Tag: Covid 19 lockdown

INSURGANCE OF OTT PLATFORMS DURING COVID TIMES

The imposition of lockdown on account of the COVID 19 pandemic marked a major retard in the growth of many leading industrial giants. Unlike the rest, OTT  is one among the few industries which marked an exponential growth since its inception. Though the OTT platforms are not a fresh face in the entertainment industry, the burgeoning of the sector was a never expected one until lockdown happened. Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney Hotstar are the few OTT platforms which benefited from the imposition of lockdown. 

The television broadcasting companies failed to meet the demands of its viewers and was forced to rerun existing contents as the production industry was under a halt. The average screen time has simultaneously increased which resulted in people searching for fresh contents. The video on demand services gained popularity over the masses as it provided the flexibility to watch contents on our likes at our wish.  In addition to this,  these platforms released their fresh as well as original contents consistently and managed to maintain the initial consumer interest. These conveniences dragged the viewers towards OTT services and generated a buzz by increasing the traffic into these platforms even during the pandemic times. While the theatres and multiplexes remained closed for many months, film producers noticed the scope of the OTT industry and made an audacious move by releasing their films digitally for the first time to cater to a wider set of audience. 

It is estimated that an average person spends around 40% of their waking hours in front of a screen which makes almost seven hours a day. The OTT platforms have added a whopping 3-4 million subscribers to their existing viewership. This figure also included people viewing more non-broadcast content on platforms like YouTube and gaming sites. Just like how television revolutionised the early 90’s, OTT is bringing a new wave of change to the entertainment industry. These changes are always for the better and are inevitable.

LOCKDOWN WIDENS THE VOID BETWIXT QUEER COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY

The past year was indeed a difficult time for the world owing to the COVID 19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed following it. Though the entire population got affected by this adverse conditions, there were certain minor communities and groups like the transgender community which had the bitter taste of it. There were active discussions and discourses on the impact of the lockdown on women facing domestic abuse, but the atrocities and adversities faced by the LGBTQ communities were the least spoken about. Being the have-nots of normal society, the life of the queer community in a pandemic affected locked down scenario was found to be the worst. 

The basic social liberties were always denied to the queer accounting to their physical and psychological divergence and aberant sexual orientation. They were neither included in the mainstream by the government nor had any access to public health care, education, steady job opportunities etc which along with the lack of support from their families resulted in the financial subsiding of the community. In many cases, staying home also became a potential danger to many, where they fell prey to violence from their family members or partner.

For a section whose normal daily life in itself is a hurdle, life in lockdown was nothing but catastrophic. While the majority of us worried about being confined into the comforts of our home during lock down, these destitutes were perturbed over losing the shade over their head. The Indian Hijra community who depended on the streets for their livelihood got literally ‘locked’ inside their residences with no basic supplies or access to money. As they were disdained from the ordinary jobs, street dancing, prostitution and begging were their only source of income and these ‘jobs’ required immense social interaction which was impossible during lockdown. The void between the society and queer community got widened with the imposition of lockdown and the already outlying community was pushed off to further disdain. The society along with the government should consider them at least as humans if not as citizens and take necessary measures for eradicating the stigma regarding the marginalized communities by making them a part of relief programs. 

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.

MAP: 3 places to drop off homemade masks for Round Rock health ...

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.

What To Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate | My Dog Ate Chocolate Advice

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!

Who delivers the Amazon cardboard boxes???

Cardboard boxes that have been used for generations and thrived in the age of e-commerce continue to flourish or could the cardboard box be facing a new challenger? Cardboard boxes are a very big deal within the U.S. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of trees. Someone’s going to make the first box and that’s almost inevitably a mill generally in the Southeast United States. China certainly doesn’t have trees and India the extent they do have trees they’re not necessarily the right types of trees and shouldn’t be dedicated towards making boxes for us. The box business grew rapidly up through 1999 when the U.S. coordinated box market had its peak shipment. Starting in the early 2000s the U.S. corrugated box market faced multiple economic obstacles.

The great recession dragged on box demand and even after the recession demand continued to slow for commodity like soda and for the boxes that transport them. The move to digital devices also coincided with a drop in demand for copy paper and newsprint. But box makers found a grace in e-commerce sales and Amazon sale specifically which were growing at mostly integer rates within the recession and post-recession years. Those e-commerce sales have become a significant market for the containerboard industry. In 2018 told a U.S. e-commerce sales were estimated to be $512 billion almost 50 percent higher than in 2015. Amazon captured 48 percent of those sales. Most estimates are that e-commerce accounts for about 10 percent of the U.S. box market. Amazon accounts for close to 5 percent of U.S. box demand. By our estimates they are clearly the single largest box user in the US. International Paper with a third of the market I think does closer to 50 percent of all the amazon boxes evidently they got a bit more share than perhaps some of the smaller players.

