Latest news with #Covid-19
India Today
an hour ago
- Health
- India Today
Razor blade sore throat emerges as key symptom of new Covid strain
A new Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, now dubbed 'Nimbus', rapidly spreading in several countries and is making headlines for a painful and distinctive symptom: a severely sore throat described by patients as feeling like "swallowing razor blades."This unusually intense throat pain is fast becoming an emerging symptom of the new strain, according to international symptom, being called the "razor blade throat", is affecting individuals across the US, a report by the Associated Press The World Health Organisation (WHO) has maintained that the variant does not currently pose a higher risk of severe illness compared to previous contracting a COVID-19 infection are reporting an unusually intense sore throat, described as feeling like swallowing razor blades, as per IS THE NIMBUS VARIANT?The NB.1.8.1 variant, now nicknamed 'Nimbus', is part of the evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus family, which health authorities say is increasingly behaving like a seasonal virus, similar to the Nimbus has garnered attention due to its unusual symptom profile and its rapid geographical spread in recent of mid-May, the WHO reported that Nimbus accounted for nearly 11% of sequenced Covid-19 samples US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also confirmed that the variant had been detected through airport screenings of travelers arriving from Asia in states such as California, Virginia, New York, and India, INSACOG (the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium), identified four circulating variants in the country: LF.7, XFG, JN.1.16, and SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FORBeyond the intense sore throat, common symptoms of the Nimbus variant continue to mirror those of earlier strains, including fever and chills, cough, headache, and shortness of ARE INDIAN EXERTS SAYING?Cases in India have marginally decreased. As of June 20, the active Covid-19 caseload, stands at 5,608 cases, indicating a downward trend in infections despite the presence of new to the WHO, Nimbus is currently classified as low risk, with no evidence of increased severity or mortality and most patients are managing their symptoms via home isolation.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Key sign your ‘hay fever' is actually new Covid strain as doctor reveals how to spot different symptoms
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS sneezing through summer could be facing more than just pollen. A new Covid strain is sweeping across the UK, and some of its symptoms are almost identical to hay fever, making it tricky to tell which one you've got. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Covid often leaves people feeling drained and seriously unwell, while hay fever – annoying as it is – tends to be milder Credit: Getty The warning comes as the Met Office reports "very high" pollen levels across much of the country, while health officials confirm a near 10 per cent rise in Covid-related hospital admissions in England. Areas like London, Manchester, and Birmingham are particularly affected. Hay fever and Covid-19 can both cause sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, headaches, and even a loss of smell. But while hay fever is triggered by an allergic reaction to pollen, Covid is caused by a viral infection – and that difference can be crucial. Dr Luke Powles, Bupa's Associate Clinical Director, explains: "Despite hay fever being more common during the spring and summer, some people are affected by pollen from March to September. This can make it harder to tell if sniffs and sneezes are being caused by an allergy or an infection such as coronavirus." The latest Covid variant, known as NB.1.8.1 or "Nimbus", is fuelling the surge. NHS data shows 947 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week ending 31 May. So, what's the key symptom to watch for? A high temperature. This is common with Covid, but not with hay fever. The NHS says a fever means "you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)". Dr Powles confirms: "It is not likely for you to experience a raised temperature as a result of hay fever." And while hay fever can affect smell and taste, he says, "completely losing your ability to taste or smell is more likely to result from coronavirus." Another clue is how unwell you feel. Covid often leaves people feeling drained and seriously unwell, while hay fever – annoying as it is – tends to be milder. "Hay fever symptoms aren't usually serious and, generally, you won't feel too ill," says Dr Powles. Covid, however, can have longer-lasting effects. The NHS warns some people suffer from symptoms for weeks or even months – a condition known as long Covid. The illness can also cause stomach problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea – not something you'd get with hay fever. Fatigue, body aches and chills are also more likely to point to Covid than seasonal allergies. While hay fever typically affects the eyes and nose, Covid can have a much broader impact on the body. Experts are urging the public not to ignore the signs. If you suddenly feel worse than a typical allergy bout, or develop unusual symptoms like fever or stomach upset, it's best to err on the side of caution. "If you're unsure whether you're suffering from hay fever or Covid, it's wise to limit contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable," said a spokesperson for the NHS. Lateral flow tests are still available at some pharmacies or online, though not always free. Taking a test can help clear up the confusion and stop the virus from spreading further. Doctors also remind people that Covid symptoms can vary widely. Not everyone gets a cough or fever, and some only experience mild cold-like issues. That's why knowing your own health history and spotting any changes is key. List of hayfever symptoms Sneezing Runny or blocked nose Itchy nose, throat, mouth, or ears Watery, red or itchy eyes Post-nasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat) Cough (often caused by post-nasal drip) Loss of smell or reduced sense of smell Headache or facial pain (due to sinus congestion) Feeling tired or fatigued Earache or popping sensation in the ears
