SARS-CoV-2: News

AI could predict and warn before next pandemic breaks out

Scientists have developed an Early Warning Anomaly Detection (EWAD) system that accurately predicts new variants of concern (VOCs) in future pandemics.

19 Jul 2023

China

Chinese province deletes COVID-19 mortality data: Report

China's Zhejiang province has deleted mortality data that showed the impact of the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions last year on its death toll, reported the Financial Times.

22 Mar 2023

COVID-19 India

India reports highest daily COVID-19 cases in 2023: Check tally

For the first time in 2023, India reported more than 1,100 COVID-19 daily cases, triggering fresh concerns among people about the recent outspread of the novel virus.

20 Mar 2023

COVID-19

COVID-19 subvariant XBB 1.16 cases rise in India; guidelines revised

The Centre has issued revised guidelines amid the continuous daily COVID-19 case spike in the country.

17 Mar 2023

COVID-19

COVID-19 origin from raccoon dogs in China, not bats: Study

Ever since the spread of COVID-19, the possible sources of its origin have puzzled scientists.

15 Sep 2022

COVID-19

#NewsBytesExplainer: The risks of developing long COVID symptoms

The impact of COVID-19 is anticipated to last for a very long time among people who got the deadly illness during the pandemic.

06 Jul 2022

COVID-19

Immune response induced by COVID-19 can seriously damage brain: Study

The immunological response induced by COVID-19 infection can damage blood vessels in the brain and cause short and long term neurological problems, a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed.

07 Apr 2022

Coronavirus

COVID-19 survivors at risk of developing serious blood clots: Study

A new study has found people infected with SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—are at a higher risk of developing serious blood clots for up to six months, even in the case of mild infections.

Coronavirus may remain active for longer than recommended quarantine: Study

Several people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may spread it for longer than the prescribed quarantine period, even if they don't show any symptoms throughout the infection's final stage, a study has claimed.

15 Sep 2021

INSACOG

Mu, C.1.2 variants of SARS-CoV2 not found in India: INSACOG

India has so far not seen Mu and C.1.2, the two new variants of SARS-CoV2, and the Delta variant and its sub-lineages continue to be the main Variants of Concern in the country, INSACOG, the genome sequencing consortium, has said.

COVID-19 'not developed' as a biological weapon: US Intelligence Community

SARS-CoV-2 was "not developed" as a biological weapon, the US intelligence community has concluded in a report, with President Joe Biden reiterating the allegation that China continues to reject calls for transparency and withhold information about the origins of the virus.

26 Aug 2021

Research

COVID-19 most-transmissible two days before, three days after symptoms appear

People infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, are most contagious two days before, and three days after they develop symptoms, according to a study conducted in China.

12 Aug 2021

Research

COVID-19 may become childhood disease in few years: Study

COVID-19 may behave like other common-cold coronaviruses in the next few years, affecting mostly young children who haven't yet been vaccinated or exposed to the virus, according to a modeling study published on Thursday.

Delta variant behind majority of 'breakthrough' infections: Study

The Delta variant of SARS-COV-2 was behind the majority of clinical cases of breakthrough infection of COVID-19 but only 9.8% of cases required hospitalization and fatality was observed in only 0.4% of the cases, according to a new study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

13 Jul 2021

Research

Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 could be used as COVID-19 antiviral therapy: Study

Researchers have designed a synthetic defective SARS-CoV-2 that can interfere with the growth of the real virus, potentially leading to the extinction of both the COVID-19 causing pathogen and the artificial one.

12 Jul 2021

Research

Nasal COVID-19 vaccine prevents disease, transmission in animals: Study

A new single-dose, intranasal COVID-19 vaccine fully protects mice against lethal infection, and also blocks transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in ferrets, a study has shown.

09 Jul 2021

Wuhan

COVID-19 likely of natural origin, not leaked from lab: Study

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, most likely spread from an animal source to humans and did not leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, according to a review of existing scientific evidence by a global team of scientists.

