When will next Covid variant strike the world? WHO answers on Omicron mutations

#COVID19 variants of concern with @DrMikeRyan and Dr @mvankerkhove. #AskWHO https://t.co/fwQZYZkgGA

Suffering from Covid may make you more likely to experience depression and anxiety, according to a study.

Terminal V Festival is all set to welcome techno fans back through its gates after an extremely difficult and trying two years through the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are Ontario’s loosened restrictions, capacity limits as of Feb. 17 Meanwhile, Ontario also reported 2,327 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, though that is an underestimate of the true widespread transmission of the virus due to recent testing restrictions.

The mystery illness ‘Russian flu’

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Addressing the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting being held virtually, Sitharaman urged for a need to evolve methodologies to plug funding gaps between multilateral institutions as low and middle income countries did not have enough resources to face these challenges on their own. Sitharaman emphasized on addressing structural bottlenecks to reduce the pandemic’s scarring effects and building resilience.She suggested that the economic recovery measures be built around a long term vision. Sitharaman pressed for a need for a pool creation so a future pandemic wouldn't make it worse for middle or low income countries.Emphasizing multilateral support, Sitharaman said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) needed to augment its capacity and mobilise global resources, especially as low and middle income countries had limited fiscal space to fund health and climate issue related matters.The Finance Minister said that it was crucial to address the gaps in global pandemic preparedness and said that the work of the G20 Joint Finance and Health Task Force should progress in that direction.However, Sitharaman pointed out that India prioritized spend and allocated $29 billion towards health infrastructure mission, where health insurance was assured for the poor and for the low income groups.

#COVID19 were reported to WHO. Dr @mvankerkhove elaborates on Omicron and its sub-lineages transmission and severity ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/w53Z25npx2

Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Ontario’s vaccine certificate system is ending March 1, when proof of vaccination will no longer be required in public settings, though businesses may choose to keep it in place on their own. But those are very different places than institutions caring for vulnerable patients, Gaskin said.“It’s also a choice,” he said.

The Scottish Government have confirmed 22 people have died from coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

Mumbai today reported 259 fresh infections, though no deaths were reported in the megacity. With this, the active case tally in the state stands at 1,945. Today's Covid cases are slightly more than yesterday when Mumbai recorded 255 Covid infections.

Just because Mark Wahlberg got COVID, his family wasn’t about to give up their vacation.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 64,49,026, said the health department on Thursday. 

KYIV, Ukraine - NATO allies accused Russia of misleading the world and disseminating "disinformation" by saying it was returning some troops to bases, charging that Moscow has instead added as many as 7,000 more troops near its tense border with Ukraine.With Western fears high that Russia is planning to invade, tensions also spiked Thursday along the line that separates Ukrainian forces from Russia-backed separatists in the country's east, with the parties accusing each other of intensive shelling.After a handful of positive signals from Russia that lowered the temperature in the crisis earlier in the week, the pendulum appeared to be swinging in the opposite direction again. With an estimated 150,000-plus troops massed near Ukraine, the Kremlin offered to keep pursuing diplomatic solutions — an overture the NATO chief welcomed, even as he and others warned that the U.S.-led alliance has still seen no sign of the military withdrawal that Moscow announced."We have seen the opposite of some of the statements.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway has revealed her husband Derek Draper is still "terribly affected" from his battle with Covid-19.

great white shark in Sydney Australia yesterday (February 16) was a former RAF man whose wedding was tragically delayed by Covid.Simon Nellist, 35, had been due to tie the knot with long time girlfriend Jessie Ho this year before he was killed by the 15ft shark in the freak attack.A keen scuba diver, Simon had been training for an open ocean swim when he was attacked from below by the shark and mauled to death within minutes.A close friend of Simon's has told The Sun that he was in love with the ocean and incredibly respectful of wildlife. They said: "He was massively into wildlife and knew exactly what he was doing.

COVID-19 public health indicators such as a decline in hospitalizations, cases, test positivity and the waste water signal.The province announced Ontario would move into the next phase four days ahead of schedule. This includes increasing or removing capacity limits in several settings.

Hong Kong's coronavirus battle has intensified as authorities reported new cases had multiplied by 60 times so far this month.

Covid-19 in India is much higher than the official count and that actual numbers have been undercounted...these reports are fallacious and completely inaccurate. They are not based on facts and are speculative in nature," the government said in a statement.There have been some media reports based on a published research paper alleging that mortality due to #COVID19 in India is much higher than the official count and actual numbers have been undercounted...These reports are fallacious and completely inaccurate: Govt of India pic.twitter.com/cA9ZR0N4sg

negative RT-PCR report. 

