Tag: #Coronavirus

Covid-19 vaccine trial begins at Mumbai hospital today

The first dose of Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by the Oxford University and AstraZeneca will on Saturday be administered to three volunteers at the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai while 10 more volunteers have been selected for the clinical trial.

Another Mumbai hospital BYL Nair will commence the process of clinical trials from Monday.
Volunteers given the vaccine dose at the KEM hospital will be checked regularly and within 29 days a second dose will be given to them.
Here’s everything you need to know about Covid-19 vaccine trial


–All three volunteers who will get the shot today have been screened to rule out any underlying health issues, KEM Hospital officials said. They also underwent RT-PCR and antibody testing. “The three participants have been screened after their consent and they don’t have any comorbidity. As per randomisation, out of every four participants, one will receive placebo (false drug),” said Dr Hemant Deshmukh, Dean, KEM Hospital.


–According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, each of the volunteers has been covered with Rs 1crore life insurance in case of death due to any side effects during the trial. They have also been covered under Rs 50lakh medical insurance if they develop any adverse effect from the vaccine.

–“We will administer the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to the three volunteers on Saturday” Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. He added that 10 more people will be screened on Saturday which will take the number of volunteers to 23. “We will check how they respond after the inoculation and test them for antibodies,” he said.

–After the volunteers are given the shot, they will have to stay at the hospital for two hours to check if they are having any complications,

–The vaccine induces a strong immune response. It provokes a T cell (white blood cells that can attack cells infected with the coronavirus) response within 14 days of the dose, and an antibody response within 28 days.

WHO will not endorse COVID-19 vaccine if not safe and effective.

The World Health Organization insisted Friday it would never endorse a vaccine that has not proven safe and effective, amid concerns over the rush to develop a jab for Covid-19. Across the globe, governments are hoping to deploy a vaccine as soon as possible against the virus, which has infected well over 26 million people, killed hundreds of thousands, upended millions of lives and wreaked havoc on the global economy.

Under normal procedures, test administrators must wait for months or years to verify that vaccine candidates are safe and efficacious.
But as the pandemic continues to take a devastating toll, there has been massive pressure to roll out a vaccine quickly, sparking concerns that testing standards could be lowered. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted that was not the case.

“WHO will not endorse a vaccine that is not effective and safe,” he told a virtual briefing.

He also took issue with the so-called anti-vax movement that has been stoking fears about the vaccines in development. They might be able to “build narratives to fight against vaccines, but the track record of vaccines tells its own story,” he said.

There are currently more than 30 candidate vaccines being tested on humans, with at least eight in final-stage Phase III trials, which typically involve tens of thousands of people. Unprecedented speed’ – “It is a very optimistic scenario because there’s a huge field of candidates,” WHO’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan told Friday’s briefing, emphasising that only around 10 percent of candidate vaccines succeed.

She explained that the “unprecedented speed of development of Covid vaccines” was largely enabled by prior investments in vaccine platforms for other diseases, which had been repurposed for use against the novel coronavirus. But she stressed, developers must not skip over the various phases of stringent testing.

“No vaccine is going to be mass-deployed before the regulators are confident and the governments are confident and that WHO is confident that these vaccines have met the minimum standards of safety and efficacy.” Tedros voiced hope that one would soon become available “so that the world can get back to norma.” But while the WHO has said it expects to see results from a range of Phase III trials by the end of the year, it on Friday tempered hopes that a vaccine is imminent.

Pointing to the massive challenge of manufacturing and rolling out vaccines to the billions around the world who need them, widespread vaccination is not expected to begin until the middle of 2021. Moral and economic imperative’ – Tedros stressed that, initially at least, supply would be limited.

“Priority must be given to vaccinating essential workers and those most at risk,” he said, stressing that “the first priority must be to vaccinate some people in all countries, rather than all people in some countries.” The WHO has set up a mechanism, known as Covax, aimed at ensuring a more equitable distribution of any future vaccines, but has struggled so far to raise the funds needed to provide for the 92 poor countries that have signed up. But Tedros hailed Friday that 78 high- and upper-middle income countries and economies have now confirmed they will participate, including Germany, Japan, Norway and the European Commission in just the past week. He pointed out that in an interconnected world, “the virus will continue to kill and the economic recovery globally will be delayed” if poorer countries are unable to gain access to a vaccine. Sharing equitably, he said, is “not just a moral imperative and a public health imperative, it’s also an economic imperative.”

Coronavirus Latest News: Top 10

  1. AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine reached Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States and is very close to get an approval. It could get launched before the November 3, 2020.
  2. The Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Bhuwaneshwar, is preparing for the second phase of the human clinical trial of ‘Covaxin’. There were zero side effects in the reports of first trials.
  3. The German scientists claim that they found that cancer drugs stop the growth of coronavirus. A total image of all correspondence channels of a human cell contaminated by coronavirus is recorded and observed for the first time. If these flagging pathways are interrupted and stopped, the virus can not duplicate and spread in the body anymore. Read the study here.
  4. Auckland, the largest city of New Zealand, successfully controls coronavirus spread and exits the lockdown.
  5. China has successfully controlled the transmission of coronavirus and did not find any new community spread reports of the coronavirus in the past few days. After Beijing and Shanghai, Wuhan reopens all the schools.
  6. Reopening of schools in the U.S. proves to record a lot more cases of coronavirus in the country when school children and staff are tested positive.
  7. Anti-mask protestors still on the rise in many parts of the U.S.
  8. Coronavirus protestors come out on the streets of Berlin in Germany, to fight for basic human rights.
  9. Peru, South America now has world’s highest coronavirus death rate.
  10. Japan plans to extend coronavirus loan for India to fight the pandemic.

Coronavirus Latest Updates: Top 10

  1. After the anti-mask protests, scientists in USA said that they have noticed a trend and conducted experiments which prove that even the cloth masks slow the spread of the virus. It is a very necessary protective layer. They find out that people who wear a mask are mostly asymptomatic. Click here for more information.
  2. Face shields reduced the risk of infection from 19% to zero. The study is published in the medical journal JAMA network.
  3. Humidity is a key factor is the spread of coronavirus. Professor Michael Ward, an epidemiologist in the at the University of Sydney, and two researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai conducted a research which proves that dry air or low humidity is increase the risk of coronavirus spread. The research shows that for a 1% decrease in relative humidity, COVID-19 cases might increase by 7-8 %.
  4. Avaaz NGO conducted a research and concluded that there is a very high percentage of misinformation about coronavirus spreading over Facebook. Facebook algorithm is a major threat to health, they said. They are taking big steps to solve this problem. When someone tries to share a link about COVID-19, they show them a pop-up to connect with credible health information and authorities. Despite its efforts, Avaaz’s report suggests only 16% of the health misinformation it identified on Facebook carried a warning label. The top 10 websites identified by Avaaz researchers which spread misinformation have approximately 4 times as many views on Facebook as information from official sites, such as the World Health Organisation.
  5. In the most comprehensive study of coronavirus patients to date, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Mass General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) provide critical data, which shows that kids play a huge role in the community spread of the virus than previously estimated. In a study of 192 children of age group 0-22, 49 children tested positive and an additional 18 children had shown illness related to coronavirus later on. The infected children were shown to have a significantly higher level of virus in their airways than hospitalized adults in ICUs for COVID-19 treatment.
  6. Australia has secured access to a promising coronavirus vaccine and will offer free doses to its entire population of 25 million. The vaccine is being developed by Oxford University and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
  7. Yale has a special saliva test for coronavirus called SalivaDirect. It is much safer and easier to conduct than the universal nasal swab test, which stays short in supply, riskier, painful and not free of cost. Yale conducts the SalivaDirect test for free.
  8. Germany could start the sale of its Coronavirus vaccine in early 2021. The vaccine is in its last stage of testing with high immune results from Stage 1 and 2. Klaus Cichutek, head of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, confirmed it. Russia will start the sale of its coronavirus vaccine at the end of this month.
  9. Most Americans say they are embarrassed by US response to coronavirus, concluded in a survey. Professors at the University of Michigan say they have NO CONFIDENCE in the administration’s plan to control the virus and Collin county said that they have NO FAITH in the state coronavirus data.
  10. Los Angeles stops the supply of electricity to a celebrity’s house. The residents violated the government rules and were throwing parties frequently attended by many. They say it is a warning for all the others who violate the rules.

New Cases of Covid-19 Break Out Again in New Zealand

On Tuesday, New Zealand announced that Auckland, its largest city, would be shutting down since 4 new cases has been found in the city.  It is the first case of domestic transmission for the nation after remaining covid free for 102 days.

New Zealand’s fight against Covid was recognised across the world. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was congratulated for her effective method and governance. A vigorous and decisive response to the pandemic had effectively curbed down the rates of infection. The Pacific island nation of 5 million citizens was considered to be the safest place as it remained Covid free for 100 days at a stretch. It had made a record of zero new cases of community transmission of Covid-19. From a first case on Feb 26 to the last one recorded on May 1st, the whole process of elimination took about 65 days. The nation was placed under lockdown for weeks when the virus first broke out and it had achieved a milestone of 100 days. The last case was recorded on May 1st. The government had warned from before as countries like Australia and Vietnam which were once free from the virus are now fighting a second battle.

The Director General of Health had said that the 4 new cases are from a single family in South Auckland. It is the first local case in 102 days. The patients had no international travel history and contact tracing has been started.

With the announcement of shutdown, media reports suggested that people have started panic buying. The Prime Minister has made a surprise news conference and announced that Auckland will have Level 3 restriction from Wednesday as a “precautionary approach”. According to it, people should be staying at home, away from work, school or any social gathering. Any gathering of more than 10 people will not be allowed. This restriction would be applicable for 3 days, until Friday. This was done to assess the situation and gain further information about contact tracing. Immediate steps have been taken to find the source of the infection and to prevent further spread. There is an added concern because the source of the virus is not known this time. Travelling to Auckland, on North Island, would be restricted for people other than the ones who live there. The rest of New Zealand would go into Level 2 restriction from Wednesday for 3 days. Social gatherings would be restricted and mass gatherings over 100 people would not be allowed. Since sources are unknown for the new cases, it is expected that there could be a rise in numbers in the coming few days.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has said, “I am urging Aucklanders to come together like we did last time to stamp out community transmission. Please remain calm, please do not panic buy and please follow the lockdown rules.” People have been instructed to use masks and to avoid all kinds of social gathering. Jacinda Ardern has told reporters, “No other country in the world was free of community transmission as long as New Zealand. Together we have beaten the virus before. We can do so again.”

New Zealand elections are scheduled to happen on September 19. The break of new cases was unexpected. Till now, the government has fought against the situation and done quite well as a result  Ardern’s Labour Party has got a lot of support before the elections.

