Tag: COVID-19

Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant declared that Goa would be the first state to treat COVID-19 positive patients with allopathy and Ayurveda to boost their immunity, as per media reports. The CM informed that the state government is planning to integrate allopathy and Ayurveda and Goa will be the first state to use both these streams of medicine." He added that although Ayurveda cannot cure COVID-19, it will certainly boost patients' immunity. The treatment will be administered in consultation with doctors who are dealing with COVID-19 patients.

Delhi Chief Minister(CM) has launched “Operation SHIELD”in 21 identified Containment Areas of the state to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. It deals with sealing, home quarantine, isolation & tracking, essential supply of commodities, local sanitisation and door-to-door health checkups. Acronym of SHIELD S– Sealing of the immediate area/surroundings after geographical marking. H– Home quarantine of all the people living in the area. I– Isolation and tracing of people who have been first and second contacts. E– Essential supply of commodities is ensured. L– Local sanitisation of the area by authorities. D– Door-to-door health checks of everyone living in the area. The government has made it compulsory to wear masks while stepping out of the   houses & also stated that punishment will be given for those who misbehave with healthcare personnel.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has allowed thestate governments to set up sample collection sites for the testing of COVID-19 samples. However, the body said that the states should follow its guidelines and the collection should be done using the recommended Personal Protective Equipment. The research body also suggested that the sites should be disinfected regularly as per the recommended procedures by implementing all biosafety and biosecurity precautions.

The approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the laboratory to test throat swab for COVID-19 infection has begun functioning at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi.

A 4-year-old female Malayan tiger “Nadia” has tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Bronx Zoo, New York. Nadia, along with six other big cats, is thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zookeeper. The cats started showing symptoms, including a dry cough, after exposure to the employee, who has not been identified.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)Development Fund (SDF) has allocated USD 5 million (about Rs 38 crore) for COVID-19 projects in 8 member countries, in an effort to mitigate the financial losses and severe socio-economic impact of the pandemic.

Delhi Chief Minister(CM) Arvind Kejriwal announced a 5T plan which includes- Testing, Tracing, Treatment, Teamwork & Tracking and monitoring to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Key Points Testing- Only through testing, the infected person can be detected & aggressive testing is crucial to prevent the spread of the virus. Tracing- Persons associated with a positive patient are identified and asked for self-quarantine. Treatment- If someone is infected with COVID-19, they will be provided treatment. Teamwork- The virus can be combated & defeated through teamwork. Tracking & Monitoring- Active tracking & monitoring the developments will help to take action to deal with the spread of the virus.

To provide better understanding and prevention of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), two new books are all set to release in May 2020. The books are: How Contagion Works: Science, Awareness and Community in Times of Global Crisis” by Italian physicist Paolo Giordano. Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs” by epidemiologist Michael Osterholmand author Mark Olshaker. Both books will be published by Hatchette, United States (US).

Bengaluru based startup Bione, a genetic and microbiome testing firm has launchedIndia’s 1st home screening test kit for COVID-19 & is approved by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Key Points To take the test using the kit one has to clean the finger with an alcohol swab and use the lancet provided to finger-prick & the provided cartridge reads the results within 5-10 minutes. The prices of the kit ranges from Rs 2,000 to 3,000 & it will be delivered within 2-3 days of ordering. The easy-to-use  kit will be deployed in the market after quality checks & approvals from the regulatory authority.

The National Cadet Corps(NCC) has offered its volunteer cadets to assist the civilian authorities to fight COVID-19 under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’. It has issued guidelines for the temporary employment of its cadets to enhance the operations of various organizations involved in relief efforts & fighting the pandemic. The tasks for NCC cadets include- manning of helpline, call centres; distribution of relief materials, medicines, food, essential commodities; community assistance; data management and queue & traffic management. About NCC It is operated under the Ministry of Defence& is the largest uniform youth organization in the country which involves various social service and community development activities. It contributes to the national cause during natural calamities like floods, cyclones, etc.,