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Tag: India covid cases

  • 10,112 fresh Covid cases in India

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday recorded a single-day rise of 10,112 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases increased to 67,806, according to Union health ministry data.

    With the fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally stands at 4.48 crore (4,48,91,989).

    The death toll climbed to 5,31,329 with 29 fatalities, including seven reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 7.03 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 5.43 per cent.

    At 67,806, the active cases now comprise 0.15 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.66 per cent, according to the health ministry website.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,42,92,854, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent.

    According to the ministry’s website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday recorded a single-day rise of 10,112 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases increased to 67,806, according to Union health ministry data.

    With the fresh cases, India’s COVID-19 tally stands at 4.48 crore (4,48,91,989).

    The death toll climbed to 5,31,329 with 29 fatalities, including seven reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 7.03 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 5.43 per cent.

    At 67,806, the active cases now comprise 0.15 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.66 per cent, according to the health ministry website.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,42,92,854, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent.

    According to the ministry’s website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

  • Masks back up, booster shots: Centre’s advice amid Covid surge in China

    By Online Desk

    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level review meeting with top officials and experts to chalk out strategies to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. This comes after a surge in infections in China.

    Medical experts have predicted that more than 60 per cent of China’s population is likely to be infected in the next three months.

    The secretaries of the departments of health, Ayush, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog VK Paul and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chairman NL Arora, and other senior officials attended the meeting. 

    After the meeting concluded, Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance.”

    ALSO READ | Covid cases on the rise across China, US warns outbreak is of concern to rest of the world

    The meeting comes a day after the secretary of the Union Health ministry Rajesh Bhushan asked state governments and Union Territories to submit samples of positive cases on a priority basis to the genome sequencing laboratories.

    “ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through…INSACOG (Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortium) network,” health ministry secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to all states and UTs.

    “Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” Bhushan wrote.

    Bhushan also highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

    Key points from meeting

    The Centre’s focus will be on blocking the new Covid cases from entering the country. Domestic and international airports are expected to come up with new guidelines for passengers after consultation with Covid experts.

    The health ministry has also directed all states and Union territories to increase the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.

    The government has said samples of all Covid positive cases should be sent daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs mapped with all states and Union Territories. INSACOG is a forum under the Health Ministry to study and monitor various strains of Covid in India.

    Indian travellers returning from abroad, the Covid strains currently in the country and prevention protocols for the upcoming New Year celebrations would also be discussed, according to media reports.

    People especially senior citizens have been advised to take booster shots. 

    VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog addresses the media after a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the COVID-19 situation, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, Express)

     

    What changed? 

    According to the Centre, around 35 lakh Covid cases continue to be reported every week globally, however, Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group NTAGI, asserted that there is nothing to panic about as the country’s system is “vigilant”.

    The country has reported 129 fresh infections over the last 24 hours and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,408. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours — taking the total to 5,30,677. China is reportedly struggling to contain a surge in Covid-related deaths after an abrupt shift from its Zero Covid policy that imposed strict lockdowns and mass testing. 

    ALSO READ | Beijing crematoriums strain under China Covid wave

    The Zero Covid strategy had sparked massive protests after 10 people were killed in an apartment fire, allegedly because fire engines could not effectively fight the flames due to barricading protocol in the area.

    Amid the fears of the Covid outbreak reaching India, Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding Covid norms in the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    ALSO READ | China says no new Covid deaths after changing criteria

    Mandaviya said Covid guidelines should be strictly followed during the yatra and the use of masks, and sanitiser is implemented.

    In response to the health minister’s letter, Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said that if the government brings any Covid protocols then they will follow them while pointing out that the Parliament session is underway and there are no protocols implemented there either.

    (With inputs from agencies)

    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level review meeting with top officials and experts to chalk out strategies to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. This comes after a surge in infections in China.

    Medical experts have predicted that more than 60 per cent of China’s population is likely to be infected in the next three months.

    The secretaries of the departments of health, Ayush, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog VK Paul and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chairman NL Arora, and other senior officials attended the meeting. 

