At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice
2 years, 9 months ago

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice

LA Times  

A woman is tested for a coronavirus infection at the Lenasia South Hospital near Johannesburg in South Africa. The advice comes months after critics said the lack of recommendations from the global health agency was compromising efforts to stop the pandemic in poor countries. At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was concerned to see some countries dramatically reduce their coronavirus testing as SARS-CoV-2 appears to recede in some parts of the world. “Self-testing remains a vital tool in our fight against COVID as part of a comprehensive strategy,” Tedros said, adding that abandoning testing would cripple officials’ efforts to track the virus. “We hope that our new guidelines will also help to increase access to testing, which is too expensive for many low-income countries where these tools could play an important role in expanding testing,” he said.

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History of this topic

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them
3 months, 1 week ago

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes. The website has been reopened on the heels of a summer COVID-19 virus wave and heading into the fall and winter respiratory virus season, with health officials urging Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their yearly flu shot. U.S. regulators approved …

Positive test not needed for long COVID diagnosis, experts conclude
7 months ago

Positive test not needed for long COVID diagnosis, experts conclude

LA Times  

People do not need to have tested positive for the coronavirus to be considered for a diagnosis of long COVID, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concludes. The report, produced by a committee of experts at the request of the U.S. Social Security Administration, aims to summarize what is known about long COVID, a …

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard
1 year ago

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard

LA Times  

California’s hospitals are getting busier with more COVID-19 and flu patients, some of whom are suffering from both viruses at the same time. L.A. County’s entry into the “medium” COVID-19 hospitalization category has prompted local public health officials to order hospitals, nursing homes and any other inpatient facility to require healthcare employees mask up while in patient-care areas. Multiple tests …

COVID-19 update: WHO asks nations to strengthen surveillance as coronavirus cases rise
1 year ago

COVID-19 update: WHO asks nations to strengthen surveillance as coronavirus cases rise

India TV News  

COVID-19 update: The World Health Organisation has urged countries in South-East Asia to strengthen surveillance given the increasing cases of respiratory diseases, including due to COVID-19 and its new sub-variant JN.1, and influenza. "For this, countries must strengthen surveillance and sequencing, and ensure sharing of data," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia. "As people travel and …

Ensure Covid Tools in Hospital: Min.
1 year ago

Ensure Covid Tools in Hospital: Min.

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Health minister C. Damodar Rajanarasimha on Saturday directed health authorities to inspect the functioning of ventilators in various hospitals and ordered the immediate utilisation of oxygen concentrators for treatment. During a comprehensive review of Covid-19 control measures in the backdrop of cases rising again, Rajanarasimha emphasised the swift restoration of PSA plants in hospitals that are facing oxygen shortage. …

Biden government to deliver free COVID tests again to US households
1 year, 3 months ago

Biden government to deliver free COVID tests again to US households

Live Mint  

The US Department of Health and Human Services said on September 20 that it will deliver COVID-19 tests for free to households across the country, reported Reuters. The health agency said that starting from September 25, households will again have the option to request four free tests via COVIDTests.gov. The HHS further said that these tests are designed to identify …

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief
1 year, 4 months ago

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief

The Hindu  

Warning that many countries aren’t testing enough and that new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants may emerge, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, on Wednesday said that testing and being vigilant is vital in continuing the fight against COVID-19. “While COVID is now behind us and India did its best during the time, we can expect new and more …

Ramp up COVID-19 testing and vaccination, identify hotspots, drill hospital infrastructure, Centre tells States
1 year, 9 months ago

Ramp up COVID-19 testing and vaccination, identify hotspots, drill hospital infrastructure, Centre tells States

The Hindu  

At a time when COVID-19 cases in the country are seeing a sustained spike, 23 States and Union Territories have testing rates that are even lower than the current national average of 100 tests per million people, the Health Ministry said during a review meeting on Friday. Tracking variants Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also advised States to ramp up …

Centre Asks States to Stay Alert As Covid-19 Cases Cross 6000-mark, Conduct Mock Drills
1 year, 9 months ago

Centre Asks States to Stay Alert As Covid-19 Cases Cross 6000-mark, Conduct Mock Drills

