Scientists propose cheaper mass PCR testing method sans kits: COVID Research
Dec 03, 2021, at 01:26 am
London/UNI/Sputnik: A group of Singaporean and British scientists has proposed a scalable cheap alternative to the existing PCR testing method using kits to increase the availability of timely and uninterrupted COVID testing in lower income countries, according to research published in the journal 'Nature'.
Covid-19: India's first two cases of Omicron variant detected in Karnataka
Dec 02, 2021, at 11:03 pm
New Delhi/IBNS: Two Covid-19 cases of Omicron variant have been detected for the first time in India on Thursday, the Union health ministry said.
Child health and nutrition status shows some improvements, a long way to go still to achieve targets
Dec 02, 2021, at 10:46 pm
New Delhi/IBNS: While it is heartening to see some improvements in some of the child health and nutrition indicators in India, as revealed by the recent National Family Health Survey findings (NFHS-5), a closer look at the numbers suggests that it’s still a long way to go in reaching the Poshan Abhiyan targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) within the stipulated time of 2022 and 2030 respectively.
Assam: Forest officials rescue five elephants from muddy pond
Dec 02, 2021, at 09:05 pm
Guwahati/IBNS: The officials of the forest department of Assam’s Goalpara district rescued five wild elephants with the help of locals after the animals got stuck in a muddy pond in the lower Assam district on Thursday.
India reports 9,765 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours
Dec 02, 2021, at 04:17 pm
New Delhi/IBNS: India reported 9,765 COVID-19 cases while the toll went up by 477 in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry stated on Wednesday.
WHO commends South Africa, Botswana for speed and accuracy of sharing information on Omicron
Dec 02, 2021, at 06:00 am
Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded South Africa and Botswana for identifying the new variant of coronavirus and "the speed and transparency" with which they alerted and shared information with it.
Omicron: England records 22 cases so far
Dec 02, 2021, at 04:31 am
London: England has recorded 22 confirmed Omcron infection cases as the latest COVID-19 variant is driving the world to take stringent measures to stop its spread.
WHO issues international travel guidelines, warns against blanket ban
Dec 02, 2021, at 03:58 am
Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned countries on Tuesday against imposing a complete travel ban over the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, asserting that such measures “will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods."
New Delhi: Four admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital with suspected new Covid-19 variant 'Omicron'
Dec 01, 2021, at 10:38 pm
New Delhi/UNI: Four travellers from London (UK) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) have been admitted to the Lok Nayak Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Tuesday night, sources said.
Scientists at Hong Kong University first in Asia to isolate Omicron coronavirus variant
Dec 01, 2021, at 09:36 pm
Hong Kong/UNI/Sputnik: Scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have become the first in Asia to succeed in isolating the new Omicron coronavirus variant from clinical samples, the university said.
Dec 01, 2021, at 09:23 pm
Johannesburg/IBNS: The Omicron coronavirus variant detected in southern Africa is most likely to displace the highly contagious Delta variant as far as transmissibility is concerned.
Workers with HIV-AIDS continue to face stigma, discrimination: ILO
Dec 01, 2021, at 07:07 pm
New York: “Myths and misconceptions” about HIV and AIDS continue to fuel stigma and discrimination in the workplace, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday.
Don’t freak out: BioNTech co-founder tells on Omicron
Dec 01, 2021, at 06:34 pm
The CEO of COVID-19 vaccine maker BioNTech feels that the currently operating vaccines against COVID-19 might still be effective against Omicron in protecting a person from severe disease.
Assam: Two wild elephants killed after being hit by train at Khetri
Dec 01, 2021, at 05:17 pm
Guwahati: Two wild elephants were killed after being hit by a train at Khetri area Assam’s Kamrup (Metro) district on Tuesday night.
At least 226 cases of Omicron COVID-19 strain confirmed in 20 countries, says Fauci
Dec 01, 2021, at 04:54 pm
Washington/UNI/Sputnik: There are at least 226 confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus in 20 countries, top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday.
Dec 01, 2021, at 03:30 pm
New Delhi: India registered 8,954 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours at a time when the country is tightening measures at the airports to prevent any possible spread of Omicron variant that has been reported from several corners of the globe now.
UNICEF study shows what younger generation is thinking about climate change
Dec 01, 2021, at 04:16 am
New York: Children and young people are nearly 50 per cent more likely than older people to believe that the world is becoming a better place with each generation, according to a new international survey by UNICEF and Gallup released ahead of World Children’s Day.
COVID-19: WHO’s Tedros criticizes ‘blunt’ Omicron measures
Dec 01, 2021, at 04:06 am
New York: The head of the UN health agency has criticized “blunt” and “blanket” measures taken by countries in the past few days to stop the spread of the Omicron variant.
Existing RT-PCR tests can detect Omicron variant of COVID-19: Centre
Dec 01, 2021, at 02:56 am
New Delhi/IBNS: Existing COVID-19 tests like RT-PCR and RAT can detect traces of Omicon variant, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Parliament amid the scare over the new strain.
Two travellers from South Africa who reached Sydney via Singapore test positive for Omicron COVID
Dec 01, 2021, at 01:59 am
Sydney/UNI: Two travellers from South Africa who reached Sydney via Singapore have tested positive for the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Pakistan: 81 new dengue fever cases, 2 more deaths reported in Punjab
Nov 30, 2021, at 11:00 pm
Islamabad/UNI/Xinhua: Pakistan's eastern Punjab province reported 81 new dengue fever cases and two more deaths during the last 24 hours, Secretary of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department of Punjab Imran Sikandar Baloch said Tuesday.
Nov 30, 2021, at 10:47 pm
New Delhi: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level meeting with States/UTs to review COVID-19 public health response measures and preparedness amid reports of Omicron variant of COVID19 across various countries, here on Tuesday in the presence of Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.
Australia 'not going back to lockdowns' in wake of Omicron Covid-19 variant: PM Scott Morrison
Nov 30, 2021, at 10:39 pm
Canberra/UNI/Xinhua: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared that he will not allow the country to go back into lockdown owing to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
World ‘dangerously unprepared’ for future pandemics unless leaders tackle inequalities, UNAIDS warns
Nov 30, 2021, at 10:26 pm
New York: Unless leaders tackle stark inequalities, the world could face 7.7 million AIDS-related deaths over the next 10 years, the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) warned on Monday in a new report.
Moderna chief warns current vaccines might be less effective against Omicron variant
Nov 30, 2021, at 09:16 pm
New York: Vaccine manufacturer Moderna chief has warned that the currently operating vaccines might be less effective against the Omicron strain of COVID-19 which was first believed to be detected in South Africa.
Omicron COVID variant underlines need for global ‘pandemic treaty’
Nov 30, 2021, at 05:49 pm
New York: The emergence of the threatening new Omicron variant shows how important it is for the world to end the current “cycle of panic and neglect” over the COVID-19 pandemic, said the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday.
Still ‘not clear’ whether Omicron COVID variant is more transmissible or more severe than Delta: WHO
Nov 30, 2021, at 05:31 pm
New York: The World Health Organization published on Sunday an update on the science regarding the new coronavirus variant Omicron which is causing global concern and sparking increasing flight bans on Southern African countries.
IIT Guwahati develops coating to modify ordinary cloth masks for better protection against COVID-19
Nov 30, 2021, at 05:29 pm
Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed a ‘Nanometer Thick Superhydrophobic Coating’ material to modify ordinary cloth or silk masks that will maintain its comfort but offer better protection against aerosol-driven infections such as COVID-19.
COVID-19: More cases of Omicron variant reported in Australia's New South Wales state
Nov 30, 2021, at 04:53 pm
Sydney/UNI/Xinhua: More cases infected with the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 were reported in Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW).
India registers 6990 COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours, 190 deaths
Nov 30, 2021, at 03:32 pm
New Delhi: India, a nation which has witnessed a massive surge in daily count earlier this year and amid fear of omicron variant's entry in the country, registered 6,990 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, as per Ministry of Health released data on Tuesday.