The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today identified COVID-19 clusters in India. They reported that almost seventy percent of the country’s active cases of COVID-19 can be sourced from eight states and union territories. Per the Health Ministry, the states and union territories of Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and […]
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Ahmed Patel passes away due to COVID-19, aged 71
Long-time Indian National Congress (INC) politician and eight-term parliamentarian Ahmed Patel died yesterday due to complications from COVID-19. He was 71 years old. Patel, described as a “veteran” of the INC by NDTV.com, passed away at a hospital in Gurgaon. His son Faisal Patel announced the news on Twitter in a statement that read “with […]
Ayushman Bharat centres: 50,000+ and counting
The Government has expanded healthcare services through Ayushman Bharat centres, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced. Under Ayushman Bharat – officially the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the Government has reportedly erected more than 50,000 health and wellness centres (HWCs) across the country to administer health services to the eligible […]
Thorang village: All residents test positive for COVID, bar one
In Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district, the village of Thorang has seen all but one of its residents test positive for COVID-19. Of the village’s 42 residents, just 52-year-old Bhushan Thakur tested negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – or, simply, coronavirus – which causes the disease COVID-19. The remaining 41 […]
UHC a must for a “better future”, says Vardhan
Universal health coverage (UHC) is a must for a “better future”, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan has asserted. Vardhan chaired the 147th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board via videoconferencing. In this capacity, he pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has underscored the need for […]
Amazon continues entry into e-pharmacy market
Tuesday saw tech giant Amazon consolidate its entry into the e-pharmacy market, a major driver of the digital healthcare sector. Regarded as one of the most powerful technology companies in the world, the move by Amazon in the United States was described by the Associated Press as “shaking up another industry.” As of Tuesday, consumers […]
Scientists join effort to fight misinformation about COVID-19
During this pandemic, misinformation about COVID-19 has been a major issue of concern. The scientific and medical communities are working to change that – especially when it comes to a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 100 scientists – including more than twenty from India – have joined the cause of Team Halo. Team Halo is a […]
COVID-19 recoveries still outpace new cases: Ministry
Though India remains the second worst-affected country in the world by the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recoveries continue to outpace new cases according to government figures. At the time of writing, India’s confirmed COVID-19 case count thus far number at 8,874,918 – behind only the United States according to Worldometer. However, the Union Ministry of Health […]
COVID-19 situation in Delhi “unprecendented” says Niti but no new lockdown on the horizon
The COVID-19 situation in Delhi is “unprecedented” according to government think tank Niti Aayog. However, the state health minister has disavowed a new lockdown. During a meeting chaired by Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, Niti Aayog chairman Dr Vinod K. Paul warned that the COVID-19 situation in Delhi “is likely to become worse.” […]
Protein protection from Lyme disease
Researchers from Yale University have discovered a protein that can help protect individuals from infection with the tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme disease. The findings have been reported in the journal PLOS Pathogens. Lyme disease is rare in India. When it does occur, it is typically found within northern regions and, for the most part, […]