Climate Trends’ air-pollution and health expert Dr. Palak Balyan warns that air pollution is “a pandemic as severe as COVID at its peak,” adding that if cities like Beijing and London could reverse extreme air pollution, Delhi too has hope and can improve its air quality.
Over 7,000 cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus have emerged in China’s Guangdong province since July, triggering Covid-style containment measures, a Hong Kong-based English daily said.
Vaccine hesitancy—a reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of the vaccine—continues to be a growing global concern, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and fuelled by misinformation and distrust.
In response to public concerns around sudden, unexplained deaths, particularly among young adults, India’s top medical research bodies have found no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to such fatalities.
A 52-year-old woman suffering from tuberculosis, bronchitis, and other comorbidities died during treatment at a hospital in Indore after testing positive for COVID-19 as well.
The efficacy of President Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid strategy has once again come into sharp focus, with the country recording its first deaths from novel coronavirus since May, while also recording increased numbers of cases.
Meanwhile amid substantial drop in cases, the Odisha government has withdrawn all COVID-19 restrictions, including mandatory wearing of masks in public places and prohibition on large gatherings, officials said.
With the addition of one more death due to the COVID-19, the total number of fatalities due to the coronavirus now stands at 5,30,532 in the country.
Meanwhile, three districts- Rayagada, Dhenkanal and Malkangiri – turned Covid-free on Thursday with no active cases.
The COVID-19 tally rose to 13,36,195, a bulletin issued by the department said, adding that Sundargarh district with 11 cases topped the daily Covid tally.
