Latest news with #Covid-appropriate
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Rising Covid cases push experts to seek sewage surveillance
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the country, experts have called for intensified waste water-based epidemiological surveillance and genome sequencing to detect outbreaks and assess threats faster. This was stressed at a meeting held by the network of laboratories, which was set up to monitor genomic variations of the Covid-19 virus in India, last week, people familiar with the development told meeting was attended by public health experts, officials from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and epidemiologists among others."The ongoing situation requires constant vigilance and India can't afford to be complacent," an expert who attended the meeting said on condition of water analysis helps detect Covid-19 variants much before they show up in clinical tests, the expert Agrawal, dean, biosciences and health research, at Ashoka University, said surveillance of public health and pathogen genomics will help assess threats believe that India could see an increase in flu-like cases in the next few people and those with compromised immunity should be the most careful. "They should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks and maintaining good hygiene," one of the sources to the health ministry's Covid-19 dashboard, 203 new cases have been added since Sunday, taking the number of active cases in the country to 3,961. Four new deaths have been reported-one each in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala- taking the death count since January 1 to 32."So far, it has been seen that the fatality was due to other issues and perhaps Covid-19 was incidental, meaning that people who died did not die due to Covid-19," a government official the latest outbreak poses little threat, it's important to keep a strict vigil and watch out for any "clustering or unusual pattern," the official added. A new variant of the coronavirus-NB 1.8.1-has been detected in various parts of the World, including World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated it as a ' variant under monitoring '.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
State reports 8 Covid cases
1 2 Ranchi : State has reported eight Covid cases til May 31, with six active and two patients discharged, health officials said on Sunday. Out of the 14 samples tested on Saturday, one reported positive. The testing process has been intensified across the state, particularly for individuals showing symptoms such as fever, breathing difficulties, and fatigue. Testing facilities have been activated at all block health centres, with both Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and RT-PCR tests available. Requesting the public to co-operate, civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said, "Screening has been ramped up to ensure early detection and isolation. Tests have begun at all centres and we are planning to start screening at public points like airports and railway stations. Anyone showing symptoms is encouraged to get tested immediately. Contact tracing efforts have also started. Timely diagnosis remains our best tool to avoid community transmission. " Authorities urged the public to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks in crowded or public spaces, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding gathering. "The state govt continues to monitor the situation closely and is prepared to scale up interventions if necessary," he added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Cov tally rises to 6, testing ramped up
Ranchi: One more Covid-19 case was reported on Friday in the city taking the total tally in the state to six. District health department, on the other hand, initiated screening drive across community health centres and primary health centres to detect and contain the spread of the virus. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar confirmed that both Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and RT-PCR testing facilities are available to ensure testing. "Screening has been ramped up to ensure timely detection. We urge citizens experiencing symptoms or those who were recently exposed to confirmed cases to get tested immediately. Early diagnosis is key to preventing large-scale outbreaks. We are closely monitoring the situation, and contact tracing efforts are underway for all recent positive cases," Dr Kumar said. On Friday, a total of 15 Covid-19 tests were conducted, out of which one individual tested positive. So far, the state reported six confirmed cases, five in the city and one in Jamshedpur, with one patient already recovered. Authorities also urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding unnecessary gatherings. The health department assured that it is well-prepared with testing kits, isolation arrangements, and medical supplies to handle any surge in cases. The screening drive will increase in the coming days, and the public is encouraged to cooperate fully with health workers and remain vigilant. Kumar said there is no need to panic, as the current strain of Covid-19 appears to be less severe, and a majority of the population is vaccinated. "However, it's important to stay safe by following safety protocols," he added.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Chandigarh sees 1st Covid death in N India as patient from Ludh dies in hosp
Chandigarh/Ludhiana: As Covid-19 cases surge in the country, Chandigarh saw the first Covid death on Wednesday, with a 40-year-old patient, originally from Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, and referred from a Ludhiana hospital, succumbing at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh. Seven patients have reportedly died due to the virus recently, and this is the eighth death in the country and the first in North India. The earlier deaths were reported from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. Confirming the death, Dr GP Thami, Medical Superintendent at GMCH, said the patient, who worked in Ludhiana, was admitted to the hospital two days ago with severe respiratory problems. He tested positive for Covid on Tuesday and passed away early Wednesday did not have a recent travel history, as per his family. "We tested him on the second day as he came with respiratory distress and was put on a ventilator," said Dr Thami. The patient was immediately placed in isolation within the hospital's Covid ward. The body of the deceased was packed and handed over to his relatives. A health department official in Ludhiana said that the deceased used to work as a gardener and is survived by a wife and four children. The official added that the patient had suffered from fever, cough and breathlessness for three-four days before he went to a hospital on May 22. "On May 23, the patient was admitted to the hospital before his oxygen level dropped, and he was referred to a Chandigarh hospital on May 26. The patient was sent in an ambulance. After his death, his body was properly packed and sent to Ludhiana in an ambulance, and his family members have cremated him," the official added. The family members are asymptomatic as of now. According to the health department, about a year ago, the patient was initially admitted to SPS Hospital for fever and abdominal problems, where he was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. More recently, on May 23, 2025, he was admitted to ESI Hospital experiencing breathlessness and pneumonia. Health authorities in Chandigarh are working to detect the variant of Covid responsible for this infection. Dr Suman Singh, Director Health Services, Chandigarh, urged citizens to adhere to preventive measures. "Do not go to crowded places, wash hands, and observe hygiene. Do not self-medicate in case you have flu-like symptoms. Wear masks wherever necessary," advised Dr Singh. The administration is on high alert, emphasising the need for public vigilance and strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour to contain the spread of the virus in the city. She said, "We will not have routine screening but test only suspected cases with influenza-like illness, pneumonia, etc." Regarding the testing for the new JN1 variant, the epidemiologists and public health experts in PGI have requested Punjab to send the sample for genomic surveillance to know the prevalent strain.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Chandigarh reports first Covid death as patient from Firozabad succumbs at GMCH
File photo CHANDIGARH: The city recorded its first Covid fatality on Wednesday as a 40-year-old patient from Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, who was referred from Ludhiana, succumbed to the infection at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. This marks a concerning development for Chandigarh, which had not reported a single Covid-19 case until now, even as the nation grapples with a fresh surge in infections. Dr. G.P. Thami, Medical Superintendent at GMCH, confirmed the death, stating that the patient, who worked in Ludhiana, was admitted to the hospital two days ago with severe respiratory problems. He tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and passed away early Wednesday morning. "We tested him on the second day as he came with respiratory distress and was put on a ventilator," Dr. Thami explained. The patient was immediately placed in isolation within the hospital's Covid ward. Significantly, the patient had no reported comorbidities, raising further concerns about the virulence of the current strain. The body of the deceased was packed and handed over to his relatives. While this is Chandigarh's first reported Covid-19 death, it is the eighth fatality reported across the country amidst the recent resurgence of the virus. Health authorities are working to detect the variant of the Covid-19 responsible for this infection. In light of this development, Dr. Suman Singh, Director Health Services, UT, urged citizens to adhere to preventive measures. "Do not go to crowded places, wash hands and observe hygiene. Do not self-medicate in case you have flu-like symptoms. Wear masks wherever necessary," advised Dr. Singh. The administration is on high alert, emphasizing the need for public vigilance and strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior to contain the spread of the virus in the city.
