Jharkhand reports first Covid-19 case of current wave
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the state is alert for the new variant of Covid-19 and the government is fully prepared.
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Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati harnesses clay sedimentation to identify and measure Coronavirus
Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed a novel method for detecting and measuring the amount of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The innovative approach is based on how quickly a clay-virus-electrolyte mixture settles; a process commonly known as sedimentation, offering a simple and affordable alternative to the complex and expensive methods currently in use for virus detection. The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Applied Clay Science, in a paper co-authored by Prof. T V Bharat, Department of Civil Engineering, and Prof. Sachin Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, along with research scholars Dr Himanshu Yadav and Deepa Mehta at IIT Guwahati . Posing a threat to human lives globally, COVID-19 pandemic revealed a critical gap in how viral infections are detected and tracked. Current methods, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), are highly sensitive but time-consuming and require heavy equipment. Similarly, the antigen testing is fast but lacks accuracy, while antibody testing is used after the infection has occurred, highlighting limitations at various levels. Additionally, many of these methods are not practical in resource-limited settings or during large-scale outbreaks. To address these gaps, Prof. T V Bharat, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati, along with his research team has used Bentonite clay, a clay well known for its ability to absorb pollutants and heavy metals due to its unique chemical structure in collaboration with Prof. Sachin Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering. Previous studies have shown that clay particles can bind with viruses and bacteriophages, making it a promising material for virus detection. The research team focused on how Bentonite clay interacts with virus particles in a salt environment. The research team found that a Coronavirus surrogate and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) bind to the negatively charged clay surfaces at a controlled room temperature and a neutral pH of 7. Speaking about the findings of the research, Prof. T V Bharat said, "Imagine a world where detecting viruses is as simple as watching sand settle in water. That is the breakthrough we have achieved! Our new method uses clay to quickly identify and measure viruses, like the coronavirus. By observing how the clay settles in a solution, we can determine if a virus is present and how much of it there is. This innovative approach offers a faster, more affordable, and accurate alternative to current methods, paving the way for better disease monitoring and treatment strategies, especially during pandemics, this study is in continuation with our recent studies published in prestigious journals like Langmuir in developing exclusive biomedical waste facilities for disposing pathogenic waste sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India." The research team validated their findings using established virus-detection methods, including plaque assay for a coronavirus surrogate and RT-PCR for IBV. The developed technique produced accurate results in comparison to the standard detection methods, reinforcing its reliability. Notably, the method can be extended to detect other viruses such as the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), which affects poultry and causes major losses in the farming industry. This development holds great promise for improving how viral outbreaks are monitored and controlled, especially in regions where expensive lab equipment and trained personnel are not readily available. With further refinement, the method could be adapted for use in field kits or simple laboratory setups, making virus detection more accessible and efficient in future public health emergencies. As the next step, the research team is planning to collaborate with industry partners with medical facilities for clinical trials for SARS-Cov-2 and other viruses. By partnering with industry, the research team hopes to leverage the resources and expertise necessary to conduct robust clinical trials and ultimately contribute to the global effort to combat viral infections.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Active Covid-19 Cases Cross 5,000-Mark In India, Kerala, Delhi, Bengal Most-Affected
Last Updated: India's Covid-19 cases rise to 5,364 with 764 new cases and four deaths reported. Kerala remains the most affected state. News18 India's Covid-19 cases are on the rise again, with active infections reaching 5,364 as of Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry's latest data. In the past 24 hours, 764 new cases and four deaths have been reported. The fatalities include two in Kerala, one in Punjab, and one in Karnataka. All four patients were above 60 years of age and had co-morbidities. Since January this year, 55 deaths have been reported in the country. Kerala continues to be the most affected state, with over 1,600 active cases, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi. Given the rising cases, the Centre conducted mock drills to check hospital preparedness. Delhi reported 30 new Covid-19 cases, raising active infections to 592, with no new deaths since Thursday, keeping the total fatalities at seven since January 1. Maharashtra has seen a rise in Covid-19 cases, with 114 new infections reported on Friday, taking the state's total to 1,276 cases since January. Unfortunately, one more death was recorded, bringing the toll to 18. Pune (44 cases) and Mumbai (37 cases) reported the highest numbers, followed by Mira Bhayandar and Panvel with seven cases each. West Bengal reported 58 new Covid-19 cases and 91 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The total active cases now stand at 596, with the death toll remaining at one. Chhattisgarh has reported 50 new Covid-19 cases after conducting screenings in response to a surge in infections nationwide. Following the detection of a new variant, 1,183 people were tested, with a positivity rate of around 4.2%. Haryana has seen a rise in Covid-19 cases, with 31 new infections reported on Friday. Gurugram reported 9, and Faridabad 11accounting for the majority. Other cases were reported from Karnal, Jhajjar, Panipat, Yamunanagar, Hisar and Panchkula. The state currently has 87 active cases and a total of 151 cumulative cases. According to the officials, most cases are mild and managed at home. Scientists add that while Covid-19 is becoming milder, occasional surges may happen since the virus is now endemic and constantly evolving. They added that there is no cause for alarm. Hospitals nationwide conducted a mock drill to evaluate their readiness for potential Covid-19 cases on June 5, as directed by the central government. This exercise aims to ensure healthcare facilities are equipped to handle a possible surge in cases. The central government has directed all states to ensure adequate availability of oxygen, ventilators, isolation beds and essential medicines. Dr. Sunita Sharma, DGHS, chaired technical review meetings on June 2-3 with key health and disaster management agencies and state representatives. The meetings aimed to assess the current Covid-19 situation and review preparedness measures. In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to Covid-19's status as a public health emergency. Today, health experts characterise the disease as seasonal, endemic, persistent, or localised to specific areas.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand: 7 people test positive for COVID-19 in Dehradun
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 7 (ANI): Seven people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Dehradun, taking the total number of cases in the district to 29. On Friday, three people from Rishikesh, one from Sahaspur, and three from the Raipur region were infected with coronavirus. According to the Health Department, 25 patients were tested for COVID-19 on Friday, seven of whom were reported to be positive. The health department is looking for people who came in contact with the infected patients. In view of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in India, a series of technical review meetings were held on June 2 and 3 with various representatives under the chairpersonship of Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services (DGHS). According to release, the representatives include Disaster Management Cell, Emergency Management Response (EMR) Cell, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Central Government Hospitals in Delhi and with representatives from all States and UTs to evaluate the current COVID-19 situation and preparedness measures. As of June 7, 2025, at 8 AM, India reported 5364 active COVID-19 cases. Most cases are mild and managed under home care. Since January 1, 2025, 55 deaths have been reported, primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses. States have been instructed to ensure the availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines. A mock drill assessing oxygen supply systems (PSA plants, LMO tanks, MGPS lines) was conducted on June 2. Meanwhile, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati researchers have developed a novel method for detecting and measuring the amount of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The innovative approach is based on how quickly a clay-virus-electrolyte mixture settles; a process commonly known as sedimentation. The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Applied Clay Science, in a paper co-authored by Prof. T V Bharat, Department of Civil Engineering, and Prof. Sachin Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, along with research scholars Dr Himanshu Yadav and Deepa Mehta at IIT Guwahati. (ANI)