    After the meeting concluded, Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance.”

    ALSO READ | Covid cases on the rise across China, US warns outbreak is of concern to rest of the world

    The meeting comes a day after the secretary of the Union Health ministry Rajesh Bhushan asked state governments and Union Territories to submit samples of positive cases on a priority basis to the genome sequencing laboratories.

    “ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through…INSACOG (Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortium) network,” health ministry secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to all states and UTs.

    “Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” Bhushan wrote.

    Bhushan also highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

    Key points from meeting

    The Centre’s focus will be on blocking the new Covid cases from entering the country. Domestic and international airports are expected to come up with new guidelines for passengers after consultation with Covid experts.

    The health ministry has also directed all states and Union territories to increase the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.

    The government has said samples of all Covid positive cases should be sent daily to INSACOG genome sequencing labs mapped with all states and Union Territories. INSACOG is a forum under the Health Ministry to study and monitor various strains of Covid in India.

    Indian travellers returning from abroad, the Covid strains currently in the country and prevention protocols for the upcoming New Year celebrations would also be discussed, according to media reports.

    People especially senior citizens have been advised to take booster shots. 

    VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog addresses the media after a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the COVID-19 situation, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, Express)

     

    What changed? 

    According to the Centre, around 35 lakh Covid cases continue to be reported every week globally, however, Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group NTAGI, asserted that there is nothing to panic about as the country’s system is “vigilant”.

    The country has reported 129 fresh infections over the last 24 hours and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,408. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours — taking the total to 5,30,677. 
    China is reportedly struggling to contain a surge in Covid-related deaths after an abrupt shift from its Zero Covid policy that imposed strict lockdowns and mass testing. 

    ALSO READ | Beijing crematoriums strain under China Covid wave

    The Zero Covid strategy had sparked massive protests after 10 people were killed in an apartment fire, allegedly because fire engines could not effectively fight the flames due to barricading protocol in the area.

    Amid the fears of the Covid outbreak reaching India, Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding Covid norms in the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    ALSO READ | China says no new Covid deaths after changing criteria

    Mandaviya said Covid guidelines should be strictly followed during the yatra and the use of masks, and sanitiser is implemented.

    In response to the health minister’s letter, Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said that if the government brings any Covid protocols then they will follow them while pointing out that the Parliament session is underway and there are no protocols implemented there either.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Active Covid cases in country rise to 1,35,510

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 16,167 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,41,61,899, while the active cases have increased to 1,35,510, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,26,730 with 41 deaths including 15 mortalities reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.31 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.50 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 577 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.14 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.64 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,34,99,659, while the case fatality rate was 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 206.56 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    The 26 new fatalities include four from Karnataka, three from Gujarat, two each from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab and West Bengal and one each from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

    NEW DELHI: With 16,167 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,41,61,899, while the active cases have increased to 1,35,510, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,26,730 with 41 deaths including 15 mortalities reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.31 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.50 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 577 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.14 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 4.64 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,34,99,659, while the case fatality rate was 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 206.56 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

    It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.

    The 26 new fatalities include four from Karnataka, three from Gujarat, two each from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab and West Bengal and one each from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

  • India reports 3,303 new Covid cases and 39 fatalities in last 24 hours

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reported 3,303 fresh COVID-19 cases that took its tally to 4,30,68,799, while the active cases increased to 16,980, according to Union health ministry data.

    The daily cases crossed the 3,000-mark after 46 days.

    The death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 5,23,693 with 39 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.04 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.74 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 701 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.66 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.61 per cent, the ministry said.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,25,28,126, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.22 per cent, it said.

    The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive has exceeded 188.40 crores.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, 2021 and three crore on June 23.

  • India reports 1,778 fresh cases of COVID-19, 62 deaths recorded

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 1,778 new coronavirus infections, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,30,12,749, while the number of active cases declined by over 800 to 23,087, according to the government data updated on Wednesday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,16,605 with 62 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The active cases constitute 0.05 per cent of the total infections, while the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.75 per cent, the health ministry said.

