News Analysis India

Tag: Omicron

  • Covid cases up, positivity highest since Feb last year  

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India is showing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with the test positivity rate (TPR) — a vital marker in assessing the spread of an outbreak — touching 8.40% on April 16. It is the highest TPR, which indicates the percentage of people who are found to be infected by the virus from those who are being tested, since February 3, 2022, when the third wave driven by Omicron saw a surge in India.

    Apart from Delhi, the other states that reported high TPR on April 17 are Goa (15.38%), Rajasthan (15.69%), Haryana (14.28%), Uttarakhand (11.94%), Karnataka (8.92%), Chandigarh (8.47%) Tamil Nadu (8.66 %) and Himachal Pradesh (7.07%).

    Though Kerala is reporting the highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths, it is not publicly sharing the number of Covid-19 tests and TPR. Sachin Taparia, Founder of LocalCircles, said: “In most cases, people are showing up at their workplaces or schools/colleges and using public transport despite having symptoms, spreading the infection, which wasn’t the case during the first three waves,” Taparia said.

    According to Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, TPR indicates how much spread is happening in the community. Citing an example, he said in some hospitals in Kerala, which is systematic in conducting Covid-19 tests, in early March, no positive cases were reported, but in mid-March, it went up to 10%. 

    However, by April, the number spiked to 40-42%. “Earlier, testing was systematic; now it is symptom-based. People are not taking Covid-19 tests as they consider it a waste of time and money and recovering at home, assuming they have Covid-19. This leads to gross underestimation of the amount of infection in the community,” Dr Jayadevan told this paper.

    NEW DELHI: India is showing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with the test positivity rate (TPR) — a vital marker in assessing the spread of an outbreak — touching 8.40% on April 16. It is the highest TPR, which indicates the percentage of people who are found to be infected by the virus from those who are being tested, since February 3, 2022, when the third wave driven by Omicron saw a surge in India.

    Apart from Delhi, the other states that reported high TPR on April 17 are Goa (15.38%), Rajasthan (15.69%), Haryana (14.28%), Uttarakhand (11.94%), Karnataka (8.92%), Chandigarh (8.47%) Tamil Nadu (8.66 %) and Himachal Pradesh (7.07%).

    Though Kerala is reporting the highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths, it is not publicly sharing the number of Covid-19 tests and TPR. Sachin Taparia, Founder of LocalCircles, said: “In most cases, people are showing up at their workplaces or schools/colleges and using public transport despite having symptoms, spreading the infection, which wasn’t the case during the first three waves,” Taparia said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, TPR indicates how much spread is happening in the community. Citing an example, he said in some hospitals in Kerala, which is systematic in conducting Covid-19 tests, in early March, no positive cases were reported, but in mid-March, it went up to 10%. 

    However, by April, the number spiked to 40-42%. “Earlier, testing was systematic; now it is symptom-based. People are not taking Covid-19 tests as they consider it a waste of time and money and recovering at home, assuming they have Covid-19. This leads to gross underestimation of the amount of infection in 
    the community,” Dr Jayadevan told this paper.

  • Indian vaccine works against BF.7 sub-variant: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

    By Express News Service

    New Delhi, Jan 11: Indian vaccine works against Omicron sub-variant BF.7, which is driving the Covid-19 surge in China and other East Asian countries, said Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday.

    “Our vaccine works against BF.7, which has been detected in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other places,” said Mandaviya on the sidelines of a book release ‘Braving a viral storm – India’s Covid-19 vaccine story.’

    The minister, however, did not specify which Covid vaccine works against the BF.7 sub-variant.

    He said India had taken several proactive actions, including conducting Covid testing at all the Indian airports.

    Till Wednesday, over 15 lakh international passengers travelling in a total of 8,700 flights have been tested following the health ministry’s directive to conduct random testing of two per cent of international travellers, he said.

    Out of these, over 200 passengers were found to be Covid positive. “They were immediately sent to the hospital, isolated, and their samples were sent for genome sequencing. Genome sequencing found the presence of the BF.7 variant, found in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other places.”

    ALSO READ | No surge in Covid cases in India despite presence of Omicron variants

    He said BF.7 – which had last year driven the Covid surge in the US and Europe – is already present in India for the previous three months. 

    In future, if there is any new Covid variant, or if the current one mutates and takes a new form, then we will be ready, and that’s why we are carrying out genome sequencing, he said. 

    “We are also alert against any new variant entering India. We are ready because of our Covid management. We are taking all precautions and keeping surveillance.” 

    The minister said that India has 200 types of Covid variants. “We are satisfied that no new type of variant is in India at the moment,” he added.

    The ministry said that despite all Omicron variants in India, no mortality or rise in the transmission had been reported.

    From January 1, passengers arriving from hotspots countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand are mandatorily required to provide Covid-negative reports. It applies to those travellers who are transiting through these hot-spots countries.

    New Delhi, Jan 11: Indian vaccine works against Omicron sub-variant BF.7, which is driving the Covid-19 surge in China and other East Asian countries, said Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday.

    “Our vaccine works against BF.7, which has been detected in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other places,” said Mandaviya on the sidelines of a book release ‘Braving a viral storm – India’s Covid-19 vaccine story.’

    The minister, however, did not specify which Covid vaccine works against the BF.7 sub-variant.

    He said India had taken several proactive actions, including conducting Covid testing at all the Indian airports.

    Till Wednesday, over 15 lakh international passengers travelling in a total of 8,700 flights have been tested following the health ministry’s directive to conduct random testing of two per cent of international travellers, he said.

