India logs 6,298 fresh Covid-19 cases, positivity rate below 2%

LOS ANGELES - A new study is calling into question the validity of body mass index (BMI) as a practical way of measuring healthy weight in patients. Researchers for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Stockholm say waist-to-hip ratio, and not body mass index is a better measure of healthy weight which may also predict early death better than BMI. Scientists say the new method should replace BMI, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention commonly cites as a preferable tool to analyze weight and health. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kilograms and dividing by the square of height in meters, with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 considered healthy.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is calling on the Pennsylvania House Committee investigating whether to impeach him to hold open hearings in Philadelphia and allow him to attend and testify on his own behalf.The committee is investigating what they allege is a failure to aggressively prosecute lawbreakers.They plan to hold two days of hearings at the Naval Yard at the end of September.RELATED HEADLINES:Krasner says he was not invited to attend and speak.Krasner, who is on his second term, was first elected to the role in 2017 with a focus on supporting victims, exonerating innocent people wrongly convicted of crimes and reducing the population of local jails.Critics have blamed Krasner and other progressive prosecutors for an increase in gun crimes, while supporters say the rise in crime could be attributed to reduced social services and economic instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Antler River Elementary School on Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN), located just west of London, Ont., will have to wait until at least early October before they can return to the classroom as the community contends with an uptick in COVID-19 cases.Officials with the Chippewas of the Thames Board of Education confirmed in a social media post on Thursday that the school would be closed for at least six school days, with a planned reopening date of Oct. 3.The closure comes in response to a recommendation from Chippewa Health Centre after the school saw a high number of student and staff absences on Wednesday due to illness, said the board of education’s director of lifelong learning, Joette Lefebvre, in a statement.The school was forced to close on Wednesday as a result, and remained closed on Thursday, according to a post on the school’s Facebook page.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Irate that a session to discuss a proposed smoking ban during a major casino industry conference was snuffed out, casino workers and patrons opposed to smoking in the gambling halls held a noisy protest outside the meeting Thursday.About 100 people rallied in the rain underneath a walkway outside the Hard Rock Casino, demanding that the state Legislature act on a bill to ban casino smoking that has the support of more than half of state lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy.The bill has been stalled without a hearing in a state Senate or Assembly committee, and a similar measure died without a vote last year as well.Thursday afternoon, the East Coast Gaming Congress was to have included a panel discussion on casino smoking, an issue that is roiling workers, customers and lawmakers not only in New Jersey but in states including Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and others.It was scrapped when the casino industry representative, Resorts Casino President Mark Giannantonio, withdrew.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to scrap the country’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate at the border and make the ArriveCAN app optional for travellers entering Canada, Global News has learned.

For Linda Dalton, getting Covid in 2020 was a life-changing event.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals lung damage in nonhospitalized children and teens who either had COVID-19 up to a year earlier or have long-COVID symptoms, according to a single-center clinical trial published this week in Radiology.

A study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases demonstrates that previous Omicron BA.1 infection was the most protective factor against BA.2 infection (associated with a risk reduction of 72%) and gave greater protection than primary infection with pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 (38%) or three doses of an mRNA vaccine in people with no previous infection (46%).The test-negative case-control study involved Quebec healthcare

Two studies published today in the European Respiratory Journal describe long-COVID findings, one revealing signs of autoimmune disease in 41% of blood samples taken 1 year after recovery, and the other showing that 23% of patients still had exercise intolerance a year after hospital release.

Serious criminal trials backlogged in Scotland due to Covid-19 restrictions may not be cleared until 2026, according to new figures.

A study has revealed that people who have had Covid-19 infection are at a higher risk of a long-term brain injury, a year later compared to the people who have never been infected with the virus. The year-long study, published in Nature Medicine, assessed brain health across 44 different disorders using medical records without patient identifiers from millions of US veterans. Brain and other neurological disorders occurred in 7 per cent more of those who had been infected with Covid compared with a similar group of veterans who had never been infected.

#InAMinutewithMint Is the #Covid-19 pandemic over?... more#InAMinutewithMint Is the #Covid-19 pandemic over? At least that’s what US President Joe Biden says. But has the pandemic really ended? What do the numbers show? Watch@Alisha2494 explain In a Minute with Mint.

PTI report. Additionally, staff and equipment in hospitals to be scaled down in phased manner, officials said about the DDMA Covid-19 meeting. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) met on Thursday to review the Covid situation in the national capital and conduct an assessment of dedicated resources deployed at hospitals to tackle coronavirus.

Covid-19 fatality rate stands at 1.82 per cent in the state.  Additionally, the number of active infection cases stands at 3,857, the state health department said, adding that 740 patients recuperated during the day, taking the cumulative recovery count to 79,65,395. The state's recovery rate stands at 98.13 per cent. A total of 24,105 tests were conducted in the state in the last 24 hours, which pushed the state's overall recovery count to 8,46,18,216.

Some long COVID patients suffering symptoms including fatigue and shortness of breath are showing signs of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, suggests a Canadian study that builds on similar findings elsewhere.

A study has said that most coronavirus-infected patients who experience long Covid recover within 12 months, irrespective of the severity. The study said that while 75 per cent of the patients recovered within 12 months of getting infected with the virus, the rest (25 per cent) of the patients still experienced one of the three most common symptoms. Long-Covid-19 conditions can include many ongoing health problems that can last weeks, months, or longer.

COVID-19 in Ontario is even lower than the relatively small numbers many experts had expected.Shots for the youngest age group have been available for two months, but only about six per cent of those kids have had their first dose.Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said that is lower than the numbers he thought he would see by this point.“I certainly want more families to consider immunizing their children from six months to four years of age,” in particular, children at high risk, he said in an interview.

Covid condition.  Noting that Covid-19 infection can increase the likelihood of health related issues, Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute said, in a report released earlier this month, that a study found an increase of 60% in the incidents of heart-related issues and neurological disorders. Dr Seth told ANI, “There is a large data from the west, which has noticed that over a period of a year and more than a hundreds and thousands of patients study, there was a 60 per cent increase in the incidents of heart attacks or even strokes compared to the normal population at the same period of time.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Today’s exchange rates from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:USD Buy 359.1876 Sell 369.9235GBP Buy 401.5695 Sell 417.3688EUR Buy 350.3877 Sell 365.1473JPY Buy 2.4695 Sell 2.5700AUD Buy 234.9426 Sell 245.9917

It is possible, but not certain, that Ireland will face a "twindemic" of Covid-19 and flu this winter, according to the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has made its determination on the The Petroleum Products (special provisions) amendment bill.The Supreme Court determination was announced to the house on Thursday (21) by the Speaker.The determination is as follows: A: Clause 3 (2) of the bill is inconsistent with the article 12 (1) of the constitution, and it may only be passed by a special majority required under the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 84.The inconsistency will cease if the composition of the committee is changed, to include the following:– Secretary to the Ministry in charge of the subject of Economic Policy Development  – Secretary to the Ministry in charge of the subject of Investment PromotionB: Clause 7 of the bill is inconsistent with articles 3 & 4 of the constitution, and may be passed only by a Special Majority required under the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 84, and approved by the people at a referendum by virtue of the provisions of article 83 of the constitution.The bill as a whole is inconsistent with Article 12 (1) of the constitution.

India reported 5,443 new Covid-19 cases and 26 fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to an update by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday. As a result, active cases currently stand at 46,342. The active caseload comprise 0.10 per cent of the total infections.

Jan. 6 insurrection, her lawyer said Wednesday.Attorney Mark Paoletta said Thomas is "eager to answer the committee’s questions to clear up any misconceptions about her work relating to the 2020 election."The committee has sought an interview with Thomas in an effort to know more about her role in trying to help former President Donald Trump overturn his election defeat.

NEW YORK (AP) - Mortgage rates have jumped, home sales have slumped and credit cards and auto loans have gotten pricier. Savings rates are slightly juicier, though.As the Federal Reserve has rapidly increased interest rates, many economists say they fear that a recession is inevitable in the coming months — and with it, job losses that could cause hardship for households already hurt worst by inflation.Wednesday, the Federal Reserve sharply raised its key short-term rate by three-quarters of a point for a third straight time, even as its previous rate increases are being felt by households at all income levels.The Fed's latest move has raised its benchmark rate to a range of 3% to 3.25%, the highest level in 14 years.