Corona Virus in India: in 2 days India records spike of over 2 lakh cases

Vaishali Singh

Coronavirus Cases in India LIVE: Coroavirus cases in India have continued to see a spike in the past few days, breaching a new mark every other day. On Sunday, India registered its single-day and record spike of 64,399 coronavirus cases, taking the country’s Covid tally past 21 lakh-mark. India had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on Friday. In just two days, India recorded a spike of over 1 lakh cases. Experts have believed that India’s coronavirus peak is yet to come. As per World Health Organization data, India has been recorded more coronavirus cingle-day cases than the United States or Brazil for past four days. As India readies to prepare to fight coronavirus, stay with us to catch LIVE updates.

One hundred and nine days after the first person tested positive for Covid-19 in India, the country’s case count crossed the 1-lakh mark on Monday, with the number of infections having doubled in just a little over 12 days.

Both the spread of the virus and the spurt in cases in recent days will be a cause for concern for the authorities. On Monday, 4,713 fresh infections were reported from across the country, the third highest in a single day so far, led again by Maharashtra, which reported more than 2,000 cases (2,033 to be exact) for the second day running. As many as 24 states/UTs reported new cases during the day.

On the positive side, the number of people recovering from the infection is steadily rising. It was 38,908 on Monday, with the recovery rate at 38.8%. With 3,103 fatalities from the virus so far, India’s death rate too is relatively low at 3.1%.

However, as the country entered phase 4 of lockdown, the number of daily cases was still rising, indicating that the infection was yet to peak. On Monday, apart from Maharashtra, the number of new cases remained high in Tamil Nadu (536), Gujarat (366), Delhi (299, a slight drop from previous days), Madhya Pradesh (254), Uttar Pradesh (177) and Bihar (103).

Rajasthan and Karnataka registered their highest single-day rise in infections, with 305 and 99 cases, respectively. West Bengal (148), and J&K (106) were also close to their highest numbers.

At 131 deaths from the virus on Monday, the toll remained above 100 for the fourth straight day. Maharashtra recorded the highest 51 deaths, including 23 from Mumbai, while Gujarat reported 35 fatalities, a majority (31) from Ahmedabad alone. The toll was 12 in Delhi, where the death rate is now slowly rising after staying low for a long time.

Among Indian cities, Mumbai has recorded the highest number of Covid-related deaths at 757 while Ahmedabad district comes second with 524. When it comes to death rates, Gujarat’s financial capital has double the rate than the Maximum City. Compared to Mumbai’s rate of 3.64%, Ahmedabad recorded 6.22%. In the month of May, the rate reduced in Mumbai but increased to 6.95% in Ahmedabad.

NEW DELHI: One hundred and nine days after the first person tested positive for Covid- 19.

 in India, the country’s case count crossed the 1-lakh mark on Monday, with the number of infections having doubled in just a little over 12 days.

Both the spread of the virus and the spurt in cases in recent days will be a cause for concern for the authorities. On Monday, 4,713 fresh infections were reported from across the country, the third highest in a single day so far, led again by Maharashtra, which reported more than 2,000 cases (2,033 to be exact) for the second day running. As many as 24 states/UTs reported new cases during the day.

On the positive side, the number of people recovering from the infection is steadily rising. It was 38,908 on Monday, with the recovery rate at 38.8%. With 3,103 fatalities from the virus so far, India’s death rate too is relatively low at 3.1%.

However, as the country entered phase 4 of lockdown, the number of daily cases was still rising, indicating that the infection was yet to peak. On Monday, apart from Maharashtra, the number of new cases remained high in Tamil Nadu (536), Gujarat (366), Delhi (299, a slight drop from previous days), Madhya Pradesh (254), Uttar Pradesh (177) and Bihar (103).

Rajasthan and Karnataka registered their highest single-day rise in infections, with 305 and 99 cases, respectively. West Bengal (148), and J&K (106) were also close to their highest numbers.

At 131 deaths from the virus on Monday, the toll remained above 100 for the fourth straight day. Maharashtra recorded the highest 51 deaths, including 23 from Mumbai, while Gujarat reported 35 fatalities, a majority (31) from Ahmedabad alone. The toll was 12 in Delhi, where the death rate is now slowly rising after staying low for a long time.

Among Indian cities, Mumbai has recorded the highest number of Covid-related deaths at 757 while Ahmedabad district comes second with 524. When it comes to death rates, Gujarat’s financial capital has double the rate than the Maximum City. Compared to Mumbai’s rate of 3.64%, Ahmedabad recorded 6.22%. In the month of May, the rate reduced in Mumbai but increased to 6.95% in Ahmedabad.

In terms of cases, Maharashtra reported 2,033, the second-highest count in a day. The state’s tally reached 35,086, with Mumbai reporting over 1,000 cases for the second day in a row (1,185) to breach the 21,000 mark. The city now has 21,335 cases.

Meanwhile, five doctors and 55 police personnel where among the 106 who tested positive for the virus in J&K. Four of these doctors had treated a Covid positive woman who died of co-morbidities on Sunday.

Tamil Nadu reported three deaths and 536 fresh Covid-19 cases on Monday, with people returning from Maharashtra being the only ones testing positive in many districts. The testing strategy continued to be a subject of debate with the ICMR releasing new guidelines and the state set to finalise its own by Tuesday. The state has been criticised for reducing the number of tests over the last one week by epidemiologists, doctors and political leaders.

