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Levels of air pollutants on rise in Indian cities, says study

“We were surprised to see the increase in formaldehyde above Delhi, Kanpur and London” a clue that emissions of other volatile organic compounds may be changing, potentially driven by economic development and changes in domestic behaviour. Our results emphasise the need to monitor our air for the unexpected, and the importance of ongoing enforcement of measures for cleaner air, the study’s co-author Professor William Bloss, also from the University of Birmingham, said.

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India’s coronavirus infections cross 18 million; record number of daily deaths

India reported 379,257 new COVID-19 cases and 3,645 new deaths on Thursday, according to health ministry data. It was the deadliest day so far for any country hit by the pandemic. India’s best hope to curb its second deadly wave of COVID-19 was to vaccinate its vast population, said experts, and on Wednesday it opened registrations for everyone above the age of 18 to be given jabs from Saturday.

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Bombay HC refuses to hear PIL seeking uniform rate of COVID-19 vaccines

The HC, however, said the petition should have been filed before the Supreme Court which, while taking up suo motu (on its own) cognisance of matters pertaining to COVID-19, had said it would hear all pan-India issues.

”The Supreme Court has said issues that have pan-India effect will be dealt with by them and pricing is a phenomenon applicable all over India. We are not entertaining it (PIL) as the apex court has fairly covered it,” the court said.

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India’s COVID-19 emergency is wake-up call to Africa -AU health chief

African nations generally do not have sufficient numbers of health care workers, hospital beds, oxygen supplies, and the continent of 1.3 billion would be even more overwhelmed than India if cases surged in a similar way, said John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We are watching with total disbelief…What is happening in India cannot be ignored by our continent,” he told reporters.

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Chubb and Marsh partnership to provide $150 million cover for the COVAX Program for 92 low and middle-income countries

Through Chubb’s and Marsh’s collaboration, up to $150 million in insurance is provided for the COVAX No Fault Compensation Program to cover compensation payments to eligible individuals in the 92 lower-income countries and economies, known as the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) eligible economies.

Insurance broker Marsh led the global placement of the bespoke solution. Chubb is the lead insurer, supported by a further 10 insurers located in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and Bermuda.

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Insurers have to settle cashless Covid-19 claims in 1 hr:IRDA

The IRDAI’s direction to the insurers has come following the Delhi High Court’s direction to  the insurance regulator to advise insurers to communicate their cashless approvals to the concerned hospitals/establishments within a maximum time period of 30 to 60 minutes so that there shall not be any delay in discharge of patients and hospital beds do not remain unoccupied,

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Health ministry releases revised guidelines for home isolation of mild Covid-19 cases

Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung or liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, it added.

In case of falling oxygen saturation levels or shortness of breath, the person should require hospital admission and seek immediate consultation with the treating physician or surveillance team.

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Past Covid-19 infection does not fully protect young people against reinfection: Lancet

“As vaccine roll outs continue to gain momentum it is important to remember that, despite a prior Covid-19 infection, young people can catch the virus again and may still transmit it to others,” said Professor Stuart Sealfon, of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, a senior author of the study.

“Immunity is not guaranteed by past infection, and vaccinations that provide additional protection are still needed for those who have had Covid-19,” Sealfon said.

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