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  
India2,187,19236,560,650489,422
World65,956,246278,958,3825,611,765

How is the Omicron variant impacting kids?

Parents are highly concerned about the safety of their kids as Omicron cases surge around the world. Reports suggest that children could be vulnerable to the new COVID-19 variant. Omicron mainly influences the upper respiratory tract to have higher infections making them more vulnerable to the various agents in the air. Other common symptoms include runny nose, persistent sneezing, sore throat, headache, and cough. Kids under 5 years infected with the omicron variant are presenting symptoms of croup. |Times of India

Revised COVID-19 guidelines for children 

The Union Health Ministry has issued the revised comprehensive guidelines for Management of COVID-19 in children and adolescents. The guidelines advise against the use of antivirals or monoclonal antibodies on children less than 18 years of age, irrespective of severity. Although Omicron is considered to be less severe, there is a need for a careful watch. The guidelines also added that children aged 6-11 years may wear a mask depending on the ability of the child to use a mask safely and appropriately under direct supervision of parents or guardians. |Tribune India

Omicron wave ebbing in Mumbai, in rest of India, it could linger till March

There has been a decline in the number of Omicron cases in Mumbai, but experts suggest that it may take at least another month before the rest of the country experiences a decline in the third wave.  The Omicron wave takes three weeks to reach a peak and is about three times faster than the Delta wave. According to epidemiologist, Dr Giridhar Babu, “The next two weeks are crucial across India.” Maharashtra’s COVID-19 task force member, Dr Shashank Joshi added that there would be a high possibility of the pandemic declining if there is no new variant of concern beyond March and April. |Times of India

Omicron causing hospitalizations and deaths: WHO chief on the impact of new variant

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that Omicron infections are inundating health facilities. The chief stated that COVID-19 is circulating far too intensely with many still vulnerable. He further cautioned that individuals are more at risk of severe illness and death if they are unvaccinated. The Omicron variant can put off immunity and this makes it an even dangerous virus, he further added. Studies show that the Omicron variant in circulation overtakes Delta and it is now becoming the dominant variant showing a shorter doubling time than the latter. |Live Mint

Omicron increases immunity against Delta only if vaccinated: WHO chief scientist

According to Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation,  Omicron infection can increase immunity against the Delta variant only if individuals are vaccinated. In unvaccinated people, Omicron doesn’t generate immunity against other variants. So, infection is not a substitute for vaccination. The statement comes in support of a recent study that suggests ‘Vaccination helps in Omicron response.’ Unvaccinated people lose protection against Delta and don’t gain a boost to Delta. |Live Mint

Booster dose neutralises Omicron variant

An international team of researchers studied the sensitivity of Omicron to antibodies. According to Oliver Schwartz, Head of the virus and Immunity Unit at the Institute Pasteur, Omicron has acquired significant resistance to antibodies, and most of the therapeutic monoclonal antibodies currently available against SARS-CoV-2 are inactive. It was also found that vaccinated individuals with two doses barely neutralised the Omicron variant when observed after five months of vaccination. However, those who had received a booster dose of Pfizer, analysed after one month of vaccination remained effective against Omicron. The long-term efficacy of the booster dose is yet to be analysed.|NDTV

Omicron is a ‘deviant’ from the COVID-19 pandemic progression script

Omicron, the highly infectious variant of coronavirus, is driving the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Virologist Dr T. Jacob John said, “Omicron is a “deviant” from the COVID-19 pandemic progression script and so it must be postulated that two pandemics are going on side by side, one by the Delta and the other by the latest variant of concern.”  He also added that diseases caused by them are different and future variants may be more infectious and less pathogenic. |The Hindu

Do COVID-19 vaccines have an answer for omicron?

The Head of Russia’s Gamaleya Research Centre, Alexander Gintsburg, on Tuesday said that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V against omicron is 75% and its protection increases to 100% if the person receives a Sputnik Light booster dose in six months. He also warned that the efficacy might decrease to 56-57% if revaccination is not done. Similarly, the Covaxin vaccine of Bharat Biotech is found to neutralize the omicron variant. “More than 90% of all individuals boosted with Covaxin showed neutralizing antibodies,” the company said. |Economic Times

India extends ban on scheduled international flights till February 28

Due to the COVID-19 surge, the suspension on scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till February 28, 2022, by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).  This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. Also, flights of 28 countries under the air bubble pact will not be affected and are they have been asked to ensure strict compliance. Therefore special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories with specific restrictions. |Live Mint

Odisha Starts Trial Run Of ‘OmiSure’ Kits for Detection of Omicron Variant 

The Odisha government has received 30,000 ‘OmiSure’ RT-PCR test kits for early detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The ‘OmiSure’ kits can detect the Omicron variant in nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal specimens during the RT-PCR tests. The kits will be used in districts recording high positivity rates in the state. Odisha was the first state in the country to place an order for ‘OmiSure’ kits after Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd (TATA MD) in partnership with ICMR developed it.. The kits will first be used in four cities – Berhampur, Cuttack, Rourkela and Bhubaneswar. |Outlook India

Where can we get authentic information about Coronavirus?

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Bulletin 59 Team

  1. Architha R
  2. Delma M D
  3. Lakshana B
  4. Mahisharthi V
  5. Nakshatra Lakshmi M S
  6. Shabnam S
  7. Shivani S
  8. 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