Indian Government issues advisory asking people to wear 'homemade face covers' especially when they step out of their houses

The full advisory for home-made protective cover here:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Advisory&ManualonuseofHomemadeProtectiveCoverforFace&Mouth.pdf

#situationanalysis

CDC also changed its guidelines yesterday. Until now, they were only recommending masks for those who had symptoms and for those who were in contact with those who had symptoms. Now, they state:

"CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others."

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html

WHO's guidelines for mask usage remains outdated, and dangerous because it discourages the simplest way that has been shown to curb the spread. WHO's site says:

"If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection."

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

The guideline does not mention asymptomatic spread and how masks are useful when the disease can spread through people who are infected and don't show symptoms

WHO's actions have significant consequences and when their guidelines are seen as unreliable, it casts doubts over the organization

Here is an article by a European think tank on China's influence over WHO in light of the Coronavirus pandemic

https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/blog/fighting-coronavirus-pandemic-chinas-influence-world-health-organization

AGE DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION:
So far
9% cases are between 0-20 yrs age
42% between 21-40 yrs
33% cases between 41-60 yrs
17% cases are above 60 yrs

https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1246395129008730112


1,023 COVID-19 positive cases with links to Tablighi Jamaat reported from 17 states till now: Health ministry

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1246389446863278080

Nearly 22,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their contacts quarantined so far: MHA official

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1246390118333603847

Rate of rise in COVID-19 cases in India less than other countries: Health ministry official

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1246390453726883840

Rigorous contact tracing is going on in 17 states that reported COVID-19 cases related to Tablighi Jamaat: Health ministry official

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1246390873216016391

2902 positive cases including 601 cases from yesterday
Total 68 deaths have happened including 12 yesterday
183 people have recovered and have been discharged

https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1246394893544697856

58 critical cases have been reported so far, mostly belonging to Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi

https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1246394984837742592

#confirmed #officialsource #india

https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1246798550089883649 #confirmed #officialsource #india

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to an NHS hospital in central London

A spokesperson confirmed his admission was a precautionary rather than emergency measure.

http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-prime-minister-admitted-to-hospital-for-coronavirus-tests-11969053

#confirmed #reputablesource #uk

Total cases in India rise to 4,067 as of 6th April, 9:00 AM

Total active cases - 3666
Total cured/discharged/migrated - 292
Total deaths - 109

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/

#confirmed #india #officialsource

British Prime Minister, who is suffering from coronavirus, has been admitted to intensive care as his condition has worsened

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1247241454403162112

#confirmed #reputablesource #uk

India to export anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to several countries including those in neighbourhood on case-by-case basis in sync with its commitment to the international community to fight coronavirus pandemic: MEA

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1247403389094256641

India must help all nations, but lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians first: Rahul Gandhi

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1247407164517310466

#confirmed #india

But hydroxychloroquine isn't the treatment for COVID-19.

From a paper published on March 30:

No Evidence of Rapid Antiviral Clearance or Clinical Benefit with the Combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0399077X20300858

From an interview on April 5 with Dr. Anthony Fauci, USA's top epidemiologist leading the pandemic response:

MARGARET BRENNAN: Very quickly, is hydroxychloroquine preventative against this virus? Yes or no?

DR. FAUCI: You know, as I've said many times, MARGARET, the data are really just at best suggestive. There have been cases that show there may be an effect--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DR. FAUCI: --and there are others to show there's no effect.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-dr-anthony-fauci-discusses-coronavirus-on-face-the-nation-april-5-2020/

From New York governor on April 6:

Andrew Cuomo said Monday that early responses to the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine "anecdotally" suggest its use in the coronavirus fight has been "effective," but that official data was still forthcoming.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/491358-cuomo-use-of-antimalarial-drug-in-new-york-hospitals-anecdotally

#virusupdate #information

#unconfirmed Treatment options being used in Swedