التصنيف: Top Celebrities

Viral

Trump Feels COVID-19 Be Treated With Hydroxychloroquine

HT News

President Donald Trump has gut feeling that a malaria drug could work to treat people with COVID-19. But his advisor Dr Anthony Fauci is politely denying Trump’s claim. Fauci is top infectious disease expert of the government.

Trump’s claim about a malaria drug

Donald Trump, during a television interview, claimed that he had gut feeling that that malaria drug hydroxychloroquine could be an answer to coronavirus that had been shutting countries down across the globe. But his advisor Fauci countered his claim by saying that the drug Trump was referring to was anecdotal.

Dr Anthony Fauci denies Trump

As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, Fauci has 30-year experience in dealing with diseases including HIV, SARS, MERS, Ebola and the novel coronavirus. Fauci said that there was no medicine available to treat COVID-19.

Fauci said that Food and Drug Administration was looking for a way to use the said drug for emergency use but in a controlled manner to get data about its safety and efficacy. He said that for any drug to be qualified for a specific use must pass some clinic trials to substantiate to substantiate his claim on chloroquine.

Treating COVID-19 with chloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug widely used for treating malaria. Doctors in US prescribe this drug off-level. The good thing is that studies conducted in test tubes revealed encouraging signs that chloroquine could interfere with coronavirus. But it will be too early to make any opinion on the drug.

Source: https://bit.ly/2WxH0Ok

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Top Celebrities Viral

FIR Lodged Against Singer Kanika Kapoor For Being COVID-19 Positive

HT News

The Chief Medical Officer of Lucknow accused singer Kanika Kapoor of negligence in his First Information Report (FIR) to the police. The singer has been tested positive for COVID-19.

Accusation against Kanika Kapoor

She attended a dinner in Lucknow where there were several senior politicians including state minsters and parliamentarians. The FIR reads that the singer was advised to go on home quarantine after she was detected positive for coronavirus. But she disregarded the advice.

Kanika Kapoor’s answer to FIR

The 41-year old singer said in a social media post that she developed coronavirus symptoms a short time before and was isolated. She claimed that she came to Lucknow on March 11 after landing at Mumbai airport on March 9. She came from London that has high number of COVID-19 cases.

She further said that she was screened at both the airports but no virus was detected and she was unaware that she was carrying coronavirus. The singer is presently admitted to a hospital in Lucknow.

Politicians susceptible to be COVD-19 patients

Vasundhara Raje was swift to respond to the Kanika Kapoor’s post. The former Rajasthan CM said that she attended the dinner party with her son Dushyant Singh and that she and her son had self-quarantined.

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh was one of the guests to the dinner that the singer attended. He admitted to lapses at Lucknow airport and ordered an inquiry into the incident. He has also gone into self-quarantine. Meanwhile the President Ram Nath Kovind also met Dushyant Singh.

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News & Politics Viral

Narendra Modi Appreciated Bhutanese And Nepalese Contribution Towards COVID-19 Fund

HT News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to thank Bhutan and Nepal for their contribution to the COVID-19 emergency fund to help SAARC countries in battling coronavirus outbreak.

PM Modi proposed emergency funds

On March 15, Prime Minister Modi proposed setting of an emergency fund for SAARC members. Also, he donated USD 10 million for the purpose. He suggested setting of COVID-19 fund while addressing the SAARC leaders and representatives via video conferencing.

He said that it was wonderful to see SAARC leaders taking initiatives that were adding strength to the collective fight against coronavirus. He further said that it shows their commitment to the collective fight against the pandemic.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Up8Ycu

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News & Politics Viral

Myths Surrounding The Intensity Of COVID-19

HT News

COVID-19 became a known thing to science within a few months of coming into the world. It arrived from oblivion and spread like a wildfire. Today, it has taken the entire world in its grip but there seems to be no end to this pandemic.

Some most important and unanswered questions about COVID-19

Q.How does it spread?

The SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 2 million people in the world and resulted in over 10,000 deaths. It is passed through tiny droplets from coughing and sneezing.

Q: Is there any fear of reinfection

It is largely unknown but some people in China and Japan got re-infected from the virus. But it could be a low level of infection from the earlier infection.

Q: What is the number of coronavirus cases in the US?

Until the US start mass testing for COVID-19, determining number of infected cases could be anybody’s guess. There could be people with mild infection or the number could be scary.

