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India to Indonesia: Asian economies challenged by Delta Covid variant
Supply chains from Vietnam to Thailand, where outbreaks are surging, have also been interrupted, with factories that make goods for Nike Inc. and Adidas AG shutting down over virus restrictions, potentially missing out on the crucial holiday shopping season. That raises the prospect of Asia’s delta hit reverberating worldwide, if exports are delayed longer term.
“The current delta wave in Asia may snarl production networks further,” said Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asian economic research at HSBC Holdings Plc in Hong Kong. “The risk is that growth scars linger for longer.”
UK eases travel restrictions for Indians, compulsory institutional quarantine rule removed
According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) all arrivals from India who have been vaccinated with both the doses can choose to isolate at home. The individuals no longer need to shell out 1, 750 pounds per head for 10 day quarantine at a government-approved facility. Moreover, people vaccinated in UK or Europe are exempted from home quarantine requirements as well. Moreover, work is ongoing to determine which non-UK vaccines and certification solutions will be recognised. This comes as the UK reviews its three-tier international travel restrictions with a color-coded list of countries (red, amber & green).
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial volunteer has died, Brazil health authority says
The regulator said testing of the vaccine would continue after the volunteer’s death. It provided no further details, citing medical confidentiality of those involved in trials.
The Federal University of Sao Paulo, which is helping coordinate phase 3 clinical trials in Brazil, separately said that the volunteer was Brazilian but did not say where the person lived.
Europe’s hospitals under major stress as coronavirus cases surge
The ECDC said that some 19% of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 are estimated to have ended up in hospital and 8% of those could require intensive care, but variations are wide both across Europe and within individual countries.
IMF cuts Asia’s growth forecast, warns of pandemic-driven risks
India’s economy is likely to shrink 10.3% this year in stark contrast to China, which is set to expand 1.9%, the IMF said.
Asia’s economy is likely to grow 6.9% in 2021 thanks to the boost from expected stronger recoveries in China, the United States and the euro area, it said.
But the IMF said there were “considerable” risks such as the chance of a second wave of infections, escalating U.S. tensions and a potential return to tighter financial conditions.
Indian economy set for a near double-digit contraction this FY: Reuters poll
After shrinking a record 23.9% in the April-June quarter, the Indian economy was forecast to contract 10.4% and 5.0% in the third and fourth quarter, respectively and merely stabilize in the first three months of 2021.
Digital health ID not mandatory for accessing COVID vaccine: Health Ministry
The Health Secretary”s remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is working on putting a robust vaccine delivery system in place and its digitized network, along with the new digital health ID, will be used to ensure its success. The PM was speaking at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting on Monday.
“The NDHM, as it exists today, does not make a digital ID or health ID mandatory to receive service under the digital ecosystem that NDHM is creating. To say it would become mandatory for vaccination and those who do not have health ID”s would be deprived is probably not the right interpretation,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference.
Insurance claims related to COVID-19 treatment rise in Septembe
Based on its analysis of industry data, insurance aggregator Policybazaar.com said “most people filing the claim for COVID-19 treatment are senior citizens of age group 60 years and more, followed by people in the age bracket of 41-45 years”.
In September, the insurance aggregator said COVID-19-related claims accounted for 40 per cent of the total health insurance claims. It has been steadily increasing from 8 per cent in May. In July and August, it stood at 23 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively.
COVID-19 cases in India climb to 76,51, 107
The active cases of coronavirus infection remained below 8 lakh for the fifth consecutive day.
There are 7,40,090 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 9.67 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
India records 46,790 new COVID-19 cases
There are 7,48,538, active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 9.85 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
A total 67,33,328 people have recuperated from the disease so far pushing the national recovery rate to 88.63 per cent while the case fatality rate due COVID-19 stands at 1.52 per cent.
Experts have warned that infections could rise in India as the holiday season nears, with celebrations for the Hindu festivals of Durga Puja and Diwali due this month and in mid-November, respectively.
London must ‘seize the moment’ to maintain global leadership amid COVID-19 pandemic:Report
Britain accounted for nearly a third of financial activity in the European Union, which it left last January, and will no longer have to comply with its rules after Dec. 31.
New Financial said in its study “Beyond Brexit,” supported by Barclays bank, that leaving the EU would be a seismic change and involve significant disruption for the banking and finance industry’s relations with the bloc.
Lockdown has ended, but virus still there; All must be cautious during festivities: PM
The prime minister said the government is making all efforts to ensure that a vaccine, whenever it is launched, reaches every Indian.