How symptoms of new Covid strains different from original one

New Delhi: Amid cases of new variants of mutated SARS-CoV-2 emerging in India, it has become important to understand how the symptoms of different new variants vary from the original one. According to new studies, the UK variant or the Kent variant -- B.1.1.7 -- spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. The UK-based New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) recently reported that the Kent variant may be up to 70 per cent more deadly than previous strains.... read more

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Chat with Mr Hemendra Singh Bartwal

Join us today on Medtalks with Dr KK Aggarwal at 7.00 pm for a conversation with senior journalist Mr Hemendra Singh Bartwal on a broad range of issues.

Just click on www.facebook.com/drkkaggarwal or https://perfecthealthmela.com/vevent2/hall1a.php

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CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster: CDC urges reopening of schools

With input from Dr Monica Vasudev

1. The US CDC has urged that K-12 schools should be reopened.

2. Increasing evidence suggest that schools can be opened safely if layered mitigation measures are put into practice.

3. Even when students lived in communities that had high transmission rates, elementary students could be given some in-person instruction safely. .... read more

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World COVID Meter 17th February 2021: Acute manageable immunogenic thrombogenic inflammatory contagious novel viral disease pandemic

Variants - B 1.1.7UK, B.1.351 South Africa,P1 Brazil

Cases: 1M April 2, 2M April 15, 3M April 27, 4M May8, 5M May 20, 6M May 30, 7M June 7, 8M June 15, 9M June 22, 10M June 29th, 11MJuly 4, 12M July 8, 13M July 13, 14M July 17, 15M July 23, 16M July 25, 17MJuly 29, 18M August 1, 19M August 6, 20M August 10, 21M August 16, 22M August19, 23M August 21, 24M August 27, 25M August 30, 26M September 3, 27M September7, 28M September 10, 29M September 14, 30M September 18, 31M September 21, 32MSeptember 23, 33M September 28, 34M October 1, 35M October 4, 36M October 8,37M October 11, 38M October 14, 39M October 17, 40M October 19, 41M October 22,42M October 24, 43M October 26, 44M October 28, 45M October 30, 46M November 2,47M November 4, 48M November 6, 49M November 7, 50M November 8, 51M November10, 52M November 12, 53M November 14, 54M November 15, 55M November 17, 56MNovember 19, 57M November 20, 58M November 22, 59M November 24, 60M November25, 61M November 27, 62M November 29, 63M December 1, 64M December 2, 65MDecember 4, 66M December 6, 67M December 7, 68M December 9, 69M December 10,70M December 12, 71M December 13, 72M December 14, 73M December 15, 74MDecember 17, 75M December 19, 76M December 20, 77M December 22, 78M December23, 79M December 26, 80M December 27, 81M December 29, 82M December 30, 83MDecember 31, 84M January 2, 85M January 4, 86M January 6, 87M January 7, 88MJanuary 8, 89M January 9, 90M January 10, 91M January 12, 92M January 14, 93MJanuary 15, 94M January 17, 95M January 18, 96M January 20, 97M January 21, 98MJanuary 23, 99M January 25, 100M January 26, 101M January 29, 102M January 30,103M February 1, 104M February 4, 105M February 6, 106M February 8, 107MFebruary 11, 108M February 13, 109M February 16

Ground Zero: Wuhan - inlive animal market or cafeteria for animal pathogens: 10th January; Total cases are based onRT PCR, 67% sensitivity

B.1.1.7 lineage (20I/501Y.V1 VOC202012/01): Thisvariant carries a mutation in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spikeprotein at position 501; asparagine (N) has been replaced with tyrosine (Y) atthis position. The mutation is also termed as N501Y. This variant also carries othermutations, including - .... read more

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Managing grief by free expressive writing

The loss of a loved is often painful. The resultant grief makes ithard to eat, sleep and leads to loss of interest in routine life affectingbehavior and judgment. Some can feel agitated or exhausted, feel like crying, or withdraw from theworld and others may find themselves struggling with feelings of sorrow,numbness, anger, guilt, despair, irritability, relief, or anxiety. It is well known that disclosing deep emotions through writing can boost immunefunction as well as mood and well–being. Conversely, the stress of holding instrong feelings can increase blood pressure and heart rate and increase muscletension. .... read more

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Healthcare News Monitor

Bharat Biotech pursues Covid-19 vaccine approval in over 40 countries

health.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Indias Bharat Biotech is in the process of filing regulatory documents for approval of its Covid-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, in more than 40 countries, the company told Reuters late on Wednesday. "We have submitted our documentation in Brazil and other countries and await their approval. We plan to export several million doses to Brazil," the company said in an emailed statement. "Pricing of COVAXIN for international markets will be based upon supply timelines, purchase commitments and procurement volumes," it added.

South African variant may weaken vaccine protection: Pfizer

expresspharma.in

A laboratory study suggests that the South African variant of the coronavirus may reduce antibody protection from the Pfizer Inc/BioNTech vaccine by two-thirds, and it is not clear if the shot will be effective against the mutation, the companies said. The study found the vaccine was still able to neutralise the virus and there is not yet evidence from trials in people that the variant reduces vaccine protection, the companies said. Still, they are making investments and talking to regulators about developing an updated version of their mRNA vaccine or a booster shot, if needed.

Third topmost globally, Indias cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 94 lakhs

livemint.com

With cumulative vaccination coverage to healthcare workers and frontline workers against COVID-19 in the country crossing 94 lakhs, India has become the third topmost country globally with the highest cumulative vaccination numbers, after USA and the UK. "The cumulative vaccination coverage to healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) against coronavirus vaccine in the country has crossed 94 lakhs, as per todays data till 8 am," read an official release.

Inside Israel’s ultra-orthodox jewish communities during Covid-19 pandemic

indianexpress.com

The crowd surged and swirled, like the eddies of an ocean. Crushed against one another, hundreds of men stretched their arms toward the rabbi’s body, trying to touch the bier in a display of religious devotion. It was the height of Israel’s third lockdown, in an ultra-Orthodox district near the heart of Jerusalem. Gatherings were banned. Masks were mandatory. Infection rates were spiking, particularly among ultra-Orthodox groups like this one. Yet here were hundreds of mourners, most with mouths uncovered, attending an illegal funeral procession for a revered rabbi who had himself died of the coronavirus.