostly driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the disease.

The Olympics host city Tokyo, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, announced a record number of COVID-19 infections on Saturday, mostly driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the disease. Cases surged in Sydney as well, where police cordoned off the central business district to prevent a protest against a strict lockdown that will last until the end of August. Also read | Japan to expand state of emergency as COVID-19 shadows Olympics Police closed train stations, banned taxis from dropping passengers off downtown and deployed 1,000 officers to set up checkpoints and to disperse groups. The government of New South Wales reported 210 new infections in Sydney and surrounding areas from the Delta variant outbreak. Tokyo's metropolitan government announced a record number of 4,058 infections in the past 24 hours, topping 4,000 for the first time. Olympics organisers reported 21 new COVID-19 cases related to the Games, bringing the total to 241 since July 1. The record comes a day after Japan extended its state of emergency for Tokyo to the end of August, expanding it to three prefectures near Tokyo and the western prefecture of Osaka in light of the recent spike in infections. Also read | Tokyo Olympics: 16 more cases of COVID-19 emerge taking the total number to 169 Olympics organisers said on Saturday they had revoked accreditation of a Games-related person or people for leaving the athletes' village for sightseeing, a violation of measures imposed to hold the Olympics safely amid the pandemic. The organisers did not disclose how many people had their accreditation revoked, if the person or people involved were athletes, or when the violation took place. Malaysia, one of the hotspots of the disease, reported 17,786 coronavirus cases on Saturday, a record number of infections. Also read | Philippines to bar travel from Malaysia, Thailand to curb Delta's spread More than 100 people gathered in the centre of the capital Kuala Lumpur, expressing dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the pandemic and calling on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to quit. Protesters carried black flags and held up placards that read “Kerajaan Gagal” (failed government) – a hashtag that has been popular on social media for months. Thailand reported a daily record of 18,912 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country's total accumulated cases to 597,287. The country also reported 178 new deaths, also a daily record, taking total fatalities to 4,857. The government said the Delta variant accounted for more than 60 per cent of the cases in the country and 80 per cent of the cases in Bangkok. The Delta variant is not necessarily more lethal than other variants, but much more transmissible, Supakit Sirilak, the director-general of the Medical Science Department, told Reuters. China is also battling an outbreak of the Delta variant in the eastern city of Nanjing, traced to airport cleaners who worked on a flight from Russia. COVID-19 infections have increased by 80 per cent over the past four weeks in most regions of the world, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday. "Hard-won gains are in jeopardy or being lost, and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed," Tedros told a news conference. The US Centers for Disease Control said the variant, first detected in India and now dominant across the globe, is as contagious as chickenpox and far more contagious than the common cold or flu. It can be passed on even by vaccinated people, and may cause more serious disease than earlier coronavirus strains.

Delta variant rampant in Asia; Olympics COVID tally rises to 241

Broadway’s theatre owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic, said Friday that they have decided to require that theatregoers be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a>&nbsp;against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> and wear masks in order to attend a performance.

The policy announced just days before the first Broadway play in more than 16 months is to start performances, allows children ineligible for vaccination to attend shows if tested for the virus. But some performing arts venues in New York say they will go even further: The Metropolitan Opera, which hopes to reopen in late September, and Carnegie Hall, which is planning to reopen in October, are planning not only to require vaccinations but also to bar children younger than 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-new-yorks-met-opera-mandates-vaccines-for-new-season-401064">New York's Met Opera mandates vaccines for new season</a>

The new vaccination requirements for visitors to New York’s most prominent performing arts venues come as the highly contagious delta variant has caused COVID-19 cases to rise, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that vaccinated Americans in virus hot spots resume wearing masks indoors. Several major businesses, local governments and the federal government have recently decided to require their employees to get vaccinated or submit to frequent testing.

The Broadway rules, which will be in place at least through October and apply to all 41 Broadway theatres, require that audiences wear masks, except when eating or drinking.

The Broadway vaccination mandate will apply not only to audiences but also to performers, backstage crew and theatre staff. There will be limited exceptions: “people with a medical condition or closely held religious belief that prevents vaccination,” as well as children younger than 12, can attend with proof of a recent negative coronavirus test.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-offers-100-to-citizens-who-get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-401523">New York offers $100 to citizens who get vaccinated against COVID-19</a>

A vaccine mandate is already in place for Bruce Springsteen’s concert-show, which began performances in June, and for “Pass Over,” the new play that plans to start performances Aug. 4. The new rules will affect all of the shows that follow; 27, including many of the blockbuster musicals, plan to get underway in September and October, starting with “Hadestown” and “Waitress” on Sept. 2.

“We have said from day one that we want our casts, our crews and our audiences to be safe, and we believe that this is a precaution to ensure that,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “We’re doing everything we can to open safely and protect everyone.”

Deciding what to do about young children has proved particularly vexing, given that no vaccine has yet been approved for pediatric use. Although Broadway, which has a number of shows that depend on ticket buying by families with children, has decided to allow those younger than 12 to attend if tested, the Met Opera, which draws fewer young children to most of its productions, is taking a more restrictive approach.

“Children under the age of 12, for whom there is no currently available vaccine, are not permitted to enter the Met regardless of the vaccination status of their guardian,” the company declares on its website.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-make-coronavirus-vaccine-compulsory-for-federal-workers-reports-401159">Biden to make coronavirus vaccine compulsory for federal workers: Reports</a>

“Obviously, it’s painful to me personally and to the company not to have young people coming into the theater,” said Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met, who said that the company’s vaccination policies were designed to protect its roughly 3,000 employees and to make audiences feel comfortable about coming back and sitting in close quarters. The Met is also requiring all visiting artists and the members of its orchestra and chorus, as well as its staff, to be vaccinated.

Barring children younger than 12, for now, had been a difficult decision, Gelb said: “They are our future audience.”

Gelb said that he hoped children would become eligible for vaccines by December when the Met is planning two holiday presentations aimed at families and children: the company’s shortened, English-language version of “The Magic Flute,” and “Cinderella,” an English-language adaptation of Massenet’s “Cendrillon.”

Both Broadway and the Met are planning to open at full capacity, meaning no social distancing, and the Met says that masks will be optional. Broadway theatres range in size from 600-1,900 seats, while the Met can seat 3,800.

Broadway will provide additional safety measures backstage. An agreement announced Thursday between the Broadway League, a trade association representing producers as well as theatre owners, and Actors’ Equity Association, the labour union representing performers and stage managers, requires weekly testing for employees, as well as the vaccine mandate.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-govt-gives-new-incentives-for-people-getting-vaccinated-against-coronavirus-401500/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">
The tough new rules for audiences are not entirely a surprise. “Springsteen on Broadway” and “Pass Over” have mandated audience vaccination, and Disney Theatrical Productions, which produces “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, required proof of vaccination by attendees at a four-night concert run this month at the New Amsterdam Theater. (Disney allowed those younger than 12 to enter if accompanied by a vaccinated adult.)

There are some venues staging work in New York without requiring vaccinations, but others have implemented mandates, including Madison Square Garden, which in June required vaccination for patrons at a Foo Fighters concert. The Park Avenue Armory, which had accepted proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for its first dance show this summer, has been getting stricter; all attendees must be fully vaccinated for its next show, a new work by choreographer Bill T. Jones called “Deep Blue Sea” that is scheduled to start performances in September.

