US COVID levels decline as new subvariants rise steadily

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe has extended his felicitations on the appointment of Rishi Sunak as the UK's 57th Prime Minister.In a release, the President has stated that the vast experience which Sunak brings into the high office would be invaluable in discharging his responsibilities. Pointing out that Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom enjoy a shared traditional history, the President said that he is confident that under Sunak's leadership, the ties between the two nations will be further strengthened. "I look forward to enhancing this partnership particularly through the 'Global Britain' policy and the UK's new 'Platinum Partnership' scheme with Commonwealth countries," he added.

Active cases in the country has reached to 22,594 across the country taking the total tally of covid cases to more than 4.46 crore New Delhi: India has reported 826 new covid case in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry said on Tuesday. Active cases in the country has reached to 22,594 across the country taking the total tally of covid cases to more than 4.46 crore. Total death figure has reached 528,980 in the last two years.

But what exactly is brain fog, and is it limited to COVID? It is what it sounds like Brain fog is not a medical diagnosis, but rather the description patients tend to use for their symptoms. Brain fog is what doctors refer to as “cognitive dysfunction". This describes problems with closely linked tasks such as concentration, information processing, memory, thinking and reasoning, and making sense of language.

The COVID-19 pandemic claimed thousands of Sri Lankan lives, and News 1st revealed questionable transactions that took place during the height of the pandemic.Approximately 7 Million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are to expire on Monday, 31st of October 2022.The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health repeatedly requested the people of Sri Lanka to obtain the vaccine doses before delay.Pfizer Inc expects to roughly quadruple the price of its COVID-19 vaccine to about $110 to $130 per dose after the United States government's current purchase program expires.Approximately 7 Million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are to expire, and if it does the value of those vaccines as per the current market rate would be astronomical.While vaccine stocks are about to expire leading to another colossal waste, Sri Lanka also lost a large sum of money when it delayed placing orders for the vaccine.In February 2020, Sri Lanka recorded its first even COVID-19 infection and it didn't take long for the coronavirus to spread across the country.What did Sri Lanka do when other countries devoted their resources to developing a vaccine?Sri Lankan MPs and Minister dropped pots into rivers, and the so-called miracle tonic Dhammika Paniya was promoted widely – while there was absolutely no interest in procuring the vaccines.Experts in the field of medicine repeatedly called for the government to procure vaccines, however as Sri Lankan authorities opted to myth over science, the procurement of much-needed vaccines was delayed.On the 30th of December 2020, the UK granted approval for the emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine prompting many other countries to place immediate orders for the vaccines.As it was also produced by the

The region’s over-50s are being urged to arrange their flu and coronavirus vaccines.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Meteorological Department has issued an Amber alert for strong winds and rough seas, especially for multi-day boats in the deep of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea areas. According to the Meteorology Department, the depression over north Andaman Sea has concentrated in to a deep depression and located near latitude 15.60N and longitude 88.40E (East central Bay of Bengal) Sunday (23) morning.It is very likely to move northwestward and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal.Subsequently, it is also very likely to move North-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast around 25th October.Wind speeds will be (60-70) kmph and can increase up to 80 kmph in sea areas between (12N – 20N) and (85E – 100E).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Justice has imposed further restrictions on the rights of imprisoned persons under a gazette issued on 12th July 2022.Former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Ambika Satkunanathan Tweeted concerns in this regard today.According to the former HRCSL Commissioner, as per the new prison rules under the Second 94 of the Prisons Ordinance, most concerning are the reduction of visits to remanded imprisoned persons from 6 days a week to 1 a week. She added that they have also reduced the time outside cell from 4 hours to 1 hour.Some of the provisions underlined in the gazette is as follows:RIGHT TO RECEIVE VISITSAn unconvicted person to receive visits 6 days a week, is repealed by the gazette, which replaces it with a rule that limits such visits to once a week.The new rule also sets out reasons for which visits can be restricted.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Employees' Provident Fund has amassed more than 28 million members.However, this number also includes those who are deceased. The Deputy General Manager of the Employee's Trust Fund, Kitsiri Ratnayake, stated that 10 welfare programs are currently in place for the said members.He stated that many do not avail the benefits of these welfare programs due to being unaware of them.Deputy General Manager Ratnayake added that a loan program is also in place for conducting the repair work of members' houses.

Covid-19 update: The death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 5,28,961 with four more fatalities. With 1,994 fresh cases, India's Covid-19 tally has climbed to 4,46,42,742, while the number of active cases of the infection has declined to 23,432, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. The death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 5,28,961 with four more fatalities, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Health says that no final decision has been taken so far with regard to the COVID-19 vaccines which are due to expire.A senior official of the Ministry said that the vaccines are due to expire on October 31st.The consignment of vaccines which is due to expire amounts to over a million, the Health Ministry added.

