A study by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) in Nagpur has found a “very strong” correlation — up to 85% — between the increase in the average day temperature and the reduction in Covid-19 spread for select cities in the country and for states like Maharashtra and Karnatakaas a whole. Neeri, a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, based its research on a mathematical model. It sourced Covid-19 case data from the World Health Organisation and temperature data from India Meteorological Department. It studied the average real time temperature and relative humidity and their relationship with the rising Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Indian study finds 85% correlation between temperature rise and decrease in Coronavirus spread
GBRC Scientists successfully sequence the whole genome of Coronavirus
A team of Indian Scientists at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) successfully decode the whole genome sequence of the novel Coronavirus. The Gandhinagar-based GBRC is the first Indian Government laboratory to achieve this milestone. This achievement will help the scientists in their research on COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Medibot’ can treat coronavirus patients without risking infection
Malaysian scientists have created a barrel-shaped robot on wheels that they hope will make the rounds on hospital wards to check on coronavirus patients, reducing health workers' risk of infection. "Medibot" is a 1.5 metretall (five foot) white robot, equipped with a camera and screen via which patients can communicate remotely with medics.
Reliance General Insurance launches coronavirus protection insurance cover
Non-life insurer Reliance General Insurance on Wednesday launched a COVID-19 protection insurance scheme, which offers 100 per cent of the sum-insured in lump sum on positive diagnosis of coronavirus. The plan has a policy period of one year and the waiting period is for 15 days before one can claim against the policy, according to a statement by the company. The plan will cover anyone aged between 3 months and 60 years, for a sum-insured option from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh. It will also give cover for any loss of pay or job under separate add-ons in addition to the base policy.
India’s first coronavirus hospitalization insurance by PhonePe for Covid-19 treatment
The accelerated pace of coronavirus is affecting mankind adversely despite government efforts for curbing the situation. It is posing additional financial burden on individuals or families to get hospitalization treatment for COVID-19. To provide support for such cases, Digital payments company PhonePe has launched India’s first COVID-19 hospitalization insurance policy called Corona Carein collaboration with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance for people who have been infected and hospitalised for covid-19 treatment. The policy will provide an insurance cover of 50,000 on a one-time payment of Rs 156 for people who are under 55 yearsof age.
Government of India launches coronavirus tracking app Corona Kavach
The Government of Indiahas launched a Coronavirus risk-tracking Application (app) called “Corona Kavach”. The app was jointly developed by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) & the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The app uses a person’s location to assess whether they are in the highrisk geographical zone or not and the app is available on the Google Play Store. Key Points: About Corona Kavach:The app is designed to provide information about COVID-19 and capture information. The app uses the information of all the identified positive cases identified in the country so far.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath sets up ‘Team-11’ to beat Coronavirus
Uttar Pradesh(UP) Chief Minister (CM), Yogi Adityanath, set up “Team-11” consisting of inter-departmental committees with over 2 dozen senior officials to fight the coronavirus spread. Each of the committees will be headed by a senior bureaucrat of the state while the CM will be the head of the Team-11
Indian scientists reveal first microscopic image of novel coronavirus
In a first, Indian scientists have revealed a microscopic image of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The image is from the throat swab sample of the first laboratory-confirmed COVID19 case in India, reported on January 30 in Kerala. The findings have been published in the latest edition of the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).
Roche Diagnostics is India’s first private firm to get coronavirus test approval
Swiss firm Roche Diagnostics India received the license for conducting coronavirus tests after approval from drug regulator DCGI, making it the first private firm to get such permission after the government decided to allow accredited private labs to test for COVID-19. Two Indian diagnostic companies Trivitron Healthcare and Mylab Discovery Solution have also sought approval from the DCGI for the coronavirus testing kits developed by them.
80 districts in lockdown to contain virus spread
The central government essentially put the entire urban India on lockdown till the end of March as it ramped up efforts to curtail the spread of coronavirus. A list of 80 affected districts showed that all seven districts in Delhi as well as metro cities of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata will be under lockdown. The districts where lockdown was announced are from states that include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. State governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in these 80 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases or casualties
