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  
India1,224,98240,461,148502,008
World75,503,505313,433,3025,754,482

VACCINE AND TESTING

Omicron subvariant BA.2 likely to be as severe as ‘original’: WHO

The emerging BA.2 form of the Coronavirus Omicron variant does not seem to be any more severe than the original BA.1 form. This virus is dangerous, and it continues to evolve. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking four sub-lineages of the Omicron variant, including BA.2. There’s no indication that there’s a change in severity. Omicron overall is more transmissible, it has more growth advantage and causes less severe disease than Delta. |India Today.

Pfizer seeks Vaccine approval for Children under 5

Pfizer and BioNTech seek US approval for vaccinating children aged 5, the last aged group yet to be vaccinated. Paediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations reached high in the United States as the Omicron strain spread rapidly. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s booster shot for children aged 12 but vaccination rates are low. Though Pfizer and BioNTech seek the approval for two doses, they still continue studies on a three shot regimen. |NDTV

Zydus Cadila starts supply of COVID-19 vaccine

ZyCoV-D is a three-dose COVID-19 vaccine that is administered intradermally. It is a plasmid DNA vaccine that produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response. Drug firm Zydus Cadila has commenced supplies of  ZyCoV-D to the central government. The Ahmedabad-based drugmaker has agreed with Shilpa Medicare Ltd to produce mutually agreeable doses of ZyCoV-D. It has also agreed with Enzychem Lifesciences of the Republic of Korea. |Times of India

RESEARCH

Rosemary compound may prevent COVID-19

Researchers have found that the compound, carnosic acid present in rosemary can help block the COVID-19 infections and suggest examining its potential as a cheap, safe, and effective treatment. A preliminary study reveals that the compound can block the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the receptor protein ACE2. The compound is also found to have a special effect in inhibiting a powerful inflammatory pathway which could be beneficial against the inflammation observed in COVID-19 and in some cases of the post-COVID syndrome. |India Today.

Exposure to even one nasal droplet may be enough for COVID-19 infection 

In a trial, participants were exposed to the lowest possible dose of the virus equivalent to a nasal droplet and it was found to cause infection. Researchers found that symptoms start to develop very fast, on average about two days after contact with the virus. Some experienced headaches, muscle aches, fever and no changes were seen in their lungs. Peak levels of the virus were significantly higher in the nose. This highlights the importance of proper face mask use to cover both the mouth and nose. |The Week

ECONOMY

The Economy under endemic COVID-19     

The COVID-19 pandemic is now probably becoming an endemic, with long-lasting negative effects on the economy. The severity of the economic damage depends on the course of the disease in society as well as our response to the disease. Economic damage could be direct, voluntary or regulatory irrespective of COVID-19 being endemic or not. But the range of possibilities is wide and the future highly uncertain. Economic damage could be direct, voluntary or regulatory irrespective of COVID-19 being endemic or not. |Forbes

Union Budget 2022 gives fillip to COVID-hit educational sector

In wake of the serious disruption to education during the pandemic, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out the need to build a resilient mechanism for education delivery. It is also reported that the government will expand the One class One TV initiative to 200 channels from the existing 20. It is also said that the government will establish a digital university to provide access to students across the country to world-class quality universal education, with a personalized learning experience. The budget set aside ₹1.04 lakh crore for education, an increase of around ₹11,000 crores, from what was pegged in 2021-22. |Hindustan Times

ENVIRONMENT

Healthcare waste from COVID threatens environment: WHO

The sight of discarded masks on roadsides and beaches has become a universal symbol of the on-going pandemic worldwide. The agency’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the report is a reminder that although the pandemic is the most severe health crisis in a century, it is connected with many other challenges that the country faces. Approximately 87,000 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) was procured between March 2020 and November 2021 and shipped through a joint UN emergency initiative. Most of this equipment is expected to have ended up as waste. |UN News

Scientists invent technology to convert medical waste into energy

A new form of plastic pollution threatens the environment due to mismanagement of disposed COVID-19 masks. A study reveals that more than 130 billion masks are discarded every month. Scientists are planning to convert these used masks into energy using new technology that will help them to manufacture cost-effective batteries from medical waste. The new batteries that are manufactured with the masks are found to have a high density of stored energy and electrical capacity compared with the traditional ones. |Republic World

MENTAL HEALTH

Depression and Anxiety spiked in pregnant women during the pandemic

A peer-reviewed study of 150 women took place during the height of the Coronavirus crisis between April 2020 and January 2021 in the University of Essex. The study revealed that the pandemic caused a spike in depression and anxiety in pregnant women. According to the researchers, depression and anxiety can significantly interfere and impair mother-infant bonding during pregnancy. Hence, it is important to protect maternal well-being during pregnancy and beyond. |Science Daily

Where can we get authentic information about Coronavirus?

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Was Bulletin 61 informative? Let us know your suggestions

Bulletin 61 Team

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

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