    A reduction of 826 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.26 per cent and weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 0.36 per cent, according to the health ministry.

    The latest 24 hours saw a total of 6,77,218 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far cumulatively conducted over 78.42 crore tests. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease rose to 4,24,73,057, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent.

    The cumulative doses of in the country so far under the nationwide Covid vaccination drive has exceeded 181.89 crore.

  • India reports 1.68 lakh new Covid infections, active cases highest in 208 days 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 1,68,063 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,58,75,790 which includes 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

    The active cases rose to 8,21,446, the highest in 208 days, while the death toll climbed to 4,84,213 with 277 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    Of the total 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, 1,711 people have recovered or migrated so far.

    Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 1,247 cases followed by Rajasthan at 645, Delhi 546, Karnataka 479 and Kerala 350.

    The active cases comprise 2.29 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate decreased to 96.36 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 97,827 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

  • Omicron 105% more transmissible than Delta: Study

    Omicron was designated a variant “of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO) in November. Since then it has been detected in more than 100 countries.

  • India witnessing exponential rise in number of Covid cases; R naught value higher than 2nd wave peak: Centre

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India is seeing an exponential rise in the number of coronavirus cases, which is believed to be driven by its Omicron variant, the Centre said on Wednesday, while highlighting that the country’s R naught value, which indicates the spread of the infection, is 2.69, higher than the 1.69 recorded during the peak of the pandemic’s second wave.

    Addressing a press conference here, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said the spike in the number of Covid cases is being witnessed in cities and “the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain”.

    Mass gatherings need to be avoided to lower the speed of the infection spread, he stressed.

    “We are now facing an exponential rise in (the number of) COVID-19 cases and we believe that largely, it is being driven by Omicron, particularly so in the western parts of our country and even particularly so in larger cities from where we have more data,” NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said.

    On December 30, the case positivity rate was 1.1 per cent and the next day, it was 1.3 per cent and now, the country is reporting a positivity rate of five per cent, he said, adding that similarly, there were 13,000 Covid cases on December 30 and the number went up to 58,000 on Tuesday.

    “Clearly, this is an expanding pandemic. The R nought value is 2. 69. This is higher than the 1. 69 we saw when the second wave of the pandemic was at its peak. The acceleration of cases is steeper than ever,” Paul said.

    He, however, added that the hospitalisation rates are relatively low.

    It is close to 3.7 per cent in Delhi and five per cent in Mumbai.

    “That is the early input we have. Compared to this, last year and even in 2020, the hospitalisation rate was close to 20 per cent,” Paul said.

    He said though there is no need to panic, people must be alert, disciplined and prepared, adding that the country will face this phase of the pandemic as well.

    On whether India is witnessing a third Covid wave, Paul said in other countries, it has been seen that just like a steep rise, there was also a steep decline in the number of cases.

    “In Denmark, the UK and South Africa, cases started declining within a month or a month and a half. We cannot say this clearly for our population. How it behaves will depend on past infections, the vaccination status and our own characteristics and population density. It cannot be extrapolated that just like the cases behaved there within a month, it will happen here also.

    “Saying it at this stage that it will go on till which point and for how long will be premature. If any scientific data comes, we will share. I would not venture into that except to say that like the previous waves, different parts of our nation will be in different stages. It starts in some states and then goes on and on. We are watching the dynamics of the pandemic carefully,” the NITI Aayog member added.

    As regards Omicron, officials said while there has been a sharp rise in the number of cases across the country, the hospitalisation rates have remained relatively low as compared to the previous waves of the pandemic.

    Bhargava informed that an Omicron-detecting RT-PCR kit has been developed in a partnership between Tata MD and the ICMR, and it has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

    It will produce the results in four hours and augment the country’s genome-sequencing efforts, he said.

    The number of Covid cases is increasing exponentially and a quick home testing and rapid-antigen tests will play a major role, Bhargava added.

    Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said there has been a surge in the number of Covid cases globally, adding that 25.2 lakh cases of the infection were recorded all over the world on January 4, “the highest ever since the onset of the pandemic”.