Amazon's incredible, vanishing cardboard box - CNN

Amazon said they deal with most of the big box makers across the U.S. according to analysts. Those manufacturers include International Paper, WestRock, Packaging Corporation of America and Georgia-Pacific. Some investors were turning to these companies as a way to invest in the e-commerce giant without having to purchase Amazon’s pricey stock. People didn’t really start talking about buying International Paper or WestRock as a secondary investment in Amazon till about the last five years. Despite the boost from e-commerce sales the box business still isn’t growing all that much. And since 2018 their stocks have mostly underperformed the S&P 500. In 2018, 69 percent of International Papers total revenue came from the box business and that sales volume has been mostly flat for the past five years. Although the big producers sold less boxes in 2018 than in 2000, industry consolidation has dramatically narrowed the fields.

The handful of big players remaining are based in Memphis, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia and Lake Forest, Illinois. Analysts have told CNBC that substantial industry mergers have made it easier to collectively hike prices and those price increases have helped drive revenue. There are portions of the business that are in indisputable secular decline but if you’re in the brown part of the business, making these boxes, that’s been some very welcome growth. But those extra boxes piling up on people’s doorsteps have led to a backlash from disgruntled customers who are sick of receiving golf ball sized products in supersized boxes. It used to be that you’d order a toothbrush and it would come in three giant boxes and you’d say to yourself, what is this? Well, Amazon is trying to rectify that by using fewer boxes and using other types of packaging where appropriate. With e-commerce packaging underfire Amazon decided to change the way they do shipping. In 2008, Amazon introduced the Frustration Free Packaging program. It aims to reduce the extra packaging created when retail packaged products are placed inside Amazon boxes to be shipped. Instead, products certified in the program that are roughly the size of a blender or larger need to be packaged in their own ready to ship boxes. And those boxes also need to be made of 100 percent recyclable materials. For customers that means that the packaging is easy to recycle and the box is easy to open without all the excess packaging materials.

Use That Pile of Empty Amazon Boxes to Do Something Wonderful ...

Amazon offered vendors an incentive of a dollar per shipment to modify their packaging. And starting August 1st 2019 Amazon is charging a $1.99 penalty for each product shipped that needs to be reboxed. And basically the point of this deadline is for Amazon to get out of the business of packaging. They want their vendors to send them boxes that Amazon doesn’t have to touch or rebox. Over the last two years we have invented two different kinds of flexible mailers. One is the blue and white all plastic mailer. We’ve recently launched in the last six, eight months a paper padded mailer that’s actually fully recyclable with the paper stream. Amazon said they made about 10 million shipments using the paper padded mailer and depending on the month the plastic mailer is used about 20 to 30 percent of the time. So really when we come down to deciding if the product is of the size it can go on a mailer, it’s not likely to be damaged by going in the mailer, the mailer is always the better fitting option and frankly is easier for the customer to choose to recycle than breaking down a corrugate box. We’re driving in that direction for many different reasons. But those plastic mailers generally are not accepted in municipal recycling programs and you’ll need to bring them to a store that accepts plastic bags. The latest stats from the EPA show that corrugated boxes were recycled at a rate of 92 percent in 2015 while plastic bags, sacks and wraps were recycled at a rate of 13 percent in 2015.

AMAZON E-COMMERCE SELLERS, IT'S TIME TO REVIEW YOUR ADVERTISING ...

When you think about what is the greatest pain point for the consumer after having it get there safely arrive on time people are concerned about receiving something that is plastic or made a poly because of the environmental concerns. Some waste management companies say plastic packaging also causes problems for the recycling systems. Plastic mailers get caught in the recycling machinery slowing down the process and raising the costs for recyclers and sometimes contaminating entire bundles. Until Scotty on the Enterprise can beam the products from the warehouse to your living room I think Amazon’s going to be good for the corrugated business. I think there’s going to be noise I think you’re going to have challenges from time to time where people say, “Should we try and the plastic pouch?”, in the long run plastic is going to be on the wrong side of history. Because Amazon is a market leader in the U.S. e-commerce sector any move away from cardboard to plastic mailers could signal a shift for the entire industry. The corrugated box could be about to undergo a major facelift. We’re seeing some major trends among consumers and what they’re expecting from e-commerce and the first one is actually this desire for increased engagement with the package. In 2015, Amazon partnered with Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment to ship orders in bright yellow delivery boxes featuring cartoon characters from the movie Minions. The boxes promoting the movie and a special Amazon U.R.L. dedicated to shopping for merchandise from the film.

COVID-19 and its effect on students career

In his prophetic Ted talk on ‘The Next Outbreak’ in 2015, Bill Gates mentioned  the great danger posed to humankind by global epidemics as compared to nuclear war. Five years later, we are right in the middle of what may be termed as the greatest global crisis since the Second World War. Covid 19 pandemic has swept the globe and is perhaps going to be recorded in history as the most impactful and consequential event of this century. It has stretched capacities of governance , public , health , infrastructure etc.

The covid 19 started out as a health pandemic, has created  long-lasting changes to the way we live and work. As it continues to spread across the globe, many countries have decided to close the schools as part of a social distancing policy. However, these closure od educational institutions has affected the education of more than 1.5 billion children and youth worldwide due to the amid pandemic situation.

1.students re-evaluating their career choices

With a lot of uncertainty surrounding future educational prospects a report says that 63% students feel that their initial career plans have been severely affected due to Covid-19, while 42% students feel that they have been forced to reconsider their preferred career choices and are thinking of having a backup plan now. The ongoing pandemic has further triggered and put question marks about travelling overseas for education. A lot of students who were originally planning on studying at an overseas university are now likely to change their higher education plans.

With the Covid-19 pandemic has  impacted student’s career plans and according to a report its  seen that careers like medicine, life sciences and allied medicine are among the top 15 careers which students are looking at pursuing. The top five career choices of students include business management, computer applications and IT, entrepreneurship, medicine and design.

2. E-learning

With all the educational institutes being  closed, its one of the biggest test of online teaching and home-schooling amid the covid 19 situation In these testing circumstances due to impromptu closure, the biggest scourge and the blessings in disguise are the online learning platforms also known as eLearning. This online learning method is catering  to the growing demands of the students in the most efficient manner. The online learning platforms have seen a spur in the number of students who are enrolling in the plethora of courses they offer. From courses on various Government sector exams, technical courses to activities like painting and even dancing there is a unceasing list that is available to the students at the most affordable price. Technology and online learning platforms have become increasingly crucial and due to this college costs could dwindle tremendously as more students will like via online methods. 

Nevertheless we cant deny the fact that this pandemic has  widen the digital divide.A country like India, which is not new to eLearning but it should be kept in mind that closures of schools are likely to widen the learning gap between children from lower-income and higher-income families. While many parents with access to technology and internet are progressively turning to online education technology to keep their kids learning at home while some may not be able to. In a recent survey from India Welfare Trust, it has shed light on how children are bearing the impact of the unprecedented outbreak.

3.Graduates facing uncertainty

  • Unemployment -Students graduating from college in 2020, will have a tougher time finding their first job, unlike your immediate seniors, and its obvious that unemployment levels three months after graduation will be higher.
  • Job first, choice later -Students will  start off fast through by making more efforts and by taking risks. Salaries may be lower by nearly 20% and students may not find jobs in their preferred domain so its important to prioritise getting any job to gain work experience and shift domains once the market improves. It is advisable that working through unpaid internships or investing  your time in family business will be beneficial
  • Digital skills– The job market always changes after a major crisis. This time, the change is an increased focus on online, technology and digital skills that enable workers to contribute remotely. Whatever your line of education be, you are unlikely to be considered unless you demonstrate comfort with digital tools in your field of work.

In this time of crisis well rounded and effective educational practice is what is needed for capacity building of young minds .

LOCKDOWN FITNESS.

Being healthy even during the lockdown is as crucial as breathing. Staying miles away from obesity with a healthy mind is the main goal of fitness freaks. Active participation in projects, assignments, sitting, and working for a long duration may occur exhausting.

https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/five-home-workouts-to-do-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak-11584792000

Lockdown exercises- Can’t spend time gyming? Lockdown has led us to sit at home. Eat, sleep, web series, and repeat. This has become the daily routine of many adolescents yet some are indulged working from home. Somehow they are distanced from fitness due to lockdown. Some exercises can be easily done at home to keep you in shape:

Planks- Finest exercise to work on core. 

  • Lie down on the floor.
  • Let your forearms and elbows touch the floor, uplift your body.
  • Keeping legs apart and coming up on toes.
  • The body weight should be on the arms and the toe.

Push-Ups- Exercise to build upper body strength.

  • Lie on the floor facing downward. Keep the back and legs straight and off the floor. This is the initial position.
  • Use palms and toes to lift body
  • Now push your torso upwards from the ground till your elbows lock.
  • Return back to the initial position.

Squats- Exercise to enhance lower body strength.

  • Stand in a standing position with legs wide apart wider than shoulders.
  • Extend arms making them parallel to the ground. Bend your knees as if sitting on a lowered chair. 
  • Keep body weight on the heels, core tight, and torso upright.
  • Come up and straighten your legs and lower your arms back to the side. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3yVuey1XHx4KOVfdW65a-g

Lockdown diet- Lockdown has resulted in more food cravings as there is unavailability of fast food around the corners as well as no delivered food. Fitness is not only about spending hours at the gym but also about eating healthy.

https://m.timesofindia.com/life-style/food-news/covid-19-diet-to-boost-immunity-in-older-people/amp_etphotostory/74799906.cms

As vegetables and fruits cannot be stocked for a longer duration, it’s necessary to grab high protein intakes like Chana, yogurt, nuts, and peanuts. The main reason for lockdown is Coronavirus and can only be defeated by strong immunity.

