1 / 17The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, may survive on meat and fish products in the refrigerator or the freezer for up to 30 days, a study suggests2 / 17The research, recently published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, was conducted using chicken, beef, pork, and salmon, and surrogate viruses with spikes similar to those on SARS-CoV-2.3 / 17The researchers stored the meat and fish products at both refrigeration (4 degrees Celsius) and freezer temperatures (minus 20 degrees C).4 / 17'Although you might not store meat in the fridge for 30 days, you might store it in the freezer for that long,' said study first author Emily S. Bailey, an assistant professor at Campbell University in the US.5 / 17'We even found that the viruses could be cultured after (being frozen for) that length of time,” Bailey said in a statement. The researchers undertook the study after learning that COVID-19 outbreaks were occurring in Southeast Asia prior community transmission.6 / 17Reports from those communities 'suggested that packaged meat products, produced in areas where SARS-CoV-2 was circulating, could have been the source of the virus,' said Bailey.7 / 17In the study, the researchers used one RNA virus with a lipid envelop, and two animal coronaviruses, murine hepatitis virus, and transmissible gastroenteritis virus as surrogates.8 / 17All three viruses have previously been used as surrogates for SARS-CoV-2, generally with greater reductions in their numbers observed at refrigeration than at freezing temperatures.9 / 17'Continued efforts are needed to prevent contamination of foods and food processing surfaces, worker hands, and food processing utensils such as knives,' the researchers noted.10 / 17“The lack of, or inadequate, disinfection of these foods prior to packaging needs to be addressed,” they added.11 / 17Meanwhile, India has “created history again”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as the country achieved a big milestone of administering two billion vaccine doses in just 18 months. Congratulating all Indians on crossing the “special figure”, PM Modi said that he is “proud of those who contributed to making India’s vaccination drive unparalleled in scale and speed”. He added that it has “strengthened the global fight against Covid-19”.12 / 17“India creates history again! Congrats to all Indians on crossing the special figure of 200 crore vaccine doses. Proud of those who contributed to making India’s vaccination drive unparalleled in scale and speed. This has strengthened the global fight against COVID-19,” wrote PM Modi on Twitter.13 / 17A year after the launch of the world's largest Covid-19 vaccination drive, India crossed the milestone of administering two billion vaccine doses on Sunday.14 / 17In a video address on Sunday, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said: “India has set a new record by completing the target of 200 crore vaccinations in just 18 months. Heartiest congratulations to all the countrymen on this achievement”.15 / 17On Saturday, the government had set up a digital clock that was ticking backward to determine the number of vaccination doses left to administer to reach the target.16 / 17India's latest achievement comes as the government on Friday started a 75-day campaign for free booster shots at government centres in order to encourage people and mark the 75 years of India's independence.17 / 17Meanwhile, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh congratulated India for the big milestone. “This is yet another evidence of the country’s commitment and efforts to minimise the impact of the ongoing pandemic,” she said in a video address.