Present on the surface of SARS-COV-2, spike proteins enable the virus to attach to and enter our cells, a ...More

Present on the surface of SARS-COV-2, spike proteins enable the virus to attach to and enter our cells, and all current vaccines are directed against them. ...Less

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have both designated bet ...More

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have both designated beta as a “variant of concern.” ...Less

The Beta variant, which was first detected in South Africa, caused a second wave at the beginning of this ...More

The Beta variant, which was first detected in South Africa, caused a second wave at the beginning of this year whereas the Delta variant, first detected in India, is driving the current third wave in South Africa, resulting in increased lockdown restrictions as the number of infections and deaths have already surpassed those of the previous two waves. ...Less

This is the first data-based study to suggest that Omicron may evade immunity from prior infection. ...More

This is the first data-based study to suggest that Omicron may evade immunity from prior infection. ...Less

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications on June 28, found that the immune response w ...More

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications on June 28, found that the immune response was as strong against the Alpha variant first identified in the UK, as against the original virus found in Wuhan, China in 2019. ...Less

"The virus is inherently less pathogenic compared to the Delta and Beta variants; additional protection i ...More

"The virus is inherently less pathogenic compared to the Delta and Beta variants; additional protection is conferred by immunity (either due to natural infection or vaccine-induced). Taking into cognizance the aforesaid, quarantining is not justified," the policy said. ...Less

In the past two days, scientists detected the B1.1.529 variant after observing an increase in infections ...More

In the past two days, scientists detected the B1.1.529 variant after observing an increase in infections in South Africa’s economic hub surrounding Johannesburg ...Less

"Sanofi-GSK's vaccine is the first candidate to demonstrate efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial in an ...More

"Sanofi-GSK's vaccine is the first candidate to demonstrate efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial in an environment of high Omicron variant circulation," Sanofi said in a statement. Sanofi's Paris-listed shares and GSK's London-listed shares were both up more than 1% in morning trading. ...Less

The study showed that the number of antibodies produced and protection offered by vaccination increased s ...More

The study showed that the number of antibodies produced and protection offered by vaccination increased substantially after the second vaccine dose was given, showing the importance of receiving the second dose. ...Less

"There is a higher likelihood of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to be reinfected with the O ...More

"There is a higher likelihood of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to be reinfected with the Omicron variant," Channel News Asia quoted the ministry as saying. ...Less

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)said in January that plans should be made to of ...More

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)said in January that plans should be made to offer a COVID-19 booster vaccination dose to those at higher risk of severe disease. ...Less

The 'Delta Plus' variant is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant which was first detected in India. Some sc ...More

The 'Delta Plus' variant is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant which was first detected in India. Some scientists say this new mutation is a cause for concern as, when coupled with other features of the Delta variant could make it more transmissible. ...Less

The WHO expert added that the "constellation of mutations" in coronavirus variants could lead to vaccines ...More

The WHO expert added that the "constellation of mutations" in coronavirus variants could lead to vaccines becoming ineffective. ...Less

Coetzee said she hasn't seen children to have any higher risk compared with adults due to Omicron. ...More

Coetzee said she hasn't seen children to have any higher risk compared with adults due to Omicron. ...Less

The new antibody attaches to a part of the virus that differs little across the variants, meaning that it ...More

The new antibody attaches to a part of the virus that differs little across the variants, meaning that it is unlikely for resistance to arise at this spot, the researchers said. ...Less

"..but for now, not more (serious) than Delta, clinical picture (was) that of mild disease in majority of ...More

"..but for now, not more (serious) than Delta, clinical picture (was) that of mild disease in majority of cases," Dr Angelique Coetzee said. "It might be more transmissible than Delta," she added. ...Less

A booster given six months after the second dose of the vaccine increases the potency of antibodies again ...More

A booster given six months after the second dose of the vaccine increases the potency of antibodies against the original virus and the beta variant by five- to tenfold. ...Less

One potential risk that has sparked unease among the medical community is that the new variant may be abl ...More

One potential risk that has sparked unease among the medical community is that the new variant may be able to bypass immunity provided by both vaccines and earlier infection. However, at the moment, there is no proof that this variant could be more transmissible than others. ...Less

Based on drop-offs in efficacy seen in Israel after six months, the companies said they believe a third d ...More

Based on drop-offs in efficacy seen in Israel after six months, the companies said they believe a third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination. ...Less

akistan recorded 1,737 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours which was the highest since 1,923 cases re ...More

akistan recorded 1,737 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours which was the highest since 1,923 cases recorded on June 4. ...Less

On Wednesday, Kerala had announced a complete lockdown on July 17 and 18 but it may need to be extended f ...More

On Wednesday, Kerala had announced a complete lockdown on July 17 and 18 but it may need to be extended further to have any effect. The reason for this is that all the 14 districts in the state were showing a positivity rate of over 10% and a ‘mixture of variants’ were pushing it up. ...Less

