Critics Point To Security Lapses In Arogya Setu App

Survey of India has made public a trove of maps related to the Arogya Setu App that helps in tracing COVID-19 patients. The officials associated with the project said that it would improve geospatial data as well as develop maps customized to different COVID-19 related applications like healthcare facilities, infection clusters and disaster management.

Advantage of Arogya Setu App

The maps released by Survey of India, the apex map making body of India, wouldn’t be directly useful for general public as they are aimed to help government agencies in getting geospatial information related to COVID-19 spread.

The app is developed with the aim to strengthen the public health delivery system of state and central governments by facilitating geospatial information related to health, socio-economic distress and livelihood challenges. The PM in his address to the nation on April 14 urged people to download the Arogya Setu App in their mobiles.

Users need to keep the Bluetooth and location history “on” as much as possible. The app will alert the users if they are in the vicinity of a COVID-19 patient. The app will also help in tracking those quarantined and helping in executing quarantine.

Critical reception of the application

According to critics, the Arogya Setu App and other apps related to it like Sahyog could compromise on the privacy of the users. They said that there was no clarity on how the data would be shared and used. The pointed that transferring data from Arogya Setu App to others could be a problem.

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COVID-19 Lockdown Prevents Muslims To Stay Indoors During Shab-e-Barat

Muslim community in the national capital is advised to celebrate Shab-e-Barat in the lockdown state. Delhi Police have appealed to the community that Muslims should avoid venturing out during the celebration.

Delhi Police asked for support

Delhi Police approached Muslim community to get support in their fight against COVID-19. A tweet shared by Delhi Police said that lockdown would remain enforced on the sacred night of Shab-e-Barat on April 8 and 9, 2020.

The police have been successful in keeping people restricted to their homes during lockdown period. They didn’t allow the Hindu community to congregate in temples during the holy festival of Navratri and Ram Navami on April 2. Also, the Hindu community didn’t host any rallies or congregationsduring the festival.

Shab-e-Barat celebrations

In Islam, it is called Night of Forgiveness of the Day of Atonement. For Muslims, it is an occasion when the Almighty forgives sinners, if they pray. During Shab-e-Barat, Muslims in large numbers congregate in mosques and visit graves of their departed loved ones.

Roads leading to mosques and cemeteries see large crowds of devotees. During normal time, the police were deployed close to mosques and cemeteries to ensure law and order in the Muslim community. But this year, the Muslims are asked to remain in their homes due to lockdown orders.

India is under 21-day lockdown announced by PM Modi on March 24. The lockdown will remain enforced until April 14. The government is seriously mulling over lifting lockdown on April 15.

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Two Quick And Easy Drinks To Fight Novel Coronavirus

Immunity is your first defence against seasonal flus that includes the novel coronavirus. And it has been medically proved that a good immune system can help people sail through tough times including a pandemic. And you can easily boost your immunity with tasty and energetic drinks with readily available fruits and vegetables.

Juicy drinks that boost immunity

Orange Boost

As the name suggests, this drink is really a boost for your health and immunity. An excellent amalgamation of organs, carrot, dates, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and chia seeds, this drink is a favourite of people of all ages.

Antioxidants found in orange can do wonders for your immunity. Also, it packs vitamin C, ascorbic acid and beta-carotene that can play a vital role in boosting your immunity. Cucumber is a power house of minerals, vitamins and electrolytes. Kale can scavenge free radicals that cause oxidative stress. It also has vitamin C. Turmeric or haldi is helpful in easing pain and discomfort due to seasonal infections.

Cucumber, Kale and Spinach juice

It is also an exciting drink that you can make with your kitchen items. And you can add a little bit of ginger and lime to give it an exceptional flavour. Brimming with vitamins K, A, C, magnesium, calcium, copper and potassium, this juice is no less than an immune boosting shot.

These juices can be prepared instantly and taken with breakfast. Or you can try more juices you can prepare with kitchen items. Immunity is your first defence against COVID-19 hence you should leave no stone unturned to make it strong.