    “India has reported an increase of more than 6.3 times in the number of cases in the last eight days and a sharp increase in the case positivity rate from 0.79 per cent on December 29 to 5.03 per cent on January 5,” he said.

    Agarwal said six states — Maharashtra, West Bengal, Kerala, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu — have over 10,000 active Covid cases each.

    He further stated that Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Gujarat are emerging as the states of concern.

    Also, 28 districts in the country are reporting a weekly Covid positivity rate of more than 10 per cent, while 43 districts are reporting a weekly positivity rate between five per cent and 10 per cent, Agarwal said.

    The Centre said 1.06 crore or 14.3 per cent of the beneficiaries in the age group of 15-18 years have been administered the first dose of a Covid vaccine.

    There are an estimated 7,40,57,000 beneficiaries in the said age group in the country.

    Besides, 90.8 per cent of the adults have been administered the first dose of the vaccine, while 65.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

  • Vaccines, boosters and variants: A year Covid kept world on its toes with surprises aplenty

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The optimism of a year that started with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, seen as the beginning of the end of the pandemic, has petered out as 2021 winds to a close. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is still around, and more infectious than earlier.

    As the Omicron strain spreads across the globe and questions on vaccine inequity dominate discussions, scientists are still scrambling to learn more about emerging variants of the deadly virus that has claimed millions of lives and crippled economies.

    “The pandemic is very much still ongoing at the end of the year as it was at the beginning of the year,” immunologist Satyajit Rath, formerly with the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, told PTI.

    Discussing the Omicron variant, Rath said the emergence of newer virus strains is natural, normal, and familiar from the influenza example.

    “That is one of the many reasons why expecting the pandemic to ‘end’ abruptly was and is unrealistic.” “We have learnt how similar SARS-CoV-2 is to other viruses that cause respiratory diseases as well as are now understanding the ways in which it is different and can continue to surprise us,” added Gautam Menon, professor, Departments of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University.

    Menon said the Omicron variant is the “end-of-year twist” that will dominate the first several months of the new year.

    ALSO READ | Omicron COVID variant can affect 500-600 at once: Safdarjung Hospital’s Dr Jugal Kishore

    “That such a highly mutated variant could appear and turn out to be far more transmissible and immune evasive than Delta was always possible but thought of as unlikely,” he added.

    COVID-19 vaccines largely showed good efficacy against the variants that emerged in late 2020 and early this year. These included Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. But then the Delta variant emerged.

    In March, the variant caught India napping. The country at the time was yet to make much progress in its vaccination campaign, and the Delta variant overwhelmed hospitals and health systems, leaving a trail of deaths in its path.

    The highly transmissible variant then spread across the world. Studies showed vaccines generally protect people infected with Delta against severe COVID-19, but are less protective against it than earlier variants.

    “I hope we have learnt our lessons from the devastating second wave due to the Delta variant and will not see images again of desperate patients and their families trying to locate ICU beds and oxygen cylinders that we saw across May of this year,” Menon said.

    Just when the disease seemed under control, a variant more transmissible than others seen so far struck the world.

    In November, Omicron, the latest variant of concern, was identified in Botswana and South Africa.

    Early studies suggest Omicron evades vaccine immunity significantly but may be less severe than Delta, and a booster shot may provide considerable, if not absolute, protection.

    Virologist Upasana Ray noted that viruses mutate continuously, so does SARS-COV-2. So, some variants were more transmissible and few were even escaped antibodies.

    “However, we have seen that people who suffered from natural infection or were vaccinated mostly had reduced severity even if they experienced a second infection,” Ray, a senior scientist at Kolkata’s CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), told PTI.

    In mid-2021, many countries began to seriously consider rolling out third doses of COVID-19 vaccines, leading to debates among researchers and public health experts whether such a step was warranted.

    ALSO READ | Scientists identify antibodies that can block Omicron variant of COVID-19

    Data suggested that vaccine immunity was waning in the face of the highly transmissible Delta variant, but the preventives were still protecting people from hospitalisation and death.

    “How diseases unfold and affect individuals are as much a property of the most affected by the disease as well as the pathogen that causes the disease. There are vaccines that confer life-long immunity and there are others that offer only a temporary solution,” Menon said.

    “What we’re understanding more about how our bodies respond to vaccinations against COVID-19 just speaks to the immense complexity of human immunology and the fact that we still need to understand much more about the immune response at the individual level to a SARS-CoV-2 infection,” he added.

    Despite the researchers and the WHO advising wealthy nations to hold off boosters for everyone until more people in low-income countries get vaccinated with first doses, some went ahead anyway.

    Israel was the first to roll out the third vaccine dose to its population in June.

    With Omicron spreading far and wide, real-world data from the country and elsewhere showed that boosters lower people’s chances of getting sick with COVID-19.

    Many experts are also now urging vaccinated adults to get booster shots, but have warned that new variants will continue to evolve in infected individuals when only a fraction of people in low-income countries have received a single dose.

    The case in point is Africa where millions still are to be inoculated and have a huge population of immunocompromised people.

    Rath noted it is “quite true” that rapid global vaccination would have led to the slower emergence of new variants and strains.

    “Global, equitable vaccination on the one hand and evidence-driven deployment of supplementary ‘booster’ vaccine doses, on the other hand, need not have been and should not have been an either-or issue,” he said.

    One reason for the emergence of Omicron, Menon concurred, is very likely vaccine inequity that led to large parts of the world having low levels of even one dose of vaccine currently, even as developed countries hoard vaccines and provide boosters to their own citizens.

    “Where cases can spread in populations, especially ones which contain some fraction of those who are immunocompromised, we run the risk of new variants,” he added.

    Ray noted that to prevent more variants that can escape antibodies, it is important that the transmission chain is blocked. “To achieve that, detection, isolation and rapid vaccination all are important irrespective of which nation we are talking about as we can’t seal borders permanently,” she added.

    Experts are calling for an increase in vaccine supplies globally so that there is no need for a trade-off between boosters and equity. “The ethics of vaccine equity should be discussed openly as an ethical and moral issue and governments must be called upon to explain their stands in these, and not commercial, terms,” Menon noted.

    As global leaders figure out these modalities and come up with new policies to fend off variants, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to end sometime in the latter half of next year, unless we allow opportunities for new variants to arise.

    In that case, the world might need entirely different vaccines and therapies as the current preventives and drugs may be rendered useless in the face of a more mutated virus. “I think the story of the beginning of next year will be very much focused on Omicron and the development of new vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19 that may help specifically with multiple variants,” Menon added.

    In India, the government has given the nod to a third “precaution” shot for healthcare and frontline workers and those above 60 with co-morbidities.

  • India reports 5,784 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in 571 days

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: India has recorded 5,784 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 571 days in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Tuesday.

    As many as 252 deaths and 7,995 recoveries have also been reported.

    With this, the cumulative tally of recovered patients from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic stands at 3,41,38,763, while the death toll is at 4,75,888.

    According to the ministry’s press release, India’s active caseload, presently at 88,993 is the lowest in 563 days.

    Active #Covid19 caseload stands at 88,993. pic.twitter.com/6fLRiKK6ta
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) December 14, 2021
    “Active cases constitute 0.26 per cent of the country’s total positive cases, which is the lowest since March 2020,” the ministry said.

    As per the release, “Weekly Positivity Rate at 0.68 per cent remains less than 1 per cent for the last 30 days now. The Daily Positivity rate was reported to be 0.58 per cent.”

    “The daily Positivity rate has remained below 2 per cent for last 71 days and below 3 per cent for 106 consecutive days now,” it added.

    As the testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded, in the last 24 hours, a total of 9,50,482 tests had been conducted.

    India has so far conducted over 65.76 crore (65,76,62,933) cumulative tests, the ministry said.

    With the administration of 66,98,601 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 133.88 crore (1,33,88,12,577) as per provisional reports till 7 am today.