Latest developments and findings about coronavirus you may not know

In the backdrop of rising COVID cases across the country, the Gautam Buddh Nagar police have imposed Section 144 in Uttar Pradesh's Noida from March 17 to April 30. After a year of the pandemic, new findings have emerged about the deadly novel coronavirus that has brought the world down on its knees. Here are some findings and developments related to the virus.

UK COVID variant more deadly

The U.K. coronavirus variant, also known as B.1.1.7, is more deadly than other coronavirus variants, according to new findings.
Scientists have suspected that the B.1.1.7 variant might be more deadly, as well as more transmissible, in the backdrop of unprecedented surge in Covid-19 deaths in the U.K. during the second wave this winter.

Ultrasound has potential to damage COVID?

Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, may be vulnerable to ultrasound vibrations, within the frequencies used in medical diagnostic imaging, according to a study that used computer simulations.

The researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US modelled the mechanical response of the coronaviruses to vibrations across a range of ultrasound frequencies.

They found that vibrations between 25 and 100 megahertz triggered the virus' shell and spikes to collapse and start to rupture within a fraction of a millisecond.

The finding, published in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, shows this effect in simulations of the virus in both air and in water.

Can COVID vaccine treat long COVID symptoms?

According to a new research, COVID vaccine shots may actually relieve symptoms in long haulers.

According to a study conducted by a team of scientists from North Bristol NHS Trust and the University of Bristol, COVID vaccination may ease the symptoms in patients suffering with the long term implications of COVID-19.

The study, which is yet to be reviewed, looked into the cases of 44 vaccinated and 22 non-vaccinated long COVID patients.

The scientists have, however, also clarified that the study is too small "to make final conclusions." More research needs to be conducted in support of the claim."

10 % rise in new coronavirus cases globally

The AstraZeneca controversy

Denmark was the first country to halt its use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine last week after reports of blood clots in some people, including one person who developed multiple clots and died 10 days after receiving at least one dose.

Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Thailand, and Congo soon followed suit. On Saturday, Norwegian authorities reported that four people under age 50 who had gotten the AstraZeneca vaccine had an unusually low number of blood platelets. That could lead to severe bleeding.

Ireland and the Netherlands also announced that they, too, were stopping their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine temporarily.

COVID spreading from bigger cities to smaller areas

Maharashtra is making headlines for the rising number of coronavirus cases even as Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said that the state would soon manage to bend the curve. In the month of September last year, Maharashtra had recorded 24,886 cases in a single day. But looking at the current trajectory of infections, experts say the peak could soon be breached. Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur continue to remain critical areas in Maharashtra on the Covid-19 front. Mumbai at 15,410 active cases, Pune at 32,359 active cases and Nagpur at 21,496 active cases are the biggest infection hotspots in the state. However, Mumbai is still in third place after Pune and Nagpur in terms of active cases. Meanwhile, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nanded, Amravati, Akola and Nandurbar are some other place witnessing the surge.