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Telangana Could Call The Army And Order Shoot-At-Sight To Enforce Lockdown

Telangana government could impose total curfew and even order “shoot-at-sight” for violation of lockdown that is the only way to fight the spread of coronavirus said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

KCR urged people to lockdown

The CM said that the US had to call army to enforce lockdown. If people didn’t follow the coronavirus lockdown, the situation where the government would have to impose a 24-hour curfew and issue shoot-at-sight orders could arise. The CM urged people to avoid that situation. KCR was addressing the media hours PM Modi announced a nationwide day lockdown for 21 days.

The CM also urged his ministers, MLAs and corporators in Hyderabad to take to streets to help police in enforcing the lockdown. He warned that the situation where army had to called had to be avoided at any cost.

Telangana has 36 coronavirus cases and it has over 19,000 people under surveillance.

The state has imposed curfew from 7 pm to morning 6 am. No one would be allowed to move out. Also, the shops would remain shut during the curfew period. In case of emergency, people can dial 100 to call the police for help.

KCR said that the government had collected the passports of all those that are under home quarantine. They are 114 members and that there COVID-19 reports would be available soon. Also, he said that the government would take action against those found to be selling goods at higher price.

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Big Bazaar In Udupi Found Violating Government Orders On Coronavirus

On Tuesday, the Udupi police came down heavily on the retail chain Big Bazaar. The retail chain was accused of flouting government guidelines on containing the spread of COVID-19.

Police action on Big Bazaar

The police party comprising of Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesh, Superintendent of Police N Visnuvardhan and others were on a surprise visit when they found the Big Bazaar outlet selling essential items at a higher price despite government’s guidelines for curbing black marketing.

There were over 25 staff working in the outlet at the time of inspection and they were caught operating air conditioner despite strict warning from the government.Also, the police discovered there was no safety measure for visitors that were allowed to walk-in the store without worrying about safety of other and the staff.

Tehsildar Pradeep Kurdekar lodged a complaint against the retail chain on the report of the police team. The report was registered at Udupi police station and the necessary action taken.

Malpe port to be shut

The Deputy Commissioner also visited the Malpe Harbour to meet the Malpe Fisherman’s Association. He instructed the association to suspend all activities. The association president Krishna Suvarna asked for some time to sell the catch of Tuesday evening before suspending the activities. The DC allowed them to finish their activities till Wednesday evening.

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Cops Detain Shaheen Bagh Protestors Amid Delhi Lockdown

After 101 days of sin-in protest, Shaheen Bagh in Delhi was cleared of the protestors. It was heart of protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act of CAA. Delhi Police reached Shaheen Bagh at around 7 am and cleared the site by arresting the remaining protestors.

Delhi imposes Section 144 over COVID-19

Following the orders of banning large gatherings in the capital, cops asked the Shaheen Bagh protestors to leave the site but they refused. Finally, the cops have to use force and detain nine people including six women and three men to clear the site. Soon the civic body will clean up the protest site. Also, the Jaffrabad and Turkman Gate sites were cleared using force.

Delhi reports 30 coronavirus cases

Following the orders of countrywide restrictions in the wake of rising coronavirus cases, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown on the city. Delhi has recorded 30 COVID-19 cases and one death. It has sealed borders with adjoining states; public transport is shut and shops closed except those that sell essential goods. The country has recorded 470 cases and nine people have died so far.

Clearing Shaheen Bagh protests

CAA protesters at the ShaheenBgh were urged to call off their agitation on December 15 but they refused to obey the orders. They said that the sit-in would continue with necessary precautions. They simply reduced the size of the gathering. Shaheen Bagh protests had made international headlines due to CAA protest. Also, they were attacked several times before.

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India Should Show The Way To Deal With COVID-19: WHO

The executive director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Michael J Ryan has strong belief that India can show the way to control the novel coronavirus. He said that India had a tremendous capacity to deal with the situation arose due to COVID-19outbreak.

WHO looking forward towards India for help

India had experience of eradicating two pandemics, namely small-pox and polio said Michael J Ryan. He revealed his views on the potential of India to deal with the virus during a daily press briefing on COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that India was a very populous country hence needed more labs where a surge is seen. He further said that the future of that virus would be considered in a very highly and densely populated country like India. It led the world in eradicating small-pox and polio.

There were no easy answers. It was exceptionally important that countries like India showed the way to the world as they had done before said Ryan.

The number of coronavirus cases in the world are over 3,30,000 and the number of deaths has surpassed 14,000 according to the World Health Organization.

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COVID-19 Treatment Nearing Production Says Winnipeg Biotech Company

Emergent Biosolutions, a Winnipeg company, is working on finding treatment for those suffering from COVID-19. Also, it is working on a COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with two American companies.

Emergent Biosolutionsfind a cure for COVID-19

The company is working hard on developing two oral vaccines in partnership with clinical-stage vaccine company Novavax and biotech company Vaxart.

Senior vice president of therapeutics Dr Laura Saward told that they started right away to have an impact. They used some of their proven technologies like platforms that had supported several licensed drugs and put those to work on COVID-19.

She further said that when most researchers were focussing on a vaccine that could develop immunity against coronavirus, they focussed on therapeutics to those affected with COVID-19.

She explained that when a vaccine was used, it developed antibodies over time. That was a way to administer a dose of antibodies that would help in fighting the infection.

She further said that they had used this approach with many other infectious diseases where patients isolate those antibodies from plasma sources. And there was hundreds of years research behind that type of approach. It tool some of the risk out and their focus was to get that as fast as possible.

Dr Laura Saward gave hope that a solution to the illness could be quicker than people could think of. She was confident because they used proven technologies. She said that would work together with regulators to ensure they were doing that in the way that was safe.

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Guidelines issued For Private Labs To Test COVID-19, Price Fixed At Rs. 4,500

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has released guidelines for private laboratories to starting conducting tests for novel coronavirus. Also, the central government has fixed the maximum price for the test.

ICMR guidelines for COVID-19 testing by private labs

 

Labs notified by the Union Health Ministry and with NABL accreditation for real-time PCR SA for RNA virus would be allowed to conduct COVID-19 tests said ICMR in its guidelines.

The private labs were asked to ensure appropriate biosafety and biosecurity precautions while collecting respiratory samples of suspected patients. ICMR suggested home collection of samples that will prevent suspected persons from travelling and infecting others.

Commercial kits for real-tome PCR-based diagnosis of coronavirus are also allowed to use but they should be either US FDA approved or European CE certified or both. These kits could be used for in-vitro diagnosis of COVID-19 in emergent conditions. But it is necessary to intimate the Drug Controller General of India before using these kits.

Laboratory test of a suspect should be performed only when a qualified physical prescribes the test. And the lab staff should be trained in good practices to perform real-time PCR. Also, the laboratories must follow national guidelines on disposing the biomedical waste.

COVID-19 test cost and reporting

ICMR will give registration numbers to private labs. Also, the labs are asked to report the details of a test to ICMR headquarters data base. The price determined for COVID-19 test is 1,500 for preliminary screening and additional 3,000 for confirmation test. But the overall cost shouldn’t exceed to Rs. 4,500.

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World Water Day 2020 Observed On March 22 Under The Scare Of Deadly Novel Coronavirus

March 22 is World Water Day. The day is observed to spread awareness on sustainable management of freshwater resources. Every year, a theme is given to highlight the cause. The theme for World Water Day 2020 is “Water and Climate Change”.

World Water Development Report (WWDR) 2020

The WWDR published a report “Water and Climate Change” in which it stressed the to help the water community manage the challenges of climate change. It also highlights the opportunities that the climate change community has to improve water management offers in terms of adaptation and mitigation.

World Water Day 2020 events postponed

All events planned for observing the World Water Day on March 22 were postponed amid the scare of coronavirus. The global launch of the report “Water and Climate Change” organized in Geneva was also put on hold. But the alternative way of access the report through official website of the World Water Day Organization is available. People can access the report and meet and get-together on the website.

Highlights of World Water Day 2020 campaign

• Water should be at the heart of every action plan. The world can’t afford to wait for policymakers to make decision.

• The world can fight climate change with sustainable, affordable and scalable water and sanitation solutions.

• Everyone can play a role in controlling climate change. There are surprisingly easy steps people of all ages can take to address climate change.

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