News 18  

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country and advised states to remain vigilant and prepare for effective management of the virus. During a virtual meeting with state health ministers, principal, and additional chief secretaries, Mandaviya emphasised the need to identify emergency hotspots through the monitoring of …

Ramp up Covid testing to stay alert: Centre to states
1 year, 9 months ago

Ramp up Covid testing to stay alert: Centre to states

Hindustan Times  

The Union government on Saturday directed states to increase testing for Covid-19 as per the World Health Organization’s guidelines to effectively check any increase in its spread, people familiar with the matter said. “In the past several weeks, in some states Covid-19 testing has declined and the current testing levels are insufficient as compared to the standards prescribed by WHO,” …

COVID-19 tests down, need to be scaled up, says government
1 year, 9 months ago

COVID-19 tests down, need to be scaled up, says government

The Hindu  

The Health Ministry on Saturday warned that at a time when the country was registering a sustained increase in the trajectory of COVID-19 cases in some States, COVID-19 testing had declined. In its advisory, the Ministry said that testing at the level of districts and blocks also varied, with some States heavily relying on the less sensitive rapid antigen tests. …

Government drops self testing and quarantine for coronavirus
1 year, 9 months ago

Government drops self testing and quarantine for coronavirus

Dutch News  

The cabinet on Friday agreed to scrap the last of the coronavirus measures currently in place, dropping the self-test requirement if people have complaints as well as the remaining quarantine measures. ‘By ending the last of the coronavirus measures, we are leaving behind an extraordinary period, and one which we will not forget quickly,’ Kuipers said. The public health institute …

No need for booster vaccine against coronavirus this spring, experts decide
1 year, 10 months ago

No need for booster vaccine against coronavirus this spring, experts decide

Dutch News  

Coronavirus experts have advised against another round of vaccinations this spring because there is enough immunity in the population from previous vaccines or infections. The advisers will decide later in the year whether there should be another booster round in the autumn, when the peak season for coronavirus infections begins. Doctors should still be able to prescribe a vaccine for …

No need for booster vaccine against coronavirus this spring, experts decide
1 year, 10 months ago

No need for booster vaccine against coronavirus this spring, experts decide

Dutch News  

Coronavirus experts have advised against another round of vaccinations this spring because there is enough immunity in the population from previous vaccines or infections. The advisers will decide later in the year whether there should be another booster round in the autumn, when the peak season for coronavirus infections begins. Doctors should still be able to prescribe a vaccine for …

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say
1 year, 10 months ago

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say

Dutch News  

The government’s coronavirus advisory team says mass testing at regional centres can be wound down and that the recommendation to use self tests if people have symptoms can be dropped. In its 146th set of recommendations since the pandemic began three years ago, the Outbreak Management Team says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and its sub variants is now …

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say
1 year, 10 months ago

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say

Dutch News  

The government’s coronavirus advisory team says mass testing at regional centres can be wound down and that the recommendation to use self tests if people have symptoms can be dropped. In its 146th set of recommendations since the pandemic began three years ago, the Outbreak Management Team says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and its sub variants is now …

Large-scale Covid testing no longer necessary; Pandemic now “endemic,” says outbreak team
1 year, 10 months ago

Large-scale Covid testing no longer necessary; Pandemic now “endemic,” says outbreak team

NL Times  

Large-scale testing for coronavirus is no longer necessary, said the Outbreak Management Team in its latest advice to the Cabinet. Measures against coronavirus should be equated as much as possible with "generic measures" that already apply to other respiratory infections, the OMT advised. "That is generally no longer necessary in the current epidemiological phase," said the OMT. The OMT said …

Dutch Covid hospital total falls 19% in a week; Sharp drop in known infections
1 year, 11 months ago

Dutch Covid hospital total falls 19% in a week; Sharp drop in known infections

NL Times  

Hospitals in the Netherlands were treating 664 patients with Covid-19 on Tuesday, 19 percent fewer than a week earlier. Additionally, new infections diagnosed ing the past seven days by healthcare services, and not from self-test kits, fell below 4,500 to the lowest point since June 2021. The hospitalizations fell by nearly 27 percent since last Tuesday, when the average was …

