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, cyclones, 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-19: Trends in India and the World

COVID-19
 		Total Cases
 		Recovered
 		Casualties 
 
India336,185172,3139,590
World8,039,6494,152,783436,498

The above graph depicts the COVID-19 death rate per million people in the states across India. The most important statistic- COVID death rate per million people – across states of India. 1) Delhi: Very high and rising alarmingly at 10.2x all India death rate.. Gujarat and Maharashtra has a very high death rate and is higher than the all India death rate.| Prof.Shamika Ravi

The above graph illustrates the recovery rate in various countries across the globe.

  • US, UK, Brazil, their active cases are still rising and yet to peak.
  • There is a low recovery in Spain and Italy.
  • Iran had the first peak around 80K, there is a big 2nd wave, now the cases are approaching 160K.
  • There are early signs of a peak in Russia and India.| Prof.Shamika Ravi

Making India a self-reliant country

While addressing the nation on the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed on the necessity of a self-reliant India. Its need was brought about due to the absence of domestic production of PPE kits during the pandemic. He has further emphasized that there needs to be an improvement in quality, inviting direct foreign investment and there also needs to be significant government reinvestment in public sector undertakings and R&D. India’s meager public expenditure on education needs to be substantially ramped up, including in skill development.| The Hindu


MEDICINE

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine begins phase II/III human trials

“We are now initiating studies to evaluate how well the vaccine induces immune responses in older adults, and to test whether it can provide protection in the wider population,” said Professor Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group. Phase II trials will enroll about 10,260 adults and children. This study also involves expanding the age range of people; those aged 56-69, over 70 and between 5-12 years. In phase III, the vaccine will be tested on a larger population (mostly people over 18). The participants in both of these phases will randomly receive either Oxford Vaccine or MenACWY (“Control vaccine”).| India Today


SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Robots can reduce human contact & transmission of COVID-19

An event, organized by the Abu Dhabi-based TRENDS Research & Advisory, brought together leading experts from around the world who deliberated on the importance of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and other technologies in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19. Experts say Robots can act as an interface between a doctor and a patient wherein they can carry out diagnostic and treatment processes, reducing the human contact and risk of transmission of infection during this pandemic.| The Economic Times

Nextdoor-A startup to help people stay connected

The COVID-19 pandemic has made daily living tougher in many aspects. The startup Nextdoor, founded in 2011 has started offering various platforms for neighbours to stay connected, from asking recommendations on household chores to supporting the growth of local businesses. Recently they have launched “ Neighbors Helping Neighbors” with Walmart to cater to the needs of the people, especially the less-able. The co-founder has also stated that about 80% of people in most neighborhoods prefer to use this initiative.| Business Insider

iMASQ- an inhouse quarantine berth bus for COVID-19 patients

The Hyderabad-based startup Vera Healthcare has launched ‘iMASQ’ (Intelligent Monitoring Analysis Services Quarantine), a bus with a multipurpose AI unit which can provide medication stock, swab collection facility, remote consultation, monitoring, tracking results, lab space and an inhouse quarantine berth with ventilator facilities for containment zones. The site is monitored by two on-site doctors who are supported by 6 other healthcare professionals. This facility aims to cover 3000-10,000 houses within a 3km radius each day in the state of Telangana.| Business Insider

India Observatory – From ecology to migration

India Observatory, an open-source database, has come up with a GIS-enabled dashboard that includes an India map reflecting the movement of migrants in real-time on their long journeys, often on foot, along with facilities and relief organizations on their routes. Four elements brought together include the location of migrants and vulnerable people, their specific needs, location of key infrastructure on the way which can double up as a rest-center, or quarantine space and location of relief and rehabilitation providing NGOs and civil society organizations.| The Indian Express

Aarogya Sethu app – Making its source code public

“Transparency, privacy, and security have been the core design principles of Aarogya Setu since its inception. And opening the source code up to the developer community signifies the government of India’s continuing commitment to these principles,” says Amitabh Kant after making its source code public. This app is currently used by over 115 million Indians. It uses Bluetooth and GPS on smartphones to record when people come in close contact with one another so that contacts can be quickly alerted when a person is diagnosed with COVID-19.| Reuters


