USA: Public health officials recently announced that the SARS-CoV-2 variant L452R has become increasingly common in multiple Californian counties and is responsible for several large COVID-19 outbreaks in the state. L452R was first detected in Denmark in March 2020 and later identified in the US last year, but recent sequencing results from California show that…
New York: Serum samples from 20 individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 thwarted a version of the coronavirus with the so-called N501Y mutation, according to a preprint posted to bioRxiv recently. This mutation is one of many sequence changes present in the B.1.1.7 and 501.V2 variants of SARS-CoV-2 that were first detected in…
USA: During a Senate hearing recently, a group of doctors touted alternative COVID-19 treatments, including ivermectin and the anti-malaria medication hydroxychloroquine. Medical experts have cautioned against using either of those drugs to treat COVID-19. Studies have shown that hydroxychloroquine has no benefit against the coronavirus and can have serious side effects. There is no evidence…
Karachi: The Ministry of National Health Services, emphasized that the new strain of the coronavirus recently indicated in Britain, has not made it to Pakistan yet. The ministry further added the situation in Pakistan is being monitored closely as all the passengers arriving from the United Kingdom (UK) are being evaluated medically. “As of today,…
GENEVA: The World Health Organization is urging nations to prepare for inevitable future pandemics, as it marks the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. “If we fail to prepare, we are preparing to fail. … Last year, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board published its first report, which concluded, the world remains dangerously unprepared for a…
Sydney: Australia canceled an order for 51 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by CSL Ltd. and the University of Queensland after trials ran into difficulties. The government said recently it’s replacing most of the CSL doses with more purchases of other planned vaccines. Australia has ordered an extra 20 million shots being…
London: The United Kingdom was recently shut off from the rest of Europe after its closest allies cut transport ties due to fears about a new coronavirus strain, sowing chaos for families and companies just days before it exits the European Union’s orbit. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Israel and Canada were…
London: As public health officials worldwide mount vaccination campaigns against COVID-19, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant has rapidly taken hold in the UK, leading scientists to investigate if it carries any implications for the transmissibility of the virus, severity of infection, and success of a vaccine, though experts say it is unlikely to hamper vaccination efforts….
USA: The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use recently, clearing the way for millions of highly vulnerable people to begin receiving the vaccine within days. The authorization is a historic turning point in a pandemic that has taken more than 290,000 lives in the United States. With the decision, the United…
New Delhi: BJP minister who took India-made coronavirus vaccine contracts virus An Indian health minister, who recently took the India-made coronavirus vaccine, has contracted the virus. In a tweet, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said he tested positive for the coronavirus. “I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in…
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