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Pandemic

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‘Covid vax must prevent infection, progression and transmission’

“It is possible that the first vaccines, including those being released now, maybe more effective in preventing disease progression and hospitalisation and less effective in preventing transmission,” explained study senior author Jeremy Farrar from SAGE.

“Knowledge of their performance in pre-approval trials and in surveillance trials after licensure will enable further modifications such that improved second and third-generation vaccines may be available later in 2021 and beyond,” Farrar added.

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SC directs states to carry out fire safety audit of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said hospitals whose fire NOC has expired will have to get it renewed within four weeks. The top court said all the states will follow COVID-19 guidelines, including on wearing of face mask and adherence to social distancing measures, and the standard operating procedure issued by the competent authority.

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Vaccination for COVID-19 will be voluntary: Health ministry

“Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary. However, it is advisable to receive the complete schedule of the vaccine for protecting one-self against this disease and also to limit the spread of this disease to the close contacts including family members, friends, relatives and co-workers,” the ministry said in response to a question on if it is mandatory to take the shot.

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From insurers to landlords, retailers to restaurants, COVID tarnsforms  Economies

Like no other event in memory, the pandemic has upended economies in the United States and across the world — transforming how people work, travel, eat, shop and congregate. It has changed how students are educated, how people communicate, how households are entertained and which industries, geographic areas and categories of people will thrive and which will suffer.

It has widened a gap between educated and affluent people who can work from home and the less fortunate — people in lower-income households without college educations or high skills who depend solely on wages rather than stock or home equity gains — who now stand to be left further behind. And it’s forced many working mothers to quit their jobs for lack of child care.

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Global coronavirus count surpasses 74 million

As many as 41,893,773 patients — who tested positive for the novel coronavirus — have recovered from the disease worldwide, as reported by the live dashboard according to which, India continues to hold the top spot with regard to COVID-19 recoveries as it reported over 9,456,449 recoveries across the country.

The United States continues to be the worst-affected country in the world with regard to most cases and most deaths from the virus in the world. Currently, the US caseload stands at 16,914,853 and the death toll stands at 307,064.

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Vaccine ‘hesitancy’ rises among Indians as virus cases fall – survey

“It appears some of the key reasons for the hesitancy are limited information about side-effects, efficacy levels and a growing belief in parts of the population that COVID cannot affect them because of their high immunity levels,” LocalCircles said in a statement.

Many people in the survey, which had responses from nearly a third of India’s districts, said they believed “we are moving towards herd immunity”.

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