India on Wednesday reported 71,365 fresh Covid cases in India, taking the total number of infections to 4,24,10,976.
According to the Health Ministry, the positivity rate fell to 4.5 per cent.
The number of deaths climbed to 5,05,279 with 1,217 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 2.11 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.70 per cent, the ministry said.
A reduction of 1,02,063 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
AIIMS, Delhi today announced that it would discontinue the routine COVID-19 testing before inpatient hospitalisation and surgeries.
Researchers in Canada have developed a computer model that simulates many variables affecting the transmission of COVID-19 to suggest the best ways to slow the spread of variants.
The model created by researchers at the University of Waterloo takes raw data already in use to forecast case numbers and hospitalisations, and then adds other factors, such as vaccination rates, mask use and lockdowns, and the number of breakthrough infections.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is based on Canadian province Ontario’s recent experience with COVID-19 and data from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.
The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to lift the night curfew amid a decline in Covid cases in the state, an official spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in the state decreased to 4,812 on February 8 from 9,672 on February 1, government data showed. The decision to lift the night curfew was taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here on Wednesday, he added.
The state government imposed the night curfew on January 5 from 10 pm to 5 am and revised it on January 31 from 10 pm to 6 am to check the spread of COVID-19. However, there will be some restrictions on gatherings, the official said.
All social, religious, cultural, political and other congregations, including marriages and funerals, will be permitted with 50 percent of the capacity of both the indoor the and outdoor areas, he added.
Combining the antiviral remdesivir or molnupiravir with the experimental drug brequinar blocks the reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes Covid-19, in lung cells and in mice, according to a study.
The research, published recently in the journal Nature, suggests that these drugs are more potent when used in combination than individually.
Though they have not yet been tested in clinical trials, the combinations of drugs identified in the study have the potential to become very promising Covid-19 treatments, the researchers said.
The Rajya Sabha was informed that as many as 142,55,22,208 doses of Covishield, 23,85,86,688 doses of Covaxin and 12,09,124 doses of Sputnik V have been administered to eligible beneficiaries till February 3.
As of February 3, 2022, a total of 89.73 crore (95.6 per cent) adult population aged 18 years and above have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 71.80 crore (76.5 per cent) have got both the doses, Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply.
More about Omicron
The Omicron variant has been called a variant of concern by WHO based on studies that shows it has several mutations.
Still a lot of research is underway to evaluate its transmissibility, severity and reinfection risk.
The Omicron variant has been detected in several regions of the world. WHO reports that the likelihood of the Omicron variant spreading further globally is high.
It is not currently known if the Omicron variant is more or less severe than other strains of COVID-19, including Delta. Studies are ongoing and this information will be updated as it becomes available.
It is not yet clear whether Omicron can spread more easily from person to person compared to other variants, such as Delta.
However, being vaccinated and taking precautions such as avoiding crowded spaces, keeping your distance from others and wearing a mask are critical in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we know these actions have been effective against other variants.
Researchers are looking into any potential impact the Omicron variant has on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Although information is still limited, WHO believes it is a reasonable assumption that the currently available vaccines offer some protection against severe disease and death.
It is also important to be vaccinated to protect against the other widely circulating variants, such as the Delta one. When it’s your turn, make sure to get vaccinated. If your vaccination involves two doses, it’s important to receive both in order to have the maximum protection.
According to WHO, early evidence suggests that people who have previously had COVID-19 could be reinfected more easily with Omicron, in comparison to other variants of concern. Information is still limited though and we will share updates as it becomes available.
Source: UNICEFRead more Health News
Latest update Omicron
