
‘COVID is on a decline': PGIMER Director Dr Vivek Lal amid sporadic cases reported in some regions
While attributing the strong vaccination drive for keeping the virus at bay, the Director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Dr Vivek Lal stated that COVID-19 is under control in India, with no new cases reported in the past week.
'We are absolutely prepared for COVID-19, but it is on a decline. I don't think a single patient has tested positive in the last week. COVID-19 is under control in India because we had a very good vaccination drive under the leadership of PM Modi. The vaccination drive is still there and is protecting us,' PGIMER Director Dr Vivek Lal said.
However, despite the optimistic outlook at the national level, sporadic cases are still being reported in some regions.
Rajasthan reported 29 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the total number of cases this year to 456.
According to the latest data, the cases were reported from various hospitals across the state, including Rajasthan Hospital, SPMC Bikaner, AIIMS Jodhpur, RTPCR Chittorgarh, SDMH Jaipur, EHCC Jaipur, SMS Jaipur, M Genix Jaipur, and RNT Jodhpur.
The cases comprise a 20-year-old male from Banswara, an 18-year-old female from Bikaner, a 30-year-old female and a 27-year-old male from Chittorgarh, a 63-year-old female from Dausa, and a 27-year-old male from Didwana.In Jaipur, 14 new cases were reported, including males aged 17, 39, 53, and 40, and females aged 19, 26, 10, 75, 30, 31, 50, 29, 22, and 21.
Eight cases were also reported in Jodhpur, including a 27-year-old male. Other districts reporting cases include Karauli, with a 59-year-old female, Kota, with a 27-year-old male, and Udaipur, where six cases were recorded, including males aged 48 and 45 and females aged 28, 56, 57, and 58.
So far this year, Rajasthan has reported 456 COVID-19 cases, including 251 active cases, 202 recoveries, and two deaths. Jaipur continues to have the highest number of cases, with 283 reports, followed by Udaipur with 54 cases and Jodhpur with 30 cases.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Sex reassignment surgeries resume at Mumbai's St George's Hospital
MUMBAI: After a long Covid-induced pause, Mumbai's St George Hospital has resumed free sex reassignment surgeries, offering renewed hope to individuals seeking gender-affirming care. In the last six months alone, three patients have benefited, and more are now enrolling for the procedure. 'This isn't just about surgery. It's about restoring dignity, giving people the right to live as who they are,' said Dr Sagar Gundewar, head of the plastic surgery department, who revived the service post-pandemic. The department had remained non-functional during Covid-19 but is now actively treating patients from across Maharashtra. The push for such services gained public momentum after the 2018 case of Lalita Salve, a police constable from Beed district, who received official permission for gender reassignment. Since then, awareness around gender-affirming care has grown, but access has remained largely unaffordable. Private hospitals charge anywhere between ₹15,00,000 and ₹20,00,000 for such procedures. At St George, however, they are provided free of cost. 'We've seen a surge in demand. The need is real, and we're proud to meet it,' said JJ Hospital dean Dr Ajay Bhandarwar. Among those who have recently undergone surgery is Rakesh (name changed), who began identifying as a woman at the age of 16. 'I used to cry seeing myself in the mirror. I didn't feel like myself,' she said. After completing all psychological and hormonal evaluations in November 2024, she underwent surgery at St George. 'Now, I feel complete. I can live as who I truly am,' said Rakesh, who now works in the private sector in Mumbai. Another patient, Shreya (name changed), a 40-year-old woman from Nanded, was born with underdeveloped reproductive organs due to hormonal imbalances. Though married, she struggled with physical intimacy. Doctors at St George successfully developed the missing organs. 'I never thought I'd live a normal married life. This changed everything,' she said. The third case is Anamika (name changed) from Solapur, who has identified as male since childhood. 'I've dressed and lived like a boy since I was nine,' she said. Despite family opposition, she proceeded with gender reassignment. Her breasts and uterus have now been removed, and she is preparing for the final phase—construction of male genitalia. 'It's not easy. But this is who I am. I've waited all my life for this,' she said. Explaining the medical framework behind the surgeries, Dr Gundewar said, 'We begin with a psychiatric evaluation. Once cleared, patients undergo hormone therapy—estrogen for male-to-female, testosterone for female-to-male transitions. After at least four months, they become eligible for surgery.' He added, 'In recent years, there has been a two-thirds increase in the number of people assigned male at birth transitioning to female, compared to a one-third increase in female-to-male transitions.' The procedures are performed in multiple stages. 'We remove the original sex organs, then reconstruct new ones. Facial, voice, and structural changes follow if required,' he said. Female-to-male transitions are especially complex, taking up to 16 hours of surgical time in total. The science behind these transitions often stems from intersex conditions or gender dysphoria. While most males are born with XY chromosomes and females with XX ones, hormonal imbalances during foetal development can result in a mismatch between one's biological sex and gender identity. Dr Vinayak Sawardekar, medical superintendent, credited institutional support with reviving the service. 'This facility was dormant for years. Today, we are giving people new lives,' he said.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Labs, private hospitals told to conduct Covid-19 testing per govt. protocols if prescribed by doctors
