Coronavirus News Highlights: 1,652 new Covid-19 cases, 8 more deaths in Delhi; positivity rate 9.92%

India's Covid-19 case tally increased by 9,062 on Wednesday, while active infections have declined to 1,05,058 according to the Union Health Ministry data. Stay tuned for more updates.

1,652 new Covid-19 cases, 8 more deaths in Delhi; positivity rate 9.92%

Delhi recorded eight more Covid-related fatalities and 1,652 new cases on Wednesday even as the positivity rate came down below 10 per cent after more than a fortnight, according to data shared by the city health department.

The positivity rate in Delhi declined to 9.92 per cent on Wednesday, almost a 10 per cent decline from the previous day.

The positivity rate on Wednesday was the lowest since July 31, when Delhi had logged 1,263 freshCovid-19cases with a positivity rate of 9.35 per cent.

Gujarat reports 383 new Covid-19 cases, two deaths

Gujarat on Wednesday reported 383 newCovid-19cases, raising its overall tally to 12,66,551, while two more patients succumbed to the infection in the state, said the health department. The two freshCovid-19-linked deaths, reported from Gandhinagar and Anand, took the state's toll to 10,996, it said.

Covid-19 still not over, precaution dose vaccination rate needs a boost: Dr V K Paul

Why Covid infection tally goes up and down, experts project true picture

Amid the new scare of monkeypox, Covid cases are seeing a rise and fall on a daily basis at the national level. However, experts believe that this may not be the real picture to ascertain the present Covid condition in India.

"The virus is mutating and when the virus mutates, it may not be the same strain which caused the havoc like situation. There may be another strain too in circulation. We need genome sequencing at regular intervals so we could find out what strain is currently in circulation. We have to keep a watch on the data from sequencing", Dr Sunila Garg, Member Lancet Commission andCovid-19Task Force, told IANS.

She told IANS that accordingly, the vaccine could be made as per the new circulating strain, because if we are vaccinated and the virus has mutated differently, the vaccine could not provide enough protection from the new strain. When we do not have the vaccine against circulating vaccines, we are not fully protected.

Nagaland reports 10 new Covid-19 cases

Nagaland on Wednesday reported 10 freshCovid-19 infections, eight more than the previous day, taking the total of confirmed cases to 35,883, a health official said.

The new cases were reported in Dimapur, Kohima, and Mon districts, he said.

Nagaland now has 30 active cases, while 33,568 people have recovered from the disease so far, including eight in the last 24 hours, and 1,509 patients have migrated to other states to date.

The toll remained unchanged at 776 as no fresh fatality was recorded.

The administration has thus far tested over 4.78 lakh samples forCovid-19.

Reinfection with omicron more common than thought: Study

The incidence of reinfection from the Omicron variant ofCovid-19is more common than previously thought, according to a study in Iceland.

Reinfection is defined as a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2a-60 or more days from a previous positive test.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, surprisingly showed that two or more doses of vaccine were associated with a slightly higher probability of reinfection compared with 1 dose or less.

However, the "finding should be interpreted with caution because of limitations of our study, which include the inability to adjust for the complex relationships among prior infection, vaccine eligibility, and underlying conditions," Elias Eythorsson, from Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland wrote in the paper.

Maharashtra records huge jump in new coronavirus cases at 1,800; 6 more patients die

Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded 1,800 fresh coronavirus cases, more than half of them from Mumbai and a steep jump from 836 a day ago, while six more patients succumbed to the infection in the state, the health department said.

With these fresh additions, the overallCovid-19tally rose to 80,76,165, while the death toll increased to 1,48,180, said the department in a bulletin. On Tuesday, the state had recorded 836 cases and two fatalities linked to the respiratory illness.

Mumbai reports 975 new coronavirus cases, highest since July 1; two more die

Mumbai on Wednesday reported 975 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily count since July 1 and a jump of 643 from the tally a day ago, while two more patients succumbed to the infection in the metropolis, the city civic body said.