Broadway theatres are especially high-visibility and especially challenging since they draw audiences of all ages and from all over the world to sit side by side in tightly packed buildings with small lobbies and bathrooms and cramped backstage areas. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York had suggested in May that Broadway should consider a vaccination mandate, but some producers had hoped to avoid such a step, fearing that it could dampen attendance at a time when tourism is down and consumer readiness to return to theatergoing remains uncertain. The recent rise in transmission persuaded the industry’s leadership to set aside those concerns and embrace the vaccination mandate, at least for the next few months.
</div>

For those who have already purchased tickets and are unwilling or unable to comply with the new policies, there are likely to be options: Most shows have adopted liberal refund and exchange policies for the fall.

The League said that in September it would reassess safety protocols for performances in November and beyond.

Broadway’s theatre owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic, said Friday that they have decided to require that theatregoers be vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear masks in order to attend a performance.

Broadway’s theatre owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic, said Friday that they have decided to require that theatregoers be vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear masks in order to attend a performance. The policy announced just days before the first Broadway play in more than 16 months is to start performances, allows children ineligible for vaccination to attend shows if tested for the virus. But some performing arts venues in New York say they will go even further: The Metropolitan Opera, which hopes to reopen in late September, and Carnegie Hall, which is planning to reopen in October, are planning not only to require vaccinations but also to bar children younger than 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. Also read | New York's Met Opera mandates vaccines for new season The new vaccination requirements for visitors to New York’s most prominent performing arts venues come as the highly contagious delta variant has caused COVID-19 cases to rise, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that vaccinated Americans in virus hot spots resume wearing masks indoors. Several major businesses, local governments and the federal government have recently decided to require their employees to get vaccinated or submit to frequent testing. The Broadway rules, which will be in place at least through October and apply to all 41 Broadway theatres, require that audiences wear masks, except when eating or drinking. The Broadway vaccination mandate will apply not only to audiences but also to performers, backstage crew and theatre staff. There will be limited exceptions: “people with a medical condition or closely held religious belief that prevents vaccination,” as well as children younger than 12, can attend with proof of a recent negative coronavirus test. Also read | New York offers $100 to citizens who get vaccinated against COVID-19 A vaccine mandate is already in place for Bruce Springsteen’s concert-show, which began performances in June, and for “Pass Over,” the new play that plans to start performances Aug. 4. The new rules will affect all of the shows that follow; 27, including many of the blockbuster musicals, plan to get underway in September and October, starting with “Hadestown” and “Waitress” on Sept. 2. “We have said from day one that we want our casts, our crews and our audiences to be safe, and we believe that this is a precaution to ensure that,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “We’re doing everything we can to open safely and protect everyone.” Deciding what to do about young children has proved particularly vexing, given that no vaccine has yet been approved for pediatric use. Although Broadway, which has a number of shows that depend on ticket buying by families with children, has decided to allow those younger than 12 to attend if tested, the Met Opera, which draws fewer young children to most of its productions, is taking a more restrictive approach. “Children under the age of 12, for whom there is no currently available vaccine, are not permitted to enter the Met regardless of the vaccination status of their guardian,” the company declares on its website. Also read | Biden to make coronavirus vaccine compulsory for federal workers: Reports “Obviously, it’s painful to me personally and to the company not to have young people coming into the theater,” said Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met, who said that the company’s vaccination policies were designed to protect its roughly 3,000 employees and to make audiences feel comfortable about coming back and sitting in close quarters. The Met is also requiring all visiting artists and the members of its orchestra and chorus, as well as its staff, to be vaccinated. Barring children younger than 12, for now, had been a difficult decision, Gelb said: “They are our future audience.” Gelb said that he hoped children would become eligible for vaccines by December when the Met is planning two holiday presentations aimed at families and children: the company’s shortened, English-language version of “The Magic Flute,” and “Cinderella,” an English-language adaptation of Massenet’s “Cendrillon.” Both Broadway and the Met are planning to open at full capacity, meaning no social distancing, and the Met says that masks will be optional. Broadway theatres range in size from 600-1,900 seats, while the Met can seat 3,800. Broadway will provide additional safety measures backstage. An agreement announced Thursday between the Broadway League, a trade association representing producers as well as theatre owners, and Actors’ Equity Association, the labour union representing performers and stage managers, requires weekly testing for employees, as well as the vaccine mandate. The tough new rules for audiences are not entirely a surprise. “Springsteen on Broadway” and “Pass Over” have mandated audience vaccination, and Disney Theatrical Productions, which produces “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, required proof of vaccination by attendees at a four-night concert run this month at the New Amsterdam Theater. (Disney allowed those younger than 12 to enter if accompanied by a vaccinated adult.) There are some venues staging work in New York without requiring vaccinations, but others have implemented mandates, including Madison Square Garden, which in June required vaccination for patrons at a Foo Fighters concert. The Park Avenue Armory, which had accepted proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for its first dance show this summer, has been getting stricter; all attendees must be fully vaccinated for its next show, a new work by choreographer Bill T. Jones called “Deep Blue Sea” that is scheduled to start performances in September. Broadway theatres are especially high-visibility and especially challenging since they draw audiences of all ages and from all over the world to sit side by side in tightly packed buildings with small lobbies and bathrooms and cramped backstage areas. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York had suggested in May that Broadway should consider a vaccination mandate, but some producers had hoped to avoid such a step, fearing that it could dampen attendance at a time when tourism is down and consumer readiness to return to theatergoing remains uncertain. The recent rise in transmission persuaded the industry’s leadership to set aside those concerns and embrace the vaccination mandate, at least for the next few months. For those who have already purchased tickets and are unwilling or unable to comply with the new policies, there are likely to be options: Most shows have adopted liberal refund and exchange policies for the fall. The League said that in September it would reassess safety protocols for performances in November and beyond.

Broadway audiences will need proof of vaccination and masks

Nine out of 10 women in India had less food, impacting their nutrition levels, during the 2020 nationwide lockdown imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, analysed surveys of food expenditures, dietary diversity and other nutrition indicators at the national, state and district levels in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.

Nearly 90 per cent of survey respondents reported having less food, while 95 per cent said they consumed fewer types of food.

Most concerningly, the drop was due to decreased consumption of foods like meats, eggs, vegetables and fruits, which are rich in micronutrients that are crucial to good health and development.

The study, published in the journal Economia Politica, indicated a decline in household food expenditures and women`s dietary diversity in May 2020 compared to May 2019.

"Women`s diets were lacking in diverse foods even before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has further exacerbated the situation," said Soumya Gupta, a research economist at TCI.

"Any policies addressing the impact of the pandemic on nutritional outcomes must do so through a gendered lens that reflects the specific, and often persistent, vulnerabilities faced by women," she added.

The national lockdown to slow down the spread of Covid was in force from March 24 to May 30, 2020.

Disruptions to agricultural supply chains subsequently led to price fluctuations, especially for non-staple foods, in less developed districts.

The surveys also suggest a decrease in the quantity and quality of nutritious foods consumed by women during the pandemic. For example, some women said that during the lockdown they halved the amount of dal, or red lentils, that they prepared, or that they prepared thinner dals.

