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 long-awaited vaccine to kill a virus

COVID-19
 		Active Cases
 		Recovered
 		Casualties 
 
India312,2259,531,980144,925
World21,181,22253,034,526
1,673,235

The above graph depicts the COVID-19 case fatality ratio(CFR) across the states in India. It can be inferred from the graph that the CFR of Punjab, Maharashtra and Sikkim is greater than the Global CFR(2.22%) which is disturbing. The nation’s CFR stands at 1.45%|Prof. Shamika Ravi

The above graph shows the active, recovered cases and the casualties across the globe. Here are few insights:

1) Turkey: there is large fluctuations in cases
2) UK: reporting few recoveries
3) Italy: receding second wave
4) France, Spain, UK: daily active cases still rising (2nd wave still growing). |Prof. Shamika Ravi

VACCINE AND TESTING

India’s COVID-19 recovery rate crosses 95%

India’s active COVID – 19 case load has fallen below 3.4 lakhs, a mere 3.43 percent of total infections, supplemented by an impressive recovery rate of 94 percent .The Health Ministry says “With a high number of patients recovering every day and the sustained fall in the mortality rate, the country’s steady trend of decline in active case continues”. A total of 34,477 patients have recovered in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra and Delhi reported the maximum number of casualties.| India Times

Centre issues guidelines for India’s mass vaccination drive

The government has planned to vaccinate around 30 crore people including healthcare frontline workers, people above 50 years of age, and those under 50  with comorbidities. Around 100 to 200 people will be vaccinated during each session per day. People will be monitored for 30 minutes after administering the shots for adverse events. The state has been asked to allocate vaccines from one vaccine manufacturer to the district to avoid mixing of different vaccines in the field. Identity documents like PAN card, Aadhar will be required for the self registration on the CO-WIN website. At the vaccination site, only pre-registered beneficiaries will be vaccinated in accordance and there will be no place for on spot registration.| Times of India

Arab nations first to approve Sinopharm, Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain say that the vaccine Sinopharm is 86% effective, but the scientists hope for data to support the claim. Researchers say a lack of public data on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine could hinder the company’s plans to distribute the vaccine in a range of other countries. Scientists think that around 70% of the population will need to get the vaccine to achieve herd immunity. “ When enough people are immune to a virus that spread becomes unlikely”, says Cowling- an epidemiologist at the University of Hongkong.| Nature

RESEARCH

COVID-19 triggers deadly fungal infection 

Hospital authorities at a leading private facility in Delhi have reported multiple cases of COVID-19 triggered mucormycosis, due to which nearly half of the patients recovering from COVID-19 lost their eyesight. Black fungus or mucormycosis has been a cause of death of patients in transplants and immunodeficient individuals. However it has been causing concern with its high morbidity and mortality rate in recovering COVID-19 patients.| NDTV

Endothelial cell targeting could help fight COVID-19 symptoms 

For COVID-19 patients with serious lung disease, targeting endothelial cells may be a novel approach restoring normal lung function. SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, characterized by pulmonary edema, viral pneumonia, coagulopathy, inflammation and other physiological abnormalities. SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors to infect and damage ciliated epithelial vascular cells in the upper respiratory tract. The team of scientists sought to unravel this mechanism by investigating SARS-CoV-2 infection of human endothelial cells from the lung, brain, heart and kidney that are impacted in COVID-19 patients. The research suggests the potential to therapeutically target activation, rather than infection of the endothelium, as a strategy for resolving coagulation and inflammatory COVID-19 symptoms.| Science Daily

Six COVID-19 vaccines currently undergoing clinical trials in India

Informing that the Drugs Controller General of India has granted clearance for the clinical trials of one more candidate vaccine from India, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr.VK Paul on Tuesday said six vaccines are currently undergoing clinical trials in the country. “Genoa company, with the help of Government of India’s research agency Department of Biotechnology, has developed a vaccine,” Dr.Paul said while addressing a press conference. The chances of any adverse events can’t be denied when COVID vaccination begins. In countries, where immunisation has already begun, especially in the UK, adverse events took place on the very first day. So it is essential that States and UTs prepare to tackle any situation.| Hindustan Times

PUBLIC HEALTH

The global waiting game

The wait for the COVID-19 vaccines could last longer, into 2022, because richer nations have bought up most of the initial supplies, to the dismay of global health advocates. Now, even if other governments had the money to put on the table, which many don’t, they will not get the vaccines. The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility, set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners to help purchase and distribute proven vaccines, was meant to avert such inequity. But COVAX is strapped for cash and its impact remains to be seen. The Serum Institute of India, has signed contracts with the U.S. biotech Novavax to make roughly 1 billion doses of its candidate, which is just about to start a large efficacy trial. It will supply COVAX with up to 200 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford and Novavax vaccines for low- and middle-income countries| Science Mag

COVID-19 isolation detrimental for children

Isolation during the pandemic has been taking a toll on the progress of children, especially for children with special educational needs and disability. Schools and colleges are continuing to grapple with how to provide meaningful remote education for those times when self-isolation is unavoidable. The education and social care sectors have been showing resilience and creativity to provide children with the best learning experience.|  BBC

INNOVATION

Tale of COVID-19: Crisis Inspiring Innovations

The unfolding crisis has already hampered many organizations with executive orders forcing some manufacturers to at least temporarily shutter operations. Bold decisions and technological investments could lead to outcomes including  more concerted and widespread move to lights-out manufacturing; increased usage of autonomous materials handling and goods vehicles; a more integrated, diverse, and coordinated supply chain; an investment in smart cities to support community resilience; and a move to virtual workspaces and practices. Manufacturers need to connect and automate as many operations as possible to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.| Industry Week

EDUCATION

2 of 10 school districts mulling to keep e-learning after COVID-19

A study says that, about 2 in 10 US school districts have said they will continue, or are considering continuing, distance learning after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, citing student and parent demand. The districts in which at least 50% of students are black or Hispanic or qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch said Internet and technology access are the greatest needs for online learning, those in the remaining districts reported student mental health and high-quality instruction (due to funding-related understaffing) as the most critical needs. School district administrators have said that the state and local health departments had the most influence on their COVID-19 plans, followed by the US Department of Education. | CIDRAP 

Preparation In Full Swing For RRB Exams 

The Indian Railways through its 21 Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) is organizing a mega recruitment drive in three phases starting from December 15. The preparations for conduct of exams are in full swing amid COVID-19.  Candidates will be checked for the temperature at entry using thermo guns. After each shift the exam center will be sanitized before starting another shift. Candidates have to produce COVID-19 self-declaration in prescribed format at the entry. For Isolated and Ministerial categories, candidates will be informed individually through email and SMS about their city of exam, date, and shift of exam through a link provided on RRBs official websites.| Business World

MENTAL HEALTH

Challenges faced by parents during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of pressure and stress on students, teachers and parents alike.  Ensuring children to  attend online classes as per timetable and prepare them for the next day’s class has been a cause of worry for many parents. Apart from this, it has also become difficult for them to maintain a strict routine for their children, with fixed times for meals, studying and sleeping. While children remain confined to their homes during the pandemic, they feel stressed and tend to misbehave to vent out aggression.  COVID-19 is not only mentally and psychologically draining adults but also children as they  find it difficult to adapt to this situation. | India Today

ENVIRONMENT

Revealed: COVID recovery plans threaten global climate hopes

The prospect of global green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is hanging in balance, as countries pour money into fossil fuel economy to stave off a devastating recession. In at least 18 of the world’s biggest economies, more than six months on from the first wave of lockdowns in the early spring, pandemic rescue packages are dominating. It may cause harmful environmental impacts, such as bailouts for oil or new high-carbon infrastructure, outweighing the positive climate benefits of any green spending, according to the analysis. In the majority of countries we do not see a green recovery coming through at all. When it comes to next stage, in a few months’ time, countries must have green plans ready.| The Guardian

Where can we get authentic information about Coronavirus?

government-logo
Was Bulletin 28 Informative? Let us know your suggestions

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

Post Views: 43