Mint
an hour ago
- Health
- Mint
Meet Saurabh Bothra, IITian-turned-yoga coach who has built a 1 crore-strong wellness community — one habit at a time
From a room in Nagpur, Maharashtra, to living rooms around the world, Saurabh Bothra has quietly but powerfully built a wellness revolution. An IIT alumnus and yoga enthusiast, he is the mind behind HaBuild. This "habit-building" platform began as his personal mission to help his mother fight frailty, and has grown into a community of nearly 10 million people. On International Yoga Day 2025, Saurabh Bothra says building consistency is the key to a healthy wellness routine. The 33-year-old's tryst with yoga began when he was 19 years old. He started roping his engineering juniors to practice yoga together when he was in the fourth year of college himself. But it was only after graduation that he took to learning how to teach yoga properly from the Art of Living International Center. What was the turning point? He says it was during Covid-19 when his mother asked him to suggest her four yoga poses for knee pain. He requested her to join his session, following which she would ask him to simplify terms like hamstring, glute muscles and more. "Once we started the solving problem for her, it became so simple for me to reach out to other moms. Many women tend to think that they do household work and that is exercise enough. But we started reaching out to more women, asking them to join our sessions and see if it makes any difference. We were doing free sessions initially, and then it just became viral," Bothra tells LiveMint in an interview. Today, his community has over 10 million users, who are gently nudged into making a habit of a wellness routine, not so much as a challenge, but as a lifestyle shift. Saurabh Bothra, also the face of the platform with a Yoga Everyday motto, eases you into the journey with guided yoga, breathwork, live check-ins, and community motivation, hoping people continue to simply "show up" day after day. I had severe asthma as a kid. I used to fall sick every day. There was some or the other allergy I would catch, my immunity was low and I was not able to play sports. This was norm. When I was in college, I happened to attend a yoga program without knowing it would help me with my asthma issue. I liked doing the practices they mentioned. After a few months, I realized my overall health felt better. When something is going wrong, you notice it faster. But when things are going right, it takes time for you to notice. So, it took me some time to realize that yoga was helping me. My grandfather had done his MBBS in 1955. So, there was already an interest around Ayurveda and naturopathy in the house. I happened to do engineering from IIT, but I was more interested in being a doctor or getting to know more about how the body functions. So there was an interest which got ignited when I started practicing yoga. Yes, I think the combination of engineering and the learnings that my grandfather gave us, is very important. While we teach yoga online, there is so much that happens with the technology that makes it come to life. Otherwise, it is so difficult as we have almost 1.03 crore people who have signed up for our program. It would be impossible to be able to deal with this without the technology background. Saurabh Bothra says his wellness platform is aimed at mothers. After teaching yoga for around seven years during my voluntary work, I realized that it was so difficult for people to become consistent with it. I was trying to make people more aware about the benefits of yoga, but it was not helping in any way. During Covid-19, I had enough time to understand how to make a habit out of yoga. I genuinely wanted people to make yoga a consistent part of their life. So, I started reading more about habits. I started experimenting with what I could do in the class so that people become more regular. We used the fundamentals of habit-building. Our mind needs instant gratification. In my classes, we give that by measuring the habit itself by tracking attendance. People care whether they are doing it or not, and if you start giving gratification, you can actually hook them to the habit part. The second thing I realized was that for habits to form, there is something called as variable reward. For that, we avoid telling people what's going to happen in the next class, and maintain variety. Education and awareness are significantly important. It is a lot of hard work to break the notion that a person has to be there for the entire 45-minute session. When someone signs up, we tell them that consistency does not have to be 45 minutes in a day. It can be also 5 minutes in a day. The focus should be on showing up. It is not even important to do it the right way or the perfect way initially. Just show up and do whatever your body allows. And most times, people actually end up doing the entire 45 minutes when they show up. Frequency becomes important. Remember how we brushed our teeth as kids even if we didn't want to? The frequency of doing it so many times made it so ingrained that now laziness, lack of motivation, sleeping late at night, waking up late