Hospitals resist standard rates for covid treatment

• If hospitals don’t agree with the prescribed rates, policyholders could end up spending out of their pockets
• Fixing rates could push more hospitals to deny cashless claims which require the insurer’s pre-approval

Covid-19: Top US health expert optimistic about vaccine by early 2021

• Dr Anthony Fauci Fauci said that the coronavirus will likely to continue to emerge, and global collaboration and transparency are critical to deal with the future pandemics
• There are 5-7 candidates that are going into clinical trials at different stages, he said

Decoded: How lung, immune system in kids protect from severe covid-19

Differences in lung physiology and immune function in children may explain why they are more often spared from severe illness associated with COVID-19 than adults, according to a research

Singapore scientists seek power from darkness through shadow energy

• Shadow-effect energy generator being developed by the National University of Singapore has the potential to harness power like solar cells without open spaces with uninterrupted light
• To work effectively, SEG requires both light and dark, relies on light to shine on silicon to energise electrons

Scientists warn of potential wave of coronavirus-linked brain damage

• Coronavirus can lead to severe neurological complications, including inflammation, psychosis and delirium, warn scientists
• Neuroscientists and specialist brain doctors say emerging evidence of Covid-19 impact on the brain is concerning.

India's coronavirus cases per million lowest in the world, says health ministry

• India also has one of the lowest deaths per million population at 14.27, while the global average is 68.29
• The recovery rate has risen to 61.13%, and active cases now total 2,59,557

Covid-19 vaccine: Moderna spars with US scientists over human trials

Moderna, US scientists squabble over the process and delivering trial protocols, which have not been previously reported, have contributed to a delay of more than two weeks in launching the trial of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate, now expected in late July

Compounds that halt reproduction of Covid-19 virus identified

The inhibitors all demonstrated potent chemical and structural interactions with viral proteins critical to the virus's ability to proliferate, according to the study published in the journal Cell Research

WHO doesn't see bubonic plague in China as high risk

The outbreak of bubonic plague in China is being 'well managed' and is not considered to represent a high risk, a World Health Organization official said

Coronavirus vaccine: Top US health expert has a warning over lasting protection

A shot to protect against Covid-19 won’t work like the measles vaccine, which lasts throughout a person’s lifetime: Anthony Fauci

Fossils reveal dinosaur forerunner smaller than a cellphone: Study

The creature, which predated dinosaurs and flying pterosaurs, was just shy of 4 inches (10 centimeters) tall, according to a study

Covid-19 put 73 countries at risk of running out of HIV drugs: WHO

• A failure of suppliers to deliver ARVs on time, a shutdown of land and air transport services, limited access to health services within countries as a result of the pandemic, were among the causes cited for the disruptions in the survey

Months of trial and error in the ICU offer clues on how to save covid patients

• Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also credits better experience with medicines
• The WHO is collating data from countries to identify crucial elements that reduce mortality

WHO reviewing report urging new guidance over airborne spread of coronavirus

The WHO says SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads primarily through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of an infected person that quickly sink to the ground

73 countries at risk of running out of HIV drugs due to Covid-19: WHO

• WHO is deeply concerned about impact of Covid-19 on global response to HIV, its Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said
• He stated that progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths can be 'accelerated by stepping up efforts to tackle comorbidities and new threats like coronavirus'

Covid-19 vaccine highly likely by 2021: WHO

• Vaccines usually undergo three rounds of testing
• The first two trials are typically smaller, testing only for the possibility of adverse reactions, not on efficacy

Regeneron begins COVID-19 antibody cocktail late-stage trial

The trial, run jointly with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, would test the therapy's ability to prevent infection in those who have had close exposure to a COVID-19 patient

DRDO to set up research cell at IIT Hyderabad

The DRDO-IITH Research Cell will undertake basic and applied research programmes in identified technology areas

China's Inner Mongolia on high alert after reported case of bubonic plague

The bubonic plague case was discovered in the city of Bayannur in Inner Mongolia, and local authorities had issued a citywide Level 3 warning for plague prevention

Aug 15 target for covid vaccine launch 'unfeasible': Indian Academy of Sciences

• The IASc said the immune responses usually take several weeks to develop and relevant data should not be collected earlier
• The IASc said if the data collected from Phase 1 of the clinical trial show that the vaccine is not adequately safe, then Phase 2 cannot be initiated and the candidate vaccine must be discarded