"Recorded 57 active COVID-19 cases as of today", says Sikkim Health Minister GT Dhungel
He added that the health department is fully prepared, with doctors, nurses, and medical staff on alert and hospitals equipped with beds, medicines, and necessary equipment.
Speaking to the reporters, GT Dhungel said, 'We have recorded 57 active cases as of today from across the state. The entire department is well-prepared, and all doctors, nurses, and technicians have been put on alert. The rooms have been equipped with adequate beds, medicines, and other necessary equipment.'
Meanwhile, health authorities in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have reported a mild uptick in COVID-19 cases, though officials assert that the situation remains under control with no indication of widespread concern.
In Rajasthan, Dr Ravi Prakash Sharma, Director of the Department of Medical, Health & Family Welfare, said that the state is currently seeing '30 to 35 new COVID-19 cases every day', with one death recorded so far.
'We are seeing 30-35 cases of COVID every day in the state. We have sufficient stock of medicines,' he said.
Dr Sharma added that the deceased patient also suffered from tuberculosis and that the state has adequate supplies of medicines and is closely monitoring the situation.
In Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, authorities at Gajra Raja Medical College have reported multiple COVID-19 cases among medical staff, including junior doctors.
Dr RKS Dhakad, the institution's dean, stated that 6 to 7 junior doctors have tested positive but reassured that all cases are mild and under observation.
'Several tests have returned positive, including some junior doctors. The situation is not serious. Guidelines have already been issued,' Dr Dhakad told reporters.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's official dashboard, as of June 13, India reported 7,131 active COVID-19 cases and 10,976 recoveries. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
England doctors begin five-day strike over pay dispute, disrupting NHS care nationwide
LONDON: Thousands of doctors in England's state-funded health system walked off the job Friday in a five-day strike over pay that the government says will disrupt care for patients across the country. Resident doctors, those early in their careers who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care, took to picket lines outside hospitals after talks with the government broke down. The National Health Service said emergency departments would be open and hospitals and clinics would try to carry out as many scheduled appointments as possible. The doctors are seeking a pay raise to make up for what their union, the British Medical Association, says is a 20% real-terms pay cut since 2008. Dr. Melissa Ryan and Dr. Ross Nieuwoudt, chairs of the union's resident doctors committee, said 'pay erosion has now got to the point where a doctor's assistant can be paid up to 30% more than a resident doctor.' The government says doctors have received an average 28.9% increase and it will not offer more, but is willing to discuss improved working conditions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the doctors to go back to work. 'Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage,' he wrote in the Times newspaper. 'Behind the headlines are the patients whose lives will be blighted by this decision. The frustration and disappointment of necessary treatment delayed. And worse, late diagnoses and care that risks their long-term health," Starmer wrote. Health sector staff staged a series of rolling strikes over more than a year in 2023-24, seeking pay rises to offset the rising cost of living. The strikes forced tens of thousands of appointments and procedures to be postponed. The strikes hit efforts by the National Health Service to dig out of an appointment backlog that ballooned after the COVID-19 pandemic and led to longer waiting times to see a doctor. The strikes stopped after the Labour government elected in July 2024 gave doctors a raise, but the union held a new strike vote last month.
