Coronavirus News Highlights: Delhi govt orders resumption of driving license skill & learning license tests

ith 2,51,209 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases increased to over 4.06 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. Thank you for following DH.

Delta dominates Covid third wave in Karnataka: Sudhakar

The deadly delta strain that had wreaked havoc during the second wave continues to dominate in the third wave of Covid in Karnataka, according to Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar.

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Pfizer Covid pill gets final approval from European Commission

The European Commission on Friday approved Pfizer's antiviral pill for Covid-19 a day after the region's health regulator endorsed the tablet, a move that will ensure wide availability of the promising treatment to EU member states.

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IIT team develops method to detect Covid-19 from x-rays

Researchers at IIT Jodhpur have developed an explainable Artificial Intelligence solution to predict Covid-19 from chest x-rays, a move that may help countries struggling with a dearth oftesting kits and processing centres in remote areas.

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Bharat Biotech gets DCGI nod for trials of nasal Covid-19 booster dose

India's drug regulator has given permission to Bharat Biotech to conduct a phase-3 clinical trial for its intranasal Covid vaccine as a booster dose on participants who have been previously inoculated with SARS-CoV 2 vaccines.

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Merck's Covid-19 pill active against Omicron in lab studies

Merck & Co Inc and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said on Friday six lab studies showed their experimental oral Covid-19 drug molnupiravir was active against the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

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Kerala reports more than 50,000 new Covid-19 cases

Kerala logs 54,537 new Covid-19 cases, 352 fatalities, infection count climbs to 58,81,133, death toll reaches 52,786; number of active cases now 3,33,447: Health department

Health Minister to review Covid situation in 5 states tomorrow

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to review the Covid-19 situation, public health preparedness, and response measures being taken in the view of Omicron variant in Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand. West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, via video conferencing at 3 pm tomorrow

Rate of Covid infection decreasing in Kerala: Health Minister

The rate of Covid-19 infection is decreasing in Kerala. In the fourth week of January, it has been reduced to 71%. Out of the total positive cases in Kerala, only 3.6% is hospitalised. ICU occupancy and oxygen bed requirement is not increasing: Kerala Health Minister Veena George

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya today reviewed public health preparedness to Covid-19 and vaccination progress with 8 southern States/UTs He reiterated the focus on the 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate &Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour in the meeting.

The BJP, however, described it as a tight slap on the face of the government

The European Union ombudsman criticized the European Commission on Friday for not disclosing text messages that the head of the EU executive Ursula von der Leyen exchanged with Pfizer chief Albert Bourla before sealing a Covid-19 vaccine deal.

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West Bengal reduces RT-PCR test rate to Rs 500

The West Bengal government has slashed the rate of an RT-PCR test by nearly half to Rs 500 from Rs 950, a senior health official said on Friday.

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Over 76% eligible teenagers in Delhi vaccinated against Covid-19

Delhi has vaccinated more than 76 percent of the teenagers aged between 15 and 18 against Covid-19, with northwest district inoculating the maximum number of beneficiaries in this cohort.

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Over 76 per cent eligible teenagers in Delhi vaccinated against Covid-19

Delhi has vaccinated more than 76 percent of the teenagers aged between 15 and 18 againstCOVID-19, with northwest district inoculating the maximum number of beneficiaries in this cohort.

According to data from the Centre's CoWIN dashboard, 7.74 lakh beneficiaries in this age group received their first dose ofCovidvaccine by January 26. There are around 10.18 lakh teenagers aged between 15 and 18in Delhi.

Covid limits number of survivors attending Auschwitz commemoration

The Auschwitz Museum here commemorated the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the World War II death camp amid strictCovid-19 restrictions, with only around 20 survivors attending.

Due toCovidrestrictions and considering the age of the remaining survivors, only a limited number of people were allowed to attend the ceremony in the museum, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Those who survived these torments are now leaving this world," said Halina Birenbaum, a camp survivor and one of the speakers.

Chennai police Commissioner tests positive

Chennai police commissioner Shankar Jiwal on Friday tested positive forCovid-19, police said. Following the test result, he has isolated himself at his residence, police sources said.

Morocco extends health emergency until Feb 28

The Moroccan government has extended the state of health emergency throughout the country until February 28, in a further attempt to curb theCovid-19 pandemic.

The government's spokesperson Mustapha Baitas announced the decision following the cabinet's online meeting, adding that no decision yet was taken about the reopening of the country's borders, reports Xinhua news agency.

Russia reports record Covid-19 cases for eighth day running

Parental vaccination against Covid-19 protects children as well: Study

Parental vaccination againstCovid-19 confers substantial protection to children residing in the same household, according to a study that reinforces the importance of immunisation to curb the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

A team of researchers from Harvard University, US, Clalit Research Institute and Tel-Aviv University in Israel, analysed one of the world’s largest integrated health record databases to examine the indirect protection provided to unvaccinated children.

More Nigerians take up Covid shots after expired doses destroyed

Bengal reduces RT-PCR test rate to Rs 500

The West Bengal government has slashed the rate of an RT-PCR test by nearly half to Rs 500 from Rs 950, a senior health official said on Friday.

However, the additional charge of Rs 15 per km for home collection of samples remains unaltered, he said, adding that the new rate came into effect from January 27.

DCGI permits Bharat Biotech to conduct intranasal booster dose trials. The trials will be conducted at 9 different sites

Over 1 crore precaution doses have been administered to the eligible population in just 19 days: Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya

'Very scary': Austria says Covid activists crossing borders

Some radicalised activists who rejectCovidvaccines and anti-virus measures are crossing borders to join protests where extremist ideology is being spread, Austria's new domestic intelligence chief told AFP, calling the trend "very scary".

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner said foreign activists are travelling to Austria -- whereCovidvaccines will become mandatory next month -- to demonstrate and hold "network meetings with their partners, right-wing extremists".

19 new Covid-19 cases in Andamans, tally rises to 9,624

Philippines to re-open to vaccinated foreign tourists

Odisha registers over 5,000 fresh Covid-19 cases, 10 deaths

Arunachal logs 455 new Covid-19 cases, one fresh fatality

Australia suffers deadliest day of pandemic, expands booster eligibility

Australia suffered its deadliest day of the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday with nearly 100 deaths, but several large states said they expect hospital admissions to fall amid hopes that the latest wave of infections would begin to subside.

Fuelled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, infections exploded during the past four weeks, with around two million cases recorded. Up until then, Australia had counted just 400,000 cases since the pandemic first hit the country nearly two years ago.

Jharkhand logs 892 new Covid-19 cases, 5 more fatalities

Covid hits one of the last uninfected places on the planet

When the coronavirus began spreading around the world, the remote Pacific archipelago of Kiribati closed its borders, ensuring the disease didn't reach its shores for nearly two full years.

Kiribati finally began reopening this month, allowing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to charter a plane to bring home 54 of the island nation's citizens.

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'Whack-a-mole': Experts call Hong Kong's zero-Covid policy unsustainable

Not easy being green: China's 'health codes' define Covid-era life

Days after buying over-the-counter medicine from a pharmacy in Beijing, university student Yu was stunned to find her prized green health code -- the essential rating needed to enter the city's shops, offices and public transport -- was gone.

In a scene being repeated across the Chinese capital, a pop-up window now warned the app could no longer ascertain her coronavirus risk status.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath holds a meeting with 'Team 9' in Lucknow, over Covid situation.

Global Covid caseload tops 365.6 mn

Amid an ongoing resurgence across the world, the global coronavirus caseload has topped 365.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.63 million and vaccinations to over 9.89 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Beijing 2022 says 12 new Covid-19 cases found among Games-related personnel on Jan 27

India logs 2.51 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 627 deaths

India on Friday reported2,51,209new Covid-19 infections and 627 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The active cases now stand at21,05,611, while the toll is at4,92,327.

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Finland to start scaling back Covid curbs early

Finland will scale back some of its coronavirus restrictions early, the government announced Thursday as the strain on the healthcare system eases despite the Omicron wave sweeping the continent.

Starting February 1, curbs on low-risk events and businesses will be eased.

"The burden on hospitals is still high, but the most serious cases are declining and there has been a turn for the better in intensive care," health minister Hanna Sarkkinen wrote in a statement on Twitter.

The Nordic nation of 5.5 million has maintained some of the European Union's lowest incidence rates throughout the pandemic, but infections have increased in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant.

Paris hospitals chief sparks debate on whether unvaccinated patients should pay for treatment

The head of the Paris hospitals system has set off a fierce debate by questioning whether people who refuse to be vaccinated againstCovid-19 should continue to have their treatment covered by public health insurance.

Under France's universal healthcare system, allCovid-19 patients who end up in intensive care are fully covered for their treatment, which costs about 3,000 euros ($3,340) per day and typically lasts a week to 10 days.

The head of the Paris hospitals system has set off a fierce debate by questioning whether people who refuse to be vaccinated againstCovid-19 should continue to have their treatment covered by public health insurance.

Under France's universal healthcare system, allCovid-19 patients who end up in intensive care are fully covered for their treatment, which costs about 3,000 euros ($3,340) per day and typically lasts a week to 10 days.

BBMP says Covid test mandatory in containment zones, residents irked by decision

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been testing all individuals in containment zones even if they are not the primary and secondary contacts of Covid-19 patients.

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95% of India's adult population given first dose of Covid vaccine, 74% fully inoculated: Health ministry

95 per cent of India's eligible adult population has been administered the first dose of Covid vaccine while 74 per cent are fully inoculated, the Union health ministry said on Thursday as the total vaccine doses administered has crossed 164.35 crore.

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Mandaviya to review Covid situation in 8 states, UTs on Friday

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will on Friday review the Covid situation and the public health preparedness to tackle the omicron spread in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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