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has added B.1.621 (including B.1.621.1) to the list of Variants of In ...More

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has added B.1.621 (including B.1.621.1) to the list of Variants of Interest (VOI) on August 30 and christened it "Mu". It has also added C.1.2 as a new VOI. C.1.2 is a sub-lineage of the C.1 variant described in South Africa but did not spread globally, the INSACOG said. ...Less

The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted recently on the preprint repository BioRxiv, found that the Alp ...More

The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted recently on the preprint repository BioRxiv, found that the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants exhibited more than two-fold longer survival on plastic and skin surfaces, than the Wuhan strain. ...Less

Designation of the newly emerged Delta-plus as a “variant of concern” has triggered a debate on implicati ...More

Designation of the newly emerged Delta-plus as a “variant of concern” has triggered a debate on implications for viral transmission and vaccine efficacy. This variant is also called AY.1. ...Less

Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were created with mRNA technology. Unlike most vaccines, which provide b ...More

Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were created with mRNA technology. Unlike most vaccines, which provide bits of viral or bacterial proteins to trigger an immune response, mRNA-based vaccines provide instructions for the body to build and release foreign proteins, such as the spike protein in the case of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. ...Less

The design of the Phase 3 study, conducted across a broad diversity of geographies, also allows evaluatio ...More

The design of the Phase 3 study, conducted across a broad diversity of geographies, also allows evaluation of the efficacy of the candidate against a variety of circulating variants, the statement said. ...Less

Vaccines used in the U.S. remain strongly effective against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, even ...More

Vaccines used in the U.S. remain strongly effective against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, even after the delta variant took over, but authorities hope to shore up waning protection against less severe infection and for high-risk populations. Studies show an extra dose of the original formulas revs up virus-fighting antibodies that fend off infection, including antibodies that target delta. ...Less

There's no guarantee that a delta-specific booster shot would protect any better. ...More

There's no guarantee that a delta-specific booster shot would protect any better. ...Less

The company, along with Oxford University, has developed a vaccine platform to enable it to respond quick ...More

The company, along with Oxford University, has developed a vaccine platform to enable it to respond quickly to new variants that may emerge. ...Less

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine provides less immunity against Omicron than from other coronavirus variants, ...More

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine provides less immunity against Omicron than from other coronavirus variants, according to a lab study that suggests a booster may still provide good protection. ...Less

'Cellular immune response' refers to immunity through T lymphocytes or T cells that recognise specific fo ...More

'Cellular immune response' refers to immunity through T lymphocytes or T cells that recognise specific foreign antigens and kill cells carrying them. The cellular immunity in vaccinated persons could be crucial with the arrival of the Omicron variant. ...Less

Booster shots are often identical to the original vaccine. ...More

Booster shots are often identical to the original vaccine. ...Less

The variant, first identified in India, is believed to be about 60% more contagious than Alpha, the versi ...More

The variant, first identified in India, is believed to be about 60% more contagious than Alpha, the version of the virus that thrashed Britain and much of Europe earlier this year, and perhaps twice as contagious as the original coronavirus. The Delta variant is now driving outbreaks among unvaccinated populations in countries like Malaysia, Portugal, Indonesia and Australia. ...Less

"Many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready to cope with a huge rise in critically ill p ...More

"Many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready to cope with a huge rise in critically ill patients," the World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said. ...Less

The study also shows that levels of these antibodies that are able to recognise and fight the virus are l ...More

The study also shows that levels of these antibodies that are able to recognise and fight the virus are lower with increasing age, and that levels decline over time, providing additional evidence in support of plans to deliver a booster dose to vulnerable people. ...Less

The new variant was first found in South Africa in May, scientists from National Institute for Communicab ...More

The new variant was first found in South Africa in May, scientists from National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP)Scientists from National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) said. ...Less

The team led by researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK found that fenofibrate and its ac ...More

The team led by researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK found that fenofibrate and its active form fenofibric acid can significantly reduce SARS-COV-2 infection, that causes COVID-19, in human cells in the laboratory. ...Less

This week, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from India (204,582 new cases; 14.8 new cases p ...More

This week, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from India (204,582 new cases; 14.8 new cases per 100,000; similar to last week's figures), Thailand (85,143 new cases; 122.0 new cases per 100,000; a 10 per cent decrease), and Indonesia (17,250 new cases; 6.3 new cases per 100,000; a 26 per cent decrease). ...Less

The new variant, B.1.1.529, is of concern due to higher mutations, especially in its spike protein, that ...More

The new variant, B.1.1.529, is of concern due to higher mutations, especially in its spike protein, that could evade immunity including the one provided by vaccines. ...Less

