Health

Washington, Dec 9 (PTI) US President-elect Joe Biden has said that in the first 100 days of his administration, he would mandate everyone to wear a mask, ensure 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations and reopen the majority of schools as he assured Americans that his "crisis-tested" team of experts will deliver better healthcare and revive the economy.

Kochi, Dec 9 (PTI) The world may be in the grip of COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting daily schedules and robbing many of their weekend getaways, but life seems to be normal in the small Lakshadweep islands, which is yet to record the first positive case of coronavirus.

No masks, no sanitisers, and many rules of COVID-19 are not in place and every human activity, including marriages and public gatherings continue, thanks to strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that bars easy entry of people to the island in the Arabian sea.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Nearly 1,000 dengue cases have been recorded in the national capital this year till date, with 338 of those being reported in November, according to official data.

The number of cases of dengue this year has been lower compared to the situation in the previous years.

According to data shared by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the nodal agency that tabulates data on vector-borne diseases for the city, 992 cases of dengue has been recorded in Delhi till December 5.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Vaccine manufacturing major Serum Institute of India (SII) on Monday said it has applied to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine Covishield.

The Pune-based company has collaborated with Oxford University and pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca for making the vaccine and is conducting trials in India.

Eluru; 07 Dec 2020 (UMMN): A 45-year-old man has died and Over 350 have fallen sick with a mysterious illness in Eluru city of Andhra Pradesh.

Some of the children began vomiting after suffering burning eyes, according to the Indian Express.

Chandigarh, Dec 5 (PTI) Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who had got one shot of the two-dose trial of COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin a fortnight ago after he offered to be a volunteer, on Saturday said he has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Vij, 67, had offered to be the first volunteer in the phase three trials for Covaxin, an indigenous potential vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech against COVID-19. He was administered the dose on November 20 at the Civil Hospital in Ambala Cantonment, about 50 km from Chandigarh.

04 Dec 2020; MEMO:  A team of ten Palestinian doctors who hold Israeli citizenship arrived in the Gaza Strip on Thursday to carry out essential surgery and assist medical teams dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Anadolu has reported.

Sydney, Dec 4 (PTI) Players taking part in the upcoming Big Bash League will not have the mini bar at their disposal in hotel rooms with Cricket Australia aiming to minimise interaction between staff and cricketers to reduce the risk of any COVID-19 infections.

A "BBL Hub" will be created at the hotels for all stakeholders of the league to minimise exposure to the outside world during the league starting December 10.

United Nations, Dec 3 (AP-PTI) Nearly 100 world leaders and several dozen ministers are slated to speak at the U.N. General Assembly's special session starting Thursday on the response to COVID-19 and the best path to recovery from the pandemic which has claimed 1.5 million lives, shattered economies, and left tens of millions of people unemployed in countries rich and poor.

Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said when he took the reins of the 193-member world body in September that it would have been better to hold the high-level meeting in June.

London; 02 Dec 2020 (UMMN): UK has become the first western country to license Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use from next week for those most at risk, opening the way for mass immunisation.

According to The Guardian, the UK has bought 40m doses of the vaccine, which has been shown to have 95% efficacy in its final trials.