Senior virologist Shahid Jameel on Sunday resigned as the chairman of scientific advisory group of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, a forum set up by union government in December last year for laboratory and epidemiological surveillance of circulating strains of COVID-19 in India.
India currently does not have any XBB 1.5 variant-based vaccines available.
India has covered enough population with vaccine and infection, but protein vaccines should remain available on payment basis for elderly and those with comorbidities.
The Kraken COVID-19 variant accounts for almost 41 per cent of all Covid infections.
A nasal vaccine, one expert said, is a "fantastic idea" for two reasons -- one, it can potentially create sterile immunity, and two, it is easy to administer and thus scalable.
The FIA said the allegation that he had financed one of the arrested suspects in Mumbai case could not be proved after thorough investigation.
An immune-escape Covid-19 strain coupled with the natural spike in influenza and pneumonia cases during winters may lead to a rise in hospitalisation.
Scientists associated with Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG), the government panel that conducts research on different variants of the coronavirus, said they were surprised at noted virologist Shahid Jameel's decision to quit the group and wondered whether he was disillusioned with the government's handling of the pandemic.
A 'very large' number of Indians are likely to remain protected from Omicron or any other variant of COVID-19 and there is no need to panic, eminent virologist Dr Shahid Jameel has said.
'A patient visits for any other treatment, but a routine Covid test finds him to be positive.' 'Not only are they, but their whole family is also coming out to be positive.'
Since March 3, when terrorists attacked the Pakistan district courts, in which 12 people, including an additional district and sessions judge, were killed in Islamabad, there has been no progress on the trial
Shahid Jameel, recipient of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, also said that the country had already reached community transmission a long time ago.
For the seventh time in a row, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court trying the seven accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case adjourned the hearing on Wednesday till September 3 as the judge has gone on a summer vacation.
'The worst is possibly over because too many of us may already be infected.'
'I can say with confidence that any future SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, developed anywhere in the world, would have to be manufactured in India, if it is to be affordable and of high quality.'
'Better to prevent than to wait for evidence. Protection delayed can also mean protection denied'
Initial data has shown immunity triggered by the two mRNA vaccines -- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna -- lasts for at least six months
There is so far no evidence that the second wave of COVID-19 in the country is due to variants of the virus, but it is possible, said noted virologist Shahid Jameel.
'We are a country of amazing ability and the way we have responded to the pandemic is evidence.'
India on Thursday reacted strongly to release 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi
India is working with its mission in Pakistan to prepare a strong response against granting of bail to LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
The comments come as the country's COVID-19 caseload surpassed the one crore mark, though the number of daily cases and daily fatalities have been continuously coming down.
'If deaths had been properly reported, it would have helped contain the pandemic.'
Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, whose detention under a public security order was suspended by a Pakistani court, submitted his Rs 1 million (Around Rs 6.2 lakh) surety bond on Monday and is likely to be released anytime now.
The country has been registering over 70,000 cases for the last four days.
The witness, Bhalol Khan, recorded his statement in the anti-terrorism court (Islamabad), which is holding the trial of seven Mumbai attack accused, including LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.
A Pakistani court, holding the trial of seven Mumbai attack case accused, on Wednesday adjourned the hearing till June 3 as the judge was on a "judicial course".
For the eighth time in a row, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court trying the seven accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case adjourned the hearing after a government witness and prosecution lawyers did not show up on Wednesday.
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi claims Pak government detained him on "illegal grounds".
Eminent virologist Shahid Jameel COVID-19 cases in the second wave also won't come down in as steady a fashion as they did after the first wave.
The judge of the anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven Pakistani suspects charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks was changed for the seventh time on Wednesday, with the current incumbent transferred to another court.
'As people have moved from cities to small towns and villages, they have carried the infection into new territories.' 'Poor healthcare infrastructure in these places should be a big worry in the days to come.'
India on Friday summoned Pakistan's deputy high commissioner and lodged a strong protest against the adjournment of the ongoing Mumbai terror attack case trial in Pakistan.
A Pakistani prosecution witness on Wednesday recorded his statement against one of the seven accused, who used an international SIM card to give instructions to the 10 terrorists who carried out the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Pakistan on Thursday said it has asked India to provide "additional evidence" for the early completion of the Mumbai attack trial in which Lashkar-e-Tayiba operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and six others are accused.
China has blocked India's move in the UN demanding action against Pakistan over the release of Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in violation of a resolution of the world body as it contended that India provided insufficient information.
'Even after vaccines are given, precautions like using a mask and maintaining social distancing have to be taken.'
Pakistan government on Friday sought the early hearing of LeT operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi's case in the supreme court, a day after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind was remanded to 14-day judicial custody for the abduction of an Afghan national.
An ATC Judge on Wednesday heard the Mumbai attack case and accepted a request filed by the Federal Investigation Agency to inspect the boat 'Alfoz' in Karachi.
A Pakistani company had sold eight Japanese Yamaha engines to one of the 2008 Mumbai attack facilitators who supplied them to terrorists.
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