The world battled two long years of Covid pandemic and it has finally gotten a breather or has it? Now, scientists say that in the depths of Amazon's rainforests are caves that are home to thousands of bats. That is a concern that Brazil is home to so many bats - the animal that was allegedly the cause for Covid-19.

Is Brazil the next pandemic hot-spot? | Why do bats have so many viruses? | World DNA

A study conducted by UK scientists has established a link between long Covid and a person’s socioeconomic status. Conducted by researchers from the universities of Southampton and Oxford, the study has revealed that people living in poorer areas are more susceptible to long Covid than people living in comparatively affluent areas. Long Covid is a health condition where a person continues to suffer other health issues after getting diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

<h2>More details about the study</h2>

The research paper, published in the Royal Society of Medicine, reveals that the chance of having long Covid is 46 per cent higher for those living in the most deprived areas compared to those living in the least deprived areas. The study aims to demonstrate a relationship between long Covid and socioeconomic levels across a variety of job sectors by analysing data from more than 200,000 working-age persons collected by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Dr Nazrul Islam of the faculty of medicine at the University of Southampton and Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, said, “Although certain occupational groups, especially frontline and essential workers, have been unequally affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, studies on long Covid and occupation are sparse."&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Is The COVID Pandemic Over?

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He added, “Our findings are consistent with pre-pandemic research on other health conditions, suggesting that workers with lower socioeconomic status have poorer health outcomes and higher premature mortality than those with higher socioeconomic position but a similar occupation. However, the socioeconomic inequality may vary considerably by occupation groups."

<h2>Women more vulnerable than men</h2>

The researchers also mentioned in the study that women were more vulnerable to long Covid than men, despite the area they live in. The researchers have now urged authorities to take into consideration the sex, age and socioeconomic status of patients when treating them for long Covid.

<h2>What is long Covid?</h2>

Long Covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or post-COVID-19 syndrome, refers to a condition in which individuals experience persistent symptoms and complications following the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. While most people who contract COVID-19 recover within a few weeks, a significant number continue to experience a range of symptoms that can last for several months or longer.

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A study conducted by UK scientists has established a link between long Covid and a person’s socioeconomic status. Conducted by researchers from the universities of Southampton and Oxford, the study has revealed that people living in poorer areas are more susceptible to long Covid than people living in comparatively affluent areas.

A study conducted by UK scientists has established a link between long Covid and a person’s socioeconomic status. Conducted by researchers from the universities of Southampton and Oxford, the study has revealed that people living in poorer areas are more susceptible to long Covid than people living in comparatively affluent areas. Long Covid is a health condition where a person continues to suffer other health issues after getting diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. More details about the study The research paper, published in the Royal Society of Medicine, reveals that the chance of having long Covid is 46 per cent higher for those living in the most deprived areas compared to those living in the least deprived areas. The study aims to demonstrate a relationship between long Covid and socioeconomic levels across a variety of job sectors by analysing data from more than 200,000 working-age persons collected by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS). Dr Nazrul Islam of the faculty of medicine at the University of Southampton and Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, said, “Although certain occupational groups, especially frontline and essential workers, have been unequally affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, studies on long Covid and occupation are sparse." Watch: Is The COVID Pandemic Over? × He added, “Our findings are consistent with pre-pandemic research on other health conditions, suggesting that workers with lower socioeconomic status have poorer health outcomes and higher premature mortality than those with higher socioeconomic position but a similar occupation. However, the socioeconomic inequality may vary considerably by occupation groups." Women more vulnerable than men The researchers also mentioned in the study that women were more vulnerable to long Covid than men, despite the area they live in. The researchers have now urged authorities to take into consideration the sex, age and socioeconomic status of patients when treating them for long Covid. What is long Covid? Long Covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or post-COVID-19 syndrome, refers to a condition in which individuals experience persistent symptoms and complications following the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. While most people who contract COVID-19 recover within a few weeks, a significant number continue to experience a range of symptoms that can last for several months or longer. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Suffering from long Covid? Study claims it might have something to do with where you live

Life felt weird at the height of the Covid pandemic. Everyone wore masks. Anyone who coughed or sneezed was given looks of reprimand. Human communication had become virtual.&nbsp;

It is no wonder if people had trouble adapting to post-pandemic interaction. It would appear natural that people wouldn't forget the old ways of meet and greet. But some people in Japan are taking help from professionals in order to relearn smiling.

“With mask wearing having become the norm, people have had fewer opportunities to smile, and more and more people have developed a complex about it,” Keiko Kawano, a coach at the 'smile education' company Egaoiku told the Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese news outlet.&nbsp;

“Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to making a good smile. I want people to spend time consciously smiling for their physical and mental wellbeing.”

According to Egaoiku, number of applicants rose after media reports of Covid reclassification back in February. Just a month after that, government said masks would be an individual choice.

“I didn’t have opportunities to see people during the coronavirus crisis and didn’t smile in public,” 79-year-old Akiko Takizawa told Mainichi Shumbun newspaper.

“This has reminded me of how important smiling is,” she added..

The smile coaching classes are proving to be popular with women.

Reports say that these classes typically begin&nbsp;with stretches to relieve facial tension. Then the participants raise their handheld mirrors to eye level. Then they flex parts of their face in accordance with Kawano's instructions.

“A smile is only a smile if it’s conveyed,” she told her students in Yokohama, according to the Japan Times. “Even if you’re thinking about smiling or that you’re happy, if you have no expression, it won’t reach your audience.”

Kawano is a familiar face on TV and social media. Till now, she has provided coaching to more than 4000 people to teach them the art of smiling. The report&nbsp;further said that Kawano has also helped hundreds of others become certified 'smile specialists'. The Guardian said that Kawano now oversees 20 trainers who run classes across Japan. 
 
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Life felt weird at the height of the Covid pandemic. Everyone wore masks. Anyone who coughed or sneezed was given looks of reprimand. Human communication had become virtual.

Life felt weird at the height of the Covid pandemic. Everyone wore masks. Anyone who coughed or sneezed was given looks of reprimand. Human communication had become virtual. It is no wonder if people had trouble adapting to post-pandemic interaction. It would appear natural that people wouldn't forget the old ways of meet and greet. But some people in Japan are taking help from professionals in order to relearn smiling. “With mask wearing having become the norm, people have had fewer opportunities to smile, and more and more people have developed a complex about it,” Keiko Kawano, a coach at the 'smile education' company Egaoiku told the Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese news outlet. “Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to making a good smile. I want people to spend time consciously smiling for their physical and mental wellbeing.” According to Egaoiku, number of applicants rose after media reports of Covid reclassification back in February. Just a month after that, government said masks would be an individual choice. “I didn’t have opportunities to see people during the coronavirus crisis and didn’t smile in public,” 79-year-old Akiko Takizawa told Mainichi Shumbun newspaper. “This has reminded me of how important smiling is,” she added.. The smile coaching classes are proving to be popular with women. Reports say that these classes typically begin with stretches to relieve facial tension. Then the participants raise their handheld mirrors to eye level. Then they flex parts of their face in accordance with Kawano's instructions. “A smile is only a smile if it’s conveyed,” she told her students in Yokohama, according to the Japan Times. “Even if you’re thinking about smiling or that you’re happy, if you have no expression, it won’t reach your audience.” Kawano is a familiar face on TV and social media. Till now, she has provided coaching to more than 4000 people to teach them the art of smiling. The report further said that Kawano has also helped hundreds of others become certified 'smile specialists'. The Guardian said that Kawano now oversees 20 trainers who run classes across Japan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japanese flock to relearn art of smiling as masks come off after Covid mandate

All eyes will be on China this time after it releases its latest economic data on Tuesday. The data is likely to show China's economy doing a lot better than reality. The industrial output and retail sales are likely to have grown rapidly in April compared to the same period last year.