    Out of these, over 200 passengers were found to be Covid positive. “They were immediately sent to the hospital, isolated, and their samples were sent for genome sequencing. Genome sequencing found the presence of the BF.7 variant, found in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other places.”

    ALSO READ | No surge in Covid cases in India despite presence of Omicron variants

    He said BF.7 – which had last year driven the Covid surge in the US and Europe – is already present in India for the previous three months. 

    In future, if there is any new Covid variant, or if the current one mutates and takes a new form, then we will be ready, and that’s why we are carrying out genome sequencing, he said. 

    “We are also alert against any new variant entering India. We are ready because of our Covid management. We are taking all precautions and keeping surveillance.” 

    The minister said that India has 200 types of Covid variants. “We are satisfied that no new type of variant is in India at the moment,” he added.

    The ministry said that despite all Omicron variants in India, no mortality or rise in the transmission had been reported.

    From January 1, passengers arriving from hotspots countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand are mandatorily required to provide Covid-negative reports. It applies to those travellers who are transiting through these hot-spots countries.

  • PMO reviews Covid-19 situation, focus on tracking new variant 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The centre on Saturday held a high-level meeting, which was chaired by P K Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, with health officials and experts to review the Covid-19 situation in the country.

    In the meeting, it was also reviewed whether compliance with earlier directions issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure preparedness and effective management of the pandemic was taken. 

    In the wake of a surge in Covid cases in China and other East Asian countries, the PM held a high-level meeting last week, in which he directed to increase vigilance and surveillance and to step up testing and genome sequencing. 

    Officials said genome sequencing of around 500 samples collected in December is being done at INSACOG labs across the country. In the meeting, new emerging variants, including BF.7, which is driving a surge in China, were discussed. 

    In the meeting, it was also informed that strengthening whole genome sequencing (WGS) and ensuring that a more significant number of samples are sent from across the country to INSACOG Network is being done, according to the directions of the PM.

    As many as 1,716 international flights have been screened, and 5,666 samples have been collected for Covid-19 testing.  Around 53 international travellers tested positive for Covid-19 during two per cent random testing at airports across the country.

    Mishra has been apprised of the evolving global scenario of the pandemic with the surge in Covid observed in some countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil etc.

    India has already announced that travellers from China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea would need an RT-PCR report from January 1. They have to upload Covid negative report on Air Suvidha, and the test has to be done 72 hours before their travel.

    In the meeting, the focus was on enhancing awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour, strengthening surveillance, including ramping up testing across the country, and uptake of coronavirus precautionary doses, officials said.

    It was informed that according to the prime minister’s directions, mock drills across all health facilities were conducted on December 27.

    All states and union territories participated in the drills to ensure operational readiness of Covid-dedicated facilities with a specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources.  

    Official sources said 21,097 facilities conducted the mock drill, of which 16,108 were government facilities. 

    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who has also held separate review meetings with pharma companies to ensure adequate stock, and availability, had personally reviewed the mock drill at the centre-run Safdarjung Hospital. He had also chaired a virtual review meeting with state health ministers on Covid-19 on December 23.

    According to the directions, the Ministry of Commerce has been asked to monitor ongoing exports of medicinal products and equipment to China, official sources said.

    NEW DELHI: The centre on Saturday held a high-level meeting, which was chaired by P K Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, with health officials and experts to review the Covid-19 situation in the country.

    In the meeting, it was also reviewed whether compliance with earlier directions issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure preparedness and effective management of the pandemic was taken. 

    In the wake of a surge in Covid cases in China and other East Asian countries, the PM held a high-level meeting last week, in which he directed to increase vigilance and surveillance and to step up testing and genome sequencing. 

    Officials said genome sequencing of around 500 samples collected in December is being done at INSACOG labs across the country. In the meeting, new emerging variants, including BF.7, which is driving a surge in China, were discussed. 

    In the meeting, it was also informed that strengthening whole genome sequencing (WGS) and ensuring that a more significant number of samples are sent from across the country to INSACOG Network is being done, according to the directions of the PM.

    As many as 1,716 international flights have been screened, and 5,666 samples have been collected for Covid-19 testing.  Around 53 international travellers tested positive for Covid-19 during two per cent random testing at airports across the country.

    Mishra has been apprised of the evolving global scenario of the pandemic with the surge in Covid observed in some countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil etc.

    India has already announced that travellers from China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea would need an RT-PCR report from January 1. They have to upload Covid negative report on Air Suvidha, and the test has to be done 72 hours before their travel.

    In the meeting, the focus was on enhancing awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour, strengthening surveillance, including ramping up testing across the country, and uptake of coronavirus precautionary doses, officials said.

    It was informed that according to the prime minister’s directions, mock drills across all health facilities were conducted on December 27.

    All states and union territories participated in the drills to ensure operational readiness of Covid-dedicated facilities with a specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources.  

    Official sources said 21,097 facilities conducted the mock drill, of which 16,108 were government facilities. 

    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who has also held separate review meetings with pharma companies to ensure adequate stock, and availability, had personally reviewed the mock drill at the centre-run Safdarjung Hospital. He had also chaired a virtual review meeting with state health ministers on Covid-19 on December 23.

    According to the directions, the Ministry of Commerce has been asked to monitor ongoing exports of medicinal products and equipment to China, official sources said.