In Uttar Pradesh, as many as 177 new cases, including 31 in Gautam Budh Nagar, took the state’s Covid tally to 4,649. The state also recorded six deaths, including two migrant workers. UP’s corona toll is now 118.

Russia is about to register world’s first coronavirus vaccine on August 12

Vaishali Singh

Russia is set to register world’s first coronavirus vaccine on August 12. The inoculation has been developed jointly by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

However, the clinical trial data and other documents of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine are currently under expert review. The decision on registration will be made based on its results, according to the Russian health ministry.

“The documents that are needed to register the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of the Health Ministry, including clinical trial data, are under expert review. The decision on registration will be made based on the results of the review,” the ministry said.

Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Gridnev told state news agency, Sputnik news that the Phase-3 clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine was underway. He also said that senior citizens and medical professionals will be the first to get vaccinated.

The clinical trial of the Russian coronavirus vaccine is undergoing at two institutions: the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital and the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. The clinical trials of the vaccine began on June 18 and included 38 volunteers. All of the participants developed immunity. The first group was discharged on July 15, and the secondon July 20.

How Russia’s coronavirus vaccine will work?

Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre, said the vaccine used inanimate particles created on the basis of adenovirus. He added that the vaccine would cause no harm to a person’s health.

Different Kinds of Face Masks to Protect Yourself from Covid-19

Since the beginning of this year, “masks” have been one of the top searches across Google. One common query which everybody has is that whether masks are effective and  which is the most effective kind of mask.

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Face masks are generally of 3 types: Cloth masks, Surgical masks & N95 Respirators

Cloth masks When people are in public places, along with distancing and hygiene, it is advised that they wear a mask since it is not possible to maintain a 6 feet distance always. Cloth masks prevent the spread of the virus to a considerable extent. These masks are recommended for the public rather than N95 respirators which are needed for frontline health workers. Cloth masks can be easily made at home at a low cost. Take two rectangular pieces of cloth and place them together. Insert elastic or rubber bands in both the sides and stitch the cloth on the sides. Remember to change a cloth mask once it gets wet. While wearing and removing them, make sure to not touch the area which covers the mouth and nose. Wash your hands before and after wearing them. Although they provide less protection than surgical or n95 masks, it is known that they reduce the risk of transmission by some degree. Cloth masks can also be used in combination with a face shield for better protection. The Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has suggested any covering and advised everyone to wear cloth masks for protection from asymptomatic patients. So these are probably the most advisable for the public till now.

Surgical masks

Surgical masks are disposable ones which protect us from sprays, large particle droplets and prevent the transmission of potentially infectious respiratory secretions. Surgical masks vary in design but usually they are rectangular in shape and blue in colour. The masks have a metal strip to adjust over the nose and are tied to the face with elastics at both sides. Although they are useful in protecting from the virus, there is an environmental hazard attached to it because these are disposable single use masks. So they contribute to landfill medical waste.

N95 Respirators

N95 respirators are found to be the most effective in protecting against the virus since it can prevent the transmission of small particles by 95 percent. This includes virus and bacteria. The masks are usually circular or oval in shape and fit to the face very tightly. They must have the right fit because if they do not fit properly they can’t give full protection. These do not fit properly on people with facial hair and children. In a recent study it has been found that the masks can be re used after heating them in a covered pot or rice cooker for 30 minutes at 65 degree Celsius. The use of N95 is usually not very advisable to the public because of some reasons. First of all its not very comfortable to wear for a longer period of time. Secondly it is required for medical and frontline workers. So its very important that they remain in stock. A recent factor which emerged is that the valves on these respirators can be a risk factor and may not prevent the transmission of droplets entirely.

Apart from masks one needs to follow basic hygiene rules. Washing hands with a soap for at least 20 seconds in a correct manner is extremely important as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The use of hand rubs and sanitizers with alcohol content is also advisable. Physical distancing of 6 foot is to be maintained. The most effective way to prevent oneself is to avoid any kind of gathering or crowds.

Coronavirus and Social Responsibilities

Coronavirus pandemic is not ending anytime soon. Cases are rising everywhere, with the USA being on top. With many people suffering and being cautious, many other people are ignorant, misinformed, and hostile. Community spread of the virus is increasing in the USA and India. Medical staff, scientists, and police are giving their best to control the spread of coronavirus. It is also the duty of all the citizens to help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. All the capable citizens should come forward in this devastating pandemic situation and lend a helping hand in contributing to treatment, vaccine preparation, manufacture, and distribution. Governments should plan and execute smart measures for the same, but only a handful of countries, including New Zealand, are seen coping effectively with the community spread of coronavirus. Let’s look at the latest coronavirus scenarios around the world, keeping in view the social responsibility, awareness, and control measures.

Schools to reopen in the USA

The USA has the highest number of coronavirus cases and the rate of spread is increasing day by day with 55,196 fresh cases on August 8. A high school in Indiana had to shift to online learning just two days after reopening. Students in Mississippi had to quarantine after classmates tested positive for coronavirus within the first week of reopening. Teachers and parents protesting, scientists forecasting and young kids being at high risk of infections, reopening schools in the USA is under discussion. What did the US president say on August 4?

Anti -mask protests in Japan and USA

  • Approximately 150 demonstrators gathered held an anti-mask rally in Salt Lake City on August 5, carrying posters that read “Don’t smother the children” and “Let kids be kids. No masks!”
  • A grilled-cheese shop owner in Windermere, Florida, announced that she wouldn’t require face masks inside her restaurant and promised “100 free meals for patrons who come with no masks.” Many anti-mask protesters gathered outside her shop in her support.
  • Today, in Shibuya, Japan, a cluster festival, which deliberately spreads coronavirus without wearing masks, held a cluster demo and roamed around the Yamanote Line. The organizer of the demo calls himself “cluster jack” and seems to have a bad throat.
coronavirus, anti-mask, Wisconsin, USA
Anti-mask rally in Wisconsin.
Source: Channel3000.

Look at the Cluster demo.

Bill Gates and Serum Institute of India

Bill gates tie-up with the Serum Institute of India in the speedy manufacture and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. Serum Institute is one of the vaccine developers in the world. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide at-risk funding of USD 150 million to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, via its Strategic Investment Fund, which is to get used by the Serum Institute to manufacture the coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine is likely to be available to at least 92 countries.

New Zealand: 100 days without community spread

New Zealand gets praised internationally for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The government has lifted almost all of its lockdown restrictions, first imposed in March. The last case of community transmission in New Zealand got reported on May 1, days after the government started lifting its lockdown. August 9 is the fourth day in a row that no fresh coronavirus cases got reported and the total number of active cases in the country is 23, all in managed isolation. The country of 5 million people sought control measures like immediate lockdown, tough border restrictions, effective communication and high testing and link tracking program.

Russia to launch the first coronavirus vaccine next week

Russia is all set to register the first coronavirus vaccine on August 12. Currently, the vaccine is at the third stage of testing and will get tested on 1600 people after registration to ensure its effectiveness and safety. The vaccine trials began on June 17 among 76 volunteers. The fast-track testing of the vaccine by Russia is worrying the scientists, activists and lawmakers and is being questioned. We hope that the vaccine is being tested rightfully and does not have any side-effects.

CoronaVirus India: Record 57000 Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours

Total Covid-19 positive cases stand at 16,95,988 including 5,65,103 active cases, 10,94,374 cured/discharged/migrated and 36,511 deaths, the health ministry said.

With 57,117 people testing positive for coronavirus in a day, India’s COVID-19 tally neared 17 lakh mark today, while the recoveries jumped to 10,94,374. The country’s death toll rose to 36,511 with 764 fatalities being recorded in a day. The fatality from covid currently stands at 2.18% in India as compared to global average of about 4%.

This is the third consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000. The total number of confirmed cases also includes foreigners.

A day after Maharashtra added the highest number of Covid-19 cases, the state’s tally dropped marginally to 10,320 on Friday, its third highest addition so far. This is the second day in a row that the state has added over 10,000 cases. Active cases in the state crossed the 1.5-lakh mark.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Pune city touched 54,255 after 818 people were detected with the infection in the last 24 hours, According to Worldometer.

Odisha Announces Weekend Shutdown in Rourkela City, 4 Districts Till Aug 31 Meanwhile in India, the Odisha government on Friday announced a weekend shutdown in four districts and Rourkela city till August 31 in the wake of a spike in coronavirus cases.

Andhra was also among eight states that recorded their highest single-day jump in cases on Friday.

The others were Uttar Pradesh 4,453 new cases, Bihar 2,986, Bengal 2,496, Assam 2,112, Telangana 1,986, Kerala 1,310, Delhi 1195 and Punjab 665.

How to Keep your Homes Virus-Free after Covid-19 Outbreak

Nobody was expecting to be one day locked in their homes and worrying about keeping the virus at bay. Untill the vaccines are out we have to take certain serious measures to ensure the safety of our family and loved one’s.

Is cleaning like we usually did enough? What can a common man do without the high tech protective gears?

Let us break down some steps which can be followed at home as a part of our daily routines to not only clean but also disinfect :

Food and it’s cleaning procedure:

Nowadays with online shopping of essentials, we must make sure that the vegetables and fruits are disinfected. We must transfer the eatables into a dish and wash off the container immediately. If it is a disposable container, throw it in the trash can which should have a lid. Remove and throw away outer cartons of cereal boxes. All unnecessary shrink wraps and plastic packaging must be disposed off. Beverage bottles and cans can be wiped with disinfectant. Fresh vegetables and fruits must be thoroughly rinsed under a running tap, preferably with warm water and salt and turmeric. Wash your hands with soap and water once you are done. One can also keep certain items in sunlight to naturally kill some germs under the Uv rays.

Washing clothes after returning home:

Warm water destroys germs. So, use the warmest water appropriate for the fabrics you are washing. Use a generous amount of detergent or soap along with disinfectant liquids likke Dettol/ Savlon. Allow the clothes to dry fully, either in the dryer or outside on a clothesline in the sun. All of the above steps are necessary to fully exterminate the virus. Remember to disinfect the laundry bag as well. And wash your hands with soap immediately afterwards.

Disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched:

Surface that are touched very frequently like door knobs, door edges, handrails, light switches, kitchen and living room surfaces, mobile phones, earphones, remote controls, wallets, toilet seats, taps, tables and chairs should be cleaned one a week or even more frequently.

If the surface is too grimy, you first want to clean it with soap and water. Use a clean piece of cloth or a kitchen sponge wipe. Then wipe the surface with a disinfectant wipe or a disinfectant solution that has at least 70% alcohol. You can also use bleach. One cup of bleach mixed with five gallons of water is suitable for non-wood surfaces. For wooden surfaces, a solution of white vinegar and water works well.

The disinfected surface needs to dry naturally. Do not quickly wipe it dry. Most disinfectants need to stay wet on a surface for at least a few minutes in order to be effective. We suggest using a wipeable waterproof cover for your phone. It will be easier to disinfect and there’ll be less chance of the disinfect damaging the device.

Cleaning of floors and walls of the House:

Even if you are not using a vacuum cleaner, you can manually sweep and mop the floor with disinfectant. Pay special attention to high-traffic zones like porches, hallways, lobbies, kitchens and corridors. You want to clean the floor in these places more thoroughly. Make this an everyday habit and if you go outside then twice a day is highly recommended.

What to do if you come home from outside:

When you come home from outside, you bring a lot of germs into the house on your clothes, shoes and bags. As soon as you enter the house, remove your shoes and overcoat at the door. Leave your bags in a corner and head straight to the bathroom. Wash your hands, face and other exposed parts with water and soap. Next, disinfect your bags and the things you have brought home. You can use wipes or simply wash them with soap water. You can also sun them out as heat is known to kill coronavirus.

These are some of the few things you can do to make sure you and your family stay safe and healthy through this pandemic.

TOP 7 ‘WORK FROM HOME’ BUSINESS IDEAS IN LOCKDOWN 2020

the spread of Corona Virus and strict lockdown in the entire nation, everybody is looking for – Work from Home options. However due to the shutting down of businesses, Companies are not in hiring instead they are laying off employees due to recession. Many home-based businesses can be started with very little money and very little experience. How do I know? Because I’ve been there and I’ve done it.

You can begin small, even part-time. And then you can grow them at your own pace. You can make excellent profits even with a very small home-based business. And if you want you can grow it into a much larger enterprise. So even if you don’t have much experience or savings, you too can start your own home-based business and become highly successful.

The key behind a successful business is finding out the DEMAND in the market depending on the situation and customer needs. With Corona Virus being the topic of this year, the demand for related products like hand sanitisers and disinfectants have surged more than these manufacturing industries could ever imagine.

But what can I do sitting at home? It all starts with an idea, hence here are the Top 7 business ideas that can be executed from home during covid-19 pandemic:

  1. Tiffin / Lunchbox Service:

After the entire Nation shut down, many students who lived in hostels and bachelors who were dependent on outside food were left hungry and starving. At such times starting a Dabba Service will not only earn profits but also blessings from these people struggling to find home-cooked food.

In order to run Tiffin service successfully, you will require more than a passion for cooking. Furthermore, you will need good planning and management skills as well as flexibility to successfully handle any last-minute changes required by customers.

How successful your Tiffin service will be will depend mainly on having good reputation. For this business setup to succeed therefore, you must be able to meet the needs of your customers and have the ability to work well under pressure.

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Table cloths 
  • Kitchen facilities
  • Tables
  • Tiffin boxes
  • Serving equipment
  • Utensils – silverware, glassware
  • Simple but healthy home-cooked meals preparation
  • Online Tuitions & Tutoring:

Schools and Colleges have shut down leaving a big stress among everybody. Students are concerned with completing their portion without their teachers. At such times the need for online assistance for education is at a rise.

Online tutoring is a profitable business. This industry is developing rapidly with advent of innovations, technologies and wide spread usage of the internet. Parents and students are comfortable with online tutoring websites for their personalized learning requirements.

PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE TUTORIALS (ONLINE) -

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Start a face-to-face video conferencing.
  • Speak to each other with high-quality and excellent voice.
  • Write, type, erase and draw in distinctive colours on digital advanced whiteboard.
  • Text chat via instant messaging.
  • Upload and share files.
  • Alter message progressively with other person seeing what you are doing. Access the session from all devices.
  • Mask Stitching and Selling:

The world has changed. Not only has the world economy shut down, but people are also on edge. This is likely because we can’t leave our homes, and this can lead to isolation. Nowadays you cannot spot a single person on the streets without a mask covering their face.

If one is good at stitching at home, then this is a golden opportunity to not only earn money but also get creative. People are bored of the old plain mask and hence are looking for designer and customised masks. One can use their own imagination and entice people with your unique masks.

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Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Face Mask Cloth
  • Mask Inner Ear Loop threads
  • Paints, beads, needle works
  • Stitching machine or sewing machine
  • Needle and thread
  • Online Fitness and Yoga Coach:

The threat of coronavirus has left the fitness industry ailing and barely able to stand with smaller gyms on the verge of shutting down, larger chains contemplating huge losses and unemployment becoming a very real prospect for many thousands of trainers and support staff.

However, if you have a laptop and good functioning internet connection you can become a fitness coach for everybody missing the gym and looking for services from home. With people wanting to keep themselves fit and improving their immune system, Yoga trainers are high in demand.

WARNING! What they don't tell you about taking your yoga business ...

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Create a virtual workshop using online studio software
  • clean background
  • remove clutter and distracting objects
  • place select “yoga” objects in frame if desired
  • Use a tripod if you can
  • Test to make sure that the camera can capture you in all your poses
  • Use impeccable, clear language (don’t rely on video)
  • Embrace imperfections! Be human and carry on.
  • Cake Baking for Special Occasions:

Are you the one that makes killer cakes for every birthday? Do you churn out to-die-for donuts? If you’re ready to turn your talents into a profitable bakery, you’ve come to the right place.

