Coronavirus Global Updates 13 August ::: India logs 40120 new cases, Wockhardt to supply Sputnik V; 128 children among 576 new COVID patients in Mizoram

Fri Aug 13 07:25:02 CAT 2021

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Coronavirus Global Updates 13 August  ::: India logs 40120 new cases, Wockhardt to supply Sputnik V; 128 children among 576 new COVID patients in Mizoram

Zimbabwe COVID19 Update

COVID-19 update: As at 12 August 2021, Zimbabwe had 118 754 confirmed cases, including 94 925 recoveries and 4 047 deaths. To date, a total of 1 966 612 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Texas hospitals are on the brink, again
A surge of Covid-19 cases driven by the Delta variant is hobbling the health care system in Texas, where health officials are warning of overloaded hospitals, a dangerous crisis which the state also experienced in early February.

In Houston, at least two hospitals have erected overflow tents outside. In Austin, hospitals are nearly out of beds in their intensive care units. And in San Antonio, children as young as 2 months old are tethered to supplemental oxygen.

My colleague Edgar Sandoval, who covers South Texas for The Times, recently reported from inside a San Antonio hospital. He told us that the strength of the surge left many in the state flat-footed.

“They were kind of caught off guard this time around,” Edgar said. “People in South Texas, like the rest of the country, thought that the virus was behind them. And even the experts believed that, even if they were going to have surges from the Delta variant, they were going to be able to manage it. But in the last couple of weeks we’ve seen an explosion of cases. Medical officials in Texas are — as we speak — still trying to figure out how to handle this coming surge.”

More than 10,000 Texans have been hospitalized this week and at least 53 hospitals were at maximum capacity in their intensive care units. Hospitals are being taxed across the South in places like Huntsville, Ala., Jackson, Miss., New Orleans and Miami. As with previous waves this summer in Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas, the vast majority of patients who are hospitalized in Texas are not vaccinated.

The surge also comes as the state’s governor, Greg Abbott, refuses to enact any statewide mandates requiring masks while prohibiting local officials from doing so. To help manage the surge, Abbott has instead asked health care workers outside the state to travel to Texas and help the overloaded hospitals.

Some health officials have blamed the state for not putting enough government effort toward increasing vaccination rates, which Abbott has framed as an issue of individual rights.

Still, local officials in some of Texas’ largest cities, including San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Austin, have defied Abbott’s orders and issued new mask requirements in city buildings and schools, citing community spread and low vaccination rates.

The worst is also far from over for Texas. According to the University of Texas at Austin Covid-19 Modeling Consortium, the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations across the state is projected to climb to well over 15,000 by the end of this month.

“Hospitals are trying to figure out day by day how to manage the flow of people,” Edgar said, such as treating patients in waiting rooms because of a shortage of beds. “I’m surprised there was no plan implemented after the last surge,” Edgar said. “But here we are.”

India logs 40120 new cases, Wockhardt to supply Sputnik V

Coronavirus updates: India recorded 40,120 new Covid-19 cases and 585 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking its tally to 32,117,826 and the death toll to 430,254. Also, 1,970,495 tests were conducted Thursday, taking the cumulative tests carried out so far for the detection of Covid-19 in the country to 489,470,779. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.04 per cent.

The World Health Organisation's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has said there will be a need to be on guard in the months to come as well.

Kerala reported 21,445 new infections, Maharashtra 6,388, followed by Andhra Pradesh (1,859), Tamil Nadu (1,964), Karnataka (1,857), West Bengal (747) and Delhi (49).

With over 100,000 coronavirus cases reported in the United States for the fourth consecutive day, the daily Covid-19 cases have reached a six-month high in the country as multiple states with lower vaccination rates continue to reel under the Delta variant.

World coronavirus update: Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, with 206,156,536 confirmed cases and 4,346,678 deaths across nearly 200 countries recorded since China reported its first cases in December 2019. The US remains the worst-hit country with 37,182,479 cases, followed by India, Brazil, Russia and France. 

Now Facebook delays return to office till early next year

Facebook has delayed its return-to-office plans till early next year, as the US witnesses a surge in cases of the delta variant of Covid-19.

Earlier this month, Facebook had said that it would require its US employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 when they return to the office.

"Data, not dates, is what drives our approach for returning to the office. Given the recent health data showing rising Covid cases based on the Delta variant, our teams in the US will not be required to go back to the office until January 2022," a company spokesperson told The Verge on Thursday. 

Extra Covid vaccine approved for those with weak immune systems

US regulators on Thursday said transplant recipients and others with weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to better protect them as the delta variant continues to surge.

The announcement by the Food and Drug Administration applies to millions of Americans who are especially vulnerable because of organ transplants, certain cancers or other disorders. Several other countries, including France and Israel, have similar recommendations.