Niesters: Illusion to think you can stop coronavirus
2 years ago

Niesters: Illusion to think you can stop coronavirus

NL Times  

Whether it is right for the government to offer travelers from China only a voluntary self-test for the coronavirus, virologist Bert Niesters does not know. The virologist explained that he is sometimes shocked at the number of people infected on flights from China. That is why, according to Niesters, it is important for China to continue testing for the coronavirus …

US to require negative Covid tests for travelers from China
2 years ago

US to require negative Covid tests for travelers from China

Firstpost  

From 5 January, all air passengers two years and older who originate from China must obtain a negative Covid-19 test less than two days before departure and provide it to their airlines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Washington: The United States will require negative Covid tests from all air travelers from China, saying Beijing is not …

Number of coronavirus patients in hospitals rises to more than 800
2 years ago

Number of coronavirus patients in hospitals rises to more than 800

NL Times  

After a period of relative calm, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals is increasing again. According to the patient coordination service LCPS, exactly one week ago, 632 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus. However, the LCPS figures do not distinguish between people admitted because of Covid-19 symptoms, and those admitted for other health issues who were later found to …

Covid News Updates: No Pandemic Curbs in Goa till Jan 2; Centre Warns Against Overcrowding Ahead of Festive Season
2 years ago

Covid News Updates: No Pandemic Curbs in Goa till Jan 2; Centre Warns Against Overcrowding Ahead of Festive Season

News 18  

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked States to strengthen surveillance systems, ramp up testing and ensure readiness of hospital infrastructure during a meeting with state health ministers on Friday regarding the Covid-19 situation in India. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit a government hospital in Delhi on Tuesday for a mock drill to review the emergency response in place …

Covid Alert: Statewise list of precautions undertaken to intensify preparations
2 years ago

Covid Alert: Statewise list of precautions undertaken to intensify preparations

Live Mint  

Covid-19 situation in China has become a source of concern for the world, with researchers predicting a rise in death toll to millions amid fears that new mutants could emerge as a new wave of infections quickly spreads throughout the vast country. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also hold a meeting with the health ministers of states and Union …

Health Minister Mandaviya to review COVID situation on Dec. 21 amid spurt in cases in U.S., China
2 years ago

Health Minister Mandaviya to review COVID situation on Dec. 21 amid spurt in cases in U.S., China

The Hindu  

Amid a fresh spurt in COVID-19 cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the U.S., Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the pandemic situation on December 21, 2022, official sources said. Earlier on Tuesday, the Health Ministry urged all states and Union territories to ramp up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of newer …

Dutch Covid infections fall 22% to lowest point in 4 weeks; Hospital total declining
2 years, 2 months ago

Dutch Covid infections fall 22% to lowest point in 4 weeks; Hospital total declining

NL Times  

The number of new coronavirus infections diagnosed in the Netherlands over the past seven days fell to the lowest point in four weeks, the Dutch public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Also, during the last calendar week, 5 percent of people surveyed by the RIVM reported having symptoms of Covid-19, down from 5.4 percent the previous week. Covid hospital …

New coronavirus infections fall for the first time in seven weeks
2 years, 2 months ago

New coronavirus infections fall for the first time in seven weeks

NL Times  

The number of coronavirus infections diagnosed in the Netherlands over the last seven days was 4 percent lower than the week before. A total of 22,688 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, down from 23,693 the week before, the RIVM said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the RIVM said that 677 people entered hospitals requiring treatment for Covid-19 during the last …

Repeat covid vaccinations opened to all as postive tests mount
2 years, 2 months ago

Repeat covid vaccinations opened to all as postive tests mount

Dutch News  

Everyone over the age of 12 is now being invited to sign up for another coronavirus vaccination, the health ministry has confirmed. With covid infections once again on the rise, health officials say getting the top-up jabs will help slow the spread of the virus. People aged 40 to 60 can make an appointment via website planjeprik.nl next week, while …

Repeat covid vaccinations opened to all as postive tests mount
2 years, 2 months ago

Repeat covid vaccinations opened to all as postive tests mount

Dutch News  

Everyone over the age of 12 is now being invited to sign up for another coronavirus vaccination, the health ministry has confirmed. With covid infections once again on the rise, health officials say getting the top-up jabs will help slow the spread of the virus. People aged 40 to 60 can make an appointment via website planjeprik.nl next week, while …

