Outbreak of human corona virus: 

Corona viruses vary significantly in risk factor. Some can kill more than 30% of  those infected (such as MERS-COV), and some are relatively homeless, such as the common cold. Corona viruses causes cold with  major symptoms, such as fever & sore throat from swollen adenoids occurring  primarily in the winter and early spring seasons. Corona viruses can cause pneumonia (either direct viral pneumonia or a secondary bacterial pneumonia) and bronchitis (either direct viral bronchitis or a secondary bacterial bronchitis). The much publicized human corona virus discovered in 2003, SARS-COV  which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS), has a unique pathogenesis because it causes both upper and lower respiratory infections.

Seven strains of human corona viruses are known, of which four produce the generally mild symptoms of the common cold:

1. Human corona virus OC43 (HCOV- OC43)

2. Human corona virus HKU1

3. Human corona virus NL63 (HCOV-NL63, new haven coronavirus)

4. Human corona virus 229E (HCOV-229E)

And three symptoms that are potentially severe:

1. Middle east respiratory syndrome- related corona virus (MERS-COV), previously known as novel corona virus 2012 and HCOV-EMC

2. Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus (SARS-COV or SARS-classic)

3. Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-COV-2), previously known as 2019-nCOV or novel corona virus 2019.

The corona virus HCOV-229E, NL63, OC43 & HKU1 continually circulate in the human population & cause respiratory infections in adults and children worldwide.

Transmission:

Human to human transmission of corona viruses is primarily thought to occur among close contacts via respiratory droplets generated by sneezing and coughing. The interaction of the corona virus spike protein with its complement host cell receptor is central in determining the tissue tropism, infectivity and species range of the virus. The SARS corona virus, for example, infects human cells by attaching to the angiotensin- converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor.

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic or sickest. Even those without symptoms could spread virus. A person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has virus on it & then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. Virus is supposedly heavier than usual viruses & can’t travel more than 6 feet or so in distance.

How COVID-19 affects the body ?

Phase I:

1. 2019 novel corona virus assault begins in the nose.

2. It invades epithelial (uppermost) cells of body’s respiratory tract.

3. It is best if viral infection can be controlled at this stage, as disease would be less severe – almost 85% cases fall in this category.

4. Phase I can last upto 3-4 days.

Phase II:

1. If virus moves down to windpipe and gets into respiratory tree and lung tissue, diseases can get more severe and lead to pneumonia.

2. Body’s immune system steps in and white blood cells ‘beat’ pathogens and help body heal.

3. But in case immune system is not strong enough, there could be large- scale destruction of not just virus- infected cells but even healthy ones.

4. Damage to epithelium lining of trachea and bronchi could result in loss of protective mucous producing cells as well as tiny hairs that sweep dirt and respirator secretions out of lungs.

5. Lungs become vulnerable to bacterial infection and may need mechanical ventilator support.

6. A bacterial infection would mean stem cells (in respiratory tract that repair damaged tissues) are destroyed.

7. Lungs are too impaired to work, starving vital oragns of O2.

Symptoms of COVID-19:

The COVID-19 virus affects different people in different ways. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and most infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment. People who have underlying medical conditions and those over 60 years old have a higher risk of developing severe disease and death. Common symptoms include:

1. Fever

2. Tiredness

3. Dry cough

4. Shortness of breath

5. Aches and pains

6. Sore throat

7. And very few people will report diarrhea, nausea or a runny nose

People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy  should self-isolate and contact their medical provider or COVID-19 information line for advice on testing & referral.

Dr.Nandhini V. Mohan &  Dr Venkataramana Hegde
Veda wellness center
Nisarga Mane Sirsi
Uttarakannada District,  Ph:9597019032/  9448729434  Email : nisargamane6@gmail.com

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Ahead of curfew and lockdown to cut-down on COVID-19 pandemic’s spread, people have been found violating the norms of this effective deterrent. The violators’ judgement may be overpowered by the thought process like, such things happen in the cycle of nature over an interval and eventually vanish or I am young so nothing will happen to me, we Indians have very strong immunity and so on. A survey conducted on COVID-19 pandemic to know the optimism levels of the people around it has similar findings that quite resembles with the perception of the people in the current scenario, which is indicative of a cognitive bias called Unrealistic Optimism – when one is convinced nothing wrong will happen to them even in the face of facts.

As per the survey findings, 33.4% of people believe that it will subside soon whereas 21.5% believes these diseases keep coming and going. Additionally, 26.8% believe in destiny, what has to happen will happen and 17.4% thinks Indian have high immunity to fight such infection. With such a belief system and mindset, it is quite easy to cross the thin line between realistic and unrealistic optimism. This survey has been conducted under Healthy Nudge Initiative of HEAL Foundation – Indian Health Advocacy Group, in association with Counselling & Empowering -Enhancing Well-Being and Mental Health, to understand people’s perception of the impending danger of COVID-19. The survey has tried to find out people’s optimism level amidst COVID 19.

Suggestion for the above – Although the majority of participants had moderate to low optimism disposition levels, yet on being asked about the impact of COVID 19 on their optimism level the majority stated their optimism levels were not impacted by this outbreak as this was a hype created by the media and it will subside soon. “This survey brings out the thought processes, perceptions, levels of realistic optimism as well as unrealistic optimism of the people and their behavioural change around COVID-19 pandemic, thereby helping us in spreading the right information in the masses. If we see the grim scenario of the outbreak in the global backdrop and its exponential spread which took 67 days for the number of corona-affected persons to reach 1 lakh, and just 11 days in doubling the infected number, and merely 4 days in adding another one lakh, crossing the figure of 3 lakh virus infected. With so many reasons behind this, unrealistic optimism amongst the masses might be one of the leading reasons as a good number of responses of the people during the survey asserted that this outbreak is a normal thing, which will get over soon”, says Dr. Swadeep Srivastava, Founder, HEAL Foundation.

Adding further, he says, “The unrealistic optimism of the masses around the casual approach that this is a routine sort of thing might have resisted the people from social distancing, resulting in the havoc. But the result of the survey about unrealistic optimism also points toward the importance and the essence of social distancing, which has turned out to be the most effective preventive measure for COVID-19. Thus, the initiative is proactively doing its bit to keep the masses updated with the latest developments around the pandemic, and inculcating them to follow the preventive measures such as social distancing and healthy hygiene to cease its upsurge”.

The survey was conducted online with a gender-mixed sample size of 366 with a male & female ratio 46:54 from different parts of the country, majorly in Delhi/NCR. Globally recognised LOR-T form was used to asses people’s optimism disposition levels and then they were asked if there has been an impact on their optimism levels due to the COVID19 outbreak. Likewise, certain statistics of the survey also highlighted the unrealistic optimism of the people as 33.8% believed that such diseases come and go, so there is no need to worry as nothing is going to happen. In the same line, 17.6% believed that Indians have high immunity, so it’s a usual thing and not something that requires one to be extra careful or diligent.

“In the survey, which consisted of participants who were adults belonging to the elite and upper-middle-class socio-economic category, when asked whether their optimism levels were affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, over 57% of the total sample surveyed expressed that their optimism was not affected by the outgoing pandemic while 82% of the sample showed low and moderate optimism disposition levels. The results were very interesting from a behavioural perspective, because even in the face of all the panic and downfall in the markets, people dying and suffering; the majority of the participants in the survey was optimistic and expressed that their optimism levels were not affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.”, says Vidhi Mahanot, Psychologist and Founder, Counseling And Empowering.

She adds further, “Unrealistic Optimism is when one makes a judgement of a risk which is very different from the objective standard of that particular risk. This cognitive bias often leads to misplaced hope and subsequent disappointment.What could be consequences of unrealistic optimism in the current situation of the COVID-19 outbreak? It could lead to being less prepared, taking lesser precautions, not wearing a mask if one has a cough, not getting oneself tested while experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19 as one believes that they are in a low risk or no risk situation. Growing research indicates that people with tendencies to hold the positive expectation from the future, respond to obstacles and adversities in ways that are adaptive. Hence, while it’s great to be optimistic, however, let’s be aware of being unrealistically optimistic by cultivating and maintaining optimistic disposition and at the same time considering the risks of actions from a realistic angle.