India reported 2,112 new infections raising the COVID-19 tally to 4,46,40,748, while the number of active cases declined to 24,043, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll climbed to 5,28,957 with four fatalities which includes three deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. One death has been reported from West Bengal in a span of 24 hours.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A coal shipment will reach Sri Lanka on the 25th of October, said Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited on Friday (21).General Manager of Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited Namal Hewage speaking to News 1st said that the coal shipment will be delivered by the company that it had agreed with earlier.He said with the arrival of this coal shipment, there will be no issue in operating the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.At present Sri Lanka has coal stocks sufficient for a period of 30-days to operate the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.Namal Hewage said that the supplier is expected to deliver 4 more coal shipments until December 2022.Sri Lanka already called for tenders to appoint a new coal supplier, and the deadline to place bids is on the 25th of October 2022.The supplier who will be selected following the tender process will be allowed to deliver coal to Sri Lanka from December 2022. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka is planning to attract over 5,000 Russian visitors a month, said Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janita A.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Chinese vessel has reached Sri Lankan shores to assist in the salvage operations of the X-Press Pearl vessel that sand in Sri Lankan waters.The X-Press Pearl burnt and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka in May 2021, reportedly after two ports had refused to off-load a container leaking nitric acid – typically used in fertilizers and explosives – because they lacked the expertise and facilities to tend to the leak. This produced an ecological catastrophe.Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority told News 1st that the Chinese salvage team will cut the vessel in half, and move the two parts of the vessel away from Sri Lanka.This operation will commence once favourable weather conditions prevail, and salvage operation will also include the removal of debris from the Sri Lankan ocean floor in an area of one square kilometer around the shipwreck.Incident Overview:On May 20, 2021, the Singapore -flagged Containership, ‘X-Press Pearl’ reported smoke from the cargo hold while at Colombo anchorage, Sri Lanka.On May 21, the vessel reported fire on deck.

Civil servants have been given top roles on Scotland’s troubled Covid-19 Public Inquiry - despite claims the probe is “independent”.

Jenna Ortega had to "shower in cold water" during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20-year-old actress was shooting the title role in Netflix series 'Wednesday' in Romania when the pandemic broke out and explained that the entire cast was left without hot water in their accommodation because there were no repair workers available to fix a faulty boiler. She said: " I mean, we were out there for seven, eight months in Romania.

Also Read: Do you have COVID cough? Here’s how to find out Everyone should use a mask when going outside, especially in crowded areas, Guleria advises. Although it is expected that new variants may emerge and that existing types will continue to mutate, the current circumstance is different.

A rapidly spreading Covid strain has been dubbed the Nightmare Variant after it was found to double infections in a matter of days.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A decision has been taken to wind up operations of the “Covid 19 Health and Social Security Fund”, which was established to provide relief to those affected by the Covid 19 epidemic, and Cabinet approval has been obtained for it.The Secretary of the Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund, Dr Tharaka Liyanapathirana notified the public that the “Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund” at the Bank of Ceylon, account number 85737373 has been closed down effective from October 18th and requested the public not to donate to this fund from now on.He also notified donors not to send cheques or money towards this fund, to the Presidential Secretariat.The secretary of the Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund extended his appreciation to the donors who contributed to this fund to make this program implemented throughout the country during the Covid-19 epidemic, a success.The Covid-19 Health and Social Security Fund had received a total of Rs. 2,207,164,785.58 (Rs.

Hong Kong is unlikely to make any major changes to Covid restrictions for inbound travelers before a banking summit next month, but is considering concessions including allowing attendees to leave the city via private jet should they test positive for the virus. The health bureau is in discussions with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to finalize details for the two-day summit set for early November, including what to do if a participant is infected, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly.

pregnancy-related deaths last year, according to a government report released on Wednesday. It says that it is a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims. The report lays out trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies, the news agency AP reported.

Meanwhile, states have been asked to continue monitoring incoming international travelers, undertake constant genome sequencing and step-up vaccination. NEW DELHI: India reported 2,141 new covid infections in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said in an update on Thursday. Active cases now stand at 25,510, with total reported cases since the pandemic hit in early 2020 at more than 4.46 crore.

China's capital, Beijing, has dialled up measures to stop Covid, strengthening public checks and locking down some residential compounds after a quadrupling of its case load in recent weeks, just as a key Communist Party congress entered full swing.