  • Covid-19: XBB and its strains fast emerging as dominant sub-variant in India, Tamil Nadu tops

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Omicron sub-variant XBB, which has led to a surge in Covid cases in Singapore, and its strains, especially XBB.3, are fast emerging as a dominant sub-variant in India. In India, nine states have reported XBB, and Tamil Nadu tops the list.

    According to data from GISAID, an international research organisation that tracks changes in the virus, 380 XBB confirmed cases had been detected in India till Oct 23.

    Most XBB sub-variant have been detected in Tamil Nadu, where 175 cases have been recorded, followed by West Bengal (103).

    West Bengal was the first state in India, which first detected this most evasive Omicron sub-variant in August. The other states which have confirmed cases of XBB-driven Covid infection are – Odisha (35), Maharashtra (21), Delhi (18), Puducherry (16), Karnataka (9), Gujarat (2) and Rajasthan (1)

    Further, of the 380 sequences, XBB.3 was found to be 68.42 per cent – the highest among all the lineages of XBB, the data showed. XBB.2 was 15 per cent, and XBB.1 was 2.63 per cent.

    “XBB is moving fast in India and is further evolving fast. Out of all its strains, XBB.3 would dominate in India,” Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, who coordinates SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequencing in Maharashtra, told The New Indian Express.

    Among the offshoots of the Omicron variant swarming globally and in India and described as a variant soup, XBB – a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sub-lineages – is the dominant sub-variant in India so far. 

    ALSO READ | Odisha reports new Omicron sub-variant, first in country

    BQ.1 and other sub-variants are also being detected in India, but not in large numbers. XBB and BQ.1 are both descendants of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

    “It is clear that XBB is a dominant sub-variant now. It has many immune escape mutations; therefore, it has a growth advantage over other sub-variants. Chances are that it could replace BA.2.75, the dominant Omicron sub-variant in India,” Dr Karyakarte said. 

    XBB has been categorised at level 7, meaning it has many mutations, while BQ.1 is level 5. “This means XBB will have more growth advantage over BQ.1 and one which would replace BA.2.75 in India.”

    However, the professor in the microbiology department at BJ Government Medical College in Pune, said clinical studies hadn’t shown any sudden rise in Covid-19 cases or severity.

    “In our clinical study, we didn’t see any severe patients or anyone needing oxygen or found any increase in hospitalisation rates. So far, it hasn’t produced any serious diseases in people,” he added.

    Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, said XBB is emerging in India. Most cases are asymptomatic so far. “We need to wait to see whether it would lead to any severity or hospitalisation as is being seen in Singapore,” Dr Yadav said. 

    XBB, being reported mainly from Asian countries like Singapore, Bangladesh and India, is setting off fresh waves of infection, leading to fear that this could usher in another Covid wave. XBB is also being reported from Australia and South Korea too.

    According to a recent article in Nature, XBB looks likely to dominate infections in Asia.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent, and it has been detected in 35 countries. 

    ALSO READ | Covid-19 threat persists as Omicron variants vitiate air

    According to the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), there has been a “broad increase in the prevalence of XBB in regional genomic surveillance”. The technical advisory group met on October 24 to discuss the latest evidence on the Omicron variant of concern and how its evolution is currently unfolding.

    The current data have not suggested substantial differences in disease severity for XBB infections; there is, however, early evidence pointing at a higher reinfection risk as compared to other circulating Omicron sub-lineages, the group noted. 

    The TAG-VE also said that whether the increased immune escape of XBB is sufficient to drive new infection waves appears to depend on the regional immune landscape as affected by the size and timing of previous Omicron waves, as well as the Covid-19 vaccination coverage.

    Highlights

    As per WHO, XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent and it has been detected in 35 countries
    Omicron sub-variant XBB and its strain, especially XBB.3, is fast emerging as the dominant variant in India
    Tamil Nadu records the highest number of XBB cases in India, followed by West Bengal
    XBB has led to a surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, Bangladesh and India
    It is also being reported in Australia, South Korea and even from the UK

    NEW DELHI: Omicron sub-variant XBB, which has led to a surge in Covid cases in Singapore, and its strains, especially XBB.3, are fast emerging as a dominant sub-variant in India. In India, nine states have reported XBB, and Tamil Nadu tops the list.

    According to data from GISAID, an international research organisation that tracks changes in the virus, 380 XBB confirmed cases had been detected in India till Oct 23.

    Most XBB sub-variant have been detected in Tamil Nadu, where 175 cases have been recorded, followed by West Bengal (103).

    West Bengal was the first state in India, which first detected this most evasive Omicron sub-variant in August. The other states which have confirmed cases of XBB-driven Covid infection are – Odisha (35), Maharashtra (21), Delhi (18), Puducherry (16), Karnataka (9), Gujarat (2) and Rajasthan (1)

    Further, of the 380 sequences, XBB.3 was found to be 68.42 per cent – the highest among all the lineages of XBB, the data showed. XBB.2 was 15 per cent, and XBB.1 was 2.63 per cent.

    “XBB is moving fast in India and is further evolving fast. Out of all its strains, XBB.3 would dominate in India,” Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, who coordinates SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequencing in Maharashtra, told The New Indian Express.

    Among the offshoots of the Omicron variant swarming globally and in India and described as a variant soup, XBB – a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sub-lineages – is the dominant sub-variant in India so far. 

    ALSO READ | Odisha reports new Omicron sub-variant, first in country

    BQ.1 and other sub-variants are also being detected in India, but not in large numbers. XBB and BQ.1 are both descendants of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

    “It is clear that XBB is a dominant sub-variant now. It has many immune escape mutations; therefore, it has a growth advantage over other sub-variants. Chances are that it could replace BA.2.75, the dominant Omicron sub-variant in India,” Dr Karyakarte said. 