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Sakra hospital has set up 3 levels of precautionary and therapeutic measures. All critical care areas created for COVID-19 will be manned primarily by ICU personnel supported by ER personnel if needed. Essentially, we have made arrangements and are enforcing:

• Social distancing
• Hand hygiene
• Cough etiquette
• Mask wearing
• Crowd control

Not just patients, all people coming in are actively screened for temperature.  We are also screening for travel history to help segregate the high-risk vs the low risk groups to prevent local transmission. We are screening for symptoms in all persons walking in.  We expect the public to cooperate as it is in their best interest. From a medical point of view, we have set up 3 levels of precautionary and therapeutic measures.

1. No contact consultation/ quick review/ follow up.  Various modalities are being used web/video consultation
2. Walk in patients with respiratory symptom can also be screened by visiting the hygienically maintained screening booths and consult a doctor live across a glass in a negative pressure chamber
3.    If further examination is needed, the patients are treated in the specially constructed (COVID-19 ward) where slightly ill patients needing hospital care are treated symptomatically and sample collection is done by doctors and nurses in “spacesuits”
4. For the really ill and patients with severe respiratory symptoms needing immediate intervention, special negative pressure isolation chambers are created to perform immediate life procedures like airway management and ventilation.
5. Further ICU care

At Sakra, the emergency room has been redesigned and renovated on a war footing to ensure that emergency care is given to any COVID-19 patient. Special care is being taken to prevent staff’s infection and cross infection between patients does not take place.

Message/Special request to the public:

1. Stay at home as much as possible
2. Use well known home remedies for simple illnesses. If unsure, use video consultation to get in touch with your doctor or you may visit the booths
3. If you are really sick, medical staff and doctors are there for you. Only, be prepared to see a doctor in a spacesuit treating you till you’re clear of any dangerous disease
4. Help protect medical staff and their health. They will in turn help many others.

We wish for or have a policy for zero infection to staff and zero cross-infection. We can help us by practicing the following:

1. Keeping the place clean
2. Follow the new rules
3. Maintain social distancing
4. Don’t bring old people and ill children to the hospital
5. Strictly adhere to one patient one attendee policy
6. Wash your hands frequently
7. Do not discard your masks, soiled tissues here and there
8. Ask the staff or discard in a yellow bucket with a biohazard sign on it
9. Follow cough etiquette
10. If you have respiratory symptoms declared early you may actually have saved your own life and a thousand others.

Dr Bevin D’Silva – Department of Emergency Medicine

Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru 560103

Phone: 080 4969 4969

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Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) meditation is a high level spiritual practice of mind and body. Ever since olden times this practice has been agreed down from a solo master to a sole disciple. The practice teaches how to cultivate the heart towards Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. Falun Dafa contains 5 mild and meditative workouts which help to open one’s energy channels swiftly, cleanse the body, dismiss stress and also give inner peace. Being a widespread practice of mind and body, individuals get wonderful health benefits in a less time.

According to research by According to Dr. Lili Feng, Professor of Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, Falun Dafa meditation is beneficial in growing immunity to fight against diseases. She has observed the life span and function of white blood cells, particularly neutrophils. Her primary outcomes disclosed that in-vitro life cycle of neutrophils of Falun Dafa practitioners was thirty times lengthier than that of control groups and they also worked well. This shows improved immunity and health benefits for some diseases.

Falun Dafa was introduced to public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in China in May 1992. Today it is being practiced by more than 100 million people in over 114 countries. Due to its health benefits and spiritual teachings, Falun Dafa became so popular in China that by 1999, 7 to 10 Crore people started practicing it. The membership of the Chinese Communist Party was 6 Crore at that time. Being of atheist ideology, Chinese Communist Party considered rising acceptance of Falun Dafa as contest to its power and banned it in the year 1999, 20th July and started heartless persecution which is followed till today.

For last three months, Wuhan has been the epicenter of the Corona virus epidemic where about 81,000 cases have been reported, of which around 3200 people have died. These are official statistics of Chinese government, but according to trustworthy sources the real death toll looks to be ten times more. In such tough situations, Falun Dafa practitioners at Wuhan have remained unaffected from the pandemic because of their greater immunity but reached out to the people of Wuhan in distress, spreading message of health benefits of Falun Dafa and its healing power, while risking their own lives.