Fears a new strain could fuel outbreaks in many countries, straining health systems, potentially evading ...More

Fears a new strain could fuel outbreaks in many countries, straining health systems, potentially evading vaccines and complicating efforts to reopen economies and borders, sent a wave of risk aversion across global markets Friday. ...Less

Though few in the market expect an immediate rebound due to the slowdown, mutual fund advisors are asking ...More

Though few in the market expect an immediate rebound due to the slowdown, mutual fund advisors are asking their clients to accumulate mid-cap schemes with an investment horizon of three years. ...Less

President Cyril Ramaphosa in a national broadcast on Sunday announced that the new measures would go into ...More

President Cyril Ramaphosa in a national broadcast on Sunday announced that the new measures would go into effect from midnight of June 27 for a fortnight, after which it will be reviewed. Shortly before the president's address, the Health Ministry announced that in the preceding 24 hours, 15,036 new cases and 122 deaths were reported from complications caused by Covid-19. ...Less

All adults in the UK are able to get their second doses after a gap of eight weeks, shortened from 12 wee ...More

All adults in the UK are able to get their second doses after a gap of eight weeks, shortened from 12 weeks to cover more people with added protection against the Delta variant's spread in the country. ...Less

The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week, sa ...More

The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week, said a cross-sectional study, which is not yet peer reviewed, focussed on demographic characteristics, including severity of the illness and mortality rate. ...Less

Pfizer and BioNTech said they expected that a third dose will perform well against the strain, and that t ...More

Pfizer and BioNTech said they expected that a third dose will perform well against the strain, and that they would be seeking authorization in the United States, Europe and other regions in coming weeks. ...Less

The WHO on Friday designated 'omicron' as a 'variant of concern'. ...More

The WHO on Friday designated 'omicron' as a 'variant of concern'. ...Less

This virus has spread to at least 90 countries and is 50% more transmissible than the alpha variant (the ...More

This virus has spread to at least 90 countries and is 50% more transmissible than the alpha variant (the variant first identified in Kent), which is around 50% more transmissible than the original coronavirus that caused the pandemic. ...Less

Booster doses will become available in India from January 10. The prioritisation and sequence of administ ...More

Booster doses will become available in India from January 10. The prioritisation and sequence of administration would be based on completing 9 months after the second dose. People will get a booster dose of the same vaccine that was originally administered to them. There are, however, several problems with the policy as framed. ...Less

In its COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on Tuesday, the World Health Organisation said tha ...More

In its COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on Tuesday, the World Health Organisation said that an overall rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant is reported across all WHO regions. ...Less

Scientists recently asked this question for SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19. This highly infectious cor ...More

Scientists recently asked this question for SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19. This highly infectious coronavirus can change human cells, making them fuse with two or more nearby cells. These super-cells, with large merged cell bodies, are excellent viral factories. ...Less

The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, released by WHO on August 10, said that the South-East Asia R ...More

The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, released by WHO on August 10, said that the South-East Asia Region reported over 799,000 new cases, a five per cent decrease as compared to the previous week, however, several countries in the Region continue to report increasing trends, including Sri Lanka and Thailand (26 per cent and 20 per cent increases, respectively). ...Less

The latter, developed by the Sinovac Biotech company, is the latest COVID-19 vaccine to be authorised for ...More

The latter, developed by the Sinovac Biotech company, is the latest COVID-19 vaccine to be authorised for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). Because of this, the CoronaVac vaccine could have a big role to play in turning the tide of the pandemic. ...Less

Given the limited longevity of Covid-appropriate behaviour, and the fact that even a third of uninfected ...More

Given the limited longevity of Covid-appropriate behaviour, and the fact that even a third of uninfected and unvaccinated people in India means a very large number, we could still be creating a perfect set of conditions for new variants to emerge. ...Less

It said the cases of Alpha variant have been reported in 182 countries, territories or areas, while 135 c ...More

It said the cases of Alpha variant have been reported in 182 countries, territories or areas, while 135 countries have reported cases of the Delta variant, which was first identified in India. ...Less

The WHO said the Omicron coronavirus variant carried a very high risk of infection surges as more countri ...More

The WHO said the Omicron coronavirus variant carried a very high risk of infection surges as more countries closed their borders and reported cases of the new strain. ...Less

"If you look at data emerging from outside where there is still a surge in the number of cases, you find ...More

"If you look at data emerging from outside where there is still a surge in the number of cases, you find that if the people are vaccinated even with the initial dose, the area is not seeing a surge in hospitalisation or large breakthrough infection. This suggests that the vaccine is holding out and is still effective in preventing severe disease or deaths," says Dr Guleria ...Less

The WHO said in a statement that it had assigned the B.1.1.529 variant the Greek letter Omicron. ...More

The WHO said in a statement that it had assigned the B.1.1.529 variant the Greek letter Omicron. ...Less