08 Jul 2021

Research

New drug target to treat coronavirus, fight future pandemic found

Scientists have identified a novel target for a drug that can treat SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, and also help tackle a future coronavirus pandemic.

05 Jul 2021

COVID-19

Scientists identify new post-infection treatment for COVID-19

Scientists have identified a post-infection treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and successfully demonstrated its efficacy in stopping viral reproduction in mice.

16 Jun 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine

Two COVID-19 vaccines for young children show promise in trials

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and an experimental protein-based preventive proved to be safe and showed good antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in a trial on baby rhesus macaques, scientists said.

04 Jun 2021

COVID-19

Prior infection cuts COVID-19 risk for upto 10 months: Lancet

The risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is substantially reduced for up to 10 months following the first infection with the virus, according to a study.

02 Jun 2021

COVID-19

Dr. Fauci's leaked 2020 emails reveal knowledge of lab-leak theory

Not long after Dr. Anthony Fauci changed his tune on the possibility that the COVID-19 could be man-made, more skeletons tumble out of the US medical advisor's closet.

27 May 2021

Facebook

NewsBytes Explainer: Did COVID-19 leak from Wuhan lab?

What was once considered heresy and "debunked" mercilessly returns with a vengeance. After shocking admission by Dr. Anthony Fauci that COVID-19 could have originated from Chinese virology labs in Wuhan, Facebook says that it won't censor discussions on the SARS-CoV-2 virus being man-made.

21 May 2021

Research

COVID-19 could become like common cold in future: Study

The novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 could cause no more than common cold-like coughs and sniffles within the next decade, according to a study.

06 May 2021

COVID-19

COVID-19: UK variant dominates north India, double mutant in west

The UK strain of coronavirus is currently dominating parts of north India while double mutant could be found mostly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat, Sujeet Singh, Director of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has said.

03 May 2021

Coronavirus

Is transmission of COVID-19 airborne? All you need to know

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, several experts have attempted to shift focus toward the airborne transmission of the virus, which is often overlooked, even in protocols designed to keep the virus at bay.

COVAXIN neutralizes double mutant strain: ICMR

Indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, neutralizes multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively works against the double mutant strain as well, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Wednesday.

19 Apr 2021

Research

Wearing two fitted masks may double protection against COVID-19: Study

Wearing two tightly-fitted face masks can double the effectiveness of filtering out SARS-CoV-2-sized particles, preventing them from reaching the wearer's nose and mouth and causing COVID-19, according to a study.

22 Feb 2021

COVID-19

These tools can prevent COVID-19 surges without restricting movement

A combination of robust vaccination programs and strict physical distancing rules may be enough to prevent recurring peaks of COVID-19 without greatly restricting the mobility of people, according to a modeling study.

06 Feb 2021

Climate Change

Climate change may have influenced the emergence of coronavirus: Study

Climate change may have influenced the outbreaks of the novel coronavirus as well as the year 2002-03 SARS pandemic virus, suggests a new study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment.

30 Jan 2021

Vaccine

COVID-19: Scientists develop new tool to decontaminate viruses in aerosols

Scientists have engineered a new tool that exposes aerosolized virus particles to microwaves in a controlled manner, an advancement that may lead to the development of novel methods to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

27 Nov 2020

India

7.4 crore Indians exposed to coronavirus till August: ICMR serosurvey

As many as 7.4 crore people in India, or about 7% of the total population, were exposed to the novel coronavirus till August this year, revealed the second nationwide serological survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Coronavirus: US scientists identify possible treatment for SARS-CoV-2

A study in the United States has found a potential therapeutic treatment for COVID-19, the viral disease that has afflicted over 18 million worldwide.

27 Mar 2020

Kerala

In a first, Indian scientists capture image of novel coronavirus

Scientists in Pune have managed to capture the image of the novel coronavirus responsible for the current COVID-19 outbreak.

18 Feb 2020

Facebook

Coronavirus hoax viral on WhatsApp; claims garlic can cure disease

Adding to the growing threat of a coronavirus outbreak, a false cure is being circulated on the messaging app WhatsApp.