    XBB has been categorised at level 7, meaning it has many mutations, while BQ.1 is level 5. “This means XBB will have more growth advantage over BQ.1 and one which would replace BA.2.75 in India.”

    However, the professor in the microbiology department at BJ Government Medical College in Pune, said clinical studies hadn’t shown any sudden rise in Covid-19 cases or severity.

    “In our clinical study, we didn’t see any severe patients or anyone needing oxygen or found any increase in hospitalisation rates. So far, it hasn’t produced any serious diseases in people,” he added.

    Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, said XBB is emerging in India. Most cases are asymptomatic so far. “We need to wait to see whether it would lead to any severity or hospitalisation as is being seen in Singapore,” Dr Yadav said. 

    XBB, being reported mainly from Asian countries like Singapore, Bangladesh and India, is setting off fresh waves of infection, leading to fear that this could usher in another Covid wave. XBB is also being reported from Australia and South Korea too.

    According to a recent article in Nature, XBB looks likely to dominate infections in Asia.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent, and it has been detected in 35 countries. 

    ALSO READ | Covid-19 threat persists as Omicron variants vitiate air

    According to the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), there has been a “broad increase in the prevalence of XBB in regional genomic surveillance”. The technical advisory group met on October 24 to discuss the latest evidence on the Omicron variant of concern and how its evolution is currently unfolding.

    The current data have not suggested substantial differences in disease severity for XBB infections; there is, however, early evidence pointing at a higher reinfection risk as compared to other circulating Omicron sub-lineages, the group noted. 

    The TAG-VE also said that whether the increased immune escape of XBB is sufficient to drive new infection waves appears to depend on the regional immune landscape as affected by the size and timing of previous Omicron waves, as well as the Covid-19 vaccination coverage.

    Highlights

    As per WHO, XBB has a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent and it has been detected in 35 countries
    Omicron sub-variant XBB and its strain, especially XBB.3, is fast emerging as the dominant variant in India
    Tamil Nadu records the highest number of XBB cases in India, followed by West Bengal
    XBB has led to a surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, Bangladesh and India
    It is also being reported in Australia, South Korea and even from the UK

  • Omicron BF.7 threat: Experts urge people to follow Covid protocol

    By IANS

    BENGALURU: In the wake of the detection of BF.7 Omicron sub-variant in different parts of India, experts have called for diligent following of Covid-19 protocols in Karnataka, said Navodaya Gilla, Consultant — Internal medicine, CARE Hospitals Group.

    Also, called the Omicron Spawn, the BF.7 sub-variant is the newest form that has high transmissibility.

    “This is because the new variant quickly bypasses the immunity that a person has developed through a natural infection with an earlier variant or even if the complete course of the vaccines are taken,” he added.

    “There is an expectation that the world might see a fourth wave of the pandemic. The new Omicron variant was first detected in China and India has seen its first case of this variant in Gujarat. Initially in the pandemic, the virus mutated several times and the WHO declared the delta variant as the most severe one,” Gilla said.

    “The symptoms of the new BF.7 sub-variant are similar to the common flu and include cold, cough, fever, body pain, etc. As it is highly transmittable, it spreads to a larger group of people within a short duration,” he added.

    “There was also a new variant, named BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 detected recently in Pune. We are not yet fully aware of its severity as it is a relatively new mutant and we have not seen many cases till now,” Gilla said.

    “We will wait for the government to share any modified guidelines but until then, we need to diligently follow the protocols — maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, frequent handwashing and completing the course of vaccination. Furthermore, elderly people, pregnant women, children, infants and those with chronic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and immunosuppressive disorders should stringently follow the protocols as they are at very high risk,” he added.

    Aditya Chowti, Senior Consultant — Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru, said that based on certain cases that we have seen in the recent past, there seems to be a newer sub-variant of the Omicron virus.

    “However, we are seeing that the sub-variant does not seem to be causing any deadly conditions. Nevertheless, it is more contagious than before, which means it can spread among the infected people faster. So, it is imperative that we follow certain basic Covid norms,” he says.

    “It is important to be careful in public places since we do see that people have become a little careless as many of the norms and the rules that are put forth during Covid-19 have been lifted. So, it is now important that we at least follow the basic measures,” Chowti says.

    Satyanarayana Mysore, HOD and Consultant — Pulmonology, Lung Transplant Physician, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, says, “The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are sub-lineage of BA.5 and they don’t pose a huge amount of risk at this point in time. We expect the XBB variant isolated largely in Singapore has shown in the lab test, a degree of antibody resistance. The concern is about some parts of the viral genome being linked to the Delta variant.”

    “Currently, a surge of BQ.1 and BA 2.2.3.20 is expected. There is absolutely no panic. There may be reports of drug resistance and antibody resistance but none of them are going to be as bad as Delta. The Covid situation has been tackled adequately well in our country and we are optimistic that this will not give rise to a wave, but maybe a surge! Therefore, appropriate use of masks and Covid-appropriate behaviour will be the key to containing these viral lineages,” he says.

    “RNA viruses, by their nature itself, are known to mutate multiple times and that is the law of nature. Unless and until a concerning clinical behaviour is seen, I do not think that we should not be reacting to mutation,” Satyanarayana added.

    BENGALURU: In the wake of the detection of BF.7 Omicron sub-variant in different parts of India, experts have called for diligent following of Covid-19 protocols in Karnataka, said Navodaya Gilla, Consultant — Internal medicine, CARE Hospitals Group.

    Also, called the Omicron Spawn, the BF.7 sub-variant is the newest form that has high transmissibility.

    “This is because the new variant quickly bypasses the immunity that a person has developed through a natural infection with an earlier variant or even if the complete course of the vaccines are taken,” he added.

    “There is an expectation that the world might see a fourth wave of the pandemic. The new Omicron variant was first detected in China and India has seen its first case of this variant in Gujarat. Initially in the pandemic, the virus mutated several times and the WHO declared the delta variant as the most severe one,” Gilla said.

    “The symptoms of the new BF.7 sub-variant are similar to the common flu and include cold, cough, fever, body pain, etc. As it is highly transmittable, it spreads to a larger group of people within a short duration,” he added.

    “There was also a new variant, named BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 detected recently in Pune. We are not yet fully aware of its severity as it is a relatively new mutant and we have not seen many cases till now,” Gilla said.

    “We will wait for the government to share any modified guidelines but until then, we need to diligently follow the protocols — maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, frequent handwashing and completing the course of vaccination. Furthermore, elderly people, pregnant women, children, infants and those with chronic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and immunosuppressive disorders should stringently follow the protocols as they are at very high risk,” he added.

    Aditya Chowti, Senior Consultant — Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru, said that based on certain cases that we have seen in the recent past, there seems to be a newer sub-variant of the Omicron virus.

    “However, we are seeing that the sub-variant does not seem to be causing any deadly conditions. Nevertheless, it is more contagious than before, which means it can spread among the infected people faster. So, it is imperative that we follow certain basic Covid norms,” he says.

    “It is important to be careful in public places since we do see that people have become a little careless as many of the norms and the rules that are put forth during Covid-19 have been lifted. So, it is now important that we at least follow the basic measures,” Chowti says.

    Satyanarayana Mysore, HOD and Consultant — Pulmonology, Lung Transplant Physician, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, says, “The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are sub-lineage of BA.5 and they don’t pose a huge amount of risk at this point in time. We expect the XBB variant isolated largely in Singapore has shown in the lab test, a degree of antibody resistance. The concern is about some parts of the viral genome being linked to the Delta variant.”

    “Currently, a surge of BQ.1 and BA 2.2.3.20 is expected. There is absolutely no panic. There may be reports of drug resistance and antibody resistance but none of them are going to be as bad as Delta. The Covid situation has been tackled adequately well in our country and we are optimistic that this will not give rise to a wave, but maybe a surge! Therefore, appropriate use of masks and Covid-appropriate behaviour will be the key to containing these viral lineages,” he says.

    “RNA viruses, by their nature itself, are known to mutate multiple times and that is the law of nature. Unless and until a concerning clinical behaviour is seen, I do not think that we should not be reacting to mutation,” Satyanarayana added.

  • Fear of winter wave, India keeps strict surveillance on new Omicron sub-variants

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As India detected four new sub-lineages, which are slowly spreading to different parts of the country, especially Maharashtra, triggering fear of a winter wave riding on festival season, authorities said they are keeping a close watch on clinical and epidemiological behaviour of the new Omicron sub-variants.

    “We got to know about the new Omicron sub-lineages two weeks back. We are watching their clinical and epidemiological behaviour,” Dr N K Arora, head of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) told The New Indian Express.

    He said close watch is also being kept on these new sub-variants to ensure that there is no increase in hospitalisation, sudden localised outbreak or increase in cases or any particular susceptibility in people like the elderly, children or those with comorbidity. 

    He said the emergence of the new sub-variants – BF.7, BQ.1, XBB and BA.2.3.20 – clearly shows that Covid is with us. 

    ALSO READ | India reports three new Omicron sub-variants; Centre stresses on monitoring points of entries

    Dr Arora said in India, BA.2.75 is still dominant but is seeing the emergence of new sub-variants, causing a surge in Covid cases in China, Singapore and European countries. “They have been picked up in India also. There is no virus at the moment in India which is not present elsewhere in the world,” said Dr Arora, co-chair of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).

    “We know it will spread, but will not create a huge impact as most people have hybrid immunity,” he said on whether there could be a winter Covid wave.

    A recent article in Nature, said new immune-evading strains of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, behaviour changes and waning immunity mean many countries could soon see large numbers of Covid-19 infections – and potentially of hospitalisations.

    Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, said the onset of winters had witnessed the emergence of Variants of Concern (VOC) globally, and India is no exception.

    “There is fear as all the VOCs have emerged after September. Whether it was Alpha, Beta, Delta, or Omicron,” she told TNIE. “Now, we are amid the festival season, and winters are setting in, so it would be wise for people to take some precautionary measures and avoid crowds.”

    That was the worry which drove Maharashtra to sound an alarm. Dr Pradip Awate, State Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, Maharashtra, “We had to sound an alarm in this background as we wanted to be cautious about the new sub-variants. Some areas in Maharashtra like Raigad, Thane and Mumbai are showing some rise in Covid cases,” he told TNIE. 

    ALSO READ | As new Omicron variants emerge, Centre ramps up surveillance

    Not only Maharashtra but Kerala and Delhi are showing a slight rise in Covid cases, said NC Krishnaprasad, a Covid data analyst from Kerala. “A week after Diwali will give us a clear picture of the intensity of this upward trend, and the second week will cement it (if it is going upward),” he added.

    During festivals and significant holidays, there will not only be a spike in cases but also more significant chances of newer variants appearing, added Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force. “There is no guarantee that the next variant will cause the same relatively mild disease that Omicron caused.”

    However, Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, said what is relevant is whether the new sub-lineages have a transmission advantage over the existing virus strains and whether they will lead to more severe disease.

    NEW DELHI: As India detected four new sub-lineages, which are slowly spreading to different parts of the country, especially Maharashtra, triggering fear of a winter wave riding on festival season, authorities said they are keeping a close watch on clinical and epidemiological behaviour of the new Omicron sub-variants.

    “We got to know about the new Omicron sub-lineages two weeks back. We are watching their clinical and epidemiological behaviour,” Dr N K Arora, head of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) told The New Indian Express.

    He said close watch is also being kept on these new sub-variants to ensure that there is no increase in hospitalisation, sudden localised outbreak or increase in cases or any particular susceptibility in people like the elderly, children or those with comorbidity. 

    He said the emergence of the new sub-variants – BF.7, BQ.1, XBB and BA.2.3.20 – clearly shows that Covid is with us. 

    ALSO READ | India reports three new Omicron sub-variants; Centre stresses on monitoring points of entries

    Dr Arora said in India, BA.2.75 is still dominant but is seeing the emergence of new sub-variants, causing a surge in Covid cases in China, Singapore and European countries. “They have been picked up in India also. There is no virus at the moment in India which is not present elsewhere in the world,” said Dr Arora, co-chair of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).

    “We know it will spread, but will not create a huge impact as most people have hybrid immunity,” he said on whether there could be a winter Covid wave.

    A recent article in Nature, said new immune-evading strains of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, behaviour changes and waning immunity mean many countries could soon see large numbers of Covid-19 infections – and potentially of hospitalisations.

    Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, said the onset of winters had witnessed the emergence of Variants of Concern (VOC) globally, and India is no exception.

    “There is fear as all the VOCs have emerged after September. Whether it was Alpha, Beta, Delta, or Omicron,” she told TNIE. “Now, we are amid the festival season, and winters are setting in, so it would be wise for people to take some precautionary measures and avoid crowds.”

    That was the worry which drove Maharashtra to sound an alarm. Dr Pradip Awate, State Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, Maharashtra, “We had to sound an alarm in this background as we wanted to be cautious about the new sub-variants. Some areas in Maharashtra like Raigad, Thane and Mumbai are showing some rise in Covid cases,” he told TNIE. 

    ALSO READ | As new Omicron variants emerge, Centre ramps up surveillance

    Not only Maharashtra but Kerala and Delhi are showing a slight rise in Covid cases, said NC Krishnaprasad, a Covid data analyst from Kerala. “A week after Diwali will give us a clear picture of the intensity of this upward trend, and the second week will cement it (if it is going upward),” he added.

    During festivals and significant holidays, there will not only be a spike in cases but also more significant chances of newer variants appearing, added Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force. “There is no guarantee that the next variant will cause the same relatively mild disease that Omicron caused.”

    However, Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, said what is relevant is whether the new sub-lineages have a transmission advantage over the existing virus strains and whether they will lead to more severe disease.

  • Omicron Covid variant may have originated in animals, study finds

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON: The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have been transmitted from an animal species to humans, according to a study.

    The research, published recently in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, provides new insights into the evolutionary origins of Omicron.

    An essential step in coronavirus infection occurs when spike protein, which helps the virus to infect the cells, binds to the host’s receptor.

    After establishing consistent infections in the host, the spike protein becomes adapted to the host’s receptor.

    The researchers carried out a detailed structural biology analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

    They identified several mutations in the Omicron spike protein that were uniquely adapted to the mouse receptor and incompatible with the human receptor.

    This suggests the Omicron variant might not have originated from humans directly and instead may have been transmitted from other animal species to humans, according to the researchers.

    “These Omicron mutations are evolutionary traces left by the virus during its transmission from one animal species to another,” said study lead author Fang Li, from the University of Minnesota in the US.

    “Our detailed structural biology approach has successfully recovered these subtle yet unique evolutionary traces,” Li said.

    The researchers noted that the COVID-19 virus is capable of infecting many animal species — which is one of the main reasons why variants keep emerging.

    These findings also suggest that epidemic surveillance of rodents may be important for stopping new COVID-19 variants from emerging in the future, they said.

    “Animal-to-human transmission of coronaviruses will likely continue to threaten global health. It has been suggested that all coronaviruses circulating in humans came from animals,” said Li.

    “I am working with my colleagues to address current and potential future coronavirus pandemics by developing therapeutics targeting both human coronaviruses and animal coronaviruses,” the scientist added.

    WASHINGTON: The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have been transmitted from an animal species to humans, according to a study.

    The research, published recently in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, provides new insights into the evolutionary origins of Omicron.

    An essential step in coronavirus infection occurs when spike protein, which helps the virus to infect the cells, binds to the host’s receptor.

    After establishing consistent infections in the host, the spike protein becomes adapted to the host’s receptor.

    The researchers carried out a detailed structural biology analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

    They identified several mutations in the Omicron spike protein that were uniquely adapted to the mouse receptor and incompatible with the human receptor.

    This suggests the Omicron variant might not have originated from humans directly and instead may have been transmitted from other animal species to humans, according to the researchers.

    “These Omicron mutations are evolutionary traces left by the virus during its transmission from one animal species to another,” said study lead author Fang Li, from the University of Minnesota in the US.

    “Our detailed structural biology approach has successfully recovered these subtle yet unique evolutionary traces,” Li said.

    The researchers noted that the COVID-19 virus is capable of infecting many animal species — which is one of the main reasons why variants keep emerging.

    These findings also suggest that epidemic surveillance of rodents may be important for stopping new COVID-19 variants from emerging in the future, they said.

    “Animal-to-human transmission of coronaviruses will likely continue to threaten global health. It has been suggested that all coronaviruses circulating in humans came from animals,” said Li.

    “I am working with my colleagues to address current and potential future coronavirus pandemics by developing therapeutics targeting both human coronaviruses and animal coronaviruses,” the scientist added.

  • India reports three new Omicron sub-variants; Centre stresses on monitoring points of entries

    New Delhi, Oct 18: After new Omicron sub-variants were detected in India, triggering off alarm bells ahead of the festival, the Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation and directed officials to focus on the practical implementation of surveillance strategy and strengthening genome sequencing for early detection of new variants. 

    Maharashtra, which had earlier detected Omicron sub-variant BQ.1, on Tuesday confirmed 71 cases of XBB – a combination of two omicron sub-lineages BJ.1 and BA.2.75 and has led to a surge in Covid cases in Singapore – has been detected in India. Gujarat also reported BF.7 Omicron sub-variant, which had caused a rise in Covid-19 cases in the US, UK, and many European countries. 

    Mandaviya discussed the emergence of new Omicron variants, due to which many countries are witnessing a steep rise in cases, and stressed the need for monitoring the points of entries.

    ALSO READ | India detects highly infectious new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 

    Chairing the meeting with public health experts and officials, he also discussed the global scenario, including in the US, UK and many European countries, which are witnessing a surge in Covid cases due to the new emerging Omicron sub-variants, which are said to be immune escape variants and have higher transmissibility.

    Since the new variants have been detected in Maharashtra, Covid-19 cases in the state rose by 17.17 per cent on October 10-16 compared to October 3 and 9. The rise in Covid cases were being noticed particularly in densely-populated Thane, Raigad and Mumbai, triggering concern that the virus could spread fast during the festival time.

    Mandaviya stressed the need to undertake adequate testing (with a higher proportion of RT PCR and effective Covid-19 surveillance to assess and control the spread of infection promptly.

    He directed officials to continue to focus on surveillance across the country, mainly through sentinel sites and on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to scan for any possible mutation in the wake of the identification of Omicron variants in other countries.

    He also urged officials to monitor hospitalisations due to Covid-19 closely and urged them to increase the pace of vaccination, including precautionary doses to the eligible beneficiaries.

    The minister also highlighted the need for community awareness for continued implementation of the Covid appropriate behaviour (CAB), especially given the upcoming festival season. 

    New Delhi, Oct 18: After new Omicron sub-variants were detected in India, triggering off alarm bells ahead of the festival, the Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation and directed officials to focus on the practical implementation of surveillance strategy and strengthening genome sequencing for early detection of new variants. 

    Maharashtra, which had earlier detected Omicron sub-variant BQ.1, on Tuesday confirmed 71 cases of XBB – a combination of two omicron sub-lineages BJ.1 and BA.2.75 and has led to a surge in Covid cases in Singapore – has been detected in India. Gujarat also reported BF.7 Omicron sub-variant, which had caused a rise in Covid-19 cases in the US, UK, and many European countries. 

    Mandaviya discussed the emergence of new Omicron variants, due to which many countries are witnessing a steep rise in cases, and stressed the need for monitoring the points of entries.

    ALSO READ | India detects highly infectious new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 

    Chairing the meeting with public health experts and officials, he also discussed the global scenario, including in the US, UK and many European countries, which are witnessing a surge in Covid cases due to the new emerging Omicron sub-variants, which are said to be immune escape variants and have higher transmissibility.

    Since the new variants have been detected in Maharashtra, Covid-19 cases in the state rose by 17.17 per cent on October 10-16 compared to October 3 and 9. The rise in Covid cases were being noticed particularly in densely-populated Thane, Raigad and Mumbai, triggering concern that the virus could spread fast during the festival time.

    Mandaviya stressed the need to undertake adequate testing (with a higher proportion of RT PCR and effective Covid-19 surveillance to assess and control the spread of infection promptly.

    He directed officials to continue to focus on surveillance across the country, mainly through sentinel sites and on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to scan for any possible mutation in the wake of the identification of Omicron variants in other countries.

    He also urged officials to monitor hospitalisations due to Covid-19 closely and urged them to increase the pace of vaccination, including precautionary doses to the eligible beneficiaries.

    The minister also highlighted the need for community awareness for continued implementation of the Covid appropriate behaviour (CAB), especially given the upcoming festival season. 

  • India detects highly infectious new Omicron sub-variant BF.7 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the festival season, India has detected a highly infectious Omicron variant BF.7, said to be behind the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in China, the US and other European countries.

    Officials said the first case of BF.7, described as ‘Omicron spawn,’ has been detected by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research centre. 

    The variant, BA.5.2.1.7 or BF.7 for short, is a spinoff of the Omicron subvariant BA.5, which is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the US and other countries.

    “We are continuing to monitor the situation to see whether this variant turns out to be more virulent and could lead to a fresh surge in India,” an official told The New Indian Express. 

    The new variant, which swept through China less than a week after it was first identified in Northwest China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was highly infectious and showed greater transmissibility. After the new variant was detected on October 4, China announced fresh lockdowns and travel restrictions.

    Officials said they also monitor the number of hospitalisations and deaths in the country.