More coronavirus patients admitted to hospital, positive tests rise 55%
2 years, 3 months ago

More coronavirus patients admitted to hospital, positive tests rise 55%

Dutch News  

The number of coronavirus patients admitted to hospital has risen sharply over the past seven days and positive tests are also going up, public health institute RIVM said in its weekly Tuesday update. Over 19,000 positive tests were also recorded by regional health centres, a rise of 55% on a week ago. The figures do not reflect the true number …

More coronavirus patients admitted to hospital, positive tests rise 55%
2 years, 3 months ago

More coronavirus patients admitted to hospital, positive tests rise 55%

Dutch News  

The number of coronavirus patients admitted to hospital has risen sharply over the past seven days and positive tests are also going up, public health institute RIVM said in its weekly Tuesday update. Over 19,000 positive tests were also recorded by regional health centres, a rise of 55% on a week ago. The figures do not reflect the true number …

WHO: COVID end ‘in sight,’ deaths at lowest since March 2020
2 years, 3 months ago

WHO: COVID end ‘in sight,’ deaths at lowest since March 2020

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that the number of coronavirus deaths worldwide last week was the lowest reported in the pandemic since March 2020, marking what could be a turning point in the years-long global outbreak. “Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap all the …

‘Record-high’ 892,000 people living with long Covid for a year, figures show
2 years, 4 months ago

‘Record-high’ 892,000 people living with long Covid for a year, figures show

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Close to one million people in the UK have been living …

Self-tests without Covid symptoms often inaccurate: study
2 years, 5 months ago

Self-tests without Covid symptoms often inaccurate: study

NL Times  

During the period when the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was dominant, the accuracy of three commercially available self-tests was low for people without coronavirus symptoms. A large group of Dutch researchers examined three commercially available and often-used coronavirus self-tests from Acon Labs, MP Biomedicals, and Siemens-Healthineers on more than 3,600 people without coronavirus symptoms. They then received one of …

WHO: COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO: COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The number of new coronavirus cases rose by 18% in the last week, with more than 4.1 million cases reported globally, according to the World Health Organization. The biggest weekly rise in new COVID-19 cases was seen in the Middle East, where they increased by 47%, according to the report released late Wednesday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus …

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow

Dutch News  

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has risen for the third week in a row, and more people have been admitted to a hospital intensive care ward, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Warnings On Monday, the Netherlands’ two biggest employers’ organisations made a public appeal to get people to start keeping to the basic coronavirus …

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow

Dutch News  

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has risen for the third week in a row, and more people have been admitted to a hospital intensive care ward, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Warnings On Monday, the Netherlands’ two biggest employers’ organisations made a public appeal to get people to start keeping to the basic coronavirus …

U.S. to lift COVID-19 test requirement for international air arrivals
2 years, 6 months ago

U.S. to lift COVID-19 test requirement for international air arrivals

LA Times  

The lifting of the COVID-19 test requirement for international air travel ends one of the last government mandates meant to contain the coronavirus. The Biden administration is lifting its requirement that international air travelers to the U.S. take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain the …

About 350 Covid-19 patients in hospitals; Only 1,400 tested daily for coronavirus
2 years, 7 months ago

About 350 Covid-19 patients in hospitals; Only 1,400 tested daily for coronavirus

NL Times  

Hospitals in the Netherlands were treating 354 patients with Covid-19 on Monday. That was 21 percent lower than a week earlier, when 447 people were receiving treatment for the disease, figures from the LCPS showed. The RIVM said on Tuesday that 7,088 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus during the preceding seven days. The GGD found 619 people who …

WHO: Covid-19 cases mostly drop, except for the Americas
2 years, 7 months ago

WHO: Covid-19 cases mostly drop, except for the Americas

India Today  

The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths are still falling globally after peaking in January, the World Health Organisation said. In its latest weekly assessment of the pandemic, the UN health agency said there were more than 3.7 million new infections and 9,000 deaths in the last week, drops of 3 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. WHO …