China's economic data may mask it's decline this time after Covid hurt it's growth | World DNA

Just days after the W.H.O. Declared that COVID-19 pandemic is no longer public health emergency of international concern, coronavirus is once again spreading in China. Is the pandemic reallover or did the W.H.O. jump the gun?

Gravitas: Did W.H.O mishandle the COVID-19 pandemic? | New COVID-19 wave in China

Top United Nations officials are warning about an alarming surge in cases of tuberculosis (TB). The disease which is transmitted through air is now killing more people worldwide than COVID-19 or AIDS. High number of cases are being&nbsp;found in conflict zones like Ukraine and Sudan and it is proving difficult to track down people with the disease and diagnose new sufferers.

TB is currently the biggest infectious killer disease in the world today. Associated Press quoted Dr Lucica Ditiu as saying that TB is taking lives of around 4400 people, including 700 children, every day. Dr Ditiu is executive director of Stop TB Partnership. She was preparing for a high-level meeting in September during gathering of world leaders at UN General Assembly.

Before COVID-19, which like TB is transmitted through air, “we didn’t see very dramatic cases of TB,” she said, “but after COVID, we saw a type of TB that we saw in … movies in which people spit blood and they are very weak, and so on."

Ditiu said the economic impact of COVID and conflicts, first and foremost in Ukraine but now also in Sudan, are having “a huge impact” on efforts to treat people with TB and diagnose new cases.

Ukraine has the highest number of estimated people with TB in the European region — 34,000 — and also a high number with drug-resistant TB, she said at a news conference last week.

“It’s remarkable, the fact that the Ukrainian people are actually showing an amazing resilience in doing their best to maintain the services for TB,” Ditiu said. “But obviously, a lot of people left the country.”

She added that major efforts have been made to track down patients.

In Sudan, 18,000 people received treatment for tuberculosis in 2021, according to the Stop TB Partnership, which is managed by the UN Office for Project Services and aims to achieve a world free of tuberculosis.

But Ditiu said the situation there for TB sufferers, because of the ongoing fighting and collapse of most of the health system, is “probably like a ticking bomb.”

She noted how fast a COVID-19 vaccine was developed, in less than a year, and lamented that it has taken 19 years to get three or four vaccines for TB to phase 3 trials because of a lack of money.

"Very often, unfortunately, TB is very forgotten,” she said, because “it affects usually people in the low-income countries with a lot of vulnerabilities.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Top United Nations officials are warning about an alarming surge in cases of tuberculosis (TB). The disease which is transmitted through air is now killing more people worldwide than COVID-19 or AIDS.

Top United Nations officials are warning about an alarming surge in cases of tuberculosis (TB). The disease which is transmitted through air is now killing more people worldwide than COVID-19 or AIDS. High number of cases are being found in conflict zones like Ukraine and Sudan and it is proving difficult to track down people with the disease and diagnose new sufferers. TB is currently the biggest infectious killer disease in the world today. Associated Press quoted Dr Lucica Ditiu as saying that TB is taking lives of around 4400 people, including 700 children, every day. Dr Ditiu is executive director of Stop TB Partnership. She was preparing for a high-level meeting in September during gathering of world leaders at UN General Assembly. Before COVID-19, which like TB is transmitted through air, “we didn’t see very dramatic cases of TB,” she said, “but after COVID, we saw a type of TB that we saw in … movies in which people spit blood and they are very weak, and so on." Ditiu said the economic impact of COVID and conflicts, first and foremost in Ukraine but now also in Sudan, are having “a huge impact” on efforts to treat people with TB and diagnose new cases. Ukraine has the highest number of estimated people with TB in the European region — 34,000 — and also a high number with drug-resistant TB, she said at a news conference last week. “It’s remarkable, the fact that the Ukrainian people are actually showing an amazing resilience in doing their best to maintain the services for TB,” Ditiu said. “But obviously, a lot of people left the country.” She added that major efforts have been made to track down patients. In Sudan, 18,000 people received treatment for tuberculosis in 2021, according to the Stop TB Partnership, which is managed by the UN Office for Project Services and aims to achieve a world free of tuberculosis. But Ditiu said the situation there for TB sufferers, because of the ongoing fighting and collapse of most of the health system, is “probably like a ticking bomb.” She noted how fast a COVID-19 vaccine was developed, in less than a year, and lamented that it has taken 19 years to get three or four vaccines for TB to phase 3 trials because of a lack of money. "Very often, unfortunately, TB is very forgotten,” she said, because “it affects usually people in the low-income countries with a lot of vulnerabilities.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Tuberculosis is now killing more people than Covid and AIDS: Report

The head of the primary US public health organisation, the Centers for Disease Control, Dr&nbsp;Rochelle Walensky said on Friday that she will resign from&nbsp;her position at the end of June.&nbsp;Walensky&nbsp;submitted her resignation saying the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic was a good time to make a transition.

Walensky, who played a significant role in the Biden administration's response to COVID-19, did not provide a specific explanation for her resignation but claimed that the easing&nbsp;of the coronavirus pandemic had brought her stay at the CDC to a natural endpoint.

According to CDC authorities, Walensky will step down on June 30. An interim director was not immediately announced. She informed the CDC staff of her retirement at a staff meeting after submitting a letter of resignation to President Joe Biden, reported Reuters.

Considering that Walensky, 54, has only been the agency's director for a little over two years, many health professionals were caught off guard by the announcement. She didn't provide any specific reasons for her resignation in her letter to Biden, but she did state that the country is going through a transition as emergency declarations come to an end. She also expressed "mixed feelings" about her decision.&nbsp;

“I have never been prouder of anything I have done in my professional career,” she wrote.

“The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency marks a tremendous transition for our country, for public health, and in my tenure as CDC Director,” she said&nbsp;said in a letter to Biden which was released to the public.

In December 2020, Biden appointed Walensky as the head of the CDC. She stated that she had taken on the position about two years prior with the goal of "leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic."

She arrived with a reputation for being a vocal opponent of the government's response to the outbreak. She was hired to boost morale at the CDC, restore public faith in the organisation, and enhance its occasionally inept response to the pandemic.

Biden's administration attempted to steer the country clear of the pandemic when Walensky was in charge of the CDC, which oversaw a remarkable vaccination programme.

She frequently made appearances on television to convey preventative messages to Americans and to detail the most recent safety precautions. Throughout the pandemic, she received criticism as well, particularly for her agency's occasionally disorganised communications.

She leaves as the COVID-19 death toll in the country approaches 1.1 million. For months, there has been a downward trend in reported cases, hospitalisations, and deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The head of the primary US public health organisation, the Centers for Disease Control, Dr Rochelle Walensky said on Friday that she will resign from her position at the end of June.