To prevent the spread of the epidemic in India, the government has advised people to stay at home.Why not use this spare time in learning Falun Dafa practice and increase your immunity.You can read the health benefits of Falun Dafa in the book, “Life and Hope Renewed – The Healing Power of Falun Dafa” at http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2005/4/3/59184.html. Falun Dafa is taught in almost all major cities in India.

Rekha R.P-Coordinator

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80% Indian moms are concerned about immunity amidst Corona virus outbreak. They are too concerned about the health and well-being of their children as well as the rest of their family.

The Novel Corona virus has wreaked havoc across the world, having recently been declared a pandemic by the WHO. While there is fear, confusion and panic, people around the world are trying to take the right precaution. To understand this better from the perspective of Indian moms, recently surveyed over 500 moms across the country and the findings revealed that 86% of moms are very concerned about the Corona virus.

Given the fear of contracting the infection, 7/10 moms are avoiding public gatherings while 5/10 moms stated that they are avoiding travel. However, only 50% of moms are using masks as a precautionary measure. The survey also found that only 1 out of 10 moms describe their overall health as excellent.

While 8 out of 10 moms are very concerned about their overall health, eating habits and immunity, almost 70% of moms don’t specifically do anything to boost their immunity. Additionally, 1 out of 5 moms stated that they don’t exercise even once a week. Moreover, 60% of moms don’t consult a doctor immediately upon feeling unwell, but instead wait for the symptoms to get worse before doing so. 6 out of 10 moms stated that they just take medicines that they have at home.

Speaking on the survey and insights gathered, Mr. Vishal Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO Momspresso.com, said, “This survey reflected a very reassuring trend, that most mums are aware of precautions needed during a time like this when the corona virus is spreading at a rapid pace and scale and many are implementing them in their daily lives. We know that Moms are always concerned about the health and wellbeing of their children as well as the rest of their family, ensuring they eat right, sleep well and engage in healthy habits. However, data from this survey has also shown that amidst this care for others in their life, they often tend to neglect their own health and wellbeing – probably without even realising it.”

“It was disturbing to see that most mums do not take their health seriously, even when they start feeling unwell. They self medicate and only see a doctor when the symptoms worsen. No wonder only 1 in 10 moms describes her overall health as excellent. Through our survey, we want to encourage mothers to turn their attention to their own health and adopt healthier habits as a routine part of their lives, even when there isn’t a deadly virus going around.” he added.

Also watch our video: How building an immunity is essential to fight against corona?

Overall health & eating habits:

1. Only 1 out of 10 moms describe there overall health as Excellent
2. 8 out of 10 moms are concerned about their overall health and eating habits
3. 1 out of 5 moms don’t even exercise even once in a week
4. 6/10 Moms do not even go for a full health check up every year

Immunity & managing illnesses:

1. 8 out of 10 moms are very concerned about their Immunity.
2. However, almost 70% of moms don’t do anything specifically to boost their immunity.
3. Almost 60% of moms don’t go to doctor immediately if she is not feeling well and wait for the symptoms to get
worse.
4. 6 out of 10 moms said they just take medicines that are available at home.

Also Read: IMMUNITY BOOSTING FOODS TO HELP KEEP SAFE DURING PANDEMIC

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Mumbai March 23, 2020: As the world faces a major health crisis due to the pandemic situation caused by the novel Corona virus, also known as COVID-19, the number of reported cases is precipitously growing across India. While people of all age groups are equally susceptible to this virus, the health stakes are high for the elderly due to chronic illnesses and lower immunity. They are more likely to suffer from underlying conditions that hinder the body’s ability to cope with and recover from serious illnesses.

Seniority, India’s  shopping destination for seniors, and DocsApp, a digital healthcare platform, have joined hands in an attempt to bust myths, reduce panic and help educate the elderly on Corona virus. The collaboration will help Seniority provide exclusive medical assistance from DocsApp to older adults and their family members.

A 24*7 helpline support (080 4719 3443) has been launched to enable people to have access to skilled medical professionals during such critical times. Individuals on the platform may avail free online consultations across all departments from doctors at the convenience of their homes, without possibly exposing themselves to the virus on the platform. Seniority along with DocsApp has also created a repository of informative articles, blogs, weekly newsletters and webinars that will impart accurate information and safety measures related to Corona virus.

