COVID 19

Kumaraguru Action for Relief and Empowerment (KARE), was founded in Nov, 2015 during the Chennai floods. KARE supports the victims of natural disasters such as floods, cyclone and other calamities and has supported during Kerala floods & Gaja Cyclone. This is a volunteer movement of Kumaraguru Institutions where many join hands when the need arises.

KARE COVID 19 Response Bulletin is an effort by a group of Kumaraguru alumni, students & informed citizens alike to clear the clutter around COVID 19 by providing informative, insightful news, articles & data around the world under various tags such as Research, Technology, Education, Economy & Insights with a short summary for each.
 COVID19 Basic Info & Previous Bulletin Link: tinyurl.com/blog-KARE

STATISTICS

India vs the World – The race to find a cure

COVID-19
 		Active Cases
 		Recovered
 		Casualties 
 
India750,9892,647,53862,713
World6,768,22317,296,990
8,41,290

The above graph depicts the COVID-19 daily deaths deviation from a 7-Day Moving Average for India. The trend of daily deaths shows a reversal after falling for a week.| Prof. Shamika Ravi

The above graph is the result of the compiled data found with regards to the states with 8000+ newly confirmed cases on a 7-Day Moving Average. The top hotspots include :
1. Maharastra
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Karnataka| Prof Shamika Ravi

CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT

Novel Coronavirus Situation Report

The Prime Minister saluted the country’s valiant efforts in the fight against COVID-19 in his Independence Day address to the nation and announced the National Digital Health Mission. India’s testing capacity has significantly grown from one lab at Pune in early January 2020 to 1470 today, including 969 labs in the government sector and 501 private labs. The Health Minister lauded the contribution of states in popularizing the telemedicine platform “e-Sanjeevani” in the country. As part of the Make in India initiative, the country exported 2.3 million PPE kits in July.| WHO

VACCINE & TESTING

SII initiates Phase II trials of Oxford Vaccine

Serum Institute of India(SII) is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by the number of doses produced and sold globally. It has entered a manufacturing partnership with AstraZeneca to produce the Oxford vaccine. 17 sites have been selected to conduct the phase II/III trials.Around 1,600 adults above 18 are expected to be recruited for the trials across India. The results of its phase I trial held in the UK had shown promise in generating an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold adenovirus taken from chimps and genetically modified.|Hindustan Times

AstraZeneca begins trial of COVID-19 antibody treatment

London based drug firm AstraZeneca has begun testing antibody-based prevention and treatment of COVID-19.  The testing could evaluate the safety and tolerance of AZD7442, an antibody developed by combining two monoclonal antibodies. The development of MAbs to target the virus has also been endorsed by scientists and pharma companies across the globe. “This combination of two antibodies coupled to our proprietary half-life technologies, can improve both the effectiveness and durability of use in addition to reducing the likelihood of viral resistance,” says Astra’s R&D Vice President Mene Pangalos. The US government too is waiting for the fast track approval of this vaccine, reports Financial Times.| Reuters

China globally ahead in vaccinating its citizens

The vaccine developed by the Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm is currently undergoing phase-3 trials in the United Arab Emirates. But a senior Chinese health official revealed on state television that it was already being administered to people since July 22 under emergency use authorization. Sinopharm vaccine is the first vaccine to be authorized for use on the general public, though only on special groups right now. But there is no information on the number of people who have already been injected with that vaccine.| Indian Express

RESEARCH

WHO’s Global COVAX plan

The World Health Organisation has urged countries to join a global pact aimed at ensuring that less wealthy countries have access to COVID-19 vaccines, warning about the risks from so-called ‘vaccine nationalism’.The COVAX global vaccines facility is a plan designed to pool funds from wealthier countries and non-profits to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and distribute it equitably around the world. Its aim is to deliver 2 billion doses of effective, approved COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021. The plan is led by the WHO, along with the Gavi vaccine alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).| Hindustan Times

The first miscarriage due to Coronavirus in India

Studies by ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH) found that the placenta, supposed to protect the foetus from infections, in fact, acts as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. The unborn baby suffers from a condition called ‘hydrops fetalis’, which is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body. It was suspected to have been caused by inflammation.

The placenta, amniotic fluid from the gestational sac, and the foetal membrane were tested – and the placenta and amniotic fluid showed active SARS-CoV-2 virus replication.| Indian Express

Researchers from UMMS discover MAb for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have discovered a human monoclonal antibody (MAb) to SARS-CoV-2 infection which blocks the binding of ACE receptors on the mucosal tissue. The researchers retrieved this antibody with the help of a previous work done at the university to develop an antibody for a 90% similar SARS virus 16 years ago. Though initially, the antibody was not able to bind to the desired mucosal surface, the team developed a “secretary IgAs” to overcome the difficulty. Designated as MAb362, this antibody is more effective when it is in the sIgA isotype compared to the normal circulating IgG antibodies.| Times of India 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Ten African Innovations to fight the pandemic

Innovators on the  African continent have responded to the challenges of the pandemic with a wide range of creative inventions. ‘Doctor Car’ robot to move around the rooms of quarantined patients to take their temperatures and deliver food and drugs. Automatic wooden hand-washing machine to help curb the spread of Coronavirus. The Respire-19 portable ventilator is used to help people with respiratory problems – often a symptom of severe Coronavirus infection. 3D printers to produce 100 masks per day for use in some of Johannesburg’s major hospitals. Web-based X-ray lung scans, this tool is 90% effective in indicating the probability of infection, said Researchers at the National Institute of Applied Science and Technology in Tunis. Solar-powered hand-washing sink and Police robots on lockdown patrol are other notable innovations.| BBC

AR – The next transformative technology after Internet

Augmented Reality (AR) means enhancing the physical world around us with a supplementary digital overlay of useful information. For example, if you are a cricket enthusiast, then you must know the Decision Review System (DRS). During an LBW appeal, AR is used to trace the actual path of the ball it travels after it leaves the hand of the bowler. Now anyone can experience AR, anytime anywhere. It needs a smartphone with a camera and an AR app. One may have tried face filters on social media apps. In the near future, AR will be used in AR glasses, which you wear like a pair of regular spectacles to make this interaction seamless. In the field of education, AR helps the learners with 3D models  apart from normal 2D pictures.| Times of India

AIIMS-IIT alumni duo invent novel technology to kill Coronavirus with just water

To ensure the safety of children and citizens, scientists will have to develop mechanisms and innovative technologies to protect us seamlessly around the year, every second, just like metal detectors and intelligence systems protect us from threats of violence. “Hence, the ICMR tested ‘Airlens Minus Corona-indoors’ was invented to protect people from this novel Coronavirus and other deadly viruses and is designed to be completely safe for human beings. Moreover, the fact that the device runs on water, which is an easily accessible resource globally, it will never fall scarce and will be very inexpensive to deploy and run at a mass scale, to reach even the public schools in the underprivileged parts of our motherland,” said Dr. Shashi Ranjan, Co-founder of this invention.| Times of India

EDUCATION

COVID-19: Global call to tackle education emergency

Noting that over 1 billion children are out of school due to the crisis, they wrote in an open letter to G20, governments and financial institutions that the immediate concern is the fate of an estimated 30 million children who, according to UNESCO, may never return to school. Among urgent measures needed is the suspension of $86 billion in debt-service costs for two years of the 76 poorest countries and the International Monetary Fund issuing $1.2 trillion in special drawing rights for the needy countries.”We cannot stand by and allow these young people to be robbed of their education and a fair chance in life. Resources are now urgently needed to get young people back into education and enable them to catch up”, the signatories wrote.| Hindustan Times

Virtual convocation amidst the pandemic

The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, held its convocation in a virtual reality mode amidst the pandemic. The virtual avatar of each student was created for the ceremony and the convocation was broadcasted live on the public broadcaster. All medal winners received their medals from the personalized avatar of the Chief Guest, Prof. Duncan Haldane, co-recipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, and a Professor of Physics at Princeton University in the US. The degrees were conferred by the Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University Prof. Margaret Gardner, on the occasion.| SBS 

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health issues associated with COVID-19 outbreak 

The pandemic is having many life-altering short- and likely long-term effects. The lockdown affects the psychology of people. Many adults, as well as children, get addicted to the Internet and gaming. This causes severe stress. It has also increased the rate of domestic violence. A pre-post comparison study of emergency mental health visits during the COVID-19 lockdown has been done in Lombardy, Italy. Many such studies were done all over the world. Abusive behavior is seen in drug-addicted patients. People have switched over to online counseling services due to pandemic. Trust is a key factor in the willingness of health professionals to work during the COVID-19 outbreak.| The Online Library

ECONOMY

India’s GDP to contract by 16.5% in 1st quarter: SBI

A contraction is caused by a lack of confidence that slows demand. It has many downfalls including the rise in rate of unemployment. India’s GDP is likely to go through it’s first contraction as the much feared Coronavirus spreads. According to a recent report by the State Bank of India, which said the GDP is expected to contract by 16.5 per cent during the first quarter of the current fiscal. Although there is rural recovery, it is unlikely to support the pace of growth in subsequent quarters as the per capita monthly expenditure in urban areas is at least 1.8 times that of rural areas and rural wage growth in real terms might still be negative, the report said. A state-wise analysis indicates that top 10 states accounted for 73.8 per cent of total GDP loss, with Maharashtra contributing 14.2 percent of total loss followed by Tamil Nadu (9.2 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (8.2 per cent).| Fibre2Fashion

Cash in circulation up 10% since lockdown

The pandemic has triggered a ‘dash to cash’ with many house hoarding banknotes. This has resulted in the currency to GDP ratio increasing to pre-demonetization levels of 12% in 2019-22. Since March 20, currency in circulation has risen to 26.9 lakh crore—a hike of 10% since the lockdown began. At the same time, the number of Rs.2000 notes in circulation has dipped sharply in two years. Incidentally, household financial savings have also taken a hit because of the fall in the value of mutual and equity fund investments post-COVID.| Times of India

