Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India.
Articles by Rhythma Kaul
9 states told to boost Covid testing, vaccination
“Cannot help but re-emphasise the need for ramping up testing in the states and UTs. Those states/UTs that are showing a lower share of RT-PCR are requested to ramp up tests,” Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
Updated on Jan 26, 2022 02:34 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Omicron forms nearly 75% of the recently submitted samples to GISAID
The Omicron variant is now in community transmission in India, INSACOG, the Indian Sars-CoV-2 genomics consortium of 10 central and 28 regional laboratories, announced in its Sunday bulletin, based on whole genome sequencing results.
Updated on Jan 25, 2022 02:53 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Omicron in community transmission: INSACOG
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is now in community transmission in India and has become the dominant strain in multiple major cities, according to the Indian Sars-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) based on whole genome sequencing results of positive Covid-19 samples
Updated on Jan 24, 2022 06:58 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Administer vaccine doses three months after Covid-19 recovery: Centre to states
“Please note that: in case of individuals having lab test proven Sars-2 Covid-19 illness, all Covid vaccination including precaution dose to be deferred by three months after recovery,” additional health secretary Vikas Sheel said in a letter to the states on Friday.
Published on Jan 23, 2022 03:11 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Centre now allows 6 people to register on one number for Covid vaccination
With some registered beneficiaries receiving erroneous messages regarding their vaccination status, the government also has made a provision for revoking vaccination status in the CoWIN system
Updated on Jan 22, 2022 04:08 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Now six members can register on CoWIN through one mobile number
Since some registered beneficiaries have been getting erroneous messages regarding their vaccination status, the government has made a provision for revoking vaccination status in the CoWIN system.
Published on Jan 21, 2022 07:57 PM IST
Vaccine shielding India against 3rd wave: Govt
To illustrate the difference, the Union health secretary presented data showing how there were over 3,000 deaths on April 30, when new cases were over 380,000, while now, when 317,000 new cases were added, the number of fatalities was 380.
Updated on Jan 21, 2022 04:47 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
1.2mn people died in 2019 from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections: Study
The study, published in Lancet, is by far the most comprehensive estimate of the global impact of antimicrobial resistance
Updated on Jan 20, 2022 09:56 AM IST
Sputnik V effective against Omicron, say developers
According to the researchers, boosting with Sputnik Light as part of the “mix and match” approach may help address the lower efficacy of mRNA vaccines against Omicron as well as the documented, quickly waning, efficacy of mRNA vaccines against Covid-19.
Updated on Jan 21, 2022 06:39 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Panel pitches full market nod for Covaxin, Covishield
As per the process, the drugs controller general of India takes the final call on granting the approval based on the expert panel’s recommendations.
Updated on Jan 20, 2022 06:08 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Over 50% eligible kids get jabs in two weeks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the milestone as encouraging news and Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said it marked a big day for India’s fight against Covid-19.
Updated on Jan 20, 2022 06:04 AM IST
Rhythma KaulAbhishek Jha, New Delhi
Zydus Covid-19 vaccine hit by delay in supply
Zydus was expected to supply the first batch of its Covid-19 vaccine to the central government around the end of December last year.
Updated on Jan 19, 2022 05:12 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Strategically increase Covid tests: Centre tells states
The ministry asked provincial governments to increase testing as data from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s portal show testing has declined in many states and Union territories.
Updated on Jan 19, 2022 05:17 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Centre revises its guidelines for adult Covid patients’ treatment
The guidelines, drafted by experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research-Covid19 Task Force, AIIMS, and Directorate General of Health Services under health ministry, continue to not recommend medicines such as antibiotics doxycycline and azithromycin, and antiparasitic Ivermectin for mild cases of Covid-19.
Updated on Jan 18, 2022 03:52 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
DCGI needs more safety data for Covaxin nod for under 12
The approval on December 25 from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) came nearly 10 weeks after the subject expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended Covaxin’s use in children on October 12 last year.
Updated on Jan 18, 2022 04:45 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Covid vaccination pace in India satisfactory, say experts
India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, has crossed several milestones in its campaign to fully inoculate its population.
Updated on Jan 17, 2022 01:20 AM IST
1 year on, 70% adults fully vaccinated: Govt
Marking the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the “exceptional” role of health care workers for a year of hard work.
Updated on Jan 17, 2022 06:58 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Govt seeks more data for full market clearance to Covishield, Covaxin
Full market authorisation is granted when there is enough data to demonstrate that the vaccine is safe and effective for most people who receive it.
Updated on Jan 15, 2022 01:40 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Around 1% active Covid cases in ICUs: India data
The hospitalisation rate seen so far in the current Covid-19 wave has been between 5% and 10% of the active cases, according to the Union health ministry.
Updated on Jan 15, 2022 12:02 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Be proactive but don’t panic, Modi tells CMs
The meeting is the first time Modi met the chief ministers to discuss Covid-19 since the third wave began.
Updated on Jan 14, 2022 07:10 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Covid-19 testing options enhanced in India: ICMR
India has tested about 700 million samples to detect Covid-19 in the past two years, across 3,128 laboratories.
Updated on Jan 13, 2022 12:19 AM IST
Comorbidity rider may be lifted for boosters for above 60: Officials
People above 60 with certain illnesses and those in healthcare and front-line jobs who completed their primary vaccination course more than nine months ago are eligible for ‘precaution dose’ at present
Updated on Jan 12, 2022 12:12 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Third dose of Covid vaccine takes off, over 1 million inoculated
People familiar with the developments said the vaccination process turned out to be smooth with no major glitches.
Published on Jan 11, 2022 12:28 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
No testing required for asymptomatic contacts of Covid patients: ICMR
People with no symptoms in hospitals meant to undergo surgical or any other non-surgical invasive procedures, which includes pregnant women in or nearing labour, do not require to be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop.
Published on Jan 11, 2022 12:24 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Covid third wave: Ramp up health infra, avoid lapses, Centre tells 5 states, UT
The health minister virtually interacted with the state health ministers, principal secretaries, additional chief secretaries, and information commissioners of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Dadra and Nagra Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
Published on Jan 11, 2022 12:20 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Just 5-10% hospitalised in third Covid wave: Centre
Just around 5-10% of active Covid-19 cases have needed hospitalisation in the third Covid wave so far.
Published on Jan 11, 2022 12:10 AM IST
Jab certificates in poll-bound states not to have PM’s photo
- The move comes as model code of conduct kicks in after poll dates were announced on Saturday.
Published on Jan 10, 2022 07:28 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Health staff, senior citizens to get 3rd dose of vaccine from today
The central government has already issued detailed guidelines to all states and Union Territories, and conducted several meetings on how to implement the process smoothly.
Updated on Jan 10, 2022 12:12 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
India tally crosses 116k riding on Omicron surge
Thursday’s case count of 116,838 means that daily cases have now grown more than 10-fold in just 10 days (there were just 9,155 new infections on December 28) – a speed of rise in infections previously unseen in the two years of the pandemic in the country.
Updated on Jan 07, 2022 08:13 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul and Jamie Mullick, New Delhi
Molnupiravir anti-viral drug showing major concerns: ICMR
The country’s task force on Covid-19 is still deliberating whether to include Molnupiravir in the national protocol for treatment of coronavirus as the oral anti-viral drug has major safety concerns, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Wednesday
Updated on Jan 06, 2022 06:20 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi