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Pandemic

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Moderna vaccine 96 percent effective in 12-17 year-olds, study shows

The pharmaceutical company said that any side effects had been “mild or moderate in severity,” most commonly pain at the injection site. With the second shot, side effects included “headache, fatigue, myalgia and chills,” similar to those observed in adults who had received the vaccine.

“No serious safety concerns have been identified to date,” it said.

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India’s daily COVID-19 cases rise by record 414,188

India’s healthcare system is crumbling under the weight of COVID-19 patients, with hospitals running out of beds and medical oxygen. Morgues and crematoriums can not handle the number of dead and makeshift funeral pyres burn in parks and carparks. Although northern and western India bear the brunt of the disease, the share of the five southern states in the country’s daily surge in infections rose from 28% to 33% in the first seven days of May, data shows.

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‘Turning the Corner’: U.S. COVID outlook reaches most hopeful point yet

Americans have entered a new, hopeful phase of the pandemic. Buoyed by a sense that the coronavirus is waning, in part because of vaccinations, more people are shrugging off masks, venturing into restaurants and returning to their pre-pandemic routines. Mayors, governors and other local officials — once the bearers of grim news about the virus’s toll and strict rules for businesses — have joined in the newfound optimism, rapidly loosening restrictions.

Public health experts remain cautious, but said that while they still expect significant local and regional surges in the coming weeks, they do not think they will be as widespread or reach past peaks.

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Over 11.8 lakh beneficiaries of age group 18-44 vaccinated so far in Phase-3: Health Ministry

The ministry said 16,49,73,058 vaccine doses have been administered through 24,11,300 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today and more than 23 lakh vaccination doses were administered in the last 24 hours. As on Day-111 of the vaccination drive (May 6, 2021), 23,70,298 vaccine doses were given. Across 18,938 sessions, 10,60,064 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 13,10,234 beneficiaries received their 2nd dose of vaccine.

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LIC relaxes claim settlement requirements

To facilitate speedy settlement of death claims in the prevailing situation where death has occurred in a hospital, in lieu of Municipal Death Certificates, the corporation has allowed alternate proofs of death such as: Death certificate, Discharge summary/Death summary containing clear date and time of death issued by Govt/ESI/Armed Forces/Corporate Hospitals and counter-signed by LIC class I officers or Development Officers of 10 years standing alongwith Cremation/Burial certificate or authentic identifying receipt issued by the relevant authority.

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Surging India virus cases may derail recovery but ratings outlook stable-S&P

“Our downside scenarios suggest a less robust recovery in government revenues, and the severe downside scenario may entail additional fiscal spending,” they added.

The agency, however, said it still expects the economy to expand for the year as a whole, even though it said there are downside risks to its current baseline projection of 11% growth.

It expects growth to fall to 9.8% under its moderate scenario and to 8.2% under the severe scenario based on when the current infection wave peaks.

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