It's harder for vaccines to rev up an immune system suppressed by certain medications or diseases, so those patients don't always get the same protection as otherwise healthy people and small studies suggest for at least some, an extra dose may be the solution. 

Wockhardt to manufacture and supply Sputnik V, Sputnik Light covid vaccine

Pharmaceutical company Wockhardt on Friday announced that the company has entered into an agreement with Enso Healthcare DMCC (Enso), a company incorporated in Dubai, UAE and Human Vaccine LLC (HV), a wholly owned subsidiary of the the sovereign wealth fund of the Russian Federation (RDIF), for the manufacture and supply of the Sputnik V/Sputnik Light vaccine against Covid-19. 

‘’Subject to requisite approvals and other conditions, upon successful technology transfer from HV to the company, the company will manufacture and supply to Enso upto 620 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine and the Sputnik Light vaccine against Covid-19,'' Wockhardt said in a statement.

Covid-19: China's port shutdown raises fears of closures worldwide

A Covid outbreak that has partially shut one of the world’s busiest container ports is heightening concerns that the rapid spread of the delta variant will lead to a repeat of last year’s shipping nightmares.

The Port of Los Angeles, which saw its volumes dip because of a June Covid outbreak at the Yantian port in China, is bracing for another potential decline because of the latest shutdown at the Ningbo-Zhoushan port in China, a spokesman said. Anton Posner, chief executive officer of supply-chain management company Mercury Resources, said that many companies chartering ships are already adding Covid contract clauses as insurance so they won’t have to pay for stranded ships.

It seemed as if things were just starting to calm down, “and we’re now into delta delays,” Emmanouil Xidias, partner at Ifchor North America LLC, said in a phone interview. “You’re going to have a secondary hit.”

Covid-19: China's port shutdown raises fears of closures worldwide

A Covid outbreak that has partially shut one of the world’s busiest container ports is heightening concerns that the rapid spread of the delta variant will lead to a repeat of last year’s shipping nightmares.

The Port of Los Angeles, which saw its volumes dip because of a June Covid outbreak at the Yantian port in China, is bracing for another potential decline because of the latest shutdown at the Ningbo-Zhoushan port in China, a spokesman said. Anton Posner, chief executive officer of supply-chain management company Mercury Resources, said that many companies chartering ships are already adding Covid contract clauses as insurance so they won’t have to pay for stranded ships.

It seemed as if things were just starting to calm down, “and we’re now into delta delays,” Emmanouil Xidias, partner at Ifchor North America LLC, said in a phone interview. “You’re going to have a secondary hit.”

Covid-19 may likely become childhood disease: Study

Risk of Covid-19 may shift from older adults to younger children as the SARS-CoV-2 virus becomes endemic, according to new research, IANS reported.

Once endemic in the global population, Covid-19 may behave like other common cold coronaviruses, affecting mostly young children who have not yet been vaccinated or exposed to the virus.

"Following infection by SARS-CoV-2, there has been a clear signature of increasingly severe outcomes and fatality with age," Ottar Bjornstad, of the Department of Biology at the Pennsylvania State University, said.

UP coronavirus update: 160,000 senior citizens in Lucknow fully vaccinated

Over 160,000 senior citizens in Lucknow have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 after 1,377 of them took the second dose in the last 24 hours.

These senior citizens, both first and second dose beneficiaries, were among 22,721 persons vaccinated in 91 booths across the district on Thursday.

In the 18-44 age group, 10,345 and 3,756 people took their first and second shots, respectively.

Immunocompromised people in US to get 3rd dose of Covid-19 vaccines

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the emergency use of the third dose of both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines against Covid-19 for immunocompromised people.

"The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease. After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines," acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said on late Thursday, as quoted by the body's statement.

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

Summary of MoHFW data (August 13)

Active cases: 385,227 (Net reduction: 2,760)

Deaths: 430,254 (Net increase: 585)

Cured: 31,302,345 (Net increase: 42,295)

Total cases: 32,117,826 (Net increase: 40,120)

Total vaccination: 529,582,956 (Increase over previous day: 5,731,574)

Ladakh coronavirus update: No fresh Covid death in Ladakh

Ladakh recorded no fresh death from coronavirus while nine more people tested positive, according to the latest health update.

Of the new cases reported Thursday, seven were recorded in Leh and two in Kargil, officials said, adding four people recovered from the disease.

With the fresh updates, the total number of cases in the union territory goes to 20,430, with 87 active cases -- 67 in Leh and 20 in Kargil district. 

Covid-19 hampering Zimbabwe's elephants conservation efforts

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected Zimbabwe's primary source of funding for the conservation of elephants and other wildlife, resulting in a surge in incidents of human-wildlife conflict.