Kate Garraway has opened up on her husband Derek Draper's mental health as he continues to suffer from the long-term impacts of Covid-19. Derek, 54, returned home in April 2021 after spending a year in hospital fighting for his life after contracting coronavirus in 2020, which has since left him battling a number of ongoing health issues.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Royal Family have taken to social media to voice their concerns after noticing that the Queen looks 'thinner' in a new picture.The Palace released a new image on Wednesday (16 February), showing the 95-year-old monarch on her first royal engagement since last week's royal Covid scare.She can be seen smiling as she spoke to Rear Admiral James Macleod for the official liaison between Her Majesty and the armed forces.During the encounter the Queen, who was walking with the support of a stick, could reportedly be heard to say: "Oh, I am here."When asked how she was, the Queen quipped: "Well, as you can see, I can't move."Her Majesty then pointed towards her feet before shuffling forward and greeting the pair with a handshake.The photos drew some reaction on social media, with some rushing to comment on her apparent weight loss.One royal fan tweeted: "The Royal Family should be very concerned instead of some members going on vacation etc.

ongoing convoy protests a “threat” to Canadian democracy in a letter justifying emergency powers to the country’s premiers.The letter, released by the federal government late Wednesday night, said fatigue and frustration with COVID-19 public health measures and vaccine mandates are “no longer the motivation of many of the (protest) participants and organizers.” Ottawa police issue new warning amid convoy blockade: ‘leave the area now’ “We are seeing activity that is a threat to our democracy and that is undermining the public’s trust in our institutions,” Trudeau wrote.“The Government of Canada believes firmly in the right to peaceful protest. But as we discussed, the activities taking place across the country have gone well beyond peaceful protest.”Trudeau declared a public order emergency on Monday, giving federal authorities exceptional powers aimed at bringing the convoy protests to an end after almost three weeks of unrest.

NEW DELHI :

attended the big game. Rodgers wasn't one of them. Then, following the loss, Rodgers was named the MVP of the season – because that award is about the regular season, during which Rodgers was pretty spectacular.

Covid scare, the Queen has made her first public appearance since her son Prince Charles tested positive.Major concerns had been raised after the Queen, 95, and Charles, 73, met at Windsor Castle two days before he tested positive with the virus. A Palace source said that Her Majesty was not displaying any symptoms but that the situation was being monitored as she attended official royal duties.On Tuesday, the Queen was snapped holding virtual audiences with new ambassadors from Estonia and Spain via a video call in her first public appearance.On Wednesday, the Palace said she had received both the outgoing and incoming Defence Services Secretaries at Windsor Castle.The Queen, who was walking with the support of a stick, said: "Oh, I am here."When asked how she was, the Queen chuckled: "Well, as you can see, I can't move."Her Majesty then pointed towards her feet before shuffling forward and greeting the pair with a handshake.The update comes after many were concerned that the Queen could also test positive after coming into contact with Charles.Charles would typically greet his mother in public with both a kiss on the hand and a kiss on the cheek.Prince Charles's wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has since also now tested positive for Covid.Last week, a Palace source said the Queen, who this month celebrated the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, would be returning to normal duties.After a long-anticipated nervous wait, it's understood that the Queen, who has been triple jabbed, is showing no symptoms and has submitted a negative result.Prince Charles is currently self-isolating after catching Covid last Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Jason Lubell holds ‘Frank Sinatra,’ his Hungarian Puli dog, in Washington Square Park on January 19, 2022 in New York City. "We all share the same goal – to get to a point where COVID-19 is no longer disrupting our daily lives, a time when it won’t be a constant crisis – rather something we can prevent, protect against, and treat," Walensky said.With the omicron variant waning and Americans eager to move beyond the virus, government and business leaders have been out ahead of the CDC in ending virus measures in the last week, including ordering workers back to offices, eliminating mask mandates and no longer requiring proof of vaccine to get into restaurants, bars and sports and entertainment arenas.RELATED: California ends mask mandate, but not all counties are ditching masksThe efforts have been gaining more steam each day.Philadelphia officials on Wednesday said the city’s vaccine mandate for restaurants was immediately lifted, though indoor mask mandates remain in place for now.

COVID-19.The preventive isolation policy had been criticized by family members who said their relatives’ health declined during the isolation period.Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec’s interim public health director, told reporters Wednesday that residents will only have to isolate if they are in contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19 for more than 10 minutes without a mask.