    “So far, there is nothing to worry about, but people must continue to follow Covid appropriate behaviour ahead of the festival time,” the official added. 

    India is consistently reporting 2,000 Covid cases, said NC Krishnaprasad, a Covid data analyst from Kerala, adding that certain states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, have shown a hike in cases in the past few weeks.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also warned about the new variant.

    According to Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, “BF.7 is the name given to a great-grandson of BA.5, which is a major sub-lineage or descendant of Omicron.”

    “These are called immune escape variants, which means they can infect people who had been vaccinated or past infected,” he added.

    He said with the festive season approaching, people must follow standard precautions, the most important of which is to keep masks, including indoor masking, on while meeting strangers in crowded indoor settings.

    “Elderly and people with severe medical conditions are advised to stay away from such gatherings, as even an Omicron infection is known to destabilise them, leading to severe disease and bad outcomes. India has achieved a high degree of adult vaccination coverage which has, along with immunity due to natural infection, provided a large degree of protection so far.”

    He said that Covid is still evolving, and the world will see different waves. “Covid is not yet over,” he added.

    The Omicron variant and its sub-variants are famous for their immunity-escaping properties. The new variant has not only spread fast in Belgium but has been reported in Germany, France, Denmark and UK, apart from the US.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also described BF.7 as the most concerning variant and has shown a positive growth rate compared to the BA.5 variant.

    Experts said that, as with most newer variants of concern, this new variant seems more transmissible than Omicron and other Omicron subvariant that appeared before it. Though, the severity of the disease the new variant will cause is still not known.

    Briefly: 

    New Omicron variant BF.7 has been detected in India. It is described as an Omicron spawn
    The new variant has immunity-escaping properties
    The new variant swept through many provinces of China after it was first detected in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 
    China had to announce fresh lockdown and travel restrictions
    BF.7 has also been detected in the US, UK, Belgium, Germany, France and other European countries
    Experts have advised caution as we are approaching festival time, suggest following Covid-appropriate behaviour

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the festival season, India has detected a highly infectious Omicron variant BF.7, said to be behind the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in China, the US and other European countries.

    Officials said the first case of BF.7, described as ‘Omicron spawn,’ has been detected by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research centre. 

    The variant, BA.5.2.1.7 or BF.7 for short, is a spinoff of the Omicron subvariant BA.5, which is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the US and other countries.

    “We are continuing to monitor the situation to see whether this variant turns out to be more virulent and could lead to a fresh surge in India,” an official told The New Indian Express. 

    The new variant, which swept through China less than a week after it was first identified in Northwest China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was highly infectious and showed greater transmissibility. After the new variant was detected on October 4, China announced fresh lockdowns and travel restrictions.

    Officials said they also monitor the number of hospitalisations and deaths in the country.

    “So far, there is nothing to worry about, but people must continue to follow Covid appropriate behaviour ahead of the festival time,” the official added. 

    India is consistently reporting 2,000 Covid cases, said NC Krishnaprasad, a Covid data analyst from Kerala, adding that certain states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, have shown a hike in cases in the past few weeks.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also warned about the new variant.

    According to Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid-19 task force, “BF.7 is the name given to a great-grandson of BA.5, which is a major sub-lineage or descendant of Omicron.”

    “These are called immune escape variants, which means they can infect people who had been vaccinated or past infected,” he added.

    He said with the festive season approaching, people must follow standard precautions, the most important of which is to keep masks, including indoor masking, on while meeting strangers in crowded indoor settings.

    “Elderly and people with severe medical conditions are advised to stay away from such gatherings, as even an Omicron infection is known to destabilise them, leading to severe disease and bad outcomes. India has achieved a high degree of adult vaccination coverage which has, along with immunity due to natural infection, provided a large degree of protection so far.”

    He said that Covid is still evolving, and the world will see different waves. “Covid is not yet over,” he added.

    The Omicron variant and its sub-variants are famous for their immunity-escaping properties. The new variant has not only spread fast in Belgium but has been reported in Germany, France, Denmark and UK, apart from the US.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also described BF.7 as the most concerning variant and has shown a positive growth rate compared to the BA.5 variant.

    Experts said that, as with most newer variants of concern, this new variant seems more transmissible than Omicron and other Omicron subvariant that appeared before it. Though, the severity of the disease the new variant will cause is still not known.

    Briefly: 

    New Omicron variant BF.7 has been detected in India. It is described as an Omicron spawn
    The new variant has immunity-escaping properties
    The new variant swept through many provinces of China after it was first detected in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 
    China had to announce fresh lockdown and travel restrictions
    BF.7 has also been detected in the US, UK, Belgium, Germany, France and other European countries
    Experts have advised caution as we are approaching festival time, suggest following Covid-appropriate behaviour

  • 5,664 new COVID cases in India, active infections in country rise to 47,922

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With 5,664 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,45,34,188, while the active cases increased to 47,922, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,28,337 with 35 fatalities which includes 21 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.11 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.71 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 1,074 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.96 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.79 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,39,57,929, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 216.56 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide 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 14 new deaths recorded in the last 24 hours include three from Maharashtra and two from Chhattisgarh.

    NEW DELHI: With 5,664 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,45,34,188, while the active cases increased to 47,922, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,28,337 with 35 fatalities which includes 21 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

    The active cases comprise 0.11 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.71 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 1,074 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.96 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.79 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,39,57,929, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 216.56 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide 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 14 new deaths recorded in the last 24 hours include three from Maharashtra and two from Chhattisgarh.