While most of the new daily cases reported are among the unvaccinated, breakthrough infections and hospitalisations are being reported in the fully vaccinated too. However, the deaths have predominantly been among the unvaccinated. With the staggering increase in the number of daily fresh coronavirus cases and deaths in many countries in Europe, the continent has … Continue reading Virus rages in Europe as epicentre shifts
Lockdown
Why countries have abandoned the ‘Zero Covid’ strategy
When SARS-CoV-2 virus began spreading globally early last year, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, like mainland China, adopted a “Zero COVID” strategy. A few countries have already abandoned this strategy with the Delta variant changing the ground reality. When SARS-CoV-2 virus began spreading globally early last year, Singapore, Vietnam, … Continue reading Why countries have abandoned the ‘Zero Covid’ strategy
‘We need to stay prepared for multiple waves and variants’
This is probably not the last wave and these are not the last set of variants. We have to stay prepared for the future. What happens when we see another uptick or outbreak is to a great extent in our hands. We know how to fight this virus. We have to stay prepared for outbreaks … Continue reading ‘We need to stay prepared for multiple waves and variants’
Can the lockdown in England control new variant spread?
There is evidence that the earlier lockdown was generally effective in containing the spread of the previously predominant strain suggesting that the new variant grew in absolute terms. Controlling the spread of the new variant might be possible if the lockdown is stricter and compliance is better. In a bid to slow down the spread … Continue reading Can the lockdown in England control new variant spread?
Emergence of a new coronavirus variant raises concerns
A single mutation — N501Y — in the virus spike protein has been found to increase the binding affinity thereby making the variant more transmissible. There is currently no evidence that the new variant can cause any change in disease severity or increase the risk of reinfection. While the mutations are unlikely to make the … Continue reading Emergence of a new coronavirus variant raises concerns
COVID-19 death is a wake-up call to improve surveillance in the area: Giridhara Babu
Increase in testing alone cannot explain an increase in the number of cases during the lockdown. It is also possible that the surveillance systems in some States might have missed a cluster or two of infections during the earlier phase of the outbreak, which has resulted in a large number of cases now being detected, … Continue reading COVID-19 death is a wake-up call to improve surveillance in the area: Giridhara Babu
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