Also Read: COVID-19 lockdown, mass testing in China despite minor cases - here’s why On October 20, the 21 million-people city reported 18 additional locally-transmitted cases for the day before, bringing the total for the preceding 10 days to 197. The 49 infections found in the prior 10-day period were outnumbered by that number by a factor of four.

Covid-19: The cumulative caseload of India has gone up to 4,46,36,517, while the active cases declined to 25,510. India again witnessed an increase in daily Covid-19 cases with the country reporting 2,141 coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The country had logged around 1,500 cases on Tuesday.  With this, the cumulative caseload of India has gone up to 4,46,36,517, while the active cases declined to 25,510.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - It's an historic time in Bucks County as a recent announcement left LGBTQ youth with resources and support in a time of need. The Rainbow Room is a keystone Planned Parenthood youth program that provides a supportive environment for LGBTQ youth, ages 14-21. Originally only located in Doylestown, the program just announced its expansion into Lower Bucks County.Ry Ogden, a non-binary 18-year-old, says they love being a part of The Rainbow Room because they say it's a space that empowers them and lets them be their authentic self."I think it's very important for all queer youth everywhere to have a place where they can go and be themselves and not be judged in any way," said Ogden. For 17-year-old Carson Delany, The Rainbow Room has helped him overcome some of his fears after coming out and identifying as non-binary three years ago. "Just being in a super supportive place with such supportive and beautiful people has helped me really come out of my shell in the past 3 years and learn to love myself despite what people say about who I am and how I present," said Delany.RELATED: First trans-focused LGBTQ plus safe haven coming to PhiladelphiaOn Wednesday, The Rainbow Room had their weekly meeting, which had a self-care theme.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Streeteries are here to stay. After first popping up during the pandemic, Philadelphia is making them permanent. The city is unveiling its new outdoor dining program, meant to address concerns about allowing streeteries to take up public space.Good Dog Bar, on South 15th Street in Center City, has an expansive streetery.

ANI, he said, “I would suggest to everyone that if they are going out and especially in crowded places then they must wear a mask." Dr Guleria also warned that high-risk patients can get serious infection. "High-risk groups, elderly people should avoid going out because there are high chances of spreading infection and some can also get a serious infection," he said.

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) announces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 booster by Novavax and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DOH are allowing use of the COVID-19 booster by Novavax.Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters are recommended for adults 18 and older for whom a bivalent booster by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna is not clinically appropriate and adults who would otherwise not get a COVID-19 booster.Adults who completed their primary series of Novavax, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines at least six months ago can receive a Novavax booster if they have not already received a different booster by another manufacturer.“We encourage people to get the new bivalent boosters from Pfizer or Moderna because those are the only boosters specially designed to protect against Omicron subvariants.

Consumers sharing their Netflix account with family or friends outside their household will have to pay extra starting early next year."We’ve landed on a thoughtful approach to monetize account sharing and we’ll begin rolling this out more broadly starting in early 2023,"the world's largest streaming service wrote in its quarterly shareholder letter on Tuesday. "After listening to consumer feedback, we are going to offer the ability for borrowers to transfer their Netflix profile into their own account, and for sharers to manage their devices more easily and to create sub-accounts ('extra member'), if they want to pay for family or friends."Netflix expects the profile transfer feature will be "especially popular" in the U.S. and 11 other countries where its new $6.99 per month ad-supported plan will be available starting Nov.

COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, WHO says On Oct. 17, 2021, there were 218 COVID patients in ICU and 772 in non-ICU spaces, a total of 990.

WASHINGTON - COVID-19 drove a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the U.S. last year, a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims, according to a government report released Wednesday.The report lays out grim trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies.It finds that pregnancy-related deaths have spiked nearly 80% since 2018, with COVID-19 being a factor in a quarter of the 1,178 deaths reported last year.

WASHINGTON - U.S. regulators on Wednesday authorized a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Novavax.The Food and Drug Administration said the new booster option is for people 18 and older who can’t get the updated omicron-targeting Pfizer or Moderna boosters for medical or accessibility reasons -- or who otherwise would not receive a COVID-19 booster shot at all.The FDA specified the additional Novavax shot was to be used as a first booster -- not for people who've already had one or more booster doses already — at least six months after completing their primary shots.FILE - In this photo illustration a COVID-19 vaccine is seen with the Novavax logo in the background.

Ontario has quietly changed masking rules for long-term care homes, no longer requiring visitors or caregivers to wear them when alone with a resident in their room.Long-term care homes are one of the only places where provincial mask mandates remain, after Ontario lifted most such requirements in June.But the rules were changed as of Friday, though no public announcement was made. Operators were notified and the COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes was updated on an Ontario government website, said a spokesperson for Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra.