On the back of a slight surge in Covid-19 RTPCR-positive cases reported across the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday issued orders to all private hospitals and laboratories to strictly adhere to the central government's guidelines on Covid-19 testing. The PMC health department issued a letter raising concerns over an alleged rise in unnecessary Covid screening carried out by private doctors and labs in the city. According to civic officials, this unjustified testing is leading to panic among the public besides adding to treatment costs. 'RTPCR tests are being conducted without doctors' prescriptions, which violates testing protocols issued by the state health department. As per current government guidelines, RTPCR testing is mandatory only for all SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) and 5% ILI (Influenza-like Illness) cases. Healthcare providers advise testing only after a proper medical assessment and in accordance with the protocols,' read the letter issued by the PMC, a copy of which has been seen by Hindustan Times. Dr Nina Borade, PMC health chief said, 'We have attached the official government advisory with the letter and asked all private hospitals and laboratories to strictly implement instructions to ensure targeted and appropriate Covid-19 testing, avoid unnecessary panic, and make efficient use of healthcare resources.' Dr Borade informed that a meeting was held with private laboratories on Tuesday during which the latter were told to strictly follow government guidelines during testing. 'The labs have been asked to carry out testing only as per government protocols and if prescribed by doctors,' she said. Civic officials said that during the review meeting, it was found that Covid RTPCR tests are being carried out in many cases even when it is not necessary as per government protocols like those with mild symptoms such as cold, cough and fever; those returning from travel; employees resuming duty after extended leave; preoperative patients; and those requesting testing without valid medical advice. Meanwhile, genome sequencing reports from B J Medical College have confirmed the presence of the XFG variant in the city. Health officials clarified that this new variant appears to be mild in nature however they emphasised the need to closely monitor patients with comorbidities and those showing SARI symptoms.


News18
5 hours ago
- News18
New Covid Variant ‘Nimbus' Spreads In US, Causes Painful ‘Razor Blade Throat'. What Is It?
Last Updated: Known scientifically as NB.1.8.1, the variant is currently being monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was first detected in China earlier this year. A newly emerging Covid-19 subvariant 'Nimbus' is gaining ground in the United States, causing a distinctive and extremely painful sore throat, commonly described by patients as 'razor blade throat." Known scientifically as NB.1.8.1, the variant is currently being monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was first detected in China earlier this year. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nimbus accounted for approximately 37% of US cases in the two-week period ending June 7. The variant could soon represent up to one-third of global Covid cases, health officials have warned. Nicknamed 'razor throat," the symptom of the Nimbus variant is an intensely painful sore throat, with some patients likening it to 'swallowing shards of glass." This symptom is notably more severe and more common than in previous variants as Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical analyst, said, 'Many of the Covid subvariants have characteristic features. Nimbus is being associated with an unusually sharp sore throat." Other symptoms reported include: nasal congestion or runny nose, fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle or body aches and nausea or diarrhea. Despite the striking throat pain, Dr. Marc Siegel said that Nimbus does not appear more virulent than earlier strains. Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency room physician in South Carolina, noted that the predominant symptoms of Covid continue to shift with each new variant, saying, 'With the new variant, it appears that the sore throat is yet again a prominent symptom. The pain is caused by direct infection and inflammation of the throat's cells." What US Health Agency Has Said On Nimbus? Though the variant is clearly spreading, the CDC noted that NB.1.8.1 is still emerging in terms of genetic sequencing data. A CDC spokesperson told Newsweek that fewer than 20 confirmed genetic sequences of the variant had been documented in US baseline surveillance so far while public health officials remain alert to its rise, particularly in high-population states like California and New York. Dr. Tyler B. Evans, infectious disease expert and CEO of the Wellness and Equity Alliance, said that while Nimbus may not drastically differ from other recent strains, it should still be taken seriously. 'We're still seeing the familiar signs—sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, cough," he told Newsweek, adding, 'But in some people, especially the unvaccinated, this can escalate into more severe respiratory symptoms." First Published: June 18, 2025, 18:07 IST