With these additions, the overallCovid-19tally surged to 11,34,479, while the death toll increased to 19,668, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a bulletin.

DGCA asks airlines to strictly enforce Covid-19 protocol amid rise in cases

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)on Wednesday asked all Indian carriers to strictly enforceCovid-19 protocol, including mask mandate for passengers, in aircraft amid a rise in infections across the country.

In a statement, the DGCAsaid it will be conducting "random checks" in aircraft across the country to see if theCovid-19 protocol is being enforced or not.

Airlines have to ensure that passengers are wearing face masks properly throughout the journey and there is proper sensitisation of passengers through various platforms, it mentioned.

18 new Covid-19 cases in Ladakh

Ladakh recorded 18 fresh Covid-19 cases that pushed the infection tally to 29,085, officials said on Wednesday.

All the new cases were recorded in Leh.So far, 228 people have succumbed toCovid-19 in Ladakh. Of these, 168 deaths were reported from Leh and 60 from Kargil, according to officials.

The number of active cases stands at 75 in Ladakh - 69 from Leh and six in Kargil. A total of 320 sample reports were tested in Ladakh, of which 273 in Leh and 29 in Kargil were found negative, officials said.

Seven patients -- six in Leh and one in Kargil -- were cured and discharged, taking the overall recoveries to 28,792, officials added.

India today is double dosing every citizen and produced Covid-19 vaccines even during lockdown period: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said nearly 60 per cent of all the vaccines used in the world are produced in India and over the decades, the country has made remarkable contribution to vaccinating the world.

India today is double dosing every citizen and producedCovid-19vaccines even during the lockdown period, she added.

Amid spike in Covid cases, Delhi sees nearly two-fold rise in hospitalisations in fortnight

Amid a spike inCovid-19cases in the national capital, there has been a nearly two-fold increase in hospitalisations in over a fortnight, with officials saying those with comorbidities are getting admitted to hospitals.

Even though the rise in infections and hospitalisations is not yet alarming, experts have reiterated the need to wear masks and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Of the 9,405 available beds for coronavirus patients in Delhi, 307 (3.26 per cent) were occupied on August 1. The occupancy rate was 3.75 per cent on August 2 and four per cent the day after. It kept on rising on most days thereafter and stood at 6.24 per cent on August 16.

Actor Shefali Shah tests positive for Covid-19

Actor Shefali Shah on Wednesday said she has tested positive forCovid-19 and has isolated herself.

Shah, who recently won the best actress trophy at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Awards 2022 for the Prime Video movie Jalsa, said she will be under home quarantine.

Russia's daily Covid cases cross 30,000 for first time since mid-March

Russia reported 33,106 new daily coronavirus cases on Wednesday, authorities said, the highest figure since mid-March this year.

Sixty-three people in Russia died of coronavirus over the past day, the country's taskforce against the virus said.

Russia said in early July that it was ending all restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19, including the requirement to wear masks, citing a steady decline in deaths from the virus.

However, it did not rule out re-introducing restrictive measures if the situation deteriorates. - Reuters.

43 fresh Covid-19 cases in Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh's Covid-19 tally rose to 66,447 on Wednesday after 43 more people tested positive for the infection, a senior health official said.

The northeastern state had reported only two cases on Tuesday.

The toll remained unchanged at 296 as no fresh fatality was reported, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

Namsai district recorded the highest number of new cases at 12, followed by seven in Upper Siang and five in East Siang.

The state now has 145 active cases, while 66,006 people have recuperated from the disease thus far, including 53 on Tuesday, the SSO said. - PTI.

Daily Covid-19 cases fall steeply in Puducherry

Puducherry witnessed a steep fall in number of fresh Covid-19 infections, with 16 people testing positive for the virus on Wednesday, pushing the overall caseload to 1,72,190.

The new cases were detected during examination of 242 samples. Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release that Puducherry region alone saw 13 fresh cases while Karaikal had the remaining three.

Mahe and Yanam regions did not not report any fresh infection. The active cases were 362 of whom 12 patients were in hospitals and the remaining 350 patients were in home qurantine, he said. - PTI.

Three new Covid-19 cases in Andamans

The Covid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 10,520 on Wednesday as three more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said.

The Union territory now has 16 active cases, while 10,375 people have recovered from the disease so far, including three in the last 24 hours.

A total of 129 patients have succumbed to the infection to date.

The administration has thus far tested over 7.67 lakh samples for Covid-19, and fully vaccinated 3.49 lakh people. - PTI.

Assam logs eightfold increase in Covid cases as 202 people test positive

Assam has registered an over eightfold jump in fresh Covid-19 cases with 202 more people testing positive for the virus, raising the tally to 7,43,048, the National Health Mission (NHM) said in a bulletin.

The death toll remained unchanged at 8,026, it said.

The northeastern state now has 2,987 active cases, while 7,32,033 patients have so far recovered form the disease, the bulletin said.

Assam tested 5,502 samples for Covid-19 on Tuesday at a positivity rate of 3.67 per cent. It had registered 25 fresh infections out of 690 samples that were examined on Monday.

The NHM said a total of 4,93,17,906 doses of vaccines have been administered in the state thus far. - PTI.

Mizoram logs 222 fresh Covid-19 cases, no deaths

Mizoram's Covid-19 tally rose to 2,35,529 on Wednesday as 222 more people tested positive for the infection, 144 more than the previous day, a health official said.

The toll remained unchanged at 717 as no fresh fatality was reported, he said.

Aizawl district registered the highest number of new cases at 74, followed by 40 in Lunglei and 23 in Saitual.

The single-day positivity rate dipped to 21 per cent from 34.10 per cent on the previous day as the fresh cases were detected from 1,055 samples tested on Tuesday, he said.

The state now has 774 active cases, while 2,34,038 people have recovered from the infection so far, including 169 on Tuesday, the official said, adding that the discharge rate was at 99.36 per cent.

The administration has tested over 19.64 lakh samples for Covid-19 to date. - PTI.

FIFA agrees to cancel Brazil-Argentina World Cup qualifier over broken Covid protocols

The suspended World Cup qualifying game between Brazil and Argentina will not be played, the two countries' governing soccer bodies said after reaching a deal with FIFA to cancel the match.

Both teams agreed to pay a fine for not playing the qualifier, which was stopped shortly after kickoff last September when Brazilian health officials entered the field saying four Argentina players had broken Covid-19 protocols.

FIFA had wanted the match to be played next month, even though it had been rendered essentially meaningless after both Brazil and Argentina qualified for the World Cup in Qatar despite playing a game less than other South American countries. - AP.

India's active Covid-19 cases have declined to 1,05,058 from 1,11,252: Union health ministry

India reports 9,062 Covid-19 cases; active cases at 1.05 lakh

China reports 3,036 new Covid cases for Aug 16 vs 2,526 day earlier

China reported 3,036 new coronavirus cases for Aug. 16, of which 637 were symptomatic and 2,399 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday.

That compared with 2,526 new cases a day earlier - 591 symptomatic and 1,935 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately.

There were no new deaths, leaving the nation's death count at 5,226.

As of Aug. 16, mainland China had confirmed 236,898 cases with symptoms. - Reuters.

Jill Biden tests positive for Covid-19, has 'mild' symptoms

First lady Jill Biden tested positive for Covid-19 and was experiencing “mild symptoms,” the White House announced Tuesday. President Joe Biden continues to test negative after recently recovering from the virus but will wear a mask indoors for 10 days as a precaution.

“Close contacts of the First Lady have been notified,” her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said in a statement “She is currently staying at a private residence in South Carolina and will return home after she receives two consecutive negative Covid tests.” - AP.

People who have taken precaution dose are safer than others, says Sisodia

Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said people who have taken a precautionary dose of vaccines are safer from infection than others.

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