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

COVID-19Active Cases Recovered Casualties  
India276,20833,068,599448,636
World18,421,158211,967,9524,808,280

VACCINE

Zydus COVID-19 vaccine to become part of inoculation drive: Govt

Zydus COVID-19 vaccine for beneficiaries more than 12 years of age will soon be introduced as part of the country’s inoculation drive, said the Union health secretary. He further said that the vaccine will be priced differently than jabs being used currently. The world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D is the only one approved for children in India. Last month, the Drugs Controller General of India gave Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) to Zydus Cadila’s indigenously developed needle-free COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D, which is to be administered to beneficiaries in the age group of 12-18 years in the country. |Live Mint

Immunocompromised people may need COVID-19 vaccine booster shots: Experts 

Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine became the first in the US early this month to receive emergency approval to be administered as a booster shot or third dose. All people may not need a third dose or booster shot against COVID-19. In certain populations like the elderly, healthcare workers, and frontline workers, people taking medications that suppress their immune system, and those with compromised immune systems due to other disease conditions may be at risk of getting infected post-vaccination. The Central government has said booster doses are not a priority at the moment and the top focus is on getting people fully vaccinated with two doses. |Money Control

Multivariant coronavirus vaccine jab 

Multivariant coronavirus vaccine jabs are all-purpose vaccine jabs that work against more than one, or different variants of a pathogen, or the several variants of the SARS-COV-2 virus. Multivariant vaccines are a hopeful candidate in our ongoing fight against Coronavirus and the many variants clouding recovery. While we are currently facing threats from the Delta variant, there could be possibilities that we face newer, deadlier variants as well, including the Mu variant, which has been said to completely surpass vaccine-driven antibodies. In such a scenario, while we hope for COVID-19 to turn into a routine flu disease, scientists predict that multivariant defeating jabs are the only way to get over the pandemic. |Times of India

RESEARCH

COVID-19 can infect cells in pancreas that make insulin

Doctors are increasingly concerned about the growing number of patients who have developed diabetes either while infected with Coronavirus, or shortly after recovering from it. Various theories have been put forward to explain this increase. It is not yet clear whether the changes triggered by COVID infection are long-lasting. Studies were conducted to decode how diabetes and COVID-19 may interact biologically. This will help in the development of new, effective ways to treat people at risk of or living with diabetes who have COVID-19. Taking the COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster when offered, remains the best form of protection from the virus, say, researchers. |The Guardian

Smoking likely to worsen COVID severity, increase risk of death, UK study reveals

Compared to non-smokers, smokers are 80% more likely to contract severe COVID-19, a study by Oxford University finds. Published in the journal Thorax Monday, the study contradicts earlier assumptions and reports, which suggested smokers are less likely to suffer from severe COVID-19. During the study period, 13,446  people took a COVID-19 test and 1,649  of them tested positive. Of these, 968  required admission to the hospital, and 444 died as a result of their infection. According to the team’s analysis, compared to those who had never smoked, current smokers are 80 percent more likely to be admitted and significantly more likely to die from COVID-19. |The Print

At least one long term symptom seen in 37% of COVID-19 patients

At least one long-term COVID-19 symptom was found in 37% of patients three to six months after they were infected by the virus, a large study from Oxford University and the National Institute for Health Research reported. The most common symptoms included breathing problems, fatigue, pain, and anxiety, Oxford University said, after investigating symptoms in over 270,000 people recovering from COVID-19. The symptoms were more frequent among people who had been previously hospitalized with COVID-19. It, however, said older people and men had more breathing difficulties and cognitive problems, whereas young people and women had more headaches, abdominal symptoms, and anxiety or depression. Researchers are still identifying the mechanisms underlying the diverse symptoms among COVID-19 patients. |Reuters

How COVID-19 can damage all five senses 

It’s easy to take our senses for granted until there’s a problem with one of them. This is something many people who suffered from COVID-19 discovered when they unexpectedly lost their senses of smell and taste. Researchers estimated that hearing loss has occurred in about 8 percent of patients who had COVID-19, while about 15 percent developed tinnitus. A study found that light sensitivity, sore eyes, and blurred vision are among the more common eye disorders experienced by patients. A person’s sense of touch also can be affected by a COVID-19 infection, since the disease has been shown to cause persistent neurologic symptoms. The most recognizable effect COVID-19 has on the senses is the one-two punch of lost smell and taste. |National Geographic