The head of the primary US public health organisation, the Centers for Disease Control, Dr Rochelle Walensky said on Friday that she will resign from her position at the end of June. Walensky submitted her resignation saying the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic was a good time to make a transition. Walensky, who played a significant role in the Biden administration's response to COVID-19, did not provide a specific explanation for her resignation but claimed that the easing of the coronavirus pandemic had brought her stay at the CDC to a natural endpoint. According to CDC authorities, Walensky will step down on June 30. An interim director was not immediately announced. She informed the CDC staff of her retirement at a staff meeting after submitting a letter of resignation to President Joe Biden, reported Reuters. Considering that Walensky, 54, has only been the agency's director for a little over two years, many health professionals were caught off guard by the announcement. She didn't provide any specific reasons for her resignation in her letter to Biden, but she did state that the country is going through a transition as emergency declarations come to an end. She also expressed "mixed feelings" about her decision. “I have never been prouder of anything I have done in my professional career,” she wrote. “The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency marks a tremendous transition for our country, for public health, and in my tenure as CDC Director,” she said said in a letter to Biden which was released to the public. In December 2020, Biden appointed Walensky as the head of the CDC. She stated that she had taken on the position about two years prior with the goal of "leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic." She arrived with a reputation for being a vocal opponent of the government's response to the outbreak. She was hired to boost morale at the CDC, restore public faith in the organisation, and enhance its occasionally inept response to the pandemic. Biden's administration attempted to steer the country clear of the pandemic when Walensky was in charge of the CDC, which oversaw a remarkable vaccination programme. She frequently made appearances on television to convey preventative messages to Americans and to detail the most recent safety precautions. Throughout the pandemic, she received criticism as well, particularly for her agency's occasionally disorganised communications. She leaves as the COVID-19 death toll in the country approaches 1.1 million. For months, there has been a downward trend in reported cases, hospitalisations, and deaths. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: CDC chief Rochelle Walensky resigns, says Covid-19 waning good time for transition

In pics | As WHO says Covid no longer health emergency, here's how outbreak gripped the world

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said that the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the lives of millions of people in a span of three years, deepened inequalities and wreaked economic havoc, is no longer a global health emergency.&nbsp;

"Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I've accepted that advice. It's therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus while speaking to reporters, as he estimated that the pandemic had killed "at least 20 million" people, which is threefold the official estimate.

The announcement was made after the independent emergency committee of WHO on Thursday held its 15th meeting on the Covid crisis during which they agreed that the crisis did not merit the highest level of alert of the organisation any longer.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-committee-to-discuss-if-covid-is-still-global-emergency-588954">WHO committee to discuss if Covid is still global emergency</a>

However, Tedros warned that the announcement did not mean the threat was over, as he cautioned people about the chances of reinstating the emergency status if the situation changes.&nbsp;

"However, that does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat," Ghebreyesus said.&nbsp;

"The worst thing any country could do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about," he stated.&nbsp;

The public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was first declared by the UN health agency over the crisis on January 30, 2020.

The development had taken place weeks after the mysterious viral disease was first discovered in China. At that time, there were less than 100 cases of Covid and no reported deaths had taken place outside that country.

WATCH | Is The COVID Pandemic Over?

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However, many nations realised the danger only after Tedros declared the deteriorating Covid situation as a ‘pandemic’ on March 11, 2020.&nbsp;

Last week, the UN health agency said that Covid deaths have declined globally by 95 per cent since January, however, the disease still killed 16,000 people across the world last month alone.

Even though the danger of coronavirus lingers today, the pandemic seems to have faded from the mind of people in many countries.

On Thursday, Tedros warned that testing and tracing efforts have "declined significantly around the world, making it more difficult to track known variants and detect new ones".

<main>
<section>
(With inputs from agencies)

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said that the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the lives of millions of people in a span of three years, deepened inequalities and wreaked economic havoc, is no longer a global health emergency.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said that the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the lives of millions of people in a span of three years, deepened inequalities and wreaked economic havoc, is no longer a global health emergency. "Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I've accepted that advice. It's therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus while speaking to reporters, as he estimated that the pandemic had killed "at least 20 million" people, which is threefold the official estimate. The announcement was made after the independent emergency committee of WHO on Thursday held its 15th meeting on the Covid crisis during which they agreed that the crisis did not merit the highest level of alert of the organisation any longer. ALSO READ | WHO committee to discuss if Covid is still global emergency However, Tedros warned that the announcement did not mean the threat was over, as he cautioned people about the chances of reinstating the emergency status if the situation changes. "However, that does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat," Ghebreyesus said. "The worst thing any country could do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about," he stated. The public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was first declared by the UN health agency over the crisis on January 30, 2020. The development had taken place weeks after the mysterious viral disease was first discovered in China. At that time, there were less than 100 cases of Covid and no reported deaths had taken place outside that country. WATCH | Is The COVID Pandemic Over? However, many nations realised the danger only after Tedros declared the deteriorating Covid situation as a ‘pandemic’ on March 11, 2020. Last week, the UN health agency said that Covid deaths have declined globally by 95 per cent since January, however, the disease still killed 16,000 people across the world last month alone. Even though the danger of coronavirus lingers today, the pandemic seems to have faded from the mind of people in many countries. On Thursday, Tedros warned that testing and tracing efforts have "declined significantly around the world, making it more difficult to track known variants and detect new ones". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WHO announces end of Covid as global health emergency, says crisis phase over

There is widespread speculation that the World Health Organization (WHO) will decide that COVID-19 is no longer a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)” when its expert group convenes on Thursday.

Is The COVID Pandemic Over?

The emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) met on Thursday (May 4) to discuss if Covid is still a global health emergency. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the meeting was supposed to take place during the day and was chaired by French doctor Didier Houssin. But it could be days before the outcome of the meeting is published.

The committee's meeting comes more than three years after it first sounded the WHO's highest emergency alarm as, what was then called the novel coronavirus, began spreading outside China. The committee has been meeting every three months to discuss the pandemic and reports to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who then decides whether Covid remains a global emergency.

It is not yet clear which way experts will lean, but there have been indications that the WHO is open to declaring an end to the emergency.

Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Professor Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on the WHO panel, said it is possible that the emergency might end, "but it is critical to communicate that Covid remains a complex public health challenge." Professor Koopmans did not provide any other details.&nbsp;

On the other hand, a source close to the negotiations told the news agency that lifting the public health emergency of international concern or PHEIC label could impact global funding or collaboration efforts.

Thursday's meeting of WHO's emergency committee comes a day after the United Nations health agency put out a new strategy for combating Covid over the next two years in which Tedros said the aim was "to support countries as they transition from an emergency response to longer-term sustained COVID-19 disease prevention, control and management".

Covid figures have been falling for a while, but when the emergency committee met in January, &nbsp;it concluded the PHEIC tag was still merited.

Earlier on Thursday, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, a leading Covid expert who previously advised the South African government on its response, said the world is not out of the pandemic but has reached a different stage.&nbsp;

Professor Karim, who is not a part of the WHO panel, said if the emergency status is lifted, governments should still maintain testing, vaccination and treatment programmes.

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The emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) met on Thursday (May 4) to discuss if Covid is still a global health emergency. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the meeting was supposed to take place during the day and was chaired by French doctor Didier Houssin.

The emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) met on Thursday (May 4) to discuss if Covid is still a global health emergency. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the meeting was supposed to take place during the day and was chaired by French doctor Didier Houssin. But it could be days before the outcome of the meeting is published. The committee's meeting comes more than three years after it first sounded the WHO's highest emergency alarm as, what was then called the novel coronavirus, began spreading outside China. The committee has been meeting every three months to discuss the pandemic and reports to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who then decides whether Covid remains a global emergency. It is not yet clear which way experts will lean, but there have been indications that the WHO is open to declaring an end to the emergency. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Professor Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on the WHO panel, said it is possible that the emergency might end, "but it is critical to communicate that Covid remains a complex public health challenge." Professor Koopmans did not provide any other details. On the other hand, a source close to the negotiations told the news agency that lifting the public health emergency of international concern or PHEIC label could impact global funding or collaboration efforts. Thursday's meeting of WHO's emergency committee comes a day after the United Nations health agency put out a new strategy for combating Covid over the next two years in which Tedros said the aim was "to support countries as they transition from an emergency response to longer-term sustained COVID-19 disease prevention, control and management". Covid figures have been falling for a while, but when the emergency committee met in January, it concluded the PHEIC tag was still merited. Earlier on Thursday, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, a leading Covid expert who previously advised the South African government on its response, said the world is not out of the pandemic but has reached a different stage. Professor Karim, who is not a part of the WHO panel, said if the emergency status is lifted, governments should still maintain testing, vaccination and treatment programmes. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WHO committee to discuss if Covid is still global emergency

A Chinese citizen journalist who vanished three years ago while covering the Wuhan coronavirus lockdown and was eventually identified as being in custody by the government has been freed.&nbsp;Several media reports that were based on people close to his family say that Fang Bin was released from custody on Sunday (April 30).&nbsp;According to the sources who spoke to The Guardian,&nbsp;he visited Beijing, where several members of his family reside, before returning&nbsp;to Wuhan on Monday morning, where he is still being closely watched.

As per&nbsp;a Chinese human rights watchdog, Fang was being shuttled back and forth between Beijing and Wuhan because neither city wanted to take responsibility for him.

<h2>Everything about&nbsp;Fang Bin</h2>

Fang was one of several Chinese citizens to come under the radar of authorities for discussing the events of the first significant COVID-19 breakout and shutdown in public. In February 2020, he and his friend Chen Qiushi, a fellow citizen journalist, vanished from Wuhan.

In a video that was live-streamed on his friend's YouTube page in September 2021, Chen made a comeback and said that he had been depressed. He gave no information on his absence, reported The Guardian.

Confusing and secretive reports about Fang's whereabouts made it unclear whether he was being held in custody, living with his parents under supervision, or being watched at a specific location. In China, this type of covert detention entitles authorities to keep a person for up to six months without bringing charges against them. According to reports,&nbsp;his family was afraid to talk.

In a report published on Sunday, the Associated Press cited a source who said Fang had received a three-year prison term for "picking fights and causing trouble," a general allegation frequently levelled against political dissidents. According to Radio Free Asia, he completed his prison term at a facility in Jiangxia, a district of Wuhan.

For her reporting from Wuhan in December 2020, former attorney turned journalist Zhang Zhan received a four-year prison term on the same accusation. Soon after her detention, Zhang went on a hunger strike, and since then, her supporters have regularly voiced grave worries for her wellbeing.

Zhang's former attorney claimed to The Guardian in 2021 that the Chinese government had issued Zhang's sentence as a "warning" and that she was being punished severely for her activities. 
 
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A Chinese citizen journalist who vanished three years ago while covering the Wuhan coronavirus lockdown and was eventually identified as being in custody by the government has been freed.

A Chinese citizen journalist who vanished three years ago while covering the Wuhan coronavirus lockdown and was eventually identified as being in custody by the government has been freed. Several media reports that were based on people close to his family say that Fang Bin was released from custody on Sunday (April 30). According to the sources who spoke to The Guardian, he visited Beijing, where several members of his family reside, before returning to Wuhan on Monday morning, where he is still being closely watched. As per a Chinese human rights watchdog, Fang was being shuttled back and forth between Beijing and Wuhan because neither city wanted to take responsibility for him. Everything about Fang Bin Fang was one of several Chinese citizens to come under the radar of authorities for discussing the events of the first significant COVID-19 breakout and shutdown in public. In February 2020, he and his friend Chen Qiushi, a fellow citizen journalist, vanished from Wuhan. In a video that was live-streamed on his friend's YouTube page in September 2021, Chen made a comeback and said that he had been depressed. He gave no information on his absence, reported The Guardian. Confusing and secretive reports about Fang's whereabouts made it unclear whether he was being held in custody, living with his parents under supervision, or being watched at a specific location. In China, this type of covert detention entitles authorities to keep a person for up to six months without bringing charges against them. According to reports, his family was afraid to talk. In a report published on Sunday, the Associated Press cited a source who said Fang had received a three-year prison term for "picking fights and causing trouble," a general allegation frequently levelled against political dissidents. According to Radio Free Asia, he completed his prison term at a facility in Jiangxia, a district of Wuhan. For her reporting from Wuhan in December 2020, former attorney turned journalist Zhang Zhan received a four-year prison term on the same accusation. Soon after her detention, Zhang went on a hunger strike, and since then, her supporters have regularly voiced grave worries for her wellbeing. Zhang's former attorney claimed to The Guardian in 2021 that the Chinese government had issued Zhang's sentence as a "warning" and that she was being punished severely for her activities. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Who is Fang Bin? China’s Covid whistleblower reportedly freed from detention after three years

Three years after being detained for publishing the videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese authorities are preparing to release Fang Bin, the citizen journalist who alerted the world about what was to come.

Three years after being detained for publishing the videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese authorities are preparing to release Fang Bin, the citizen journalist who alerted the world about what was to come. Fang began posting videos of himself reporting on the Covid situation in Wuhan in January 2020. The Covid outbreak had devastated the city, home to over 11 million residents. A 76-day hard lockdown was announced by the administration and it was then that the likes of Fang and other citizen journalists started telling their stories and those of others. Although the movement was small in scale, it defied the mandate issued by the Communist Party. As soon as authorities got hold of the videos, he was given warnings but subsequently detained. In the last video, Fang posted a piece of paper reading, “All citizens resist, hand power back to the people.” By February, Fang disappeared from the public eye and alongside him, another citizen journalist named Chen Qiushi. According to media reports, Fang was sentenced to three years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble", which is a vague term, often used to refer to political dissidence. WATCH | China slams WHO for politicising origins of Covid × According to an AP report, Fang was scheduled to be released on Sunday (April 30) but it hadn't been confirmed by the authorities till reports came in last. Efforts to reach the prison authorities did not yield any results either. Another whistleblower Apart from Fang, it was Dr Li Wenliang, a 33-year-old ophthalmologist who made the headlines for being one of the first whistleblowers. He was penalised by Chinese authorities for making "false statements," and ultimately while fighting for patients, succumbed to Covid. What followed was public grief and rage after his passing. ALSO READ | Li Wenliang: People pay tribute to 'hero' doctor as China eases strict Covid restrictions China was the ground zero of the pandemic and one of the last countries to let go of the restrictions. The country under President Xi Jinping employed a zero-Covid tolerance policy which created horrific scenes. It was only in December last year that the communist regime lifted the draconian policy. After a relative period of normalcy, cases started to increase in mainland China earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert as the holiday weekend approached. ALSO READ | COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern? (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Fang Bin, Chinese 'citizen journalist' who reported on COVID-19 to be released after 3 years

Japan is making arrangements to bring forward the lifting of its current COVID-19 border control measures to Saturday in anticipation of an increase in overseas travelers during the Golden Week holidays, government sources said Wednesday.

Japan to Lift all COVID-19 Border Controls on April 29

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, is planning to stop tracking the spread of COVID-19 in communities around the country. Since February of last year, the agency was using a colour-coded system to show county-by-county transmission of coronavirus across the US. The transmission was colour-coded into high, medium and low.

As per a CNN report citing sources in the know, from May 11 — when the United States public health emergency expires — the CDC will keep a tab on Covid infections by tracking hospitalisations in some areas.

This tracking method is reminiscent of how CDC tracks other respiratory illnesses like the flu.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-death-from-new-covid-19-subvariant-arcturus-detected-in-thailand-584817">First death from new COVID-19 subvariant 'Arcturus' detected in Thailand</a>

However, as per the report, hospitalisations are a “lagging indicator” as it generally takes a person infected with COVID-19 around a week to 10 days to be hospitalised with infections.&nbsp;

Furthermore, with the availability of rapid, at-home tests, an accurate view of the infections has become difficult.

CDC will, however, continue wastewater testing in communities and will also continue testing air travellers.

The end of community levels tracking could be announced as early as next week. However, as per CNN’s source, the timing is yet to be finalised.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-cases-reportedly-rising-in-china-a-matter-of-global-concern-586624">COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern?</a>

“We’re not going to lose complete surveillance, but we will lose that hyper-local sensitivity to it perhaps,” they said.

CDC’s current method replaced an older map that colour-coded counties by their weekly rate of new infections, and the number of positive tests.&nbsp;

The end of US public health energy means that the country’s government no longer has the authority to require labs to report their COVID-19 testing numbers. This, as per CNN, will affect the nation’s ability to calculate a metric called per cent positivity.

However, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> remains a reportable condition. This means that the doctors will have to report data to public health officials, but the frequency of that might change. Reportedly, New Mexico said it will report cases every month.

In the US, weekly number of Covid cases has been on a decline since January. At the moment, 97 per cent of counties and territories have low levels of COVID-19 infections at community levels. Only 15 counties or districts are at a high level, while 79 counties are at a medium level.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, is planning to stop tracking the spread of COVID-19 in communities around the country. Since February of last year, the agency was using a colour-coded system to show county-by-county transmission of coronavirus across the US.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, is planning to stop tracking the spread of COVID-19 in communities around the country. Since February of last year, the agency was using a colour-coded system to show county-by-county transmission of coronavirus across the US. The transmission was colour-coded into high, medium and low. As per a CNN report citing sources in the know, from May 11 — when the United States public health emergency expires — the CDC will keep a tab on Covid infections by tracking hospitalisations in some areas. This tracking method is reminiscent of how CDC tracks other respiratory illnesses like the flu. Also read | First death from new COVID-19 subvariant 'Arcturus' detected in Thailand However, as per the report, hospitalisations are a “lagging indicator” as it generally takes a person infected with COVID-19 around a week to 10 days to be hospitalised with infections. Furthermore, with the availability of rapid, at-home tests, an accurate view of the infections has become difficult. CDC will, however, continue wastewater testing in communities and will also continue testing air travellers. The end of community levels tracking could be announced as early as next week. However, as per CNN’s source, the timing is yet to be finalised. Also read | COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern? “We’re not going to lose complete surveillance, but we will lose that hyper-local sensitivity to it perhaps,” they said. CDC’s current method replaced an older map that colour-coded counties by their weekly rate of new infections, and the number of positive tests. The end of US public health energy means that the country’s government no longer has the authority to require labs to report their COVID-19 testing numbers. This, as per CNN, will affect the nation’s ability to calculate a metric called per cent positivity. However, coronavirus remains a reportable condition. This means that the doctors will have to report data to public health officials, but the frequency of that might change. Reportedly, New Mexico said it will report cases every month. In the US, weekly number of Covid cases has been on a decline since January. At the moment, 97 per cent of counties and territories have low levels of COVID-19 infections at community levels. Only 15 counties or districts are at a high level, while 79 counties are at a medium level. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

As US public health emergency deadline approaches, CDC to stop tracking community Covid numbers

India's Covid tally increased to 4.49 crore with 7,533 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.

The number of active cases dropped to 53,852 on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The ministry's statistics updated at 8 am showed that the death toll rose to 5,31,468 with 44 deaths, including 16 fatalities reconciled by Kerala.

According to the report, the number of active cases represents 0.12% of all infections. The statistics posted on the ministry's website showed that the national COVID-19 recovery rate was 98.69%.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudanese-army-rsf-agree-to-extend-truce-by-72-hours-586826">Sudanese army, RSF agree to extend truce by 72 hours</a>

A total of 4.49 crore Covid cases have been reported in India so far.

Additionally, 220.66 crore doses of the COVID vaccine have reportedly been given across the nation thus far as part of the statewide COVID-19 immunisation campaign, according to the ministry's website.

<h2>Delhi Covid cases&nbsp;</h2>

With 865 new infection cases recorded on Thursday, Delhi saw a slight decrease in daily Covid cases compared to previous day. For the second day in a row, seven deaths were reported Thursday, and the daily positive rate was 16.90%, according to the health department of the national capital.

The number of new cases brought the total number of infections in the national capital to 20,37,061 Thursday, while the death toll was increased to 26,620.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-may-restrict-export-of-semiconductor-supplies-to-china-report-586820">Germany may restrict export of semiconductor supplies to China: Report</a>

According to the data, Delhi had 4,279 active cases on Thursday, 3,143 of which were patients being isolated at home.

The government carried out roughly 5,117 testings, including 3,599 RT-PCR/CBNAAT/True Nat tests.&nbsp;

Only 296 of the 7,974 Covid beds that are now accessible in the nation's capital are being used, according to the statistics cited Thursday.&nbsp;

Watch | Gravitas: This Canadian chef sold poison to suicidal youngsters

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To determine the hospitals in Delhi's readiness for any situation, simulated exercises were performed on April 11. According to medical professionals, the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 may be the cause of the city's recent spike in cases.

On January 16, the number of Covid-19 cases reached zero for the first time since the pandemic. However, during the last month, there has been an increase in new cases in the city.

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India's Covid tally increased to 4.49 crore with 7,533 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases dropped to 53,852 on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

India's Covid tally increased to 4.49 crore with 7,533 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases dropped to 53,852 on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry. The ministry's statistics updated at 8 am showed that the death toll rose to 5,31,468 with 44 deaths, including 16 fatalities reconciled by Kerala. According to the report, the number of active cases represents 0.12% of all infections. The statistics posted on the ministry's website showed that the national COVID-19 recovery rate was 98.69%. Also Read | Sudanese army, RSF agree to extend truce by 72 hours A total of 4.49 crore Covid cases have been reported in India so far. Additionally, 220.66 crore doses of the COVID vaccine have reportedly been given across the nation thus far as part of the statewide COVID-19 immunisation campaign, according to the ministry's website. Delhi Covid cases With 865 new infection cases recorded on Thursday, Delhi saw a slight decrease in daily Covid cases compared to previous day. For the second day in a row, seven deaths were reported Thursday, and the daily positive rate was 16.90%, according to the health department of the national capital. The number of new cases brought the total number of infections in the national capital to 20,37,061 Thursday, while the death toll was increased to 26,620. Also Read | Germany may restrict export of semiconductor supplies to China: Report According to the data, Delhi had 4,279 active cases on Thursday, 3,143 of which were patients being isolated at home. The government carried out roughly 5,117 testings, including 3,599 RT-PCR/CBNAAT/True Nat tests. Only 296 of the 7,974 Covid beds that are now accessible in the nation's capital are being used, according to the statistics cited Thursday. Watch | Gravitas: This Canadian chef sold poison to suicidal youngsters × To determine the hospitals in Delhi's readiness for any situation, simulated exercises were performed on April 11. According to medical professionals, the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 may be the cause of the city's recent spike in cases. On January 16, the number of Covid-19 cases reached zero for the first time since the pandemic. However, during the last month, there has been an increase in new cases in the city. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India records 7,533 new Covid cases, 44 deaths in last 24 hours

A history textbook for school students in China has mentioned the country's Covid pandemic response. But this sparked a discussion online with some questioning whether the book's description of China's fight against Covid is truthful. According to a report by BBC on Thursday (April 27), a short clip showing a paragraph of a history textbook for grade eight students on Douyin, China's domestic version of TikTok, started trending on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The video was uploaded by a user who appeared to be a history teacher. The caption of the post said, "It's already written in the history books."