News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Doctors in England start 5-day strike over pay
Agency: PTI London, Jul 25 (AP) Thousands of doctors in England's state-funded health system walked off the job Friday in a five-day strike over pay that the government says will disrupt care for patients across the country. Resident doctors, those early in their careers who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care, took to picket lines outside hospitals after talks with the government broke down. The National Health Service said emergency departments would be open and hospitals and clinics would try to carry out as many scheduled appointments as possible. The doctors are seeking a pay raise to make up for what their union, the British Medical Association, says is a 20 per cent real-terms pay cut since 2008. Dr. Melissa Ryan and Dr. Ross Nieuwoudt, chairs of the union's resident doctors committee, said 'pay erosion has now got to the point where a doctor's assistant can be paid up to 30 per cent more than a resident doctor." The government says doctors have received an average 28.9 per cent increase and it will not offer more, but is willing to discuss improved working conditions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the doctors to go back to work. 'Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage," he wrote in the Times newspaper. 'Behind the headlines are the patients whose lives will be blighted by this decision. The frustration and disappointment of necessary treatment delayed. And worse, late diagnoses and care that risks their long-term health," Starmer wrote. Health sector staff staged a series of rolling strikes over more than a year in 2023-24, seeking pay rises to offset the rising cost of living. The strikes forced tens of thousands of appointments and procedures to be postponed. The strikes hit efforts by the National Health Service to dig out of an appointment backlog that ballooned after the COVID-19 pandemic and led to longer waiting times to see a doctor. The strikes stopped after the Labour government elected in July 2024 gave doctors a raise, but the union held a new strike vote last month. (AP) GRS GRS view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 14:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
40 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Your brain might have aged faster during the pandemic, even without Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated the ageing of the human brain, even in people who were never infected, according to a new study. Mounting stress, prolonged isolation, and widespread disruption during the pandemic appear to have left lasting biological effects on brain structure. Researchers have now found measurable signs of this accelerated ageing across the general population, with older adults, men, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds being most affected. The study, led by researchers at the University of Nottingham and published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, titled Accelerated brain ageing during the Covid-19 pandemic, analysed brain scans of 996 healthy adults sourced from UK Biobank, which holds the de-identified biological and health data of over half a million people. The scans taken before and after the pandemic showed that brains aged an average of 5.5 months faster during lockdown. The findings showed that while men aged about six months faster, women aged by around 4.5 months. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds experienced up to seven months of additional brain ageing. According to the researchers, this is the first major study to isolate pandemic stress from actual Covid infection and still find evidence of measurable brain ageing. How did researchers measure brain ageing? Using AI models trained on more than 15,000 brain scans, scientists calculated each participant's 'brain age gap'—the difference between how old their brain appeared versus their actual age. A larger gap indicated faster ageing. They compared people scanned twice before the pandemic with those scanned once before and once after. The latter group, who lived through lockdowns, social isolation, and economic stress, showed significantly faster brain ageing. Can stress actually age your brain? Emerging research suggests it can. Chronic stress, lack of social stimulation, disrupted routines, and reduced cognitive engagement can all affect brain regions responsible for memory and executive function. The researchers emphasised that brain health is shaped not only by disease but also by environmental factors and everyday experiences. Who was most affected by accelerated brain ageing? According to the study, the most affected groups were: Men (33 per cent more acceleration than women) Older adults Individuals from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds The findings suggest that socioeconomic vulnerability, limited healthcare access, and lower social support systems heightened the impact of pandemic-related stress. How did Covid infection affect the brain differently? While brain ageing was seen across the general population, cognitive decline was reported only in those who had been infected with Covid-19. Infected individuals performed worse on mental flexibility and processing speed tests, especially the Trail Making Test (TMT), which is often used to assess early dementia symptoms. Thus, while pandemic stress altered brain structure, infection was linked to functional cognitive decline. Are these brain changes permanent? It is unclear. Since the study only measured two time points per person, researchers cannot yet confirm whether brain ageing will stabilise or reverse over time. However, they remain cautiously optimistic. 'Our study highlights the pandemic's significant impact on brain health, beyond direct infection effects, and underscores the need to address broader social and health inequalities,' the authors noted. How can you protect your brain now? Even if the pandemic aged your brain slightly, there are proven ways to support brain health: Maintain regular social connections Engage in physical activity Follow a brain-healthy diet Prioritise mental well-being and sleep Keep your mind active with learning and problem-solving While ageing is inevitable, experts say the rate of cognitive decline can still be influenced. According to experts, by avoiding certain everyday habits, like prolonged sitting, skipping meals, excessive screen time, chronic stress, and social isolation, we may be able to slow down cognitive ageing and protect our mental well-being.
