Britain free of coronavirus by August, outgoing vaccine task force chief says
The new coronavirus will no longer be circulating in Britain by August, the government’s departing vaccine taskforce chief Clive Dix told the Daily Telegraph on Friday. “Sometime in August, we will have no circulating virus in the UK”, Dix said, adding that he believed the vaccine booster programme could be pushed back to early 2022.... Read More
UK health authorities elevate version of Indian COVID-19 variant as concerning
Health authorities in England on Friday elevated one subtype of the so-called Indian variant from under investigation to a Variant of Concern (VOC) following a rise in the number of cases in the UK and evidence of community transmission. The B.1.617.2, classified as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) on April 28, is now known as... Read More
World’s largest cargo plane leaves UK with 3 oxygen units for India
The world’s largest cargo plane left Belfast in Northern Ireland on Friday, carrying three 18-tonne oxygen generators and 1,000 ventilators as part of the UK’s latest response to India’s COVID-19 crisis, the British government said. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which has funded to supplies, said airport staff worked through the night to... Read More
UK labels ‘more transmissible’ Indian strain ‘variant of concern
LONDON: A sub-type of the Indian variant of Covid-19 found in the UK – B.1.617.2 – has been reclassified from “variant under investigation (VUI)” to “variant of concern (VOC)” after it was found to be highly transmissible. Public Health England said: “Following a rise in cases in the UK and evidence of community transmission, PHE... Read More
Covid: Indian delegates in UK for G7 talks self-isolate after Covid cases
The entire Indian delegation in the UK for G7 talks must self-isolate after two Covid cases were detected. India’s foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar pulled out of face-to-face talks, saying he was “aware of exposure to possible Covid positive cases”. He met Home Secretary Priti Patel in person on Tuesday but joined the rest of the... Read More
50 lakh Covishield doses meant for export to UK to be used in India for vaccinating 18-plus
Fifty lakh doses of ‘Covishield’ vaccine earmarked by the Serum Institute for export to the United Kingdom have now been made available for the inoculation of 18-44 age group in 21 states/UTs in India, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, official sources said. The Centre’s decision to allocate these doses to 21 states and Union... Read More
World’s Largest Cargo Plane Leaves For India With 3 Oxygen Plants From UK
Each of the three oxygen generation units – the size of 40 foot freight containers – produces 500 litres of oxygen per minute, enough for 50 people to use at a time. The world’s largest cargo plane left Belfast in Northern Ireland on Friday, carrying three 18-tonne oxygen generators and 1,000 ventilators as part of... Read More
Covid: Concern increases over India variant in UK
Public health experts have recommended one version of the Indian coronavirus variant be made a “variant of concern” in the UK, the BBC has been told. Public Health England (PHE) is tracking B.1.617.2 which appears to spread more quickly than two other identified subtypes of the Indian variant. Scientists also believe it is at least... Read More
British scientists warn over Indian coronavirus variant
British officials could declare one of the new coronavirus strains first found in India a “variant of concern”, the BBC said on Friday,as scientists flagged evidence that it spreads more quickly than the original version of the virus. Scientists have recommended that one version of the variant first found in India, known as B.1.617.2, is... Read More
EU and India to revive stalled trade talks, draft statement says
According to a draft statement seen by Reuters, the European Union and India will agree to relaunch stalled free-trade talks at a virtual summit on Saturday, as concerns about China’s rise bring Brussels and New Delhi closer. The draft statement, which must be signed off by EU ambassadors on Wednesday and needs New Delhi’s final... Read More