Incidents involving elephants killing people or destroying their crops have accounted for the bulk of cases of human-wildlife conflict reported in Zimbabwe so far this year, as the country continues to grapple with an overpopulation of the jumbos, according to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS), the Xinhua news agency reported.

Every year on August 12, the World Elephant Day is observed across the world. The day aims to spread awareness about the plight of elephants and identify their importance in the ecosystem.

ZIMPARKS spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said in an interview on Wednesday that his organisation relies heavily on income from tourism to conserve and manage elephants but tourism had been badly affected by the pandemic.

World coronavirus update: Canada suffering 4th wave of Covid-19: Top doctor

Canada is suffering a fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as variants of the virus continue to spread in the country, said Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam on Thursday.

Tam told a press conference that the country's national case count has taken a turn for the worse since late July, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Canada on Thursday reported 2,138 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the cumulative total to 1,447,439 cases, including 26,692 deaths, according to CTV.

Kerala coronavirus update: All kinds of celebrations during Onam should be kept minimum, says police

Kerala police chief Anil Kant evaluated the security arrangements to be made in view of Onam celebrations and gave instructions to senior police officers and district police chiefs via video conference on Thursday.

"In the context of Covid-19, all kinds of celebrations during Onam should be kept to a minimum," said Police chief Anil Kant in the meeting.

"Onam feast and other celebrations should be done inside the houses. Those who visit beaches and tourist points must ensure that they comply with all Covid-19 regulations," he further stated.

The State Police chief also directed to tighten the night patrol during the Onam period.

WHO forms new expert group to continue studies into origins of Covid-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the next step in the search of the origins of Covid-19 will be the creation of a new advisory group that will develop a global framework to study pathogens with pandemic potential.

"The International Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, is a new advisory group for WHO, which will be responsible for advising WHO on the development of a global framework to systematically study the emergence of future emerging pathogens with pandemic potential. For SARS-CoV-2, it will support the rapid undertaking of recommended studies outlined in the March 2021 report," the WHO said in a statement on Thursday.

WHO last month proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the coronavirus in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in the city of Wuhan. Beijing, meanwhile, had rejected WHO's proposal.

In a statement issued on Thursday, WHO called for all governments to depoliticize the situation.

128 children among 576 new COVID patients in Mizoram

At least 576 more people, including 128 children, tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, taking the tally in the state to 46,896, a health department official said on Thursday.

Two more fatalities due to the infection in the last 24 hours raised the death toll to 173, he said.

Of the fresh cases, 323 were reported from Aizawl district, 71 from Kolasib, 57 from Champhai, 38 from Lunglei, 35 from Lawngtlai.

The single-day positivity rate was at 9.30 per cent as the new cases were detected from 6,192 sample tests.

Recovery not yet at stage for pulling back liquidity: FM Sitharaman

e Indian economy had not reached the stage where the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could begin pulling back liquidity, and gave a thumbs up to the central bank’s view on the matter.

The RBI has kept the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for more than a year while maintaining an accommodative stance “as long as necessary" to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I am glad that the RBI has not given any indication of reducing the liquidity which the economy needs to sustain high levels of growth. The Indian economy has not reached the stage where the RBI can begin sunsetting the excess liquidity,” Sitharaman said while addressing the CII Annual Meeting 2021. “The central bank understands that quicker retrieval of the liquidity may not do the necessary stimulus which is required.”

Majority of citizens feel confident of India's preparedness for 3rd Covid wave: Survey

As many as 58 per cent of citizens surveyed feel confident that India is well prepared to handle the third wave of COVID, LocalCircles said on Thursday, PTI reported.

The question how confident do people feel about India's preparedness to handle a possible third COVID wave in August-December 2021, received 8,880 responses in a survey conducted by LocalCircles, a community social media platform.

All kinds of celebrations during Onam should be kept minimum in view of Covid: Kerala police

Kerala police chief Anil Kant evaluated the security arrangements to be made in view of Onam celebrations and gave instructions to senior police officers and district police chiefs via video conference on Thursday.

"In the context of Covid-19, all kinds of celebrations during Onam should be kept to a minimum," said Police chief Anil Kant in the meeting.

"Onam feast and other celebrations should be done inside the houses. Those who visit beaches and tourist points must ensure that they comply with all Covid-19 regulations," he further stated.

The State Police chief also directed to tighten the night patrol during the Onam period.

INVESTORS DIARY 2021

Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

Companies under Cautionary

ART

PPC

Dairibord

Starafrica

Fidelity

Turnall

Medtech

Zimre

Nampak Zimbabwe

DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are for guideline purposes only and sourced from third parties.

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