The unequal burden on women was also caused in part due to the closure of India`s aanganwadi centers during the lockdown, affecting 72 per cent of households, the researchers said.

The centers, which provide take-home rations and hot cooked meals to nursing and expecting mothers, are an important source of nutrition for women and children.

"Due to the spillover effects of maternal malnutrition, that risk poses a threat not only to women`s productivity and well-being, but also that of their children," Gupta noted.

Nine out of 10 women in India had less food, impacting their nutrition levels, during the 2020 nationwide lockdown imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

Nine out of 10 women in India had less food, impacting their nutrition levels, during the 2020 nationwide lockdown imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. Researchers from the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, analysed surveys of food expenditures, dietary diversity and other nutrition indicators at the national, state and district levels in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. Nearly 90 per cent of survey respondents reported having less food, while 95 per cent said they consumed fewer types of food. Most concerningly, the drop was due to decreased consumption of foods like meats, eggs, vegetables and fruits, which are rich in micronutrients that are crucial to good health and development. The study, published in the journal Economia Politica, indicated a decline in household food expenditures and women`s dietary diversity in May 2020 compared to May 2019. "Women`s diets were lacking in diverse foods even before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has further exacerbated the situation," said Soumya Gupta, a research economist at TCI. "Any policies addressing the impact of the pandemic on nutritional outcomes must do so through a gendered lens that reflects the specific, and often persistent, vulnerabilities faced by women," she added. The national lockdown to slow down the spread of Covid was in force from March 24 to May 30, 2020. Disruptions to agricultural supply chains subsequently led to price fluctuations, especially for non-staple foods, in less developed districts. The surveys also suggest a decrease in the quantity and quality of nutritious foods consumed by women during the pandemic. For example, some women said that during the lockdown they halved the amount of dal, or red lentils, that they prepared, or that they prepared thinner dals. The unequal burden on women was also caused in part due to the closure of India`s aanganwadi centers during the lockdown, affecting 72 per cent of households, the researchers said. The centers, which provide take-home rations and hot cooked meals to nursing and expecting mothers, are an important source of nutrition for women and children. "Due to the spillover effects of maternal malnutrition, that risk poses a threat not only to women`s productivity and well-being, but also that of their children," Gupta noted.

90% Indian women ate less during COVID-19 lockdown: Study

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dubbed US politician Kevin McCarthy a "moron" after he criticised the Democratic Party and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reimposing a mask mandate for vaccinated people in certain circumstances.

McCarthy said that the new guidance is "exclusively based on an Indian study." The paper "didn't even pass peer review," he added.

"President Biden’s CDC can’t make up its mind. One mask. Two masks. No masks. Back to one mask. Their new guidance for vaccinated individuals to wear a mask is based exclusively on a study FROM INDIA—which has NOT passed peer review—using vaccines that are NOT APPROVED in the US, " he Tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Biden’s CDC can’t make up its mind. One mask. Two masks. No masks. Back to one mask. 
 
Their new guidance for vaccinated individuals to wear a mask is based exclusively on a study FROM INDIA—which has NOT passed peer review—using vaccines that are NOT APPROVED in the US.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1420561587346235393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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McCarthy's comments on masks, as well as Pelosi's response, came after the Capitol attending physician sent a message on Tuesday advising that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks indoors; the document stated that such instruction is necessary in the House. 
 
Later at a press conference, Pelosi said, “To say that wearing a mask is not based on science, I think, is not wise.”

(With inputs from agencies)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dubbed US politician Kevin McCarthy a "moron" after he criticised the Democratic Party and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reimposing a mask mandate for vaccinated people in certain circumstances.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dubbed US politician Kevin McCarthy a "moron" after he criticised the Democratic Party and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reimposing a mask mandate for vaccinated people in certain circumstances. McCarthy said that the new guidance is "exclusively based on an Indian study." The paper "didn't even pass peer review," he added. "President Biden’s CDC can’t make up its mind. One mask. Two masks. No masks. Back to one mask. Their new guidance for vaccinated individuals to wear a mask is based exclusively on a study FROM INDIA—which has NOT passed peer review—using vaccines that are NOT APPROVED in the US, " he Tweeted. President Biden’s CDC can’t make up its mind. One mask. Two masks. No masks. Back to one mask. Their new guidance for vaccinated individuals to wear a mask is based exclusively on a study FROM INDIA—which has NOT passed peer review—using vaccines that are NOT APPROVED in the US. — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) July 29, 2021 × McCarthy's comments on masks, as well as Pelosi's response, came after the Capitol attending physician sent a message on Tuesday advising that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks indoors; the document stated that such instruction is necessary in the House. Later at a press conference, Pelosi said, “To say that wearing a mask is not based on science, I think, is not wise.” (With inputs from agencies)

'He is a moron': US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as McCarthy says mask rule based on 'India study'

Saudi Arabia warned on Tuesday that citizens visiting destinations on its list of countries blacklisted due to Covid-19 will face three-year travel bans following their return.

Those found to have travelled to restricted countries would face "hefty penalties... as well as being prevented from travelling abroad for a period of three years", the interior ministry said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the spread of new variants, the ministry warns against travelling to countries on its (restricted) list, whether directly or indirectly via other countries."

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-two-doses-of-vaccine-compulsory-for-international-travel-and-much-more-399076" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-two-doses-of-vaccine-compulsory-for-international-travel-and-much-more-399076&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiDj5f7wYPyAhXYxDgGHRsQDxMQFjAGegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1bNUobVKzC19CYdYYdxrm4" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-two-doses-of-vaccine-compulsory-for-international-travel-and-much-more-399076" target="_blank">Saudi: Two doses of vaccine compulsory for international travel</a>

According to the kingdom's state airline Saudia, citizens are barred from travelling to 16 countries, including the neighbouring United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;

In its latest update to travel restrictions earlier this month, Riyadh said it had suspended flights to the UAE, Ethiopia and Vietnam to protect against a coronavirus variant.&nbsp;

The move comes after the oil-rich kingdom permitted fully immunised citizens to travel abroad, after a ban on foreign trips that lasted more than a year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/for-the-first-time-saudi-women-stand-guard-in-mecca-during-haj-399747">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/for-the-first-time-saudi-women-stand-guard-in-mecca-during-haj-399747/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The UAE, and especially the emirate of Dubai, is a key leisure destination for Saudis.

The decision was taken due to "the spread of a new mutated strain of the (Covid-19) virus", the interior ministry said at the time, without explicitly mentioning the increasingly widespread Delta variant.

The variant, first detected in India and now present in dozens of countries around the world, is the most contagious of any Covid-19 strain yet identified.

The UAE announced in June it had recorded cases of the Delta variant.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia meanwhile put major limits on the annual hajj pilgrimage in an effort to combat infections.&nbsp;

It has officially recorded more than 520,000 cases of coronavirus, including 8,189 deaths.

Saudi Arabia warned on Tuesday that citizens visiting destinations on its list of countries blacklisted due to Covid-19 will face three-year travel bans following their return.