PUBLIC HEALTH

WHO suspends trials of Hydroxychloroquine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has paused trials of hydroxychloroquine because of safety concerns. Hydroxychloroquine is generally considered for the treatment of Malaria or autoimmune diseases. Lancet’s study on hydroxychloroquine involved 96,000 coronavirus patients, of which 15,000 patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine or any other form of chloroquine with or without antibiotics. The study shows patients treated with this drug have an elevated risk of death and abnormal heart rhythm.| BBC

Ways to minimize risk at the airport

These are some tips from an epidemiologist and an exposure scientist to stay safe when flying; Bring hand wipes to disinfect surfaces such as passports. If you cannot find hand wipes, bring a small washcloth soaked in a bleach solution(1 tbsp in 4 cups of water) in a zip bag. Bring 2 – 3 plastic zip bags, one for personal items that others may handle and another to put these things in a new bag after disinfection. Sanitize your hands as often as you can and wear a mask. If you already have an N95 respirator, consider using it but others can also provide protection.| World Economic Forum 


ECONOMY

Surviving the great COVID-19 lockdown

With countries facing several pressing issues like citizens losing their jobs, with debt overdue pending and several others, it is essential to look at possibilities of saving the leftovers of an economy. With the IMF trying to meet the financial requirements at least partially of some countries, it is essential for the G20 countries to keep contributing towards this cause. One of the advice which the IMF chief Gita Gopinath gives to the leaders around the world, is to have substantial fiscal measures to save households and firms from any kind of downfall.| World Economic Forum

Chances of companies coming to India post the pandemic

Among the many complex things that already have caused disruptions in the economy, a prominent one is the supply chain disruption mainly caused due to China being the “factory” for almost every country and it is severely affected during this pandemic. With many countries like the US turning its back on China, India is likely to be the next best alternative. The beginning of such relations is the 5.7 billion dollar investment of Facebook in Jio. India has the largest untapped potential for filling part of the supply chain vacuum that is created by an exodus from China.| Harvard Business Review


EDUCATION AND CAREER

UGC gives nod to pursue double degrees

Students will soon be able to pursue two degrees, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) giving its nod to a proposal in this regard. This allows students to complete courses in the same or different streams at the same time. One of the two degrees, however, has to be through regular mode and the other has to be through online distance learning. Two-degree programmes under regular mode may not be allowed simultaneously as it may create logistic, administrative, and academic problems. | Times Now News

NEAT-AICTE partners with EdTech to provide technical training

In an attempt to ensure that there is no hiatus in student education during the ongoing lockdown, Government of India’s All India Council of Technical Education – NEAT announced a partnership with EdTech start-up Skill-Lync. Given the extended at-home learning requirements that the industry is catering to, this partnership is aimed at accelerating the online learning process for mechanical, electrical & civil engineering students. Currently, they are offering free courses and live boot camps every week.| The Week


AGRICULTURE

Pest attack to worsen the pandemic

It is indeed vital that farmers protect their crops during the pandemic, to avoid damaging next year’s yield. The clinics that used to visit villages have now transformed into e-clinics to help farmers with crop pests and diseases during the lockdown. Rising temperatures due to a warming global climate have also increased pest populations, agricultural experts added making online plant clinics an inevitable one. | World Economic Forum


HISTORY

Newton’s discovery during self-isolation from the plague

Where can we get authentic information about coronavirus?

Was Bulletin 08 informative? Let us know your suggestions


KARE COVID19 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.

Report as on 15.06.2020

  • 40038 Cooked meals
  • 2259 Volunteering hours clocked
  • 10 Tons of Vegetables transacted so far
  • 28+ Number of Farmers impacted so far
  • 500kg Rice
  • 1200 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.

Volunteer yourself

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

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