Category:

Health

Global hunger to rise in 2021 due to income losses from Covid-19 pandemic

Most of the additional people the USDA expects to fall into food insecurity this year are in Asia, which accounts for 72% of the increase. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia will see particularly large jumps in the number of people without enough food, according to the report. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 21% of the global increase in undernourished people.

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Asian nations impose stricter COVID-19 restrictions due to Delta outbreaks

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described Delta to be as contagious as chickenpox and could cause severe illness, the New York Times reported, citing an internal CDC document. read more
Detected in some 96 countries, the Delta variant, first identified in India, has become a concern globally, prompting even countries with advanced vaccination programmes such as the United States, Israel and Singapore to re-impose some restrictions.

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Israel’s president gets third COVID-19 shot, urges boosters for over-60s

“Israel is a pioneer in going ahead with the third dose for older people of the age of 60 and above. The fight against the COVID pandemic is global. The only way we can defeat COVID is together,” Bennett said. The booster campaign, with shots administered by health maintenance organizations, will effectively turn Israel into a testing ground for a third dose before approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Do I need to get tested for COVID-19 if I’m vaccinated?

The latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people who are fully vaccinated should get tested three to five days after potential exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms.That change comes two months after the agency eased its initial testing guidance. In May, the CDC said vaccinated people face very little risk of serious illness and don’t need to be tested in most cases, even if exposed to someone who was sick. The thinking was that vaccinated people also weren’t likely to spread it to others.

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Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Bill introduced in LS

According to the new Bill, ”the commission may impose and collect environmental compensation from farmers causing air pollution by stubble burning, at such rate and in such manner, as may be prescribed”.

The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, piloted by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, states that it was noticed there is a lack of a permanent, dedicated and participative mechanism adopting a collaborative and participatory approach involving relevant central ministries, state governments, local bodies and other stakeholders to tackle air pollution, in the NCR and adjoining areas.

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No multilateral protocol at present on international travel of Covid vaccinated people: Govt

Most countries require a negative COVID-19 test report, along with compliance with country specific COVID protocols, the minister stated.

”While there have been multilateral discussions, including under the framework of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), regarding COVID-19 vaccination certificates, no multilateral arrangements in this regard have been reached so far.”

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No noticeable change in insurance coverage during Covid pandemic: Govt

Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told Lok Sabha that the number of lives covered under health insurance (excluding personal accident and travel business) from April 1 to December 31, 2020 was 38.79 crore as compared to 39.06 crore for the corresponding period the previous year.

The total number of health insurance coverage, excluding personal accident and travel, in financial year 2019-20 was 49.87 crore, she said in a written reply.

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Easing curbs, non-adherence to Covid norms behind surge in infections: Govt

A three-tier arrangement of dedicated COVID-19 health facilities [(i) COVID Care Center (CCC); (ii) Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) and (iii) Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH)] has been implemented in the country to reduce the risk of cross infection to non-COVID patients as well as to maintain continuity of non-COVID essential health services in the country, Pawar said.

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Germany to require proof of Covid immunity or negative test on arrival: Sources

Germany now requires a negative test or proof of immunity only from those arriving from so-called “risk areas”, “high-incidence areas” and “virus-variant areas”, which in Europe now include Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.

Rules are now also applied differently at airports and road crossings, and regional leaders are keen to make them more consistent.

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Record global InsurTech funding balloons to $4.8 billion in Q2, H1 2021 investment exceeds full-year flow in 2020:Willis Towers Watson

InsurTechs focused on distribution accounted for 55% of start-up deals, and for 10 of the 15 mega-rounds. Most of the distribution InsurTechs target reduced dependence on agent channels.

Of all Q2 deals, 73% were for P&C-related InsurTechs, while 43 companies raised funds for L&H technology. Funds were raised by companies from 35 countries, including new entrants Botswana, Mali, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

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