The textbook was published by People's Education Press, a major publishing house in China. And the Covid reference appeared in the section featuring "changes in social life," the BBC reported.&nbsp;

The report said that next to a paragraph that described the increasing &nbsp;Chinese incomes and lifestyle changes since the country opened up in the 1970s, a text box mentioned the "war on Covid."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-china-to-scrap-pcr-test-for-inbound-travellers-from-starting-april-29-586263">Covid: China to scrap PCR test for inbound travellers starting April 29</a>

The text box read that China adhered to the supremacy of people and life, and protected people's life safety and health to the largest extent.&nbsp;"We achieved major achievements in coordinating the prevention and control of the pandemic," it added.&nbsp;

The textbook's narrative echoed the government's declaration over the pandemic. However, many people raised questions about whether it contained the whole truth.&nbsp;

The BBC reported that on the Douyin platform, the topic- "History textbook includes Covid response"- has been viewed more than five million times.&nbsp;

"Is there any mention of how it ended?" a Douyin user wrote. "How come you have the cheek to write it in there?" another user said. A third user on the platform, meanwhile, said that every single character on that page "seems to be mocking our painful three years."

For the last three years when the Covid pandemic emerged, China imposed an array of anti-virus controls to try to eliminate Covid from the country including lockdowns and regular mass testing. However, in December last year, the government suddenly rolled back the zero-Covid curbs following widespread protests against the policy, and scrapping quarantine for passengers arriving from abroad in early January this year.

From Saturday, travellers entering China will no longer be required to provide a negative PCR test result.&nbsp;

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, "In order to further facilitate the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel, in line with the principles of science, precision, safety, and order, China will further optimize the arrangements for remote (COVID-19) testing."

"Starting April 29, everyone entering China can take an antigen test instead of a nucleic acid test within 48 hours prior to boarding the plane. Airlines no longer need to check (COVID-19) test results before boarding," Ning added.&nbsp;

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A history textbook for school students in China has mentioned the country's Covid pandemic response. But this sparked a discussion online with some questioning whether the book's description of China's fight against Covid is truthful.

A history textbook for school students in China has mentioned the country's Covid pandemic response. But this sparked a discussion online with some questioning whether the book's description of China's fight against Covid is truthful. According to a report by BBC on Thursday (April 27), a short clip showing a paragraph of a history textbook for grade eight students on Douyin, China's domestic version of TikTok, started trending on Wednesday. The video was uploaded by a user who appeared to be a history teacher. The caption of the post said, "It's already written in the history books." The textbook was published by People's Education Press, a major publishing house in China. And the Covid reference appeared in the section featuring "changes in social life," the BBC reported. The report said that next to a paragraph that described the increasing Chinese incomes and lifestyle changes since the country opened up in the 1970s, a text box mentioned the "war on Covid." ALSO READ | Covid: China to scrap PCR test for inbound travellers starting April 29 The text box read that China adhered to the supremacy of people and life, and protected people's life safety and health to the largest extent. "We achieved major achievements in coordinating the prevention and control of the pandemic," it added. The textbook's narrative echoed the government's declaration over the pandemic. However, many people raised questions about whether it contained the whole truth. The BBC reported that on the Douyin platform, the topic- "History textbook includes Covid response"- has been viewed more than five million times. "Is there any mention of how it ended?" a Douyin user wrote. "How come you have the cheek to write it in there?" another user said. A third user on the platform, meanwhile, said that every single character on that page "seems to be mocking our painful three years." For the last three years when the Covid pandemic emerged, China imposed an array of anti-virus controls to try to eliminate Covid from the country including lockdowns and regular mass testing. However, in December last year, the government suddenly rolled back the zero-Covid curbs following widespread protests against the policy, and scrapping quarantine for passengers arriving from abroad in early January this year. From Saturday, travellers entering China will no longer be required to provide a negative PCR test result. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, "In order to further facilitate the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel, in line with the principles of science, precision, safety, and order, China will further optimize the arrangements for remote (COVID-19) testing." "Starting April 29, everyone entering China can take an antigen test instead of a nucleic acid test within 48 hours prior to boarding the plane. Airlines no longer need to check (COVID-19) test results before boarding," Ning added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China's history textbook mentioning 'war on Covid' sparks online discussion: Report

Some localities in China are witnessing a small increase in the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, Global Times reported, adding that a large-scale outbreak is unlikely. Any spike in Covid cases in China mostly becomes a matter of global concern as analysts and experts have often raised doubt over the data released by Beijing.&nbsp;

As mentioned in the report, China's disease control officials said on Wednesday that the spike in cases was recorded (the exact number of cases not revealed) amid discussions about whether or not there will be a resurgence during the upcoming five-day May Day holidays.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that during the upcoming May Day holidays, there will be gatherings similar to the Chinese Lunar New Year that occurred after China had scaled down Covid restrictions.&nbsp;

The Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert. He Qinghua, who is an official from the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, ruled out the possibility of a widespread outbreak.&nbsp;

As quoted by Global Times, at a press conference on Wednesday, he said the Covid situation in China is stable but new infections appear to be gradually increasing in some areas. This is partly because herd immunity is diminishing.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Pollution increasing Covid-19 cases in India?&nbsp;

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The official also reflected on Covid statistics as he said that in early April this year, the number of cases was at the lowest in China since the outbreak in December last year. But he admitted that the daily number of new positive cases has been rising a bit.&nbsp;

While weighing in on the fading herd immunity, Wang Guangfa, who is a respiratory expert from Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times that the number of people who might get the Covid infection again will keep going up after some time, but it will eventually decrease.&nbsp;

Wang said, "Summer is not conducive for the transmission of the virus. In addition, patients re-infected with coronavirus tend to have milder symptoms."&nbsp;

Chen Chao, who is an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention was mentioned as saying in the report that the health authorities haven't discovered evidence showing that the new variant XBB.1.16 (known as "Arcturus"). Analysts have said that the variant can lead to severe cases or even death. He stated that China has detected 57 carriers of XBB.1.16 and its sub-variants.&nbsp;

There's a decline in the number of new Covid cases globally, but experts from across the world have noted that the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant illustrates, the virus is still changing, and is still capable of causing new waves of disease and death.&nbsp;

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Some localities in China are witnessing a small increase in the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, Global Times reported, adding that a large-scale outbreak is unlikely.