  • Copper:  This micronutrient helps in making red blood cells. It is rarely referred to though it plays a major role in maintaining a healthy body, including the normal functioning of the immune system. It is essential for development and all-around health. Food sources rich in copper are seafood (lobster, squid, oyster), nuts, beans (lentils, soybeans), fruit and vegetables, etc.
  • Iron: This nutrient boosts immunity and hemoglobin to eliminate fatigue. Some of the best food sources of iron include – egg, liver, beef, canned salmon, legumes (lentils, beans, and chickpeas), nuts (cashews and almonds), wholegrain cereals, dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli, etc.
  • Vitamin D: Recently, a study claimed that low levels of vitamin D are linked to higher rates of COVID-19 mortality. Studies have also suggested that vitamin D may help protect against respiratory infections. Egg yolk, sardines, salmon, shrimp, and fortified foods such as orange juice, milk, yogurt, and cereal are rich in vitamin D.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: They are essential fats with many health benefits. Omega-3s can help fight depression and play an essential role in supporting the immune system. Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, sardines, trout, catfish, herring, mackerel, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, spinach, etc. 
  • Beta-carotene restores itself into vitamin A, which is an anti-inflammatory vitamin. Consuming one cup of the good sources of beta-carotene can give around 60-100% of the total daily amount of beta-carotene. To enhance your immunity include this in your diet. Carrots, spinach, sweet potato, moringa (drumstick) leaves, and pumpkin are all good sources of beta-carotene.  https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70496/5-simple-hacks-to-eat-healthy-and-boost-your-immunity-the-right-way-this-lockdown
https://amp.scroll.in/field/958492/coronavirus-lockdown-from-dance-to-bodyweight-exercises-ways-to-stay-fit-during-self-isolation

Is mask important during exercise in Covid-19?

Has exercise helped you deal with the lockdown? If it’s, then you’re never alone. Exercise is unlimited. Gyms might reopen and therefore the government advice suggests that folks should wear face coverings on conveyance and in places where social distancing isn’t possible. But does this reach exercise? Here’s what you would like to understand about mask important during exercise or not.

Are runners required to wear face masks?

Not really. People should wear face masks where social distancing isn’t possible always and where they can inherit contact with others. Though they are doing not normally meet, for instance on conveyance or in some shops, the mask is important. In crowded areas, this recommendation could reach runners but officially there’s no advice requiring people that are exercising during a wide-open space to wear a mask. As long as you’re doing social distancing, it shouldn’t be necessary to wear a face-covering while exercising.

However, many professionals agree that wearing a mask is more about preventing the spread of Covid-19 to others, instead of protecting yourself, particularly if you’re asymptomatic.

If you’re getting to be jogging during a highly urban area, it’d be advisable to stay a mask in your pocket and put it on as you pass any crowds of individuals.

Is wearing a mask while exercising harmful?

There’s no scientific consensus on either the advantages or the risks, of wearing a mask while exercising, primarily because little research has been done into the world.

These five things which will happen if you wear a mask and exercise:

1.Claustrophobia

Because you breathe heavily while you’re exercising, there are high chances of you getting claustrophobic because the air supply could be restricted by your mask.

2.Lower stamina and fatigue

Stamina all boils right down to the quantity of oxygen you’re inhaling while you exercise. If you’re wearing a mask then your stamina is going to be on the lower side as you won’t be taking in the maximum amount of oxygen as you want to.

3.Nausea

Lack of oxygen and breathlessness may additionally cause nausea and dizziness.

4.Excessive sweating and dehydration

When you keep it up re-breathing the air you exhale it accelerates your pulse thanks to which you sweat tons. This can result in high chances that your body might dehydrate. We should always stay hydrated during the summer is crucial.

5.Unconsciousness and irritability

Although it’s not quite common, you can’t eliminate the probabilities of it. once you exercise together with your mask on you’re rebuilding the CO2 levels in your body which may cause unconsciousness.

Right now it’s better that you simply occupy the home and do whatever exercises you would like on your premises. you’ll use your terrace rather than stepping out.

Now that even the planet Health Organisation (WHO) is saying that we’d like to find out to measure with COVID-19, we’d like to take care of the alternatives we make. So, consider before you slip away for a run together with your mask on.

However, these incidents are rare, and there have likely been underlying health conditions.

Should You Wear a Mask When Exercising Outdoors? - WSJ

What sort of mask should I wear when I’m exercising?

From floral summer prints to heavy-duty respirators, it seems there is a mask cropping up for each occasion.

Several companies are producing face masks to run in, and these are for style and using materials to stop becoming excessively damp – breathing through the mask will produce water. The mask should be clean than having several will help. the fabric must be porous.

To help us, a mask made out of sentimental, breathable fabric that’s washable, making it safe for a sweaty exercise has been introduced. Masks also provide FFP 1 grade protection.

Is Will exercising with a mask affect my performance?

Whether you’re an experienced runner or a lockdown newbie cyclist, everyone likes to perform to the simplest of their ability. If you are planning to wear a mask on your daily exercise, it can make you feel uncomfortable, in hot weather.

