When expanded to cover all developing economies, using the median...
Category:
Health
Latest
4 out of every 5 people with hypertension are not adequately treated: WHO
The number of people living with hypertension (blood pressure of...
Nipah situation is totally under control in Kerala: Minister Veena George
''We are on constant alert, constant vigil, that will continue, and...
Finmin widens scope of ECLGS, includes healthcare sector
“In recognition of the continuing adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic on certain service sectors, the government has now extended the scope of ECLGS through introduction of ECLGS 3.0 to cover business enterprises in Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Leisure & Sporting sectors which had, as on February 29, 2020, total credit outstanding not exceeding Rs 500 crore and overdues, if any, were for 60 days or less, on that date,” the statement issued last month had said.
India has a double mutant Coronavirus variant. Should we be worried?
The new variant, which has a so-called double mutation, is thought to be fueling India’s deadlier new wave of infections that has made it the world’s second worst-hit country, surpassing Brazil, and has already begun to overwhelm its hospitals and crematoriums. The Asian nation has reported more than 14 million Covid cases so far and more than 174,300 fatalities.
Global Covid-19 caseload tops 139.6 mn, death toll surge past 2.99 million
The US is the worst-hit country with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 31,575,138 and 566,212, respectively, according to the CSSE.
In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 14,291,917 cases.
PM Modi reviews status of oxygen availability to ensure adequate supply
The Prime Minister was conveyed that states and transporters have been asked to ensure tankers move round the clock with drivers working in shifts to ensure faster turnaround and adequate capacity to meet the surge in demand. Cylinder filling plants will also be permitted 24 hour working with necessary safeguards. The government is allowing industrial cylinders to be used for medical oxygen after due purging. Similarly, nitrogen and argon tankers will be automatically allowed to be converted to oxygen tankers to overcome the potential shortage of tankers, as per the statement.
EU throws weight behind Pfizer-BioNTech and new technology
“We need to focus on technologies that have proven their worth,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
COVID-19 predominantly transmitted through air: Lancet study cites ‘strong evidence’
“The evidence supporting airborne transmission is overwhelming, and evidence supporting large droplet transmission is almost non-existent,” Jose-Luis Jimenez, a chemist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the University of Colorado Boulder said.
“It is urgent that the World Health Organization and other public health agencies adapt their description of transmission to the scientific evidence so that the focus of mitigation is put on reducing airborne transmission.”
Govt notifies draft rules for hiking FDI to 74 % in insurance sector
According to the draft rules, in an Indian insurance company having foreign investment exceeding 49 per cent not less than fifty per cent. of the net profit for the financial year have to be retained in general reserve, if the insurer’s solvency margin is less than 1.2 times the control level of solvency for a financial year for which dividend is paid on equity shares.
Not less than fifty per cent. of directors of such insurers will be independent directors, unless the chairperson of its board is an independent director, in which case at least one-third of its board shall comprise of independent directors.
3rd vax dose likely needed within 12 months: Pfizer CEO
“A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual re-vaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role,” Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said.
Health ministry issues regulatory pathways for foreign-produced Covid-19 vaccines
The first 100 beneficiaries of such vaccines shall be assessed for seven days for safety outcomes before it is rolled out for further Vaccination programme.
“Applicant shall initiate conduct of post-approval bridging clinical trials within 30 days of such approval,” it said.
Rare blood clotting risk more for Covid-19 than for vaccines: Oxford study
“There are concerns about possible associations between vaccines, and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), causing governments and regulators to restrict the use of certain vaccines,” said Paul Harrison, Head of the Translational Neurobiology Group at the University of Oxford.
“Yet, one key question remained unknown: What is the risk of CVT following a diagnosis of Covid-19?” Harrison said.