ENVIRONMENT

A thriving year for our winged visitors

2020 proved to be a great vacation for the migratory birds visiting the lakes and marshes around Chennai. Because of the lockdown period, birders and naturalists around the city couldn’t keep up with the winged visitors. And to their surprise, most of the wetlands thrived this year. Lakes that fell off radar over the past few years like Nochimedu and Vallarkulam were filled with plain and ashy prinias, Indian robins, jacanas, and some kingfishers. Black-headed and white-rumped munias were in abundance too. More than 15 zitting cisticolas were also spotted, which is way above the annual average of two. Similarly, other lakes around the city seem to be more lively with more little visitors and increased fishing activity. |The Hindu

PUBLIC HEALTH

COVID-19 Public Health response Act 2020

The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 was passed as standalone legislation to provide a different legal framework for responding to COVID-19. The Act allows the Minister of Health to make orders under section 11 to give effect to the public health response to COVID-19 in New Zealand. The purpose of this Act is to support a public health response to COVID-19 that—allows social, economic, and other factors to be taken into account where it is relevant to do so and is economically sustainable and allows for the recovery of MIQF cost has enforceable measures, in addition to the relevant voluntary measures, public health and other guidance that also support that response.| Health.Govt

Significant Drop-in Road Accidents because of Effective lockdowns 

Data provided by states and union territories to the Supreme Court committee on-road safety shows that there is a significant drop in road accidents, Injuries and Falling between April and June.

Here is the synopsis:

     1)Road deaths reduced by 20,300

     2)Road accidents reduced by 63,032

     3)Road injuries reduced by 69,402The decline in Road deaths by States:
      1)Tamil Nadu – 54.11% decline

      2)Rajasthan – 49.93% decline

      3)Uttar Pradesh – 49.89% decline.| Times of India

How is loss of Taste and Smell in COVID-19 different from Common cold

An article published in the journal Rhinology states how COVID-19 patients have a different loss of Taste and Smell when compared to regular flu or a common cold. The research findings also highlighted the virus may also potentially have an impact on the brain and the central nervous system. According to the study, some differences in smell loss due to regular cold and COVID-19 include:1. Coronavirus patients can breathe freely even with a loss of smell

2. They do not have a runny nose or blocked nose

3. They are not able to differentiate between bitter and sweet taste.|Times of India

LIFESTYLE

Survey reveals COVID-19 impact on lifestyle

With the COVID-19 pandemic, our lifestyles have completely changed. Our entire day revolves around or in our homes, this has a huge impact on our immunity. As do the changes in sleep patterns, physical activity and eating habits, which are the pillars of our immune system. Now that we are in the Unlock phase in most areas across the country, activity patterns are slowly returning back to normal, although with a few changes. Eating at home has become the norm in the lockdown. Even currently, stepping out for a meal is still not an option for most people. And although more and more restaurants are availing the takeout option, the New Normal Survey conducted by GOQii indicates that a majority of people still have apprehensions about outside food.| Freshers Live

Caps to prevent contact with fellow humans

As the Coronavirus pandemic raged across the globe, most of the children and their parents came to terms with the difficult life that has now become the “new normal”. With her interest in engineering and technology, Shukla, a 15-year old girl of Indian origin began working on the device that would keep people six feet apart. The cap beeps and vibrates when someone breaches the six-feet perimeter. It’s a microprocessor-based device that’s embedded in a hat. Whenever somebody crosses that six feet range, the program, and the microprocessor are alerted. She has been featured in the New York Times and on the Nasdaq screen last month. Shukla’s LinkedIn profile described her as a student, innovator, researcher, and writer.| Hindustan Times

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KARE COVID-19 Response

KARE is now supporting the front-line workers through local government by providing Food, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & sanitizers made in-house at the Kumaraguru Institutions. KARE is also connecting the farmers with communities who would required vegetables in bulk.


KARE COVID-19 Response So Far 

  • 43038 Cooked meals
  • 2259 Volunteering hours clocked
  • 10 Tons of Vegetables transacted so far
  • 28+ Number of Farmers impacted so far
  • 500 kg Rice
  • 1300 Liquid sanitizer packs
  • 2500 Masks
  • ₹ 4,95,141 Funds Raised
  • ₹ 6,50,000 Funds Spent
  • 57000+  Lives Impacted

Impact areas: 

Chinnavedampatti, Saravanampatty, Vellaikinar, Sathyamangalam, Sulthanpet, Paapampatti, Sulur, Thondamuthur, Narasipuram, Kangayam, Coimbatore & Pollachi.

TO MAKE A DONATION

KARE Bank Account Details

Account name: KCT KARE
Account number: 1245155000078376
Bank: Karur Vysya Bank
Branch: KCT Extension Counter
IFSC: KVBL0001245
Bank address: Kumaraguru College of Technology, Chinnavedampatti,Coimbatore – 641036