Coronavirus news highlights: Kerala records 21,445 new Covid-19 cases, 160 deaths

India reported 41,195 new Covid cases and 490 deaths in the past 24 hours. While the number of active cases rose to 3,87,987, the concentration of over 50 per cent of India's new cases in one state is also raising alarm bells. Stay tuned for updates.

Karnataka govt lists out strict guidelines for Ganesha, Muharram festivals

Ahead of back-to-back festivals in the auspicious month of 'Shraavana' (August-September) and keeping in mind the possible outbreak of Covid third wave across Karnataka, the state government on Thursday ordered a ban on large scale religious, cultural and entertainment congregation of people besides directing the district authorities to decide on enforcing restrictions locally on the festive days.

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Tamil Nadu reports 1942 new Covid-19 cases, 1892 recoveries and 33 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Covid-19 mutations: Why the virus might still have some tricks to pull

The pandemic has enabled us to study the details of how evolution happens – in real time.

Scientists have generated more than two million genome sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, allowing us to dissect the minutiae of evolutionary changes to a degree never previously possible for any replicating biological agent outside of the laboratory.

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US health secretary mandates Covid-19 shots for health care staff

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has mandated its health care workforce to get vaccinated against Covid-19, Health Secretary Xavier Becerra announced on Thursday.

Staff at the Indian Health Service (IHS), focused on American Indians, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be impacted by this decision, according to an HHS statement.

Kerala records 21,445 new Covid-19 cases, 160 deaths

E-pass facility for travel in Mumbai suburban trains launched

The Maharashtra government on Thursday launched an online facility to enable citizens who have completed 14 days after second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to obtain passes to travel in suburban trains in Mumbai from August 15. A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release said, "A 'Universal Travel Pass' system has been developed to make it possible for citizens to obtain an e-pass conveniently and smoothly."

Karnataka records 1,857 new Covid-19 cases, 30 Covid deaths.

Covid-19 may become mostly a childhood disease in a few years: Study

Covid-19 may behave like other common-cold coronaviruses in the next few years, affecting mostly young children who have not yet been vaccinated or exposed to the virus, according to a modelling study published on Thursday.

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Karnataka far from attaining immunity against Covid; must step up vaccination: Second serosurvey

Karnataka was far from attaining natural immunity against the Covid-19in January this year, and hence must step up vaccination coverage and enforce public health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, concluded the second serosurvey done in January this year, the results of which were finally published eight months later in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

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Covid-19: Karnataka CM directs officials in border districts to be extra cautious

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai on Thursday asked officials in border districts to to be extra cautious to check COVID-19 pandemic. Bommai was here in this district headquarters town of Dakshina Kannada district (bordering Kerala) which has seen significant rise in coronavirus cases in recent days. "I have come here to review the Covid-19 situation.

Karnataka far from attaining immunity against Covid; must step up vaccination: Second serosurvey

Karnataka was far from attaining natural immunity against the Covid-19 in January this year, and hence must step up vaccination coverage and enforce public health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, concluded the second serosurvey done in January this year, the results of which were finally published eight months later in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

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Russia registers record 808 daily Covid-19 fatalities: AFP

IAF sacks staffer for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19

The Indian Air Force has sacked one of its personnel from service for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19, which has been made a service condition, the central government has told the Gujarat High Court.

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Puducherry logged 109 new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,21,989.

(PTI)

India reports 41,195 new cases in the last 24 hours. Active caseload is currently 3,87,987. Recovery rate at 97.45%.

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Covid-19 lockdowns left kids with speech disorders

A surge in cases of children having speech development problems and behavioural changes due to lockdowns in the past one-and-a-half-years has resulted in a spurt in special helplines with child psychologists, behavioural, occupational and speech therapists dealing with such problems.

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WHO-led trial to study three anti-inflammatory drugs for Covid-19 patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday a clinical trial in 52 countries would study three anti-inflammatory drugs as potential treatments for Covid-19 patients.

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One number used to register 12 random people for Covid test

A 31-year-old lawyer in the city found herself at the short end of a Covid testing mix-up after her number was used to register at least 12 unrelated people for testing.

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People wait in a queue to receive the vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outside a shopping mall in Mumbai

Credit: PTI Photo

Cumulative Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India cross 52 crore: Health ministry

The cumulative coronavirus vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed the 52 crore-mark, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday.

More than 40 lakh (40,02,634) doses were administered on Wednesday, according to the 7 pm provisional report.

The ministry said 20,58,952 vaccine doses were administered as first dose and 4,30,665 vaccine doses were given as second dose in the age group 18-44 years on Wednesday. (PTI)

Striking Gujarat doctors resume emergency services but stir on

The ongoing strike by resident doctors in Gujarat in support of their demands entered the eighth day on Wednesday though they decided to attend emergency services, while their agitation received backing from the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Softening their stand, the doctors decided to resume emergency, ICU and Covid-19 services but made it clear they have not called off the strike. The Gujarat chapter of IMA, India's apex body of allopathy doctors, said its headquarters in Delhi has provided total support to the striking junior doctors and requested the state government to resolve the issue at the earliest. (PTI)