COVID India LIVE Updates: What are the major factors for black fungus?

The study is titled, Antibody Response after Second-dose of ChAdOx1-nCOV (CovishieldTM) and BBV-152 (CovaxinTM) among Health Care Workers in India: Final Results of Cross-sectional Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) study published in MedRxiv.

Read the full story here: Seropositivity rate, anti-spike antibody titre higher in Covishield than Covaxin: Study

The study, led by Baton Rouge General Medical Center, in Louisiana, found that people who experienced low intensity of bitter tastes or no bitter tastes, classified as "non-tasters" were significantly more likely to be hospitalised once infected.

Read the full story here: Can distaste for bitter flavours determine severe COVID risk?

As India continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, a team of researchers is investigating how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling Covid-19. The initial findings suggested that one of the compounds in green tea could combat the coronavirus behind Covid-19, said lead author Suresh Mohankumar, who researched during his time at JSS College of Pharmacy in Ooty before taking up his current role at Swansea University Medical School.

"Nature's oldest pharmacy has always been a treasure of potential novel drugs and we questioned if any of these compounds could assist us in battling the Covid-19 pandemic?" said Mohankumar.

Today, hugs, handshakes or a simple palm resting on the shoulder now seems to belong to the world of the past, under given Pandemic health crisis. We need physical contact as much as talking, drinking, or eating.

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Between repeated lockdowns & confinements, the restrictions imposed or the generalization of work from home (WFH), the morale of the people is at its lowest, implying harmful consequences on their mental health. 

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The RT-PCR test is highly specific. That is, if someone truly doesn’t have the infection, there is a high probability the test will come out negative. The test is also highly sensitive. So, if someone truly is infected with the virus, there is a high probability the test will come back positive. But even though the test is highly specific, that still leaves a small chance someone who does not have the infection returns a positive test result. This is what’s meant by a 'false positive.'  

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 India reported 1,14,460 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 60 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 5.62 percent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. With the fresh cases, the total tally of coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 2,88,09,339.  
The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,46,759 with 2,677 daily deaths, the lowest in 42 days, while the active cases  dropped below 15 lakh, the data updated at 8 am showed.

A team of researchers is investigating how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling Covid-19. The initial findings suggested that one of the compounds in green tea could combat the coronavirus behind Covid-19, said lead author Suresh Mohankumar, who researched during his time at JSS College of Pharmacy in Ooty before taking up his current role at Swansea University Medical School. "Nature's oldest pharmacy has always been a treasure of potential novel drugs and we questioned if any of these compounds could assist us in battling the Covid-19 pandemic?" said Mohankumar.

"We screened and sorted a library of natural compounds already know to be active against other coronaviruses using an artificial intelligence-aided computer programme," he added. Mohankumar emphasised that the research was still in its early days and a long way from any kind of clinical application, in the study published in the journal RSC Advances. "The compound that our model predicts to be most active is gallocatechin, which is present in green tea and could be readily available, accessible, and affordable," the researcher said.

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In the first evidence-based multi-centre study on mucormycosis (black fungus) in India, doctors at the PGIMER that uncontrolled diabetes and improper use of steroid were the major factors for its emergence. However, they said the study could not look into the role of the Covid-19 virus in causing immunity disturbance leading to mucormycosis.

The emergence of mucormycosis is not new during the second wave. Even during the first wave last year, doctors of leading institutes of the country noted the rise of the number of mucormycosis cases. They were curious to know the reason of the emergence of mucormycosis.

Active COVID-19 cases decline to 14,77,799: Union Health Ministry

Wherever you go, greet each other by keeping a proper distance from others.

If you have received the first dose of the vaccine, follow the recommended timing for the second dose.