Covid 19

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is investigating a doctor at Wan Medical Clinic in Bedok for falsifying Covid-19 vaccination records, and is suspending four clinics linked to him. It is also investigating the clinic for allegedly offering "remote" Antigen Rapid Test (ART) Pre-Event Testing, in partnership with Ms Iris Koh, the founder of anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide. MOH said on Sunday (Jan 23) that it was looking into the clinic following anonymous feedback in December 2021. The clinic was said to have allowed individuals to submit pre-recorded videos or photos showing them performing a self-administered pre-event ART. It would then upload a negative ART result for these individuals. Under the Infectious Diseases (Antigen Rapid Test Providers) Regulations 2021, pre-event testing must be conducted in real time, in the presence of a registered medical practitioner or qualified self-administered test supervisor. MOH also found that the clinic's doctor, 33-year-old Jipson … [Read more...] about Bedok clinic’s doctor investigated for falsifying Covid-19 vaccine records; 4 clinics linked to him suspended

JERUSALEM - A fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine given to people over 60 in Israel made them three times more resistant to serious illness than thrice-vaccinated people in the same age group, Israel's Health Ministry said on Sunday (Jan 23). The ministry also said the fourth dose, or second booster, made people over 60 twice as resistant to infection than those in the age group who received three shots of the vaccine. A preliminary study published by Israel's Sheba medical centre last Monday found that the fourth shot increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third but "probably" not to the point that it could completely fend off the highly transmissible Omicron variant. ALSO READ: Israel cuts Covid-19 isolation to 5 days Israel began offering a fourth dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine to people over 60 earlier this month as Omicron swept the country. The ministry said on Sunday the study it conducted with several major Israeli universities and the Sheba centre … [Read more...] about Fourth Covid-19 vaccine shot raises resistance to serious illness for over-60s: Israel

HONG KONG - Hong Kong authorities said on Sunday (Jan 23) one hamster surrendered to authorities by pet owners had tested positive for Covid-19 and that over 2,200 hamsters had been culled as the city struggled to contain an outbreak. On Tuesday, officials ordered the killing of hamsters from dozens of pet shops after tracing a coronavirus outbreak to a worker at a shop and asked people to surrender any bought on or after Dec 22. While a handful of hamsters had already tested positive for the virus, this latest case is the first involving a hamster in the care of a pet-owner that had tested positive. Despite a public outcry against the hamster crackdown, authorities urged pet-owners to continue to hand over their tiny furry pets given burgeoning health risks. "(The government) strongly advises members of the public again to surrender ... as soon as possible their hamsters purchased in local pet shops on or after Dec 22, 2021 for humane dispatch," the government said in a … [Read more...] about Surrendered Hong Kong hamster tests positive for Covid-19 as city lockdown grows

The World Health Organisation on Friday (Jan 21) recommended extending the use of a reduced dosage of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 years old. The recommendation comes after the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation held a meeting on Wednesday to evaluate the vaccine. It is currently recommended for use in people aged 12 years and above. The recommended dosage for the younger population is 10 micrograms instead of 30 micrograms offered to those 12 years and older. "This age group (5-11) is in the lowest priority use group for vaccination except, for children who have co-morbidities," SAGE chairman Alejandro Cravioto said at a briefing. Pfizer/BioNTech shots have already been authorised for use in the age group in several countries including the United States, Canada, Israel, and the European Union. The WHO's vaccine director, Kate O'Brien, said no safety concerns were raised for application of Pfizer's vaccine in five to 11 years … [Read more...] about WHO recommends reduced dose Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for under 12s

BEIJING - Beijing's city government on Sunday (Jan 23) introduced new measures to contain a recent outbreak of Covid-19, as China's capital continued to report new local cases of the virus less than two weeks before it hosts the Winter Olympic Games. Nine locally transmitted cases were found in Beijing on Jan 22, the National Health Commission said on Sunday, of which six were in the city's Fengtai district. Fengtai will organise nucleic acid tests for Covid-19 for all of its residents on Sunday, district health authorities said. Authorities have asked residents of "risky areas", including a neighbourhood of Fengtai, to not leave the city, a local government spokesman said at a Sunday news conference, adding that Fengtai residents have been asked to avoid mass gatherings. Beijing city has also asked residents to proactively conduct nucleic acid tests if they find themselves with Covid-19-like symptoms within 14 days of receiving any deliveries from overseas, local authorities … [Read more...] about Beijing introduces more Covid-19 measures as cases mount before Winter Olympics

