Coronavirus Highlights: Health Secretary flags concerns regarding slow pace of Covid-19 vaccination across States, UTs

INSACOG, on Friday, confirmed that India's first case of Omicron subvariant BA.4, was detected in Hyderabad. This strain of coronavirus is like BA.2 subvariant: SourcesThe Chinese financial hub of Shanghai reported three new cases of Covid-19 outside quarantined areas on May 19, snapping five days of no such cases. Follow DH for the latest news on Covid-19 from across the world.

Centre to start door-to-door Covid vaccine campaign in June-July for booster shots among elderly

To accelerate the coverage of those vaccinated against Covid-19, the Union Health Ministry on Friday announced it will launch a two-month-long door-to-door campaign in June and July. The campaign will give preference to eligible senior citizens to be inoculated with a booster dose.

Britain reduce Covid alert level as Omicron subsides

Britain reduced its COVID-19 alert level from four to three on Friday, saying the Omicron-variant wave of the virus was subsiding and healthcare pressures continued to decrease in all nations."Based on advice from UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency), we the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England Medical Director have recommended to ministers that Covid Alert Level should move from level four to level three," the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said in a statement.

Mumbai sees 213 Covid-19 cases, no death; active tally now 1,144

Mumbai on Friday reported 213 Covid-19 cases, a slight dip from the 223 witnessed a day earlier, taking the tally to 10,62,476, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,566, a civic official said.

Madhya Pradesh sees 55 Covid-19 cases; active tally now 260

The Covid-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh reached 10,42,124 on Friday after the detection of 55 cases, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,735, an official said.The positivity rate was 0.6 per cent, while the recovery count increased by 31 to touch 10,31,129, leaving the state with 260 active cases, the official informed.With 8,074 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,92,27,235, he added.

Switzerland buys Pfizer's Covid-19 antiviral Paxlovid

Switzerland signed a contract to buy Pfizer's anti-viral drug Paxlovid to treat Covid-19, it said on Friday.

The European country said it had signed a contract to buy 12,000 packages and first treatments for certain at-risk patients would start this month.

India’s first case of Omicron subvariant BA.4 detected in Hyderabad

INSACOG confirms India’s first case of Omicron subvariant BA.4, detected in Hyderabad. This strain of coronavirus, is like BA.2 subvariant: Sources

Puducherry logs 3 fresh Covid-19 cases

The union territory of Puducherry added three newcoronaviruscases during the last 24 hours raising the overall caseload to 1,65,825, a senior official of the Department of Health said on Friday.

Centre calls for intensive 'mission mode' push to Covid vaccination across country

Underlining the urgent need for an intensive 'mission mode' push to Covid-19 vaccination across the country to accelerate the recent placid momentum, the Centre on Friday advised all states to plan for a two-month-long 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign 2.0 from June.

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Vax after infection can lower symptoms of long Covid-19, says study

People who take vaccination after an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, are likely to have a decrease in the likelihood of long Covid-19 symptoms, finds a large study.

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10 fresh Covid-19 cases in Odisha

Odisha's Covid-19 tally rose to 12,88,349 on Friday as 10 more people, including four children, tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said.

Thecoronavirusdeath toll remained unchanged at 9,126 as no fresh fatality was recorded.

Odisha had logged 12 infections and zero deaths on Thursday.

Thailand to lift curbs on nightlife from June

Thailand will allow night clubs and karaoke bars to resume regular hours starting in June, a senior official said on Friday, dropping most of its remaining pandemic restrictions as daily infections decline.

Thailand's nightlife is a major attraction for tourists, but most entertainment venues have been shuttered or faced a strict curfew since the pandemic began, with some bars forced to convert to restaurants to stay in business.

Three Covid cases confirmed in New Zealand camp

Three members of the New Zealand touring party, including senior batter Henry Nicholls, are in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 on the morning of the first Tour match against Sussex in Brighton.

Nicholls, pacer Blair Tickner and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen have begun five days of hotel room isolation after producing positive Rapid Antigen Tests on Friday morning.

The remainder of the squad members have returned negative tests and will continue to be monitored and tested as required.

"The four-day warm-up match will go ahead as planned," New Zealand Cricket said in a statement. - PTI.

Japan to double limit on foreign arrivals from next month

Japan will next month double its limit on foreign arrivals to 20,000 a day, the top government spokesperson said on Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular news conference that travellers from most countries would not be required to provide proof of negative Covid tests, nor would they have to quarantine on arrival.

This included people from all other members of the G7 group of developed economies, the source of 80% of foreign entrants in Japan. - Reuters.

A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman at a nucleic acid testing site on a street during lockdown, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in Shanghai. Credit: Reuters photo

Thane district reports 26 new Covid-19 cases

With the addition of 26 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra has increased to 7,09,467, an official said on Friday. These cases were recorded on Thursday.

The death toll in the district remained unchanged at 11,895, he said, adding that the mortality rate is 1.67 per cent. In neighbouring Palghar district, the caseload stood at 1,63,612, while the death toll is 3,407, another official said. - PTI.

US CDC advisers recommend Covid booster for children 5-11 years old

A panel of advisers to the USCenters for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday voted to recommend that all children aged 5 to 11 should receive a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose at least five months after completing the primary vaccination course. (Reuters)

Shanghai reports 3 Covid cases outside quarantined areas

The Chinese financial hub of Shanghai reported three new cases of Covid-19 outside quarantined areas for May 19, snapping five days of no such cases, the city's health authority said on Friday.

All three cases were found in the city's Qingpu district.

Shanghai reported 770 new local asymptomatic coronavirus cases for May 19, up from 637 a day earlier, while confirmed symptomatic cases also rose to 88 from 82 the previous day. (Reuters)