Ayush Agrawal & Tapan Mishra, Co-founders of Seniority said on the collaboration, “There is a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 affected people in the country as well as worldwide. Being a senior care brand, we are especially empathetic to the elderly in such challenging times and consider it our duty to spread awareness about the current situation. Our collaboration with DocsApp will help us reach out to a large number of people who are prone to virus infections. With the 24*7 helpline support, we are happy to extend our services and offer free consultation by medical specialists to ensure that people take adequate care. The safety and welfare of everyone around is of prime importance to us and we sincerely hope that we are able to fight back together in such unforeseen circumstances.”

Click here: for Immunity Support – for all age groups by Cureveda’s Herbal Pureprash – Jaggery based, sugar free Chyawanprash (500gms)

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Hand washing is a simple habit, something when done properly, is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. This simple habit requires only soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand washing doesn’t take much time or effort, but it offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. As a major preventive advice to corona virus, The World Health Organization-WHO, has asked every one to wash  hands frequently. “Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Washing  hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands” WHO advice says.

The Dangers of not washing your hands:

Despite the proven health benefits of hand washing, many people don’t practice this habit as often as they should — even after using the toilet. If you don’t wash your hands frequently, you can infect yourself with  germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And you can spread these germs to others by touching them or by touching surfaces that they also touch.

Infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand -to-hand contact; include the common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders,- such as infectious diarrhoea. While most people will get over a cold, the flu can be much more serious. Some people with the flu, particularly older adults and people with chronic medical problems, can develop pneumonia. Inadequate hand hygiene also contributes to food-related illnesses, such as salmonella and E.coli infection. Others experience the annoying signs and symptoms-of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Proper hand washing techniques:

Good hand washing techniques include washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Antibacterial soaps have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, these soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Alcohol –based hand sanitizers – which don’t require water -are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren’t available.

1. Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.

2. Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.

3. Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your finger nails.

4. Rinse well.

5. Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.

 When should you wash your hands?

Although it’s impossible to keep your bare hands germ-free, there are times when it’s critical to wash your hands to limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.Always wash your hands:

1. After using the toilet

2. After changing a diaper – wash the diaper-wearer’s hands, too

3. After touching animals or animal waste

4. Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish

5. Before eating

6. After blowing your nose

7. After coughing or sneezing into your hands

8. Before and after treating wounds or cuts

9. Before and after touching a sick or injured person

10. After handling garbage

11. Before inserting or removing contact lenses

12. When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations and restaurants

Kids need clean hands, too:

Hand washing is especially important for children. Children younger than 3 years in child care are at greater risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, which can easily spread to family members and others in the community. You can help your children avoid getting sick by insisting that they wash their hands properly and frequently. To get kids into the habit, teach by example. Wash your hands with your children and supervise their hand washing.

Dr Ignaz Semmelweis was the first to suggest that doctors wash their hands to prevent spread of diseases. His theory was rejected, he was disgraced and he died in an asylum in 1865.

Dr. Chalapathy
Professor of General Surgery
Vydehi Hospital
Whitefield, Bangalore – 66
Ph: 080-28413381/2/3/4
www.vims.ac.in

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In less than three months, corona virus has spread to more than 170 countries around the world, in addition to China. India is also not untouched by this. According to Hong Kong medical expert Prof. Gabriel Leung, if the spread of corona virus is not checked, 60% of the world’s population could be infected and up to 45 million people may die. Has not the initial negligence, incessant concealment and under-reporting by China on this subject put the world’s people in danger?

Let us go to the bottom of this matter and analyse. Over the past 70 years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has subjected its country to one man-made tragedy after another, such as the Great Famine, Cultural Movement, Tiananmen Square massacre, persecution of Falun Gong, human rights abuses in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, etc. The CCP’s response to natural disasters or pandemics also has always been full of deceit and lies.

Chinese Communist Party’s history of deceit and lies:

In 1976, scientists had predicted the possibility of a major earthquake in the Tangshan area which was suppressed due to political reasons. When a terrible earthquake measuring 7.8 scale struck in Tangshan, 2,40,000 people died. During the 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, the Chinese regime was accused of concealing and misleading information on a large scale.