Saudi Arabia warned on Tuesday that citizens visiting destinations on its list of countries blacklisted due to Covid-19 will face three-year travel bans following their return. Those found to have travelled to restricted countries would face "hefty penalties... as well as being prevented from travelling abroad for a period of three years", the interior ministry said on Twitter. "Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the spread of new variants, the ministry warns against travelling to countries on its (restricted) list, whether directly or indirectly via other countries." Also read | Saudi: Two doses of vaccine compulsory for international travel According to the kingdom's state airline Saudia, citizens are barred from travelling to 16 countries, including the neighbouring United Arab Emirates. In its latest update to travel restrictions earlier this month, Riyadh said it had suspended flights to the UAE, Ethiopia and Vietnam to protect against a coronavirus variant. The move comes after the oil-rich kingdom permitted fully immunised citizens to travel abroad, after a ban on foreign trips that lasted more than a year. WATCH | The UAE, and especially the emirate of Dubai, is a key leisure destination for Saudis. The decision was taken due to "the spread of a new mutated strain of the (Covid-19) virus", the interior ministry said at the time, without explicitly mentioning the increasingly widespread Delta variant. The variant, first detected in India and now present in dozens of countries around the world, is the most contagious of any Covid-19 strain yet identified. The UAE announced in June it had recorded cases of the Delta variant. Saudi Arabia meanwhile put major limits on the annual hajj pilgrimage in an effort to combat infections. It has officially recorded more than 520,000 cases of coronavirus, including 8,189 deaths.

Saudis breaking Covid travel rules face 3-year exit ban

As Rome tries to rein in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 infections</a>, tens of thousands of protesters in cities across Italy demonstrated on&nbsp;Saturday against the government's decision to place restrictions on unvaccinated people.

<div>Italy's flag-waving demonstrators chanted "Freedom!" and "Down with the dictatorship!" from Naples to Turin, while protesters soaked by rain in Milan shouted "No Green Pass!".</div>

An overwhelming majority of protestors were without masks.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italian-prosecutors-examine-evidence-suggesting-covid-19-spread-before-official-confirmation-396216">Italian prosecutors examine evidence suggesting COVID-19 spread before official confirmation</a>

As per the new regulations, starting August 6, those entering cinemas, museums, indoor swimming pools, or sports stadiums, or eating at restaurants indoors, will need a Green Pass.

The pass will serve as proof that the bearer has been vaccinated, has recently undergone a negative COVID-19 test, or has recently recovered from a Coronavirus infection.

According to Francesco Figliuolo, emergency chief for COVID-19, the announcement made on Thursday making the pass mandatory for many activities, lead to a 200 per cent increase in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine</a> bookings in Italy's smaller regions.

As the cabinet aims to safeguard the slowing economy and prevent further lockdowns, businesses are expected to enforce the rules or face stiff fines.

An evaluation of whether the pass should be made mandatory for train, coach, and plane travel will take place in September.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-crosses-30-million-vaccine-doses-mark-386771">Italy crosses 30 million vaccine doses mark</a>

"Better to die free than live like slaves!" read one placard held up outside Milan's Gothic cathedral, while another in Rome's historic centre read "Vaccines set you free" over a picture of the gates to Auschwitz.

Several protesters in Genova have yellow Star of David badges proclaiming that they haven't been vaccinated.

Through social media, more than 80 cities had announced that they were holding demonstrations on Saturday.

Faced with the threat of Delta variant, on Saturday, Italy&nbsp;one of the worst-hit countries in Europe during this pandemic, reported five thousand new coronavirus cases and five deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)

As Rome tries to rein in COVID-19 infections, tens of thousands of protesters in cities across Italy demonstrated on Saturday against the government's decision to place restrictions on unvaccinated people.

As Rome tries to rein in COVID-19 infections, tens of thousands of protesters in cities across Italy demonstrated on Saturday against the government's decision to place restrictions on unvaccinated people. Italy's flag-waving demonstrators chanted "Freedom!" and "Down with the dictatorship!" from Naples to Turin, while protesters soaked by rain in Milan shouted "No Green Pass!". An overwhelming majority of protestors were without masks. Also read | Italian prosecutors examine evidence suggesting COVID-19 spread before official confirmation As per the new regulations, starting August 6, those entering cinemas, museums, indoor swimming pools, or sports stadiums, or eating at restaurants indoors, will need a Green Pass. The pass will serve as proof that the bearer has been vaccinated, has recently undergone a negative COVID-19 test, or has recently recovered from a Coronavirus infection. According to Francesco Figliuolo, emergency chief for COVID-19, the announcement made on Thursday making the pass mandatory for many activities, lead to a 200 per cent increase in vaccine bookings in Italy's smaller regions. As the cabinet aims to safeguard the slowing economy and prevent further lockdowns, businesses are expected to enforce the rules or face stiff fines. An evaluation of whether the pass should be made mandatory for train, coach, and plane travel will take place in September. Also read | Italy crosses 30 million vaccine doses mark "Better to die free than live like slaves!" read one placard held up outside Milan's Gothic cathedral, while another in Rome's historic centre read "Vaccines set you free" over a picture of the gates to Auschwitz. Several protesters in Genova have yellow Star of David badges proclaiming that they haven't been vaccinated. Through social media, more than 80 cities had announced that they were holding demonstrations on Saturday. Faced with the threat of Delta variant, on Saturday, Italy one of the worst-hit countries in Europe during this pandemic, reported five thousand new coronavirus cases and five deaths. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy awash with protests against Covid certificates

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives and President-Elect of the 76th UN General Assembly, Abdullah Shahid, on Friday commended India's generosity for ensuring COVID-19 vaccine supply to 95 countries and providing essential medicines to 150 countries around the world.

Shahid was speaking at the 4th Sapru House Lecture on the challenges faced by Maldives democracy.

Abdullah also informed us that the "world economy shrank by 4.3 per cent in 2020, while many countries fell into debt. Global poverty has also increased, pushing almost 114 million people to lose their jobs."

Meanwhile, Indian multilateralist Manjeev Puri said, "We are pleased to see a South-Asian chairing the UN General Assembly."

The Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) Director-General TCA Raghavan also expressed that "It is an honour for the Indian Council of World Affairs to have Abdullah Shahid deliver the Sapru House Lecture today."

Shahid Abdullah was addressing the 38th Sapru House Lecture on the COVID pandemic and the need for reformed multilateralism. The Sapru House Lecture is the flagship public lecture series dedicated to the founders of ICWA.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives and President-Elect of the 76th UN General Assembly, Abdullah Shahid, on Friday commended India's generosity for ensuring COVID-19 vaccine supply to 95 countries and providing essential medicines to 150 countries around the world.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives and President-Elect of the 76th UN General Assembly, Abdullah Shahid, on Friday commended India's generosity for ensuring COVID-19 vaccine supply to 95 countries and providing essential medicines to 150 countries around the world. Shahid was speaking at the 4th Sapru House Lecture on the challenges faced by Maldives democracy. Abdullah also informed us that the "world economy shrank by 4.3 per cent in 2020, while many countries fell into debt. Global poverty has also increased, pushing almost 114 million people to lose their jobs." Meanwhile, Indian multilateralist Manjeev Puri said, "We are pleased to see a South-Asian chairing the UN General Assembly." The Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) Director-General TCA Raghavan also expressed that "It is an honour for the Indian Council of World Affairs to have Abdullah Shahid deliver the Sapru House Lecture today." Shahid Abdullah was addressing the 38th Sapru House Lecture on the COVID pandemic and the need for reformed multilateralism. The Sapru House Lecture is the flagship public lecture series dedicated to the founders of ICWA.

Abdullah Shahid praises India for supplying COVID-19 vaccines, essential medicines to world

Philippine health officials warned Friday of a possible surge in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus infections</a> as the first locally transmitted cases of the highly contagious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-variant-getting-more-dangerous-and-can-soon-be-dominant-who-chief-warns-397933">Delta variant</a> were recorded and more than three million people went into lockdown.&nbsp;

Eleven local cases of the more virulent strain have been detected, including two in the national capital region, the health department said, citing results of genome sequencing conducted this week.&nbsp;

The cases dated back to May and June and authorities were checking to ensure they had been "appropriately traced and managed", Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire told reporters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-philippine-president-duterte-orders-arrest-of-mask-violators-383222">COVID-19: Philippine&nbsp;President Duterte orders arrest of mask violators</a>

"The government has started preparing our health system," Vergeire said.

More hospital beds were being made available for COVID-19 patients and oxygen supplies increased in case of a "surge" in cases, she said.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;has recorded around 1.5 million coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic, the second-highest in Southeast Asia.&nbsp;

But a deficient contact tracing system means the real figure is likely much higher.

Record infections earlier this year sent the national capital region and surrounding provinces into lockdown as soaring numbers of patients threatened to overwhelm hospitals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/grappling-with-covid-19-philippines-to-send-back-chinas-sinopharm-vaccine-383511">Grappling with COVID-19, Philippines to send back China's Sinopharm vaccine</a>

Cases have eased in recent months, hovering around 5,000 or 6,000 a day. COVID-19 rules have been relaxed in many parts of the country but masks and face shields are mandatory in public.

But as the Delta variant fuels infections around the world, the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;has tightened border restrictions for travellers from some of the worst-hit countries, including neighbouring Indonesia.&nbsp;

Until this week cases of the strain had been detected only among quarantined Filipino workers returning from overseas.&nbsp;

Among the 11 local infections, six were on the southern island of Mindanao and were "part of a large cluster of cases". All of them have recovered.&nbsp;

One of the two cases in the national capital region died, the department said.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/philippines-president-threatens-to-jail-those-who-refuse-covid-19-vaccine-393163/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Asked about the delay in detecting the Delta variant, Philippine Genome Center executive director Cynthia Saloma told AFP they had limited processing capacity and had prioritised samples from hotspot areas.

Some regions were also slow to submit samples, she said.&nbsp;

More than three million people living in areas where the Delta infections were found have been sent into lockdown until the end of the month.

Residents in the central province of Iloilo and the southern cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog have been ordered to stay home, non-essential business shuttered and religious services banned.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-lifts-suspension-on-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-under-60s-378678">Philippines lifts suspension on AstraZeneca vaccine for under 60s</a>&nbsp;

The detection of Delta infections in the community comes as the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;struggles to vaccinate its population of 110 million due to tight global supplies and logistical challenges.

Some cities recently suspended inoculations after running out of shots -- just as vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos declines.

Only 4.3 million people are fully vaccinated while more than 10 million have received their first jab.&nbsp;

Philippine health officials warned Friday of a possible surge in coronavirus infections as the first locally transmitted cases of the highly contagious Delta variant were recorded and more than three million people went into lockdown.

Philippine health officials warned Friday of a possible surge in coronavirus infections as the first locally transmitted cases of the highly contagious Delta variant were recorded and more than three million people went into lockdown. Eleven local cases of the more virulent strain have been detected, including two in the national capital region, the health department said, citing results of genome sequencing conducted this week. The cases dated back to May and June and authorities were checking to ensure they had been "appropriately traced and managed", Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire told reporters. Also read | COVID-19: Philippine President Duterte orders arrest of mask violators "The government has started preparing our health system," Vergeire said. More hospital beds were being made available for COVID-19 patients and oxygen supplies increased in case of a "surge" in cases, she said. The Philippines has recorded around 1.5 million coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic, the second-highest in Southeast Asia. But a deficient contact tracing system means the real figure is likely much higher. Record infections earlier this year sent the national capital region and surrounding provinces into lockdown as soaring numbers of patients threatened to overwhelm hospitals. Also read | Grappling with COVID-19, Philippines to send back China's Sinopharm vaccine Cases have eased in recent months, hovering around 5,000 or 6,000 a day. COVID-19 rules have been relaxed in many parts of the country but masks and face shields are mandatory in public. But as the Delta variant fuels infections around the world, the Philippines has tightened border restrictions for travellers from some of the worst-hit countries, including neighbouring Indonesia. Until this week cases of the strain had been detected only among quarantined Filipino workers returning from overseas. Among the 11 local infections, six were on the southern island of Mindanao and were "part of a large cluster of cases". All of them have recovered. One of the two cases in the national capital region died, the department said. Asked about the delay in detecting the Delta variant, Philippine Genome Center executive director Cynthia Saloma told AFP they had limited processing capacity and had prioritised samples from hotspot areas. Some regions were also slow to submit samples, she said. More than three million people living in areas where the Delta infections were found have been sent into lockdown until the end of the month. Residents in the central province of Iloilo and the southern cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog have been ordered to stay home, non-essential business shuttered and religious services banned. Also read | Philippines lifts suspension on AstraZeneca vaccine for under 60s The detection of Delta infections in the community comes as the Philippines struggles to vaccinate its population of 110 million due to tight global supplies and logistical challenges. Some cities recently suspended inoculations after running out of shots -- just as vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos declines. Only 4.3 million people are fully vaccinated while more than 10 million have received their first jab.

Philippines warns virus 'surge' possible after Delta strain detected

In May, musicians from dozens of countries descended on Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the course of the competition, the performers — clad in sequined dresses, ornate crowns or, in one case, an enormous pair of angel wings — belted and battled it out for their chance at the title.

But before they were even allowed onstage, they had to pass another test: a breath test.

When they arrived at the venue, the musicians were asked to exhale into a water-bottle-sized device called the SpiroNose, which analyzed the chemical compounds in their breath to detect signatures of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus infection</a>. If the results came back negative, the performers were cleared to compete.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-that-pets-are-at-risk-of-covid-infection-from-their-owners-not-the-other-way-around-397250" hreflang="en">Study finds that pets are at risk of covid infection from their owners, not the other way around</a>

The SpiroNose, made by the Dutch company Breathomix, is just one of many breath-based COVID-19 tests under development across the world. In May, Singapore’s health agency granted provisional authorization to two such tests, made by the domestic companies Breathonix and Silver Factory Technology. And researchers at Ohio State University say they have applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an emergency authorization of their COVID-19 breathalyzer.

“It’s clear now, I think, that you can detect this disease with a breath test,” said Paul Thomas, a chemist at Loughborough University in England. “This isn’t science fiction.”

Scientists have long been interested in creating portable devices that can quickly and painlessly screen a person for disease simply by taking a whiff of their breath. But delivering on this dream has proved to be a challenge. Different diseases may cause similar breath changes. Diet can affect the chemicals someone exhales, as can smoking and alcohol consumption,&nbsp;potentially complicating disease detection.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-who-chief-scientist-lists-four-reasons-for-pandemic-not-slowing-down-397170" hreflang="en">COVID-19: WHO chief scientist lists four reasons for pandemic not slowing down</a>

Still, scientists say, advances in sensor technology and machine learning, combined with new research and investment spurred by the pandemic, mean that the moment for disease-detecting breathalyzers may have finally arrived.