England have been handed a huge boost ahead of Monday's clash against Germany, as Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka have been ruled out with Covid.Squads were announced last week ahead of the last batch of international fixtures before the World Cup later this year, with England set to take on Italy on Friday before rounding things up against Germany four days later. Wembley takes centre stage for England's last warm-up game before Qatar 2022, but their opponents have been weakened.Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann will replace keeper Neuer at short notice, while further call-ups are expected within the coming days.

Queen Margrethe has tested positive for COVID-19 after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. The Queen of Denmark - who is Europe's longest-serving monarch following the death of Elizabeth aged 96 on September 8 - was among the dignitaries who attended the state funeral at London's Westminster Abbey on Monday (19. 09.

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically worsened disparities in all-cause death rates for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and Black Americans and eroded mortality advantages for Asian and Hispanic groups, finds a study published yesterday in PNAS.A team led by researchers at the University of California and Stanf

After a 5-week drop, global COVID-19 cases stabilized last week, though deaths continued to decline, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its weekly update on the pandemic.

WASHINGTON - The House pushed ahead Wednesday with legislation that would revamp the rules for certifying the results of a presidential election as lawmakers accelerate their response to the the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Donald Trump’s failed attempt to remain in power.The legislation would overhaul an arcane 1800s-era statute known as the Electoral Count Act that governs, along with the U.S. Constitution, how states and Congress certify electors and declare presidential election winners.

FILE - An illustrative image of a medical thermometer, flu medication, medical syringe, Covid-19 Antigen Rapid test, and Covid-19 vaccine vials. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) With flu season approaching in the United States, as well as the availability of the updated COVID-19 booster for everyone age 12 and older, some may have questions about these vaccines and when to get them. Is there a best time to get the flu shot? And is it OK to receive both the seasonal flu shot and the new COVID-19 booster designed to target circulating omicron strains at the same time? Can kids get both during the same visit?Here are some answers to common questions:Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a COVID-19 booster shot, and a flu vaccine at the same time if you are eligible and the timing coincides, the U.S.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science

Covid-19 diagnosis, people were 21 times more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke, conditions mainly caused by blood clots in arteries.  Notably, after 4 weeks, the likelihood dropped to 3.9 times, according to the study. The team, led by researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Swansea University, UK, also studied conditions caused by blood clots in veins, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, the latter being potentially fatal, according to PTI report.

Manitoba announces first groups eligible for bivalent COVID vaccine To get the bivalent vaccine, Manitobans must have completed their primary two doses of vaccine, and it’s recommended that you wait six months after a previous dose of vaccine or a COVID-19 infection.The province said people who meet the criteria can get the bivalent vaccine after three months, if they feel they’re at increased risk.Currently, adults 65 and older, Indigenous people 18 or older, adults with high-risk medical conditions, including those who are immunocompromised, health-care workers, and care home residents are eligible for the vaccine.Global News will be live streaming this conference at 2 p.m.

TORONTO - Canada will likely drop the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of September, an official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.Canada, like the United States, requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated when entering the country. It is not immediately known whether the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Home Depot workers in Philadelphia have filed a petition with the federal labor board to form what could be the first store-wide union at the world's largest home improvement retailer.The petition, filed with the National Labor Relations Board this week, seeks to form a collective bargaining unit for 274 employees who work in merchandising, specialty and operations. The federal agency's database shows no other attempts to form a store-wide union at the company, though a group of Home Depot drivers successfully unionized with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 2019.Sara Gorman, a Home Depot spokesperson, said the company is aware the filing and "we look forward to talking to our associates about their concerns.""While we will of course work through the NLRB process, we do not believe unionization is the best solution for our associates," Gorman said in an email.Vincent Quiles, a store employee who is leading the petition, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects COVID-19 vaccine boosters targeting circulating variants of the virus to be available for children aged 5-11 years by mid-October.