The biggest cover-up of the Chinese Communist Party has been related to persecution of Falun Gong. Due to its health benefits and spiritual teachings, Falun Gong became so popular in China that by 1999 around 70 million people started practicing it, which was more than the membership of CCP, which was 60 million at that time. Despite the peaceful nature of Falun Gong, Jiang Zemin considered it a threat to his sovereignty and banned it on July 20, 1999 and triggered a brutal persecution which continues to this day.

Has China suppressed the number of Corona virus cases?

Officially, as of March 19, about 81000 cases of corona virus have been reported in China, out of which around 3200 people have died. Chinese news agency Xinhua is claiming that the situation in China is now under control and the number of new patients are very few. The question is, can the official news of China be trusted? Many experts have warned that the actual death toll could be up to 10 times more.

According to an exclusive interview by an undercover reporter for the Epoch Times, a senior official of a crematorium in Wuhan revealed that their daily intake has skyrocketed since January 22 and they are forced to perform 4 to 5 times more cremations. Exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui has claimed that the death toll could be up to 50,000, based on reports leaked from Wuhan crematoriums. 

Regardless of the death rate, the communist regime continues to control its information about the spread of corona virus. All medical personnel are prohibited from calling, texting, emailing, blogging, or talking about it. Any information “leaked” can result in a jail term of three to seven years.

Not telling the truth in the initial stage deteriorated the situation:

When the Corona virus was first reported in Wuhan on December 8, 2019, the Chinese Communist Party’s initial reaction was to hide it. When the number of infected patients started increasing and the situation began to get out of hand, people were quarantined by declaring an emergency in Wuhan on 23rd of January. By then the virus had spread to thousands.

On December 30, 2019, Li Wenliang, an eye doctor in Wuhan, sent a message to a chat group of his medical school, warning them of a new SARS-like virus. On January 1, 2020, Li and seven other doctors were arrested for “spreading rumours”. Later Dr. Li himself died of this infection. On 19 January, a new year feast was held at the Baibuting neighborhood in Wuhan in which more than 40,000 families attended. City officials told reporters during the event that the corona virus wasn’t expected to be contagious and the risk of human-to-human transmission was low.

The official number of infection cases increased dramatically from January 20, 2020 onwards. On January 23, 2020, the government in Wuhan announced the lockdown of the city. Within two days, 15 more cities in Hubei Province were also locked down. As a result of the delayed communication, the virus spread quickly, from city to city, and country to country. Eric Feigl-Ding, a public health researcher at Harvard University, commented on the recent corona virus outbreak on Twitter on January 25, 2020, “It is thermonuclear pandemic-level bad… I’m not exaggerating.” 

Future of the Chinese Communist party:

Relations between India and China have been tense for some time. China has been using Masood Azhar support, Arunachal Pradesh, Doklam, Kashmir issue etc. to pressure India. Few people in India know that for the last 15 years, a grassroot movement called “Quit Party” is eroding the base of the Chinese Communist party. Tired of repressive policies of CCP, a large number of Chinese people have been renouncing its membership. In the last 15 years, more than 32 crore Chinese people have renounced the membership of the Communist Party. For more information on this topic, please see details on: http://tuidang.epochtimes.com.

On the one hand, China is going through a crisis due to corona virus, on the other hand, the “Quit Party Movement” is disintegrating the Communist Party. Like the former Soviet communist empire, is the CCP on the verge of collapse? Although we wish China to recover soon from corona virus crisis, this news related to the future of the CCP is significant for a democratic country like India. India needs to keep a close watch on developments related to this issue.

Rekha R.P-Coordinator

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As all of us are aware, the Novel Corona virus, commonly known as COVID-19 as named by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been wreaking havoc on the global economy and has created widespread panic across the world affecting 162 countries. While the panic is for good reason – more than 1,88,356  people being infected and over 7,499 fatalities – it is important to note that prevention is possible. Thus, instead of spreading fear in the form of rumors, the need of the hour is to initiate reasonable conversations around the prevention of this virus.