No matter what the situation, the show must go on. Cakes have been the symbol of any kind of situation since centuries. But with all CAKE SHOPS and bakeries shut, one cannot access them for special occasions. If you are a good baker, then this is your time to shine. Homemade cakes will be a hit and people will be assured about its safety.

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Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Mixers
  • Oven
  • Dough proofer
  • Bakeware
  • Tools for measurement
  • Ingredients as per flavour
  • Refrigerator
  • Bread slicer
  • Dough mix
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Piping bags
  • Dairy products
  • Display case
  • Gardening and selling Organic Fruits & Vegetables:

If you are interested in gardening at home and have enough space to grow more for everyone then organic farming is a great business idea. With today’s vegetables being produced with pesticides and chemicals

Growing a garden for profit is something that definitely needs to be kept simple. The reason is that if you try and do a whole bunch at once, then you won’t be great at any of it. If you pick a few simple and small things to start out with, then you can work to perfect those things and be much more successful.

I learned that the hard way because I wanted to sell EVERYTHING out of my garden. Well let me tell you, that is impossible without a team of employees. You just can’t do it well, so don’t try it.

Discover the joy of growing a kitchen garden – Green Station

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Put them in baskets
  • Order personalized boxes with your logo/brand name on them
  • Make signs that tell about your unique produce
  • Include a recipe card for how to cook with it
  • Organize the different colours in patterns
  • Put the containers on their sides so they appear to be “overflowing” with fruits or vegetables
  • Incorporate wheelbarrows, gardening tools, flowers, etc. into your display
  • Build your own shelves to sell from that stand out
  • Design a logo or picture to use for your new “business”
  • Take attractive pictures of your produce for your display
  • Use tablecloths or nice napkins that make it feel more high end and less dirty.
  • Customised T-shirts and Dresses Painting :

Whenever people think about starting a business, a t-shirt company is probably one of the first five ideas that come to their mind. Why? Well, t-shirt printing business looks like fun and cool. To some extent, they are right. Being your own boss, having own t-shirt designs, selling them with your brand label, having people supporting your work – that’s happiness. Isn’t it?

If you enjoy T-Shirt painting, then there is a whole lot of millennial generation ready to throw all their money at your unique art and designs.

Henry Li showing how to paint a T-shirt with liquid acrylic paints ...

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Plain t-shirts
  • Fabric paints
  • Tracing paper
  • Sunlight
  • Innovative and creative designs
  • Trendy drawings
  • All size t-shirts

So there you have it in a nutshell- First you need to decide where you are going to sell your produce. Then you can decide what you are going to sell.

Remember your business will grow if people are happy with what they buy from you. Make it look nice, and only sell the best you have.

Now you are all ready to go for it! Good luck!

U.S records over 1150 new coronavirus deaths for a second day

United States deaths from the novel coronavirus rose by more than 1150 for a second day on Wednesday 22nd July, including a record one-day rise in fatalities in Alabama, California and Nevada, according to a Worldometer.

The United States has not seen back to back days with over 1150 deaths since May end. Weeks after cases began to surge, more than 20 states are now seeing fatalities also rise.

Positivity rates are at alarming levels in numerous states, hospitalizations are soaring, and more than 1205 Deaths rose by on Wednesday to a total of over 146,183 after climbing 1165 on Tuesday. Total cases are nearing 4.1 million.

One hard hit New Jersey, Florida and Texas county is storing bodies in refrigerated trucks after Covid-19 deaths doubled in the span of a week.

8 WAYS Technology is Helping To Fight the CORONA VIRUS 2020

As Corona virus keeps on getting bigger and spreads so is the technology and innovation. It is making peoples life easier in the lockdown by keeping us all virtually connected. Technology is helping the authorities fight this virus.

The Drones in the Skies-

These flying camera birds are helping in patrolling and making sure evrybody is maintaining social distancing. They help the officials check on things and also maintain social distancing at the same time. In remote areas agricultural drones were used for spraying disinfectants. In some parts of the country theyare being used to deliver crucial medical supplies.

Coronavirus: China's tech fights back - BBC News

Online Clinics and Counseling-

Due to this one illness other diseases have lost its importance. People suffering from issues like hypertension and arthiritis are being provided with online medical assistance. Many institutes are also offering online psychological counseling service.

How Technology Has Made Online Medical Consultation Possible ...

Robot nurses and Artificial Intelligence scans

Robots are also used in many Chinese hospitals to deliver food, medicine and other supplies to patients; to disinfect hospitals and other public areas; to check patients temperatures; and to answer common questions. Coronavirus is being   diagnosed using AI, which can read thousands of CT scans in 20 seconds with an accuracy rate of 96%.

Robot nurse helps Italian doctors care for COVID-19 patients

Virtual Classrooms

After weeks of schools being closed, possibly the biggest challenge for parents is keeping children occupied and continuing their schoolwork.  To enable this, many schools have rolled out online learning platforms, where students take courses and teachers give lectures from home, via live-streaming platforms.

With online classes in vogue, schools shift focus to feedback and ...

Research and Development

Within the first few weeks of the virus, China had sequenced the genome. By posting that sequencing online, it trigged a ripple effect in research labs across the world, with a surge in orders for synthetic samples of the virus to build copies of it from scratch. This allowed new treatments to be trialed – even experiments that failed offered vital clues in guiding researchers on where they should focus.

Three TN medical colleges to get virus research labs in 6 months ...