Her Majesty's funeral earlier this week.But the monarch, 82, is better known for her laid-back lifestyle that reportedly includes scoffing hot dogs and shopping at Lidl - not the usual behaviour you'd expect from royalty.One of her most famous attributes is her love of smoking - according to some reports she has even been known to light up as many as 60 a day.READ MORE: Royal tests positive for Covid days after attending Queen's funeralSeveral years ago the royal was snapped leaving a Lidl supermarket, sipping on a carton of apple juice and smoking, all the while clutching a hot dog.A tweet at the time read: "The Danish Queen: The only queen in the world who walks straight out of Lidl drinking an applejuice, eating a sausage while smoking at the same time. Yep, we love our queen Margrethe."The beloved Queen also had a bizarre passion for archaeology and speaks a whopping five languages - English, French, German, Danish and Swedish.Born in 1940, Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid is the great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria - making her Queen Elizabeth II's third cousin.The two reportedly shared a tight bond for decades, both loving dogs and calling each other by the adorable nicknames "Daisy" and "Lilibet".Margrethe came to the throne in 1972 and her ascension was historic, as previously only men had been allowed to rule.As a princess she was extremely popular and married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in 1967.

WASHINGTON - Last month, when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell spoke at an economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, he issued a blunt warning: The Fed’s drive to curb inflation by aggressively raising interest rates, he said, would "bring some pain" for Americans.When the Fed ends its latest meeting Wednesday and Powell holds a news conference, Americans will likely get a better idea of how much pain could be in store.The central bank is expected to raise its key short-term rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point for the third consecutive time. Another hike that large would boost its benchmark rate — which affects many consumer and business loans — to a range of 3% to 3.25%, the highest level in 14 years.FILE - A for sale sign is posted in front of a home in Miami, Florida.

China has long been a coveted assignment for business executives and diplomats, a prestigious posting in a rising power and a valuable addition to one’s résumé.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has tested positive for Covid-19 upon her return home from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday. Margrethe travelled over to London for the historic state funeral, and in light of her positive test has cancelled all her upcoming activities for the rest of the week while she recovers. It’s believed that this is the second time this year the 82 year old royal has contracted the virus.

PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES - 2020/11/02: An official election ballot of Pennsylvania of 2020 featuring Biden / Harris, Trump / Pence and Jorgensen / Cohen ahead of the presidential elections.2020 elections are close and will involve voting via absente HARRISBURG, Pa. - Former President Donald Trump and his allies seized on the drawn-out vote processing and counting in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election to fuel his false claims that fraud cost him victory in the battleground state — and election officials worry that a replay could be on the horizon in November's crucial Senate and governor's races.And it's not just Pennsylvania. Michigan and Wisconsin are other crucial swing states that allow no-excuse mail-in ballots but give local election offices no time before Election Day to process them.Election workers' inability to do that work ahead of time means many of the mailed ballots may not get counted on Election Day, delaying results in tight races and leaving a gaping hole for misinformation and lies to flood the public space."That time between the polls closing on election night and the last vote being counted is really being exploited by people who want to undermine confidence in the process," said Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia election commissioner during the 2020 presidential election who is now president and CEO of the good-government group Committee of Seventy.The first step in processing mailed ballots, or pre-canvassing, is a routine but crucial administrative task that allows election workers to verify voters’ signatures and addresses, or spot problems that could be fixed by voters.

#pandemic has taught every human being is that "Life is Priceless."#COVID is a nasty disease- at the time & after. Even a mild COVID infection increases your risk of a heart attack & stroke (½)https://t.co/Dyh2obBf5B She further urged everyone to get a comprehensive health check up.

Vaccination and long COVID There could be other reasons for the positive trend that we’ve witnessed, but the timing suggests that vaccination is the most likely explanation. The decrease in referrals begins in August 2021, around five months after the British population started receiving second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Centre has directed states and union territories to continue monitoring incoming international travellers as part of the revised surveillance strategy in context of covid-19 NEW DELHI: India reported 4,510 new covid cases and related 33 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per an update by the Union health ministry on Wednesday. The country’s active caseload now stands at 46,216 while the total number of reported covid infections so far has exceeded 4.45 crore, with fatalities at 528,403.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is investigating scores of cases handled by a disgraced former B.C. immigration lawyer, in a probe that could lead to deportations.

India reported 4,510 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to an update by the Union health ministry on Wednesday. As a result, active cases currently stand at 46,216. The active caseload comprise 0.10 per cent of the total infections.

Also Read: US tourist visa waiting period goes over 2 years for India The removal of the vaccine requirement, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Andrew Morris, should have been done way back. According to him, there is no value to making sure individuals are immunised because it neither prevents cases nor variants from spreading.

FILE - Actor and co-founder of Water.org, Matt Damon, speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2022 Meeting on Sept. 20, 2022, in New York City.