There’s no doubt that folks are getting to find running with a mask harder. Then you’ve needed to breathe a touch harder to urge through the barrier, which suggests your lungs are getting to get a touch more of a piece out.

A mask decreases the flow of air into your lungs, so you’ll have less oxygen in your bloodstream. This suggests you’ll fatigue quicker. It’s likely that you simply are going to be getting enough oxygen once you exercise with a mask on, but if you are doing experience unusual signs like lightheaded, dizziness, extreme shortness of breath or numbness and tingling, stop exercising, begin your mask and take an opportunity.

Conclusion

Now lockdown restrictions are starting to be lifted, it’s even more important to require extra care when exercising publicly. If you can, choose a run where you are not going to encounter many of us. If you would like to exercise with someone, run side by side with an honest gap between each of you.

Also maintains it is vital to remember of the opposite people – both runners and pedestrians – on the pavement around you. If another person is coming towards you, shout and instruct in which direction you will proceed running. This will avoid collisions.

Class 12 boy handles bodies of coronavirus patients

Introduction

The spread of Corona Virus has resulted in World-wide lockdown and India too has implemented lock down in all its states for last few months. This led to closing of the major industries like automobiles, infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing etc. which are biggest stakeholders of organized and unorganized sectors in India. Most of the people working in these sectors are daily age workers who do not have fixed income or benefits but solely relies on everyday wages. The closure of all these sectors has led to one of the biggest crisis which we will face in future. Here’s an article on class 12 boy handling bodies of coronavirus patients to earn living.

About

In a hunger for job to ease living, 12 class boy haunted a dangerous job of handling bodies of corona patients. A class 12 student, wants  to study medicine, to supply for his siblings’ school fees and his mother’s treatment he is doing this job. Chand Mohammad’s mother suffers from a thyroid disorder and needs her medicines urgently, but the family doesn’t have enough means for the treatment. They are barely making their ends for living . As his elder brother lost his job at a merchandise store in Krishna Nagar market during the lockdown. Chand Mohammad is from Seelampur in Northeast Delhi. He and his family has been surviving on ration provided by neighbors. And whatever his brother could earn doing odd jobs. 

Where Chand joined for work?

 A week ago, Chand joined a corporation as a sweeper at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in New Delhi. The job requires him to handle bodies of corona patients. The shift is from 12 noon to eight pm. He took this work after he got exhausted from all options to seek out work. Though this is a dangerous job, as he is at a better risk of getting engaged with the infection, but he want the work and earn. His family, including three sisters, two brothers and fogeys, is struggling for living. Right now, they had food and medicines for my mother. On many days, they cooked food only once. There’s an opportunity that they may fight the virus, but they cannot run away from hunger. Chand’s three sisters are still in school. He, himself is in 12 standard and have to pay the varsity fee. They need money to study. He hopes that his first salary will set things right to a particular extent. He read namaz before he exits his home for work. He even have faith within the almighty. God will look after  him and will surely show him the way. 

How he is handling bodies of coronavirus patients?

 Chand, who wants to study medicine, says But what bothers the youngster is that employees like him who are into high-risk jobs don’t get any insurance from the private companies employing them. “The most dangerous job within the world immediately handling bodies of corona patients  pays around Rs 17,000 per month. Every day, Chand handles around two to three bodies along side another sweeper. They are required to place the bodies inside the ambulance, take it to the crematorium and put it down on a stretcher once they reach the crematorium.They also have to remove all wearing the private protection equipment, which is extremely heavy. It limits movement and suffocates an individual. During this heat, one can finish up bathing in their own sweat. 

An incident he shared with media

 On Tuesday evening, Chand handled a body on his own. There was no helper with him, So, it took him a while. He gathered his breath at the top when he heard, a doctor saying the body had been lying within the mortuary for a month which nobody claimed it. Once he tried taking the body down from the ambulance, the duvet came off and a few liquid spilled on his thighs. As he is desperate to get some money, Chand has approached people giving money on low interest rates and he took his Aadhaar card and voter card, hoping to urge some money on low interest rates. His family is worried about his safety. Perhaps they also know that this is the only way for them to survive at the present. His parents inquire about his work daily. They pray for his safety. His mother cries tons daily, but he make her understand. Chand takes a shower as soon as he reaches home and keeps a distance from his family members. He is taking all precautions.For now, he would like some help in order that the family remains afloat. But we may never know what is in our destiny! 

Conclusion

 As this pandemic has made many people to suffer a lot. They are unable to have one time meal. Many don’t have money, they have migrated.We should help poor and needy as much as we can. This boy Chand Mohammad has to opt this job in which he is handling bodies of coronavirus patients. Just because he don’t have enough money he is doing this dangerous job.

It’s okay not to be okay !

We are all here in this pandemic, most of us are staying at homes. Keeping ourselves away from others for theirs as well as our well being. But staying so long at home results in mental illness as well. 

We go around and start living in new places, sometimes may be due to work or maybe any other reason. Being in a place with completely new people brings difficulties and lessons. There are many observations and analysis you make about people. Some people might have stuck in the place of their work. Staying out means you grow and become a better version of yourself and explore more. Your life becomes quick and fast. You try new things and make memories. But sometimes you just feel that things are not going well. It’s not just about being away from home but it can happen whether you are with your parents or with family things can make you upset.

 Breaking up with people can make you sad, failure in any field you work can make you upset at the end of a month when you are broke and don’t have a single penny to do buy what you want can make you sad. 

Materialistically, emotionally, physically, atmospherically things can get against you and can make you sad. You might not find things going well and you want to isolate yourself from this entire world, you would think that things are not at their best pace, and you are not worth anything.

•Accept that you are sad!!

There are times when you feel happy about various things. There are times when small surprises can make you happy and you feel blessed for what is happening around. There are days when you just wake up feeling so fresh about things and you love the day for no reason because you woke up like this. You laugh and sing inside your head all day long and smile. 

And then there are days when you don’t want yourself to be bothered by many people and lay inside your bed for no reason. You feel fine physically but mentally you don’t feel much fresh and happy. 

•It’s okay if you don’t know

Sometimes you know the reason sometimes you just don’t. It’s okay to feel this way. It’s totally fine to feel upset about things. Every time you don’t need to have that smile on your face. It’s your body that accepts that you are sad. Moreover, accept that you can be sad. It’s okay to be sad. It’s normal to feel dejected and not to feel good for yourself. Accept that things went wrong, accept that you failed and you need to work hard. Days have nights and nights have days. Time heals everything. Don’t resist it. Live it and accept it.

•Once you accept it!

You conquer half of the battle just by accepting the fact that you are not happy and you need a break. Don’t just isolate yourself from this world. Don’t resist people and their presence. Think of things you didn’t do because of your work or you just forgot what you used to do. Do them. Get back to work that’s all you need to do. When you are happy, you celebrate but you never leave your work. The same is the case when you are sad. When you are sad just don’t stop working. Start working more. Make yourself busy. Make things go as they were and don’t leave your daily routine. Things will fall into their places give it some time. Have patience and enjoy the phase of your life. Its okay things will become good. 

•Don’t confuse it with depression!

Don’t confuse things with depression. Things might go wrong. But depression is a very large term. Being sad should not be misled with being depressed. Depression is medically proved diseases which can only be assured if taken the proper test and with doctor’s concern. Depression is a disorder which affects a person’s thoughts, behavior, tendencies, feeling, and sense of well-being. Depression is more likely a mental illness and it should not be taken lightly. 

How to be assured?

Let us compare this with having dengue, until and unless your doctor assures that you are suffering from it you just don’t consider that you re affected with it. Similarly, when you are not assured properly with what you are suffering from then you should not consider being in depression. It is a medical statement that should be used when checked properly. Just because you are sad is not necessary that you are depressed. Most of the people in the society and our surrounding have this misconception of being in depression is very common. But this is not true. You must never think like these rather consult a doctor if in doubt.

Best measures to overcome depression.

Sleep. Take proper sleep. Go to bed early and wake up early. Sleep for at most 6 hours daily. Proper sleep is a part of a healthy life and a better mood. This gives new energy to the body and freshens up the mind with new thoughts. It helps in stimulating our immune system as well as our emotional balance.  

Connect to nature and feel the beauty of it, admire it, and listen to what your body tells you. Find a park nearby and go for a walk. Keeping in mind that you need to have proper social distancing. It can be a morning walk or maybe an evening walk, totally depends on you. But try some quality time alone.

Listen to music that fills your heart with joy. Things will go well. Listen to your favorite music. 

Laugh and make people laugh. Laughing is good exercise. It regulates blood circulation, this results in the growth of oxygen in the blood which will make you feel good. You will feel good as your body starts feeling good. Accept, it is life and you need to enjoy every bit and admire it whether it is dark or sunshine. The worth of good times can only be felt by bad ones. God is great. He has plans. And he does things for a good reason.

Start doing yoga. It helps to maintain focus. You will get most of your answers while doing it. It helps to think correctly and maintains positivity in one’s life. 

Connect with your old friends. Remember old times when you all used to laugh around but then don’t make yourself sad by too much remembering those times, joking!!

Tell someone that you are sad. Tell them everything. Talk about your feelings and clear your mind. Let things come out. Talking to your loved ones bring a solution to your problem. Maybe they can bring new opportunities.

If failed consider it as an attempt towards success. Get back to life and work you are the star of your life.

Start writing or reading. This will help you to express without the fear of being judged by someone and you can be yourself.

And before you finish reading this just remember

LIFE IS GOOD, NO MATTER HOW HARD THINGS HIT YOU, AND TIME WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND THINGS WILL GO WELL.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Try at least some of the measures to live and feel better. It’s your life, love yourself

Dexamethasone- Corona Vaccine Update!!!

Finally some good news today dexamethasone is now being called a major breakthrough based on a recent randomized controlled trial in the UK. Dexamethasone also known as Decadron is an example of a glucocorticoid are sometimes referred to as corticosteroids other examples of glucocorticoids include hydrocortisone methyl prednisolone prednisolone, prednisone beta methazone and triamcinolone so glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor in the body cortisol aka hydrocortisone is the glucocorticoid.

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Photo by Edward Jenner on Pexels.com

We naturally make in our body it’s essential for life it regulates or supports various cardiovascular metabolic and homeostatic functions it also plays a big role in our immune system especially when it comes to reducing certain aspects of inflammation this is why we use them all the time in medicine we sometimes give these steroids for asthma copd rheumatologic type diseases and countless more diseases. Sometimes it is also given for steroids for meningitis and also for some forms of cancer we also give them in the early course of severe ards acute respiratory distress syndrome whether that ards is due to infection such as pneumonia or vaping lung injury or whatever the cause for severe ards we typically give methylprednisolone or solumedral at a dose of one milligram per kilogram per day. So, for most people that ends up being around 80 milligrams per day so this is the equivalent of 15 milligrams of dexamethasone the idea here is to suppress the cytokine storm that has taken place meaning that the massive amount of inflammation that causes lung damage and can indirectly cause damage to other organs as well our body naturally makes cortisol in our adrenal glands specifically in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex the adrenal gland then secretes cortisol into the bloodstream and the cortisol travels to different tissues of the body and then binds to the glucocorticoid receptor inside cells it then stimulates the cell to make more anti-inflammatory proteins and causes the cell to make less pro-inflammatory proteins but giving someone glucocorticoids meaning steroids to someone who has an infection is somewhat of a tricky thing because the fear is that if you suppress the body’s immune system it has the potential to make the infection worse. Sometimes the body’s immune system does more damage than the actual infection for example in cases of meningitis that is due to either streptococcus or tuberculosis we give steroids because the medical evidence shows that they have better outcomes when we do so and giving someone steroids for viral pneumonias like influenza is more controversial because doing so generally leads to worse infection with that said if the viral pneumonia is so bad to the point of causing severe ards most doctors will give steroids in that situation. So this is why, the general medical guidelines so far recommend against giving steroids for covert pneumonia unless the patient has severe ards and we’ve been waiting for randomized controlled trials to come out for steroids in covid and here we are now with this study so in march of 2020 the recovery trial which stands for randomized evaluation of covid-19 therapy was one of the randomized control trials that actually looked at several different potential treatments for covid which included low-dose dexamethasone this trial was done in the UK.

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Image source: Sky News

Over 11 500 patients in it so this trial has not been peer reviewed as of has not been published in the journal yet so everything I know so far is based on what’s been released to the general public in this trial over 2100 patients were randomized to receive dexamethasone specifically six milligrams once per day for 10 days and this group was compared with over 4 300 patients that were randomized to the standard care alone so 6 milligrams of dexamethasone is the equivalent of 32 milligrams of methylprednisolone so this is about half the dose we would typically use for someone with severe ards so among the patients who received standard care alone 20-day mortality was highest in those who required mechanical ventilation this was 41 and then intermediate in those patients who required supplemental oxygen only this was mortality rate of 25 percent and the mortality rate was lowest among those who did not require supplemental oxygen in which that mortality rate was 13 for patients who were on mechanical ventilators dexamethasone reduced mortality from 41 percent to 28 percent for patients who needed supplemental oxygen it reduced mortality from 25 percent to 20 percent and there was no benefit among those patients who do not require supplement oxygen in other words if someone only had mild disease there was no point in giving dexamethasone so based on these results one death would be prevented by the treatment of around eight ventilated patients. So that’s the number needed to treat for ventilated patients and then the number needed to treat for the ones who required supplemental oxygen that number needed to treat would be 25 so these preliminary results are significant but it doesn’t mean that dexamethasone is a miracle drug it’s certainly not a cure but it does seem to help based on these numbers index and methazone could be of huge benefit and not just rich countries but poorer countries as well because this drug is very cheap and is widely available so this is great news and very exciting but there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered like what is the ideal dose should we use higher doses in patients who are mechanically ventilated with ards and when will it be approved for use in the united states and we’ll get these answers pretty soon now another.

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Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Interesting question is should we give decadron dexamethasone to people who have mild disease now even though this study didn’t show any benefit the reason why i bring this up is because some people start out with mild disease and then go on to have moderate or severe disease and we have no way of predicting who goes on to do that and also it happens very quickly lots of times someone could be doing just fine and then all of a sudden within hours they all of a sudden are deteriorating and they have severe disease so should we give those patients decadron regardless is there any harm doing so that’s another question that remains to be seen.

How to keep yourself amused during Covid 19

Since the global outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, we are locked inside our homes trying various things to pass our free time. We can either waste our time or put it to better use by doing something productive. Most people are wasting this precious time, by sleeping, playing online games, watching shows, just thinking about how this lockdown period is affecting their lives. But, for the students, this is the best time to do stuff that he/she has wanted to do all their lives, but never found the time to do. So, here we are compiling some of the interesting and creative stuffs that you must try to keep yourself entertained during quarantine.

Reading: A habit to develop

As we have all the time in the world, so we can devote some time to enhance our knowledge by reading some good books. We couldn’t read much earlier as we had other important things to do, but this time away from the world has allowed us to explore many different books. Many good novels are available online. So, we don’t need to worry about going to the store to buy one. Reading books makes us see the world from many different perspectives, as characters from a novel have different points of view.

Learning new things

As no one is perfect and learning should never be stopped. We could use this time to learn new things, instead of just sitting around wasting time. You could utilise your time by learning French, or any of your favourite foreign language. You could easily found many good online videos and websites and also enrolled myself in a French learning course that is helping me a lot to learn. Also, I’m utilizing my time to prepare for some competitive exams that I need to give in the future.

Enhancing Yourself

We could immerse ourself in the process of self-learning to improve our skills and getting to know ourself better. We should keep trying new things to bring out our creativity. We can try to enhance our cooking skills by making new dishes each day and also investing this time to meditate and give our mind some time to relax and find peace.

Spending time with loved ones

We could best use of our time by spending quality time with our family members. In this digital age, we generally don’t get time to spend with our families due to busy schedule and workload. So this lockdown has given us enough time to appreciate and enjoy our time with family members. We could help our mother in household work, spend time with father talking about different things, help our brother with his studies and we also have fun, playing games together.

There are also many apps which you could prefer to keep yourself entertained. Some of these apps are as follow:

Learning Apps

There are several applications that enabled us to achieve our goals and learn new things through homeschooling. Some of such apps are:

  • DUOLING APP

Duolingo enables users to learn languages through gamification. The app includes 35 languages.

  • BUSUU APP

Due to the current pandemic, Busuu has introduced a new initiative, Keep Kids Learning. This initiative was done to support children and their families while home-schooling. The initiative provides free learning of different languages by some qualified teachers.

Fitness apps

Currently, there is no access to local gyms. So at such time to keep ourself fit and healthy we could install some good apps to follow our daily exercise routine. Two of the apps are as follow:

  • STRAVA

Strava is a fitness app where you can track all your performance and also helps to complete the given challenges. The app is community-driven which has social elements for friendly competition.

  • Runtastic

This fitness app was launched by Adidas. The app provides more than 180+ videos. The videos help users to achieve their daily fitness goals. As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, it is currently offering a three-month free premium trial too.

Music Apps

Well, no doubt, music is the best way of relaxing. So these are few apps that you could also use:

  • Soundcloud

Soundcloud is one of the most common music apps. Here over 200 million tracks are uploaded by the active community. Soundcloud is one of the world’s largest open audio platform.

  • Spotify

Spotify is the other app that provides millions of tracks and even episodes. So during the lockdown period, you can choose any kind of music you to listen according to your mood.

Along with these fantastic Apps, there are many other apps that you can use in this period of lockdown and can keep yourself entertained.
These are some of the exciting and useful things that one could try to keep himself/herself entertained during this lockdown.

HIL( INDIA) geared to provide locust control Pesticide to Iran

Despite logistics and other challenges posed by Covid 19 lockdown HIL (india) Limited a PSU under Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertlizers   ensured timely production and supply of pesticides for farming community. 

HIL is now in process of production and supply of  25 MT Malathion Technical  for supply to locust control  programme to Iran under Government to Government arrangement.   Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA ) has  approached HIL for manufacturing and supply of said commodity to Iran. 

Credit rating of Central PSU upgraded to BBB- from BB.which is a stable investment grade.

The Company has exported 10 MT of fungicide – Mancozeb to Latin American country, Peru  and another 12 MT will be exported in next one week. 

HIL has also signed an agreement with Ministry of Agriculture and Famers Welfare for the supply of Malathion Technical to Rajasthan and Gujarat for Locust Control Programme. HIL had manufactured and supplied 67 MT of Malathion Technical  till last week 

HIL supplied to malathion Technical to municipal corporations for dengue and chikungunya control programme.

supply of 314 MT of DDT 50% wdp to various states like Rajasthan,  Punjab ,Odisha,Andhra pradesh etc was executed as per the supply order placed by ministry of family welfares, NVBDCP programmes .the company is in process of supplying balance quantity of 252 MT to other state.

During the lockdown period till 15th May 2020, HIL produced 120 MT of Malathion Technical, 120.40 MT of DDT Technical , 288 MT of DDT 50%, , 21 MT of HILGOLD (Water Soluble Fertilizer), 12 MT of Mancozeb Fungicide for Exports and 35 MT of different agrochemical formulations so that farming community and health department may not feel the heat of lockdown.