Some localities in China are witnessing a small increase in the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, Global Times reported, adding that a large-scale outbreak is unlikely. Any spike in Covid cases in China mostly becomes a matter of global concern as analysts and experts have often raised doubt over the data released by Beijing. As mentioned in the report, China's disease control officials said on Wednesday that the spike in cases was recorded (the exact number of cases not revealed) amid discussions about whether or not there will be a resurgence during the upcoming five-day May Day holidays. The report mentioned that during the upcoming May Day holidays, there will be gatherings similar to the Chinese Lunar New Year that occurred after China had scaled down Covid restrictions. The Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert. He Qinghua, who is an official from the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, ruled out the possibility of a widespread outbreak. As quoted by Global Times, at a press conference on Wednesday, he said the Covid situation in China is stable but new infections appear to be gradually increasing in some areas. This is partly because herd immunity is diminishing. WATCH | Pollution increasing Covid-19 cases in India? × The official also reflected on Covid statistics as he said that in early April this year, the number of cases was at the lowest in China since the outbreak in December last year. But he admitted that the daily number of new positive cases has been rising a bit. While weighing in on the fading herd immunity, Wang Guangfa, who is a respiratory expert from Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times that the number of people who might get the Covid infection again will keep going up after some time, but it will eventually decrease. Wang said, "Summer is not conducive for the transmission of the virus. In addition, patients re-infected with coronavirus tend to have milder symptoms." Chen Chao, who is an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention was mentioned as saying in the report that the health authorities haven't discovered evidence showing that the new variant XBB.1.16 (known as "Arcturus"). Analysts have said that the variant can lead to severe cases or even death. He stated that China has detected 57 carriers of XBB.1.16 and its sub-variants. There's a decline in the number of new Covid cases globally, but experts from across the world have noted that the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant illustrates, the virus is still changing, and is still capable of causing new waves of disease and death. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern?

Pink eye or conjunctivitis emerges as at the new Covid symptom. As per a recent study, it is particularly on a rise in infants. What is this new symptom? How will it affect Indian infants and children? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas | Conjunctivitis: The new Covid symptom

Since the Wuhan virus triggered lockdowns across the globe. All of us were stuck at home, businesses were struggling to survive. But what are things looking like now? How are companies faring? And what about people's spending? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Louis Vuitton starts the fiscal year with strong sales growth

Conjunctivitis, or 'pink eye,' is emerging as one of the main symptoms of Covid-19 in children, said experts quoted in media reports. India is among the countries that are currently witnessing surge in Covid cases.

“Treatment for conjunctivitis is mostly symptomatic. We advise the parents to clean the eye with lukewarm water," said Dr Dhiren Gupta, as quoted by The Times of India.

"In teenagers, we are also seeing body ache and weakness which can persist for days," he added.&nbsp;

A study led by Dr Vipin M Vasishtha and Dr Puneet Kumar mentioned in the report found that conjunctival involvement was present in 42.8 per cent of affected infants.

Conjunctivitis is characterised by inflammation or swelling of conjunctiva in the eye. It is&nbsp;the thin, transparent layer of tissue that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inner part of the eyelids.

Dr Suresh Kumar, who is the medical director of New Delhi's Lok Nayak hospital, told The Times of India that conjunctivitis is being observed to be one of the "defining features" of Covid infection in children.

"The good thing is that the disease is self-limiting. Most patients, be it children or adults, tend to recover on their own without any specific medication or need for hospitalisation," he told the news outlet.

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Conjunctivitis, or 'pink eye,' is emerging as one of the main symptoms of Covid-19 in children, said experts quoted in media reports. India is among the countries that are currently witnessing surge in Covid cases.

Conjunctivitis, or 'pink eye,' is emerging as one of the main symptoms of Covid-19 in children, said experts quoted in media reports. India is among the countries that are currently witnessing surge in Covid cases. “Treatment for conjunctivitis is mostly symptomatic. We advise the parents to clean the eye with lukewarm water," said Dr Dhiren Gupta, as quoted by The Times of India. "In teenagers, we are also seeing body ache and weakness which can persist for days," he added. A study led by Dr Vipin M Vasishtha and Dr Puneet Kumar mentioned in the report found that conjunctival involvement was present in 42.8 per cent of affected infants. Conjunctivitis is characterised by inflammation or swelling of conjunctiva in the eye. It is the thin, transparent layer of tissue that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inner part of the eyelids. Dr Suresh Kumar, who is the medical director of New Delhi's Lok Nayak hospital, told The Times of India that conjunctivitis is being observed to be one of the "defining features" of Covid infection in children. "The good thing is that the disease is self-limiting. Most patients, be it children or adults, tend to recover on their own without any specific medication or need for hospitalisation," he told the news outlet. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Conjunctivitis emerging as symptom of Covid in children: Report

In February 2020, Chinese and American scientists released a crucial study reporting COVID-19 deaths and other details. The paper was soon withdrawn by Chinese health officials. Is Chinese censorship rewriting the COVID story? Why is China obsessed with rewriting history to suit its narrative? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas : China's obsession with rewriting history | China censored COVID-19 data

India recorded 12,591 new Covid cases in a day, the highest in around eight months, while the active case burden increased to 65,286, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on April 20.

India records 12,591 new Covid cases in a day, highest in around 8 months

China's zero-Covid lockdown might have ended but people are still reeling from what transpired in those three long years. Now, the first time a white paper protester has spoken out against the regime. Watch the video to listen in what he wants to say.

Ghost of China's Zero Covid lockdown: The story of White Paper protester | World News | WION

Life has now returned back to normal, the world has largely dropped wearing face masks. Most of the people, it appears are leading lives they did before the pandemic except that there is one thing that's still different and it's the jobs! Watch the video to know more.

As bosses withdraw indefinite Work from Home, do employees want to return to office?| WION Fineprint

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - Train carrying hazardous cargo derails and catches fire in the US state of Maine, thousands of Israelis take to Tel Aviv's street to protest Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms, new Covid sub-variant XBB.1.16 dubbed 'arcturus' causing cases to rise across the globe, Rajasthan's Nandini Gupta crowned Femina Miss India 2023 in Imphal, Manipur.

US: Train carrying hazardous cargo derails; Israelis take to Tel Aviv's street | Trending on WION

There is reportedly a 27.5 per cent chance of a deadly pandemic like COVID-19 occurring in the next decade. This is likely to happen as viruses are emerging more frequently. Watch this to know more.

World has 28% risk of new Covid-like pandemic within 10 years: Study

Covid-19 cases in India have reached an eighth-month high. Over eleven thousand new infections have been reported in the country as of Friday. Healthcare experts have cited the new variant Arcturus to be responsible for this spike.

India records 11,109 new Covid cases in one day, eight-month high | WION Dispatch

Another COVID-19-like pandemic might hit the world&nbsp;in the next decade or so, study by a health intelligence firm noted, claiming that viruses are emerging&nbsp;more frequently.

According to a study by London-based Airfinity Ltd, there is a “27.5 per cent chance” that another deadly virus could grip the world in the next 10 years.

It cited climate change, growth in international travel, increasing populations and the threat posed by zoonotic diseases as major contributors to the frequency of outbreak.

The study, however, pointed out that vaccine rollout and pandemic preparedness would play a key role in reducing fatalities.

The firm observed that if vaccines are rolled out within&nbsp;100 days of the discovery of a new pathogen, then the likelihood of a deadly pandemic would drop to 8.1 per cent from 27.5 per cent.

"This new risk assessment outlines the likelihood of future pandemics under varying degrees of severity. It shows that in a worst-case scenario, an avian flu type mutation that transmits from human to human could kill as many as 15,000 in a single day in the UK," Airfinity said in a release, according to Bloomberg.

"Our modelling shows that the risk of a pandemic as deadly as COVID-19 in the next 10 years is 71 per cent less with these countermeasures in place," it added.

According to its website, Airfinity Ltd is an independent health intelligence firm that "tracks, predicts and simulates population-level disease outcomes in real-time to inform decisions that can increase the global life span."