Q: How deadly COVID-19 is?

Presently, some countries are facing higher deaths than others. Wuhan, the epicentre of infection, has a death rate of 1.4% but it was 5.8% in late February. On the contrary, South Korea’s due to COVID-19 is less than 1%.

Q. Is it seasonal?

Some viruses become less transmissible in high temperature and it is expected that COVID-19 will also become less intense in the coming months but it would be too early to say anything about this deadly virus.

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Viral

India Shuts Down To Battle Coronavirus Outbreak

HT News

The government banned international flights for a week staring this Sunday in order to escalate measures to fight coronavirus. Also, PM Modi urged children below 10-years and people above 65-years should stay inside. Meanwhile 18 new COVID-19 cases took the total number of coronavirus cases to 173 on Thursday. The pandemic has claimed over 8,000 lives globally.

Highlights of the story

• People above 65-years are advised to stay indoors until necessary. Only public representatives, doctors and government employees should come outside.

• All concessional travel except for students, patients and people with special needs are suspended by railways and airlines.

• Private sector employees are urged to work from home across all states, except for emergency and essential services.

• Fourth COVID-19 death of a 70-year old man with travel history to Germany was reported from Punjab. The earlier three deaths were from Delhi, Punjab and Karnataka.

• Punjab suspended public transport services in addition to restricting public gathering to less than 20 from Friday night. It became the first state to do so.

• The centre has sent 50% of his employees to work from home in addition to staggering working hours for the staff.

• India is on the Stage 2 of the outbreak. It suggests that the transmission is local and traceable. The health ministry said that there was no sign of community transmission.

• Schools, colleges, theatres, malls and shopping areas have been shut down and religious gatherings and weddings have been put off across the country.

Source:- https://bit.ly/2Qv60Sj

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Viral

Chloroquine Prices Sliced To 2015 Level To Fight Global Coronavirus Pandemic

HT News

A New Jersey based drug company Rising Pharmaceuticals doubled the price of its chloroquine phosphate tablets in late 2019. But the increased price was soon rolled back after the medicine is touted as a promising coronavirus treatment.

Treating COVID-19 with chloroquine

The publishing and analytics company Elsevier compiled a report on price increase by the said pharma company. The report said that the price of chloroquine phosphate tablet was increased by 98% between December 2019 and January 2020. The data provided to STAT revealed that cost of a 250-miligram tablet was increased from $3.87 to $7.66.

The company increased the cost of the drug months before the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and much before the tablet was perceived as an effective medicine in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Chloroquine phosphate is usually given in malaria treatment but its demand increased in the past two weeks due to COVID-19 pandemic.

CEO of company explained price decrease

Ira Baeringer said that the price of the drug was reduced to 2015 level for all customers once the whole issue of COVID-19 pandemic started to explode. Even the President Trump said that the drug chloroquine was an effective treatment against coronavirus and that it was “approved for prescription.”

Food and Drug Administration contradicted Trump

Stephen Hahn interrupted to correct Trump almost immediately saying that any opinion on the efficacy of the drug should be made only after conducting clinical trials. Chloroquine phosphate has been manufactured since late 1940s and used as an antimalarial drug.

Source: https://bit.ly/2U4P3AA

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National Viral

PM Modi’s Will Address The Nation On COVID-19 Outbreak

HT News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss the coronavirus outbreak and the steps taken to combat its further spread during his address to the nation at 8 pm today. He took the decision after chairing a high-level meeting to review the efforts to contain COVID-19.

PM Modi’s address to the nation

India has over 150 coronavirus cases and three deaths – Delhi, Mumbai and Karnataka. The government has decided to spread awareness about the issue and sensitize the people.

Result of the meeting

The participants discussed ways to strengthen the preparedness to battle the outbreak. It also included increasing the testing facilities. The government is seriously considering involving private laboratories in its efforts. The Health Ministry said that the situation was evolving and that the government was ready for every eventuality.

Indian Council for Medical Research (ICRM) is the nodal agency responsible for monitoring the preparedness for battling COVID-19. It has been directed to look for ways to involve private laboratories for boosting testing facilities.

Also, the government is trying to spread awareness in public and educate them about advantages social distancing in fighting with coronavirus. It is the only way of breaking the viral chain of transmission.