doesn't matter to us. We still brush our teeth. That can happen with exercise also, if the frequency is high. Reading is one habit that I have struggled with. It is important for someone like me to read more to get more information, stay updated. So, I try to read blogs and shorter articles or summaries of big books. But it's very difficult for me to read. The moment I start reading, I go to sleep. That can work even if I have had 8 hours of proper deep sleep. There's only one book I genuinely feel made a big difference in my life, and I was able to complete it. That is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It gives me more ideas of what can I do for people to make their habits stronger. I think the West had a role to play to make yoga cool again. I don't think I'm someone who's making yoga cool or the platform is making it cool. In fact, we would say that we are creating a space for people to embrace their imperfection, right? Everyone wants to be perfect in every form, and I think HaBuild allows people to be themselves. We don't intend to make yoga cool at all or that's not what our goal is. If it's happening by the way, it's great. When you talk about Gen-Z, almost 20 percent of our audience is younger. We primarily intend to make our content for mothers. All our programs are designed to reach out to more moms, and when moms do something, they ensure that the entire house, including the husband, kids, parents and in-laws, are doing it too. A mom is usually the last person to do something consistently for herself. When she truly does something, it sets the right example for the entire house. That's how a whole mix of people are joining our sessions. I don't think we have done a good job in terms of packaging. I genuinely believe that if something is good, the packaging becomes less important. When we talk about dry fruits, the packaging may make it look more interesting, but the real value is in eating the dry fruit. When people realize that the dry fruit is good even if it does not have a good packaging, it will still get word-of-mouth publicity. I think what we have done is shown people that yoga is beneficial and more importantly how can you become consistent with it. When people see the benefit, they tell others. There are days that really get to me. My best practice to deal with stress is to go to sleep. So the days I'm busier, I go to sleep early so that I can make sure that my next day becomes better. When things go beyond my capacity to deal with it, I simply go to bed. Drink a lot of water. Get up from you seat and move around a lot more. Practice deep breathing. Sleep before 11 p.m. Workout for 45 minutes at least thrice a week. A sixth tip is - don't try to do everything together, otherwise we usually fail and go into the 'all-or-nothing' trap.
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Times
Doubling home construction will barely improve affordability in Canada: report
[ottawa] Doubling the pace of homebuilding in Canada will only bring affordability back to levels seen right before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new government report that lowers expectations for the impact of construction on housing costs. The country must boost building to as much as 480,000 housing units a year by 2035 just to bring affordability back to where it was in 2019, the report from the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp (CMHC) said on Thursday (Jun 19). The current rate of homebuilding is about 250,000 units, the agency said. Earlier estimates from the national housing agency called for a similar boost in home construction and targeted 2030 as the year it could be achieved. That previous forecast suggested that a rapid boost in housing supply would bring affordability back to 2004 levels. 'Restoring affordability to levels last seen two decades ago isn't realistic, especially after the post-pandemic price surge,' CMHC said. The change in forecast 'highlights how widespread the housing affordability challenge has become across Canada'. While a lack of affordable housing has long plagued major Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, the low interest rates of 2020 and 2021, along with rapid population growth after the pandemic eased, drove a homebuying frenzy. Prices surged in many cities and regions. Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected in April in part on promises to boost homebuilding to address what many see as a housing crisis. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect Canada's housing starts to average 230,000 units between 2025 and 2027, a significant deceleration in construction because interest rates and economic uncertainty have weighed on the industry. Canada's housing agency explained it revised its timeline partly because of how long it takes to get new housing built. The new estimates now take into account rezoning processes that often add years to construction times, the agency said. These projections are not official government targets, the report said, but estimates of the scale of the problem. Carney's election platform nevertheless promised to ramp up homebuilding activity over the next decade to eventually reach 500,000 homes a year. Last year, all the costs of a home with a typical mortgage would have eaten up about 54 per cent of the average Canadian household's income, the CMHC report shows. The current rate of home construction would result in almost no improvement in that ratio over the next 10 years. By doubling the rate of home construction, that ratio would drop to 41 per cent by 2035, according to the CMHC report. Of all Canada's major cities, Montreal, its second-largest, faces the biggest housing supply gap, with affordability set to deteriorate if this is not addressed, the report said. Toronto, the largest city, must boost annual homebuilding by 70 per cent to improve affordability. 'For many years, housing prices and rents in Vancouver and Toronto attracted attention from all over the world,' the report said. 'Over time, these increases came to burden many Canadians and their children. Low-income and some middle-class households struggle to even find a place to live, let alone at a price they can afford.' BLOOMBERG