Their modelling took note of the lack of vaccines for high-risk pathogens, including Zika, MERS, and Marburg virus.

<h2>H3N8 bird flu: Everything you need to know about the virus</h2>

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"High-risk pathogens including Zika, MERS and Marburg virus don’t have approved vaccines or treatments, and existing surveillance policies are unlikely to detect a new pandemic before it is too late. This highlights the urgent need for new and data-driven pandemic preparedness measures," Airfinity said.

"A robust pandemic preparedness system is the world’s insurance against a Covid-19-like pandemic or something even worse," Rasmus Bech Hansen, Airfinity’s CEO, and co-founder, said in a statement.

It also pointed out towards the potential rapid spread of the H5N1 bird flu strain.

“While so far, just a small number of people have been infected and there are no signs of it having made the jump to human-to-human transmission, skyrocketing rates in birds and increasing incursions in mammals have led to concern among scientists and governments that the virus may be mutating in ways that could make it easier to spread,” it said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
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Another COVID-19-like pandemic might hit the world in the next decade or so, study by a health intelligence firm noted, claiming that viruses are emerging more frequently.

Another COVID-19-like pandemic might hit the world in the next decade or so, study by a health intelligence firm noted, claiming that viruses are emerging more frequently. According to a study by London-based Airfinity Ltd, there is a “27.5 per cent chance” that another deadly virus could grip the world in the next 10 years. It cited climate change, growth in international travel, increasing populations and the threat posed by zoonotic diseases as major contributors to the frequency of outbreak. The study, however, pointed out that vaccine rollout and pandemic preparedness would play a key role in reducing fatalities. The firm observed that if vaccines are rolled out within 100 days of the discovery of a new pathogen, then the likelihood of a deadly pandemic would drop to 8.1 per cent from 27.5 per cent. "This new risk assessment outlines the likelihood of future pandemics under varying degrees of severity. It shows that in a worst-case scenario, an avian flu type mutation that transmits from human to human could kill as many as 15,000 in a single day in the UK," Airfinity said in a release, according to Bloomberg. "Our modelling shows that the risk of a pandemic as deadly as COVID-19 in the next 10 years is 71 per cent less with these countermeasures in place," it added. According to its website, Airfinity Ltd is an independent health intelligence firm that "tracks, predicts and simulates population-level disease outcomes in real-time to inform decisions that can increase the global life span." Their modelling took note of the lack of vaccines for high-risk pathogens, including Zika, MERS, and Marburg virus. H3N8 bird flu: Everything you need to know about the virus "High-risk pathogens including Zika, MERS and Marburg virus don’t have approved vaccines or treatments, and existing surveillance policies are unlikely to detect a new pandemic before it is too late. This highlights the urgent need for new and data-driven pandemic preparedness measures," Airfinity said. "A robust pandemic preparedness system is the world’s insurance against a Covid-19-like pandemic or something even worse," Rasmus Bech Hansen, Airfinity’s CEO, and co-founder, said in a statement. It also pointed out towards the potential rapid spread of the H5N1 bird flu strain. “While so far, just a small number of people have been infected and there are no signs of it having made the jump to human-to-human transmission, skyrocketing rates in birds and increasing incursions in mammals have led to concern among scientists and governments that the virus may be mutating in ways that could make it easier to spread,” it said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Another Covid-like deadly pandemic might grip the world in 10 years, says study

India has accelerated the production of Covid booster jabs in the wake of the sudden surge in cases, reportedly due to a new variant of Omicron, called XBB.1.16.

Hospitals are carrying out mock drills and mask mandates have been re-imposed in some states over concerns about the increase in coronavirus cases.

The new variant was first detected in January in India and is said to be more transmissible compared to previous ones.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-expert-issues-warning-over-xbb116-variant-as-nation-records-7830-new-cases-581560">COVID-19: Expert issues warning over XBB1.16 variant as India records 7,830 new cases in 24 hours</a>

But the hospitals are not overwhelmed with patients of coronavirus yet, as mild symptoms are being reported by most of them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called variant XBB.1.16 as “one to watch” and stated that the variant had a dominant strain in India due to its multiplication in the last few months.

The variant is strongly present in the national capital where more than 1,000 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday and the positivity rate was 26 per cent.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) stated that there has been an increase in Covid cases because of people's complacent behaviour, which includes lax use of masks to cover faces in public spaces.

“Many people lowered their guard against coronavirus, and the low rate of testing could be the driving force behind the surge,” the association said. “Rising cases reflect that Covid has not gone, it is still around, and so we need to take precautions,” it added.

In the wake of the surge in Covid cases, the Serum Institute of India said that the manufacturing of Covishield – which is the vaccine for coronavirus – is being restarted to ensure that people get additional boosters.

WATCH | Active Covid cases in India cross 7,000 mark | WION Exclusive

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Around 6 to 7 million doses of Covishield, which was developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca in the United Kingdom, will be produced by the Serum Institute of India to build up the country’s stocks.

A mock drill was implemented by the health ministry in hospitals to check on the arrangements made for treating and testing Covid patients.

During Covid's second wave, which hit the country in March 2021, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients. A shortage of medicines, beds and oxygen was faced nationwide, resulting in a huge death toll.&nbsp;

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India has accelerated the production of Covid booster jabs in the wake of the sudden surge in cases, reportedly due to a new variant of Omicron, called XBB.1.16.

India has accelerated the production of Covid booster jabs in the wake of the sudden surge in cases, reportedly due to a new variant of Omicron, called XBB.1.16. Hospitals are carrying out mock drills and mask mandates have been re-imposed in some states over concerns about the increase in coronavirus cases. The new variant was first detected in January in India and is said to be more transmissible compared to previous ones. ALSO READ | COVID-19: Expert issues warning over XBB1.16 variant as India records 7,830 new cases in 24 hours But the hospitals are not overwhelmed with patients of coronavirus yet, as mild symptoms are being reported by most of them. The World Health Organization (WHO) called variant XBB.1.16 as “one to watch” and stated that the variant had a dominant strain in India due to its multiplication in the last few months. The variant is strongly present in the national capital where more than 1,000 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday and the positivity rate was 26 per cent. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) stated that there has been an increase in Covid cases because of people's complacent behaviour, which includes lax use of masks to cover faces in public spaces. “Many people lowered their guard against coronavirus, and the low rate of testing could be the driving force behind the surge,” the association said. “Rising cases reflect that Covid has not gone, it is still around, and so we need to take precautions,” it added. In the wake of the surge in Covid cases, the Serum Institute of India said that the manufacturing of Covishield – which is the vaccine for coronavirus – is being restarted to ensure that people get additional boosters. WATCH | Active Covid cases in India cross 7,000 mark | WION Exclusive Around 6 to 7 million doses of Covishield, which was developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca in the United Kingdom, will be produced by the Serum Institute of India to build up the country’s stocks. A mock drill was implemented by the health ministry in hospitals to check on the arrangements made for treating and testing Covid patients. During Covid's second wave, which hit the country in March 2021, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients. A shortage of medicines, beds and oxygen was faced nationwide, resulting in a huge death toll. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India accelerates production of Covid vaccine booster shots as daily cases cross 10k

With Covid cases rising across India, former giant Serum Institute of India, has restarted the production of its Covid vaccine - Covishield. The CEO, Adar Poonawala said on Wednesday that six to seven million doses of Covishield will be made available in the next 90 days.

India: Covid vaccine demand to rise; 6-7 million doses to be available in 90 days | WION

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