The province says it has more than 20 million take home COVID-19 tests on the way. How will those tests get into the hands of British Columbians though? Richard Zussman has more on the plan.

SCITUATE, Mass. - A Massachusetts man got a big surprise on Valentine’s Day, but it wasn’t a surprise in the traditional sense. Steve Maguire, who ironically teaches meteorology to high schoolers, accidentally left the family van’s sunroof open before a heavy snow day. The family had been quarantined for several days after some family members contracted COVID-19 and had gotten a tad stir-crazy. Maguire figured it’d be a nice treat to drive around in the family van to get them out of the house. "We had the windows open, and we had the sunroof open, and it was 63 degrees here in Scituate, and it’s February, it’s amazing," Maguire told Boston 25 News. Photos showing snow inside Steve Maguire’s van. RELATED: Chicago weather whiplash: Temps climb into the 50s followed by more snow However, when they returned home from their drive, Maguire forgot to close the sunroof on Feb.

Reuters, Fauci said U.S. states are facing tough choices in their efforts to balance the need to protect their citizens from infections and the growing fatigue with a pandemic that has dragged into its third year.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

BRUSSELS :

B.C. health officials release a written report Wednesday, Feb. 16, with the daily COVID-19 case numbers. Legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey has analysis and how the province is looking as most restrictions are dropped tonight at 11:59 p.m.

While many COVID-19 restrictions are lifting in Alberta, some businesses are taking a cautious approach, including Edmonton’s Varscona Theatre. This comes as Alberta’s chief medical officer of health is reminding us that people have different risk tolerances.

Concordia University student unions say students don’t feel safe about heading back to campus.They say they believe the university is not doing enough to keep them safe from COVID-19 transmission since they returned to in-person classes on Feb.

Quebec opposition parties call for end of COVID-19 state of emergency In another volatile question period, the leader of the Official Opposition lobbed stinging accusations.“The premier has forgotten what it means to govern in a democracy,” said Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade.“(The state of emergency) allows the premier to decide there will be a curfew without debate at the National Assembly, without the opinion of public health,” she continued.However, the government says it needs the state of emergency to uphold things it has already brought in by decree, like salary bonuses for nurses and mask mandates. Premier François Legault said the government intends to lift the state of emergency in a few weeks.

COVID-19 cases across the globe declined last week for the second week in a row, with illness levels dropping in every region except the Western Pacific, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in its weekly pandemic snapshot.

Quebec health experts stress COVID-19 booster shot still necessary despite vaccine passport removal The other puts in place a ban on outdoor cooking and consuming alcohol in parks and in public spaces that Marchand says will be revisited this summer.Quebec City police issued 170 tickets and made three arrests during protests in front of the legislature during the first weekend in February. 

ATLANTA - COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is already recommended to prevent severe illness and death in pregnant women, but a new study shows the vaccine may also protect a mother’s newborn baby. According to the study, published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, completion of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series during pregnancy may help prevent hospitalization from the virus among infants who are less than six months old.A group of researchers at the Overcoming COVID-19 network conducted the study at 20 pediatric hospitals in 17 states between July 1, 2021 and Jan. 17, 2022. Among 176 hospitalized infants with COVID-19 aged less than six months, 84% were born to mothers who were not vaccinated during pregnancy. A pregnant woman holds her belly on September 27, 2016 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Gojira have rescheduled their upcoming UK and European tour due to COVID-19 restrictions.The French metal titans were supposed to hit the road last month, beginning in Helsinki, with stop-offs in Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Prague, Budapest and other cities throughout January into February and March.However, they’ve announced that they will now kick off their European tour on July 5 in Brussels and conclude it in Milan on July 31 at Carroponte.The UK and Ireland leg of the tour, meanwhile, has moved to 2023 and will begin on February 11 in Dublin and conclude at London’s Alexandra Palace on February 22.Gojira will then play rescheduled shows in Bordeaux, Paris, Luxembourg and Lyon between February 24 and 28, 2023.“We cannot express how much we appreciate your continued patience and support while we worked through last month’s postponement,” the band said in a social media post.“Despite our best efforts to resume touring this month, the continued uncertainty in various territories has left us with no other choice but to reschedule the remaining dates of the tour as well.“In light of this unfortunate news we are pleased to share the rescheduled dates for the entire European Tour below.”A post shared by Gojira Official (@gojiraofficial)Original tickets for the tour – which sees support from special guests Alien Weaponry and Employed To Serve – remain valid.

Today during a White House press briefing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, said she was cautiously optimistic about the trajectory the United States was currently on, 2 months after the Omicron variant became the dominant strain in the nation.