Steps taken to strengthen the preparedness

Various state governments have cancelled big ticket events including IPL; shut educational institutions, malls and multiplexes and banned big gatherings to initiate social distancing. The central government has shut down all national parks, museums and monuments. Private companies have allowed their employees … Read the rest

Viral

How to stay safe from COVID-19?

HT News

Together with China, India is also suffering from novel coronavirus. After China, the virus is wreaking havoc in different parts of the globe. However, it is under control in India right now and the stakeholders are spreading awareness about COVID-19. But there are more rumours than information.

Things to do to prevent coronavirus

• Practice personal hygiene

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub

• Keep washing hands even when they look clean

• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or tissue paper while coughing and sneezing

• Dispose off the used tissue safely

• Maintain a safe distance(1 meter/3 feet) from others especially those with flu-like symptoms

• Sneeze on the inner-side of the elbow and not on palms

• Monitor your body temperature and respiratory symptoms especially when feeling unwell. Wear a face mask while visiting a doctor

What not to do with coronavirus

• Avoid shaking hands

• Stay away, if you have flu-like symptoms

• Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth

• Don’t sneeze or cough on your palms

• Don’t spit at public places

• Avoid unnecessary travel especially in affected areas

• Neither sit in groups nor participate in events

• Don’t spread rumours

Coronavirus status in India

There are total of 166 coronavirus cases in India. So far, Maharashtra has received highest number of cases followed by Kerala. Also, 4 cases are reported from Noida in Delhi NCR. The government has ordered closure of schools and colleges till further notice to contain coronavirus.

Source: https://bit.ly/2U0q94Z

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International Viral

United Way Creating Pandemic Response Fund To Fight COVID-19

HT News

The United Way of Miami is working with funders to create a fund to help combat the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. The President & CEO Maria Alonso of this nonprofit said in an email that the organization was working with funders to activate a Miami-Dade Pandemic Response Fund to help individuals, organizations and charities.

Maria Alonso explained the fund

He said that the fund would be used to allocated resources to those battling the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways from short-term impacts to long-term resilience of the community. The community invited hundreds of seniors to identify people that need home meal-delivery services. The organization is also working Miami-Dade County Public Schools with the district’s meal outreach.

The volunteers and staffers of the organization provide help in sorting, packing and handout meals to students and families of different schools including Comstock Elementary School, Miami MacArthur Educational Center, North Miami Elementary School and Santa Clara Elementary School.

Also, the United Way has created a web page for convenience of its users. The page will provide information about volunteer needs. Also, it will allow people to sing up for volunteer service for future events.

United Way findings

The nonprofit organization found that 59% of community families were living on one emergency away from poverty that make them potential to COVID-19. Reduced hours, business closures and potential layoffs are really worrisome and it highlights the existing needs of families. The United Way wants to serve all these families.

Source: https://bit.ly/3a2HsYJ

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Viral

West Bengal Reporting First COVID-19 Case Takes Total Tally To 142

HT News

After 142 coronavirus cases and 3 deaths, the government has stopped people coming from infected nations including European Union, Malaysia, Philippines and Afghanistan. Also, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has started exploring possibility of testing people with no travel history. ICMR is also considering including private laboratories for mass testing.

Highlights of the story

• West Bengal got its first COVID-19 case when a man arrived from England was tested positive in Kolkata airport. He was immediately admitted to infectious diseases hospital.

• Maharashtra with 39 COVID-19 cases is still the worst hit state in India.

• The man who died in Mumbai recently came from Dubai on March 5. He was admitted to a private hospital for respiratory problems but test positive for coronavirus. His wife is also infected with virus but she is stable.

• In Noida, two more people are tested positive for coronavirus. In Ladakh, three more coronavirus patients took the toll to 6.

• Presently people with a travel history to infected countries are tested for COVID-19 due to limited testing facility. But there is a loud cry to test everyone with coronavirus symptoms. South Korea showed by aggressive testing can help control COVID-19.

• ICMR director told that they weren’t averse to private labs testing COVID-19 and that they were making safety rules to allow private labs in mass testing.

• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi warned of economic devastation in the next six months due to coronavirus.

• Kerala government launched a mass hand washing campaign named “break the chain”.

• The World Health Organization appreciated India’s response and commitment to control COVID-19.

Source: https://bit.ly/3d7i6e9

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