SINGAPORE - A total of 17,699 children below the age of 12 have been infected with Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, with 2,586 hospitalised. More than 140,000 under the age of 12 have also gotten their first dose of the vaccine, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post on Sunday (Jan 23). "On average, about 6,000 children are vaccinated daily," he added. Mr Ong's comments on Sunday came after Singapore's director of medical services Kenneth Mak said on Friday (Jan 21) that children aged below 12 are starting to make up the majority of Covid-19 cases that are admitted to hospitals. Among 14,380 children below 12 years old infected with the disease from Oct 1, 2021 to Jan 16, 2022, four had severe infection needing either oxygen supplementation or intensive care unit (ICU) attention. The KK Women's and Children's Hospital and the National University Hospital also reported that they are seeing more children with Covid-19 and non-Covid-19-related respiratory … [Read more...] about ‘Spikes in children admission to hospitals due to Covid-19’: 17,699 aged below 12 infected since pandemic started, 2,586 hospitalised

A non-fungible token (NFT) project featuring 2,000 pixel art hamsters has been launched in Hong Kong, after the public hit out at a government decision to cull the animals over the possible risk of Covid-19 transmission to humans. Earlier this week, Hong Kong authorities asked pet shops and owners to hand over about 2,000 hamsters for a mass cull and temporarily suspended imports of small animals, after 11 samples taken from hamsters in a local pet store came back positive for Covid. The shopkeeper and a customer were confirmed to be infected with the same Delta variant. The city government has not walked back its decision despite petitions calling for an end to the cull, and experts warning that it could lead to people abandoning their pets. The NFT project, called Carries Hamsters – named after Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam - was launched on Thursday as hamster owners in the city started dropping off their pets at a government facility. “We will not stand for the euthanising of … [Read more...] about 2,000 hamsters to be digitally ‘resurrected’ after Hong Kong Covid-19 cull

26 BRUSSELS (AP) — Police fired water cannons and thick clouds of tear gas Sunday in Brussels to disperse people protesting COVID-19 vaccinations and government restrictions that aim to curb the fast-spreading omicron variant. Police said the protest in the Belgian capital drew an estimated 50,000 people, some traveling from France, Germany and other countries to take part. Protesters yelled “Liberty!” as they marched and some had violent confrontations with police. Video showed black-clad protesters attacking a building used by the European Union’s diplomatic service, hurling projectiles at its entrance and smashing windows. A much smaller number of anti-vaccination demonstrators marched in Barcelona. The protests followed demonstrations in other European capitals on Saturday against vaccine passports and … [Read more...] about Water cannon, tear gas at COVID-19 protests in Brussels

Omicron: Sadiq Khan 'incredibly concerned' Sign up for FREE health tips to live a long and happy life SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info As the Omicron variant sweeps the nation, Britons might be worried about taking time off work and the financial impact this could have on their families. However, people can get £500 each and every time they are asked to self isolate by Test and Trace. Related articles 'Won't be any point in living' Retiree, 75, lives in just one room Currency crash and 'serious trouble' predictions spark gold warning READ MORE The major benefit changes coming in 2022 - are you due a pay rise? With Christmas just a week away the last thing people need to worry … [Read more...] about ‘Don’t be afraid to ask for help:’ Millions can claim £500 COVID-19 payment’

Covid tests are still essential to stop the spread of the virus (Image: ) Sign up to receive our rundown of the day's top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Did you know you can carry and transmit Covid-19 and not show symptoms? Since the outbreak of COVID-19, testing has been key in identifying positive cases to ensure that anyone carrying the virus can help stop the spread by isolating. And now, these rapid tests are available for everyone to build into their routines by using them twice a week. With the R rate dropping and a roadmap in place to ease the UK out of lockdown, COVID-19 tests are more essential than ever to help protect each other and help get life moving again. Testing isn’t only for people with … [Read more...] about 5 things you didn’t know about your rapid COVID-19 test