Overall COVID-19 cases declined again last week, down 6% compared to the week before, but some Western Asian nations such as Singapore are experiencing a steady surge in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its latest update on the pandemic.

Two new studies uncover the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global life expectancy (LE), one showing substantial and sustained LE losses in the United States and Eastern Europe, and the other finding a link between LE at 60 years of age before the pandemic and excess deaths amid COVID-19 only in countries with older populations.

MOSCOW - Brittney Griner spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison, awaiting an appeal to her nine-year sentence for drug possession that’s set for next week.The WNBA star has been especially down lately, according to her lawyers. They were with her for part of her birthday on Oct. 18.Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin, said it wasn’t much of a celebration, but that Griner’s attorneys passed along well wishes from family and friends."She did smile, it was really good to see her smiling," Blagovolina wrote in an email to The Associated Press.Griner later released a statement through her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas."Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home.

Ontario hospitals are coming up with alternative solutions, including the use of unconventional patient spaces and new staffing models, to deal with high patient volumes and long wait times as cases of COVID-19 and other illnesses rise.The Ottawa Hospital says recent high patient volumes have been straining its capacity, while staff pressures, as well as ongoing COVID-19 cases, have made it difficult to manage the issue.The hospital says it has prepared several “temporary unconventional spaces” that could be used to care for patients if needed.

Delhi EV Policy released in 2019 set a target of accelerated EV penetration across all vehicle segments so that 25% of all new vehicle registrations are EVs by 2024. The policy also aims to take the share of electric buses in the public transport bus fleet to 70% by 2025.

ATLANTIC COUNTY, N.J. - A former teacher's alleged relationships with multiple students has resulted in several criminal charges, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.Peter Thompson, 51, is charged with multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact and official misconduct.One student reported several instances of "inappropriate sexual behavior" by Thompson during his time as a teacher at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology.MORE HEADLINES:Multiple complaints from other students were uncovered during an investigation by the Special Victims Unit.Thompson was arrested and is being detained pending a detention hearing.

FILE - A teenage boy sleeps through most of the late morning on Jan. 13, 2018, in his home in Brooklyn, New York.

FILE-A driver sits in his vehicle as he waits for a health care professional to swab his nose for a COVID-19 PCR test at a Nomi Health testing center inside Tropical Park in Miami on May 24, 2022. (Daniel A.

Novavax's vaccine is based on an older technology that has been used for decades to combat diseases including hepatitis B and influenza. Wednesday's decision is in addition to the earlier clearance for the protein-based vaccine as a primary two-shot regimen for those 12 years and above.

Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he was introducing martial law in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine that Moscow claimed last month as its own territory but is struggling to defend from Ukrainian advances.In televised remarks to members of his Security Council, Putin boosted the powers of Russia’s regional governors and ordered the creation of a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to step up the faltering war effort.He said the “entire system of state administration,” not only the specialized security agencies, must be geared to supporting what Russia calls its “special military operation.”The package of moves, nearly eight months into the war, marked the latest escalation by Putin to counter a series of major defeats at the hands of Ukrainian forces since the start of September. A Kyiv official said it would change nothing.

LEONIA, N.J. - Two men are set to spend 40 years behind bars for their involvement in the kidnapping of a Philadelphia teen in 2021.  United States Attorney Jacqueline C.

Ryan Seacrest has been seen for the first time since he revealed a week ago he had come down with COVID-19.The morning show star looked healthy on Tuesday in a dark suit with a polka dot scarf around his neck in New York City.The 47-year-old The Kardashians producer was with his 24-year-old model girlfriend Aubrey Paige.

Covid-19 cases between 10 -16 October compared to the previous week. XXB was discovered in Singapore in August. It is a hybrid of Omicron's BA.2.75 and BJ.1 sub-variants.

MOSCOW - Russian forces launched mass evacuations of civilians Wednesday from one of the first major cities they seized in the invasion of Ukraine — a tacit acknowledgment that yet another stinging battlefield defeat may be unfolding for President Vladimir Putin.Ukraine’s stunning counteroffensive appears to be bearing down on Kherson, a southern city of more than 250,000 people, with industries and a major port on the Dnieper River. The battle for the city is a pivotal moment for both Ukraine and Russia heading into winter, when cold and difficult conditions could largely freeze front lines until the spring thaw.In what could be another sign that his invasion is not going as planned, Putin ordered martial law Wednesday in four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed in recent weeks and where Russian forces have full or partial control.