NUTRITION AND FITNESS

High levels of maternal and child undernutrition continue to plague India: UNICEF official

Arjan De Wagt, Head, Nutrition, UNICEF India explained how high levels of maternal and child undernutrition continue to plague the nation. He also pointed out that controlling COVID-19 and ending malnutrition are equally important for the future of children in India. Disruption to food systems due to reduced food availability and broken supply chains decrease financial and physical access to food. Hence urgent attention to address food security, dietary diversity, micronutrient supplementation, social protection, and financial inclusion is required. “Nutrition needs to be retained as a key indicator for development,” he says. |The Hindu

Big jump in a gym membership as COVID makes health a priority

Gym owners say that there are several prerequisites for achieving fitness other than losing weight. According to them, consistency is the first thing they try inculcating in new clients with zero workout experience. To not make it boring, trainers give new workout charts which have a mix of core, endurance, stamina, and strength every week. This will also keep members motivated and thrilled. Many trainers say that the pandemic has made people conscious of fitness, healthy living, and mindful eating. Though most people are vaccinated by now and gyms have opened with necessary COVID-19 protocols, many have embraced online sessions with their respective trainers. |Times of India

MENTAL HEALTH

‘Psychological vaccine during the pandemic

A sense of languishing is one of the dominant emotions of 2021 as we navigate life in an ongoing pandemic. However, the pandemic has also provided a chance to flourish despite the challenging circumstances. Therefore, adopting strategies to acknowledge languishing but nevertheless move towards more experiences of flourishing is inevitable. Hold the ‘and’ is a psychological practice commonly used in therapies like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) which encourages a balance between the opposites. Research shows that practicing active acceptance results in less distress. Emotionally connecting with others is yet another strategy that helps us thrive during tough times. Focusing on practicing balance, acceptance, and connection may serve as a psychological vaccine during the pandemic. |First Post

8 ways teachers can support students’ mental health during COVID-19

School teachers play a critical role in supporting children during the pandemic. As teachers, it is essential to listen to students’ concerns and demonstrate understanding as well as empathy. If the child shares anything concerning, then it is important for the teachers to adopt child safeguarding systems. Constantly checking how children are doing, providing opportunities for children to take breaks, moving around, and re-connecting with their friends and peers also gives them reassurance. In these testing times, providing accurate information on COVID-19 and encouraging them to follow school safety protocols is inevitable. Teachers can also watch out for any warning signs of child behavior that interferes with their ability to explore, play and learn. |UNICEF

COVID-19 and containment worsened women’s mental health

An article from I4I’s e-Symposium on COVID-19 and mental health elaborated on the mental health outcomes generated as a result of the pandemic. While lockdowns serve to be crucial in containing the spread of COVID-19, they are known to generate economic and mental distress. Evidence suggests that rural India suffered significant disruptions to food supply chains and reductions in economic livelihoods thereby affecting the physical and mental well-being. More stringent containment is associated with a worsening of all well-being outcomes among women. The relationship between the COVID-19 shock and the outcomes vary with the pre-existing vulnerability of women and recent evidence suggests that working mothers with young children are particularly affected by lockdowns. |The Print

Where can we get authentic information about Coronavirus?

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Bulletin 54 Team

  1. Architha R
  2. Nakshatra Lakshmi M S
  3. Shabnam S
  4. Shivani S
  5. Vaishnavi Bose S

KARE COVID-19 Response So Far

43038 Cooked meals
2279 Volunteering hours clocked.
10 Tons of Vegetables transacted so far.
28+ Number of Farmers impacted so far.
640 Helpline Calls.
500 Grocery Kits & 500 kg Rice
50+ hours of student mentoring & 8 Gadgets
1400 Liquid sanitizer packs
5500 Masks
₹ 4,95,141 Funds Raised.
₹ 6,50,000 Funds Spent.
63000+ 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