“I’ve been working in the area of breath research for almost 20 years now,” said Cristina Davis, an engineer at the University of California, Davis. “And during that time, we’ve seen it progress from a nascent stage to really being something that I think is close to being deployed.”

The Biology of Breath

Human breath is complex. Whenever we exhale, we release hundreds of gases known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs — byproducts of respiration, digestion, cellular metabolism and other physiological processes. Disease can disrupt these processes, altering the mix of VOCs that the body emits.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-95-may-need-to-be-vaccinated-to-stop-delta-variant-warns-french-scientists-397151" hreflang="en">COVID-19: 95% may need to be vaccinated to stop Delta variant, warn French scientists</a>

People with diabetes, for instance, may have breath that smells fruity or sweet. The odor is caused by ketones, chemicals produced when the body begins to burn fat instead of glucose for energy, a metabolic state known as ketosis.

“The idea that exhaled breath could hold diagnostic potential has been around for some time,” Davis said. “There are reports in ancient Greek and also ancient Chinese medical training texts that reference a physician’s use of smell as a way to help guide their clinical practice.”

Modern technologies can detect more subtle chemical changes, and machine-learning algorithms can identify patterns in breath samples from people with certain diseases. In recent years, scientists have used these methods to identify unique “breathprints” for lung cancer, liver disease, tuberculosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions. (Davis and her colleagues have even used VOC profiles to distinguish among cells that had been infected with different strains of flu.)

Before Covid hit, Breathomix had been developing an electronic nose to detect several other respiratory diseases.

“We train our system, ‘OK, this is how asthma smells, this how lung cancer smells,” said Rianne de Vries, the company’s chief technology and scientific officer. “So it’s building a big database and finding patterns in big data.”

Last year, the company — and many other researchers in the field — pivoted and began trying to identify a breathprint for COVID-19. During the virus’ initial surge in the spring of 2020, for instance, researchers in Britain and Germany collected breath samples from 98 people who showed up at hospitals with respiratory symptoms. (Participants were asked to exhale into a disposable tube; the researchers then used a syringe to extract a sample of their breath.)

Thirty-one of the patients turned out to have Covid, while the remainder had a variety of diagnoses, including asthma, bacterial pneumonia or heart failure, the researchers reported. The breath samples from people with COVID-19 had higher levels of aldehydes, compounds produced when cells or tissues are damaged by inflammation, and ketones, which fits with research suggesting that the virus may damage the pancreas and cause ketosis.

The Covid patients also had lower levels of methanol, which could be a sign that the virus had inflamed the gastrointestinal system or killed the methanol-producing bacteria that live there. Those breath changes combined “give us a COVID-19 signal,” said Thomas, a co-author of the study.

Waiting to Exhale

Several other studies have also detected unique chemical patterns in the breath of patients with COVID-19, and some devices claim impressive results. In one study of the SpiroNose, which included 4,510 participants, a team of Dutch researchers reported that the device correctly identified at least 98% of people who were infected with the virus, even in a group of asymptomatic participants. (The study, which included researchers from Breathomix, has not yet been peer-reviewed.)

But the SpiroNose had a relatively high rate of false positives, the study found. Because of this problem, the device does not provide consumers with a definitive diagnosis; the results either come back negative or inconclusive, in which case a standard polymerase chain reaction test is administered.

Dozens of testing sites in the Netherlands are now using the machine, de Vries said, but there have been some hiccups. In May, Science reported that Amsterdam’s public health authorities suspended use of the SpiroNose after 25 false negatives. Officials later determined that user error was largely responsible, and SpiroNose screening has resumed, de Vries said.

Other groups are working on their own breathalyzers. Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who have identified a breathprint of Covid in children, are now trying to identify breath markers of a rare but dangerous complication of the disease, known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

“The clinicians on the front line, they’re really struggling with which children we need to worry most about,” said Dr. Audrey Odom John, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who is leading the research.

In addition to studying the VOCs emitted by Covid&nbsp;patients, Davis and her colleagues are analyzing what is known as exhaled breath condensate, a concentrated solution of the tiny droplets of fluid, or aerosols, that are present in breath. These aerosols contain all sorts of complex biological molecules, including proteins, peptides, antibodies and inflammatory markers.

They hope to find biomarkers to help doctors predict which COVID-19 patients are most likely to become severely ill.

“I think that that will be a part of a clinical arsenal, where clinicians cannot only do rapid diagnostics, but then they could try to understand what’s the trajectory for that particular patient,” she said.

Other teams are working to create breath tests that look for the virus itself. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, for instance, are developing a biosensor that is coated in tiny antibody fragments, or nanobodies, that bind to SARS-CoV-2. If someone is exhaling viral particles, they should attach to the nanobodies, activating the sensor.

Passing the Smell Test

Interest in the technology is fierce. Perena Gouma, a materials scientist at Ohio State who has applied for FDA authorization for her COVID-19 breathalyzer, said she has already heard from colleges, theaters, sports leagues, travel authorities and others who want to get their hands on the device.

“I don’t think that there has been anyone who has been affected by this pandemic that hasn’t been excited about the prospect of having a breath test,” she said.

But the approach still needs to be validated in larger studies, and basic scientific questions remain unanswered.

“If we take a blood test for example, it’s well established that there is a normal range for, let’s say, hemoglobin levels or white blood cell count,” said Oliver Gould, an analytical chemist at the University of the West of England. “So, of course, then it’s very easy to see when something is abnormal.”

Those reference ranges do not yet exist for breath, he noted.

Researchers said that they do not expect breath-based tests to completely replace other diagnostic tests.

“Do I think that a breathalyzer is going to be used in your pediatrician’s office? Probably not,” John said. “Where I really see breath testing being useful is where you need to screen a whole bunch of people quickly. Could you screen every child in a school on a Monday? Could you do it before people enter a mall or a bounce house?”

And once the technology has been developed and validated, it could theoretically be used to screen for a wide variety of different diseases.

“The thing about a breath test is, if you have the technology in place, you can learn the signal for a new disease very fast,” Thomas said.

So the research being done now could pay long-term dividends.

“We’re developing the tools necessary to hopefully help us in the fight for the next disease,” said Edward DeMauro, an engineer at Rutgers University who is working on a COVID breathalyzer. “There is a very big value in, even if the pandemic’s over, not sitting back. That’s not the time to catch our breath.”

In May, musicians from dozens of countries descended on Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the course of the competition, the performers — clad in sequined dresses, ornate crowns or, in one case, an enormous pair of angel wings — belted and battled it out for their chance at the title.