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Fergus Ewing on the 'scunner' factor, falling out with the SNP and spending two hours talking in Morrisons
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Veteran MSP Fergus Ewing has declared the 'signs are right' for his victory as an independent at next year's Holyrood election. Mr Ewing had already said he will not be a candidate for the SNP next year, having represented the party as an MSP since 1999. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Friday morning, he announced he would run as an independent in Inverness and Nairn, meaning he will stand against the SNP. First Minister John Swinney said he was saddened by Mr Ewing's decision 'to leave the Scottish National Party'. Fergus Ewing | Colin D Fisher/ Mr Ewing has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Government on several issues, often providing fiery contributions from the back benches. Slow progress on the dualling of the A9 and A96 roads were key to his decision to run as an independent, he said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ewing on his victory chances Asked about his chances of victory, Mr Ewing told The Scotsman: 'I've spent 26 years trying to help, assist, support, advocate the interests of people in Inverness and Nairn and we do take a real pride in trying to deal with individual cases as well as can be.' EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JUNE 10: Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, gives a ministerial statement on tourism during the coronavirus crisis today at the Covid-19 social distancing Scottish Parliament, Holyrood on June 10, 2020 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Fraser Bremner-Pool/Getty Images) : Fergus Ewing: "Why were local, worthy candidates rejected?" He added: 'Another aspect is that I think over the past four years, there's been a respect for my stance speaking out on the broken promises, in particular the A9 and the A96.' He was strongly critical of the Scottish Government on this issue. 'If you or I make an honest mistake and do something wrong in life, I think you and I would probably apologise,' he said. 'But they haven't ever acknowledged their faults. 'Where there should be honesty, there is hubris. Where there should be humility, there is denial.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Ewing said he has strong local support. 'Two Fridays ago, it took me two hours to get through Morrisons to do some shopping for four items, and I wasn't swithering in the aisles,' he said. 'It was just people wanting to speak to me. 'It's easy to overestimate one's own personal popularity, but I did get a majority of around nine [thousand] or 10,000 for the past three elections and I think I'm in with for a shout. But let the people decide. 'I'm certainly going to put everything into it, as I have done before.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 'scunner' factor Mr Ewing said there was also a 'scunner' factor which may benefit him. 'People are scunnered with both governments at the moment, and that's why Reform is picking up votes with no known leaders in Scotland whatsoever,' he said. 'So I think the signs are propitious. The signs are right.' He said he was still a member of the SNP. 'Whether or not they take action is up to them,' he said. 'I'm waiting with some curiosity. 'But if you think about it, it's not me that's broken the policy on the A9 and the A96. It's not me that no longer believes that it's Scotland's oil. It's not me that's turned the back on the workers in Grangemouth, and did very little, very late. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's not me that's let down rural Scotland. It's not me that's broken all those policies that we had championed in the interests of the people in Scotland.' The SNP said its constitution states membership ceases when an individual declares their intention to stand against the party. Ewing's family links to SNP Mr Ewing is the son of nationalist trailblazer Winnie Ewing and previously served as a minister. Winnie Ewing (right), arriving in London with her children, Fergus, Terry and Annabelle, in 1967 | Getty Images Since leaving government, he has criticised SNP ministers on a range of issues, including the decision to bring the Greens into the Scottish Government in the Bute House Agreement, which collapsed last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Emma Roddick has been selected as the SNP candidate for Inverness and Nairn. In 2021, Mr Ewing won the seat for the SNP with a majority of 9,114. John Swinney's response SNP leader Mr Swinney said: 'It was with real sadness and deep regret that I heard of Fergus Ewing's decision to leave the Scottish National Party. First Minister John Swinney addressing the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh | PA 'We have both served the SNP and the cause of independence for many years, and I commend him for all that he achieved while serving in the SNP Government until 2021. 'Fergus had the option of standing at the forthcoming election for the SNP, given his status as an approved candidate. He chose not to accept that opportunity and I regret that he has ultimately decided instead to leave the party. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