Smartphones and Internet

Smartphones are playing a critical role in reducing exposure. Delivery apps offer contact-less delivery, whereby drivers drop food off at a specific point – including a card stating the temperature of everyone involved in cooking and delivering the food. Another offers users maps marking residential communities with confirmed cases and their proximity to them. Meanwhile, mobile payment apps are reducing transmission along paper money, which can carry viruses for up to 17 days. With the world’s highest penetration of e-wallets and two of the world’s largest mobile pay, Chinese fin-tech is helping to slow the coronavirus spread.

India lockdown throws online delivery out of gear, millions cry

Work From Home

A major challenge during the virus is being able to work.  Several tech companies are offering free online collaborative tools. Other businesses have quickly adopted work-from-home policies, using online meeting software, collaborations platforms and LBS technology to clock in and  ensure employees stay home. At UNDP, the use of Zoom teleconferencing and ERP Platforms have allowed us to keep working.

Coronavirus and Working From Home: How to Keep the Kids Busy - Nelson

Virtually Connected

Compulsory quarantine has disrupted daily life and curtailed social interaction for nearly one fifth of the global population. This is leading millions to meet online instead. Families dine together with relatives in distant cities, raising a glass to each other on camera. Even weddings have been held in Virtual Reality.

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While the use of technology can at times present its own challenges, and fuel debates about privacy and public good; in the fight against the coronavirus, it is playing a critical role in offering treatment, information, support, food, schooling and greater safety for many.

Top Highest Paying Jobs in India 2020- TRENDING AFTER CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

Finding the highest paid jobs in India for freshers might seem a little difficult. But once you’ve found them, your task will get a lot easier. You’ll then know what you should focus on. And to help you in that regard, we have prepared the following list of the top jobs in India.

Well you need skills and alot of hard work too, to earn the highest pay that any field is offering. These options can however be one of the motivating factor for you. If you dont find the field of your interest then remember that –

Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.com

“Earning money is possible in any job if one is passionate about the kind of work and hence hustles hard enough to reach the top of their game.”

The List to top highest paid jobs in India are as follows:

Blockchain developer

Much like how a normal web developer uses the protocols and design structure set up by a core web architect to build web apps, blockchain software developers build decentralized applications or Dapps using blockchain technology. Their roles include: Development of Smart Contracts

There’s a wide base of knowledge to help you become a blockchain developer. If you’re interested in joining the field, it’s an opportunity for you to make a difference by pioneering the next wave of tech innovations. It pays very well and is in high demand.

The banking sector, the insurance industry, governments, and retail industries are some of the sectors where blockchain developers can work. If you’re willing to work for it, being a blockchain developer is an excellent career choice.

Cybersecurity specialist

Cyber Security Specialist is responsible for providing security during the development stages of software systems, networks and data centers. The professionals have to search for vulnerabilities and risks in hardware and software. They manage and monitor any attacks and intrusions

Security analysts spend their days studying the devices in use, analyzing network structure, and testing security measures like firewalls and software permissions. They look for weak points and aim to shore up defenses. They also report regularly to upper administration and may have to present findings and recommendations before management. Security analysts sometimes work with other departments to ensure their colleagues understand the organization’s best practices for information security.

Digital marketing specialist

A digital marketing analyst is responsible for analyzing statistics and looking for ways that the company can improve its online marketing efforts. These efforts include things like social media ads, website banner ads, and online branding. Many businesses know that digital marketing is essential to their success.

Customer success specialist

Customer Success is an integration of functions and activities of Marketing, Sales, Professional Services, Training and Support into a new profession.  There are three necessary building blocks for this emerging profession: an in-depth knowledge of the customers, effective expertise in the product being sold, and extensive domain expertise.

Growth manager

he Growth Manager function typically lives at the intersection of marketing and product development, and is focused on customer and user acquisition, activation, retention, and upsell. The Growth Manager usually reports either to the CEO, the vice president of Product Management, or the vice president of Marketing.

Artificial intelligence specialist

Artificial intelligence (AI) specialists program computers to “think.” Some AI specialists work in cognitive simulation, in which computers are used to test hypotheses about how the human mind works. For example, the AI specialist might develop a computer program to simulate the way the human brain might recognize a face. The computer’s ability to recognize a face would then be compared to a human’s ability.

Data Analysts 

A good number of companies are leveraging Big Data in order to pull out the most vital and beneficial data. This practice has paved the way for augmented productivity not only for the companies but also for their employees.

So, what do Data analysts do? Well, they translate trajectories, trends, and numbers into digestible chunks of information. Businesses gather data such as inventories, profit margins, transportation costs, logistics, and sales figures, etc.

Data analysts collect that data and help the companies to go with workable business decisions. The primary job of a data analyst is to resolve the issues that increase the company’s costs and to make better decisions for the expansion of the business. 

Robotics engineer

India might be a little slow when it comes to technology advancements, nut we have some of the most brilliant minds in this country. Machines have started to replace people in dangerous jobs such as defense, space, nuclear power plants, etc.

A career in robotics is a career of the future and is a high paying career to adapt for.

Robotics Engineer deals with the design, building structure, and the applications of robots and computer and their manipulation and processing. Robotic science has a tremendous scope as a career option as robots play an important role in the industrial sector. 

Keep all future jobs in your mind now and start developing your skills in the one that excites you. Start finding your passion also starts working on it today. It really does not matter what career option you choose, but the key factor of getting the desired position lies in your resume writing skills. ensure that you have a professionally written resume along with sharpening your career, that 10x your chances to land your DREAM JOB.