Health experts, too, have stated that there is no need to panic and people need to know the facts before they succumb to rumors and myths that have been widely circulated on social media platforms such as Whats App, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In the event of such situations, educating your children is crucial to create awareness among them about the virus and what they should do to protect themselves and stay safe. Here is how you can talk to your children about the virus:

1. Do away with panic

Before speaking to your child, you must first ensure that you do not exhibit fear. Children tend to pick up on what we show them and starting with fear is not a good approach. Do away with all sorts of panic about the virus and clear your mind before speaking to your kids. Children turn to their parents/guardians for support and assurance, and it would be counterproductive if you are panicking or anxious. Managing your own emotions will help you listen to your child and help them understand the facts.

2. Keep it realistic but avoid too much information

It is important to only divulge the necessary amount of information and tell the kids what exactly they need to know. For example, speak to them about what it is, but in easy to understand terms. Then, tell them what they can do to be safe. Giving them too much information might lead to unnecessary confusion. Assure your child that you are available for them anytime and that they can speak to you without hesitation.

3. Put yourself in your kids’ shoes

Trying to understand what your kid knows about the situation and analyzing their feelings will go a long way in having a seamless conversation with them. For those who have teenage kids, ask them what they know and how they feel about it. If you have younger children, try to make them understand the situation and be honest and clear while answering their questions. More importantly, do your research before speaking to your children because if you are unaware of the exact scenario, you will not be able to assure your child or clear their doubts and fears.

4. Ensure they stay safe

The most important thing is to ensure that your children stay safe. Give them a hand sanitizer to carry, tell them to follow basic hygiene practices like regularly washing their hands with soap, covering their mouths and nose while coughing or sneezing and thoroughly cleansing their hands afterward. Also, tell them to maintain sufficient distance from anyone who appears to have a cold or cough.

The adage – prevention is better than cure – was never more relevant than in this ongoing scenario. Creating awareness among your children and reassuring them will go a long way in not only erasing confusion and anxiety but will also help them know the facts and keep themselves safe by following clean habits.

Meenal Arora, Founder Director

Shemford Group of Futuristic Schools, Delhi

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The novel Coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China has now become a global crisis. Following the reporting of three cases from India(all from Kerala), there is a growing number of cases of misinformation about the virus, ranging from racist explanations for the disease’s origin to false claims about miracle cures being circulated on social media.

• As per recent statistics, the death toll from Wuhan corona virus outbreak has killed at least 362 people and infected more than 17,300 globally, as it continues to spread beyond China. One person outside mainland China, a man in the Philippines, has died.
•  Nearly 60 million people remain under lockdown in Chinese cities as international researchers race to develop a vaccine and halt its spread

• Global spread: The virus has been confirmed in more than 25 countries and territories including Thailand, France, Germany, the U.S., and Canada,Malaysia,Hong Kong  since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.
• Three cases of the coronavirus has been confirmed in India, all from Kerala.Over 800 people are under surveillance at their homes in Kerala for possible exposure to the virus.

Given that it is a novel virus, the need of the hour is to dispel the misconceptions surrounding the disease and raise awareness on the symptoms to watch out. This will ensure timely diagnosis and management and prevent complications.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said that the novel corona virus outbreak has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).  

A pneumonia outbreak was first reported in December in the city of Wuhan of central China’s Hubei  Province. Experts have attributed the outbreak to a novel corona virus that has since spread across China and abroad.The corona virus is a virus that spreads through both direct and indirect contact. While direct contact happens through close contact with any kind of oral secretion, the indirect route could be through cough or sneezing – droplet infection.

Dr. Prashant Dash, Director-Medical Services, Medlife, says, “Like other corona viruses – such as the ones causing SARS and MERS – even the Wuhan virus comes from animals. Those who are infected may have flu- or pneumonia-like symptoms. It is therefore important to watch out for cough, fever and breathing difficulties and contact a specialist immediately. In severe cases, it can also lead to organ failure. There is no vaccine or treatment for this condition as of now and recovery is dependent on how strong the immune system is.”

Adding further, Dr Dash, said, “While it is not yet a public health emergency outside China, it is imperative to take precautionary measures. It is a good idea to get the flu vaccine and keep away from someone who has either returned from China or has flu-like symptoms to prevent transmission. Make sure you get information from the right sources and contact a doctor in case of any concerns.”

Some tips to follow

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you experience flu-like symptoms.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

^[1] According to China’s National Health Commission

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