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus
2 years, 7 months ago

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus

Dutch News  

The number of coronavirus patients being treated in Dutch hospitals fell below 500 on Thursday, for the first time since October 2021. The number of people testing positive for coronavirus fell to 10,000 last week but the figure is no longer an accurate representation of the spread of the virus, given that people are no longer been recommended to have …

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus
2 years, 7 months ago

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus

Dutch News  

The number of coronavirus patients being treated in Dutch hospitals fell below 500 on Thursday, for the first time since October 2021. The number of people testing positive for coronavirus fell to 10,000 last week but the figure is no longer an accurate representation of the spread of the virus, given that people are no longer been recommended to have …

Pandemic gets tougher to track as COVID testing plunges
2 years, 7 months ago

Pandemic gets tougher to track as COVID testing plunges

LA Times  

Testing for coronavirus infections has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral variants as they emerge and spread. “We’re not testing anywhere near where we might need to,” said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who directs the Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. At a …

Still far from normal: Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in 36 countries
2 years, 7 months ago

Still far from normal: Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in 36 countries

India Today  

Even as world leaders debated Covid-19 related issues at a virtual summit on Thursday, May 12, the pandemic has not shown any signs of disappearing from our lives. The latest data shows: New cases are still rising in 89 countries, including the US, weekly trends show. The latest weekly situation report of the WHO said during the week through May …

The AP Interview: US ‘vulnerable’ to COVID without new shots
2 years, 7 months ago

The AP Interview: US ‘vulnerable’ to COVID without new shots

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha issued a dire warning Thursday that the U.S. will be increasingly vulnerable to the coronavirus this fall and winter if Congress doesn’t swiftly approve new funding for more vaccines and treatments. “That leaves a lot of us vulnerable.” Jha predicted that the next generation of vaccines, which are likely to be …

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges
2 years, 7 months ago

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges

News 18  

Testing for Covid-19 has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral mutants as they emerge and spread. Were not testing anywhere near where we might need to, said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who directs the Duke Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. Mara Aspinall, managing …

Most Of Beijing To Be Tested For COVID-19 Amid Lockdown Worry
2 years, 8 months ago

Most Of Beijing To Be Tested For COVID-19 Amid Lockdown Worry

Huff Post  

A health worker takes a swab sample from a man to be tested for COVID-19 coronavirus at a makeshift testing site in Zhongguancun in Beijing, on April 26, 2022. Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images BEIJING — Beijing will conduct mass testing of most of its 21 million people, authorities announced Monday, as a new COVID-19 outbreak sparked stockpiling of food …

Covid positivity rate drops below 60% as infections, hospital cases fall
2 years, 8 months ago

Covid positivity rate drops below 60% as infections, hospital cases fall

NL Times  

For the first time in two months, fewer than 60 percent of those tested for the coronavirus infection during the last calendar week received a positive diagnosis. Last week, just 41,359 people were tested for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus by the GGD, or less than 6,000 per day. The number of infections was 63 percent lower compared to the previous week, …

Second Global COVID-19 Summit to be held next month
2 years, 8 months ago

Second Global COVID-19 Summit to be held next month

Al Jazeera  

Virtual talks will focus on getting more people vaccinated and ensuring coronavirus pandemic preparedness, countries say. A second Global COVID-19 Summit will be held next month, the White House and its partners have announced, in an effort to bolster cooperation to end the coronavirus pandemic and prepare for future health threats. “The emergence and spread of new variants, like Omicron, …

Time of Pandemics
2 years, 8 months ago

Time of Pandemics

Al Jazeera  

Antibodies, vaccine trials and the social factors determining health – what can we learn from the HIV experiences in the global south, in this time of COVID-19? This exploration, by South African filmmaker Rehad Desai, unpicks connections between the two pandemic experiences, from a global south perspective. This HIV vaccine research, and its extensive clinical trial infrastructure in South Africa, …

WHO: COVID cases and deaths continue to fall globally
2 years, 9 months ago

WHO: COVID cases and deaths continue to fall globally

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The number of coronavirus cases reported globally has dropped for a second consecutive week and confirmed COVID-19 deaths also fell last week, according to a World Health Organization report issued Wednesday. However, it warned that the reported numbers carry considerable uncertainty because many countries have stopped widespread testing for the coronavirus, meaning that many cases are likely going …

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