In May, musicians from dozens of countries descended on Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the course of the competition, the performers — clad in sequined dresses, ornate crowns or, in one case, an enormous pair of angel wings — belted and battled it out for their chance at the title. But before they were even allowed onstage, they had to pass another test: a breath test. When they arrived at the venue, the musicians were asked to exhale into a water-bottle-sized device called the SpiroNose, which analyzed the chemical compounds in their breath to detect signatures of a coronavirus infection. If the results came back negative, the performers were cleared to compete. Also read | Study finds that pets are at risk of covid infection from their owners, not the other way around The SpiroNose, made by the Dutch company Breathomix, is just one of many breath-based COVID-19 tests under development across the world. In May, Singapore’s health agency granted provisional authorization to two such tests, made by the domestic companies Breathonix and Silver Factory Technology. And researchers at Ohio State University say they have applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an emergency authorization of their COVID-19 breathalyzer. “It’s clear now, I think, that you can detect this disease with a breath test,” said Paul Thomas, a chemist at Loughborough University in England. “This isn’t science fiction.” Scientists have long been interested in creating portable devices that can quickly and painlessly screen a person for disease simply by taking a whiff of their breath. But delivering on this dream has proved to be a challenge. Different diseases may cause similar breath changes. Diet can affect the chemicals someone exhales, as can smoking and alcohol consumption, potentially complicating disease detection. Also read | COVID-19: WHO chief scientist lists four reasons for pandemic not slowing down Still, scientists say, advances in sensor technology and machine learning, combined with new research and investment spurred by the pandemic, mean that the moment for disease-detecting breathalyzers may have finally arrived. “I’ve been working in the area of breath research for almost 20 years now,” said Cristina Davis, an engineer at the University of California, Davis. “And during that time, we’ve seen it progress from a nascent stage to really being something that I think is close to being deployed.” The Biology of Breath Human breath is complex. Whenever we exhale, we release hundreds of gases known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs — byproducts of respiration, digestion, cellular metabolism and other physiological processes. Disease can disrupt these processes, altering the mix of VOCs that the body emits. Also read | COVID-19: 95% may need to be vaccinated to stop Delta variant, warn French scientists People with diabetes, for instance, may have breath that smells fruity or sweet. The odor is caused by ketones, chemicals produced when the body begins to burn fat instead of glucose for energy, a metabolic state known as ketosis. “The idea that exhaled breath could hold diagnostic potential has been around for some time,” Davis said. “There are reports in ancient Greek and also ancient Chinese medical training texts that reference a physician’s use of smell as a way to help guide their clinical practice.” Modern technologies can detect more subtle chemical changes, and machine-learning algorithms can identify patterns in breath samples from people with certain diseases. In recent years, scientists have used these methods to identify unique “breathprints” for lung cancer, liver disease, tuberculosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions. (Davis and her colleagues have even used VOC profiles to distinguish among cells that had been infected with different strains of flu.) Before Covid hit, Breathomix had been developing an electronic nose to detect several other respiratory diseases. “We train our system, ‘OK, this is how asthma smells, this how lung cancer smells,” said Rianne de Vries, the company’s chief technology and scientific officer. “So it’s building a big database and finding patterns in big data.” Last year, the company — and many other researchers in the field — pivoted and began trying to identify a breathprint for COVID-19. During the virus’ initial surge in the spring of 2020, for instance, researchers in Britain and Germany collected breath samples from 98 people who showed up at hospitals with respiratory symptoms. (Participants were asked to exhale into a disposable tube; the researchers then used a syringe to extract a sample of their breath.) Thirty-one of the patients turned out to have Covid, while the remainder had a variety of diagnoses, including asthma, bacterial pneumonia or heart failure, the researchers reported. The breath samples from people with COVID-19 had higher levels of aldehydes, compounds produced when cells or tissues are damaged by inflammation, and ketones, which fits with research suggesting that the virus may damage the pancreas and cause ketosis. The Covid patients also had lower levels of methanol, which could be a sign that the virus had inflamed the gastrointestinal system or killed the methanol-producing bacteria that live there. Those breath changes combined “give us a COVID-19 signal,” said Thomas, a co-author of the study. Waiting to Exhale Several other studies have also detected unique chemical patterns in the breath of patients with COVID-19, and some devices claim impressive results. In one study of the SpiroNose, which included 4,510 participants, a team of Dutch researchers reported that the device correctly identified at least 98% of people who were infected with the virus, even in a group of asymptomatic participants. (The study, which included researchers from Breathomix, has not yet been peer-reviewed.) But the SpiroNose had a relatively high rate of false positives, the study found. Because of this problem, the device does not provide consumers with a definitive diagnosis; the results either come back negative or inconclusive, in which case a standard polymerase chain reaction test is administered. Dozens of testing sites in the Netherlands are now using the machine, de Vries said, but there have been some hiccups. In May, Science reported that Amsterdam’s public health authorities suspended use of the SpiroNose after 25 false negatives. Officials later determined that user error was largely responsible, and SpiroNose screening has resumed, de Vries said. Other groups are working on their own breathalyzers. Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who have identified a breathprint of Covid in children, are now trying to identify breath markers of a rare but dangerous complication of the disease, known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). “The clinicians on the front line, they’re really struggling with which children we need to worry most about,” said Dr. Audrey Odom John, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who is leading the research. In addition to studying the VOCs emitted by Covid patients, Davis and her colleagues are analyzing what is known as exhaled breath condensate, a concentrated solution of the tiny droplets of fluid, or aerosols, that are present in breath. These aerosols contain all sorts of complex biological molecules, including proteins, peptides, antibodies and inflammatory markers. They hope to find biomarkers to help doctors predict which COVID-19 patients are most likely to become severely ill. “I think that that will be a part of a clinical arsenal, where clinicians cannot only do rapid diagnostics, but then they could try to understand what’s the trajectory for that particular patient,” she said. Other teams are working to create breath tests that look for the virus itself. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, for instance, are developing a biosensor that is coated in tiny antibody fragments, or nanobodies, that bind to SARS-CoV-2. If someone is exhaling viral particles, they should attach to the nanobodies, activating the sensor. Passing the Smell Test Interest in the technology is fierce. Perena Gouma, a materials scientist at Ohio State who has applied for FDA authorization for her COVID-19 breathalyzer, said she has already heard from colleges, theaters, sports leagues, travel authorities and others who want to get their hands on the device. “I don’t think that there has been anyone who has been affected by this pandemic that hasn’t been excited about the prospect of having a breath test,” she said. But the approach still needs to be validated in larger studies, and basic scientific questions remain unanswered. “If we take a blood test for example, it’s well established that there is a normal range for, let’s say, hemoglobin levels or white blood cell count,” said Oliver Gould, an analytical chemist at the University of the West of England. “So, of course, then it’s very easy to see when something is abnormal.” Those reference ranges do not yet exist for breath, he noted. Researchers said that they do not expect breath-based tests to completely replace other diagnostic tests. “Do I think that a breathalyzer is going to be used in your pediatrician’s office? Probably not,” John said. “Where I really see breath testing being useful is where you need to screen a whole bunch of people quickly. Could you screen every child in a school on a Monday? Could you do it before people enter a mall or a bounce house?” And once the technology has been developed and validated, it could theoretically be used to screen for a wide variety of different diseases. “The thing about a breath test is, if you have the technology in place, you can learn the signal for a new disease very fast,” Thomas said. So the research being done now could pay long-term dividends. “We’re developing the tools necessary to hopefully help us in the fight for the next disease,” said Edward DeMauro, an engineer at Rutgers University who is working on a COVID breathalyzer. “There is a very big value in, even if the pandemic’s over, not sitting back. That’s not the time to catch our breath.”

A Covid test as easy as breathing

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s disapproval rating passed 50 per cent for the first time, according to a poll published by the Datafolha Institute, marking a new low in the far-right leader’s declining popularity.

Bolsonaro’s gap to former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of next year’s elections also increased from 18 to 21 percentage points.

The percentage of people that consider Bolsonaro to be doing a “bad" or “terrible" job increased from 45 per cent in May to 51 per cent in the poll conducted among more than 2,000 people from July 7-8 and published overnight Thursday to Friday. Bolsonaro’s approval rating also remained at its lowest mark of 24 per cent, set in May.

His highest approval rating of 37 per cent came in December 2020.

But his popularity started to plummet from January 2021, when the government stopped handing out subsidies to mitigate the economic crunch caused by the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country of 212 million people.

And the fall continued as Brazil entered a second, and more lethal, pandemic wave at the beginning of 2021, followed by corruption allegations surrounding Bolsonaro’s handling of the health crisis, which has claimed the lives of 530,000 Brazilians.

In the election opinion polls, Bolsonaro’s share increased from 23 per cent in May to 25 Percent, but the uptick fell short of Lula’s jump from 41 to 46 per cent.

Former trade unionist Lula, 75, was denied the possibility of running against Bolsonaro in 2018, as he was serving a 12-year graft sentence linked to the Petrobras corruption scandal. But he was released 18 months later and in March had his convictions quashed on procedural grounds.

The Datafolha poll found the popular Lula would defeat 66-year-old Bolsonaro by 58 per cent to 31 per cent in a second-round election run-off — another four per cent increase on the difference in May.

Both men have their detractors, however, with Bolsonaro’s rejection rating rising from 54 to 59 per cent and Lula’s creeping up from 36 to 37 per cent. Bolsonaro is the subject of a senate investigation over his handling of the pandemic, the seriousness of which he repeatedly downplayed.

He’s also being investigated by the public prosecutor for allegedly failing to act on an embezzlement tip-off regarding coronavirus vaccine purchases. The opposition is pushing for the chamber of deputies president to open impeachment proceedings against Bolsonaro.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s disapproval rating passed 50 per cent for the first time, according to a poll published by the Datafolha Institute, marking a new low in the far-right leader’s declining popularity.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s disapproval rating passed 50 per cent for the first time, according to a poll published by the Datafolha Institute, marking a new low in the far-right leader’s declining popularity. Bolsonaro’s gap to former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of next year’s elections also increased from 18 to 21 percentage points. The percentage of people that consider Bolsonaro to be doing a “bad" or “terrible" job increased from 45 per cent in May to 51 per cent in the poll conducted among more than 2,000 people from July 7-8 and published overnight Thursday to Friday. Bolsonaro’s approval rating also remained at its lowest mark of 24 per cent, set in May. His highest approval rating of 37 per cent came in December 2020. But his popularity started to plummet from January 2021, when the government stopped handing out subsidies to mitigate the economic crunch caused by the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country of 212 million people. And the fall continued as Brazil entered a second, and more lethal, pandemic wave at the beginning of 2021, followed by corruption allegations surrounding Bolsonaro’s handling of the health crisis, which has claimed the lives of 530,000 Brazilians. In the election opinion polls, Bolsonaro’s share increased from 23 per cent in May to 25 Percent, but the uptick fell short of Lula’s jump from 41 to 46 per cent. Former trade unionist Lula, 75, was denied the possibility of running against Bolsonaro in 2018, as he was serving a 12-year graft sentence linked to the Petrobras corruption scandal. But he was released 18 months later and in March had his convictions quashed on procedural grounds. The Datafolha poll found the popular Lula would defeat 66-year-old Bolsonaro by 58 per cent to 31 per cent in a second-round election run-off — another four per cent increase on the difference in May. Both men have their detractors, however, with Bolsonaro’s rejection rating rising from 54 to 59 per cent and Lula’s creeping up from 36 to 37 per cent. Bolsonaro is the subject of a senate investigation over his handling of the pandemic, the seriousness of which he repeatedly downplayed. He’s also being investigated by the public prosecutor for allegedly failing to act on an embezzlement tip-off regarding coronavirus vaccine purchases. The opposition is pushing for the chamber of deputies president to open impeachment proceedings against Bolsonaro.

Amid declining popularity, Bolsonaro's disapproval rating surpasses 50% for the first time

Pfizer&nbsp;and BioNTech announced Thursday they would seek regulatory authorization for a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine.

It comes after initial data from an ongoing trial showed a third shot pushed antibody levels five to 10 times higher against the original coronavirus strain and the Beta variant, first found in South Africa, compared to the first two doses alone, according to a statement.

"The companies expect to publish more definitive data soon as well as in a peer-reviewed journal and plan to submit the data to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EMA (European Medicines Agency) and other regulatory authorities in the coming weeks," the statement said.

In addition, the companies expect that a third dose will perform similarly well against the highly transmissible Delta strain, which is quickly becoming globally dominant.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-sees-steep-drop-in-pfizer-vaccine-efficacy-rate-396119">Also read | Israel sees steep drop in Pfizer vaccine efficacy rate</a>

Out of caution, the companies are also developing a Delta-specific vaccine, the first batch of which has been manufactured at BioNTech's facility in Mainz, Germany.&nbsp;

The companies anticipate the clinical studies will begin in August, subject to regulatory approvals.

Based on drop-offs in efficacy seen in Israel after six months, the companies said they believe a third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination

"While protection against severe disease remained high across the full 6 months, a decline in efficacy against symptomatic disease over time and the continued emergence of variants are expected," the statement said.

The FDA and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a joint statement late Thursday saying authorities were studying "whether or when a booster might be necessary."

"Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time," the agencies said. "We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed."

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday they would seek regulatory authorization for a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine. It comes after initial data from an ongoing trial showed a third shot pushed antibody levels five to 10 times higher against the original coronavirus strain and the Beta variant, first found in South Africa, compared to the first two doses alone, according to a statement.

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday they would seek regulatory authorization for a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine. It comes after initial data from an ongoing trial showed a third shot pushed antibody levels five to 10 times higher against the original coronavirus strain and the Beta variant, first found in South Africa, compared to the first two doses alone, according to a statement. "The companies expect to publish more definitive data soon as well as in a peer-reviewed journal and plan to submit the data to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EMA (European Medicines Agency) and other regulatory authorities in the coming weeks," the statement said. In addition, the companies expect that a third dose will perform similarly well against the highly transmissible Delta strain, which is quickly becoming globally dominant. Also read | Israel sees steep drop in Pfizer vaccine efficacy rate Out of caution, the companies are also developing a Delta-specific vaccine, the first batch of which has been manufactured at BioNTech's facility in Mainz, Germany. The companies anticipate the clinical studies will begin in August, subject to regulatory approvals. Based on drop-offs in efficacy seen in Israel after six months, the companies said they believe a third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination "While protection against severe disease remained high across the full 6 months, a decline in efficacy against symptomatic disease over time and the continued emergence of variants are expected," the statement said. The FDA and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a joint statement late Thursday saying authorities were studying "whether or when a booster might be necessary." "Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time," the agencies said. "We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed."

Pfizer-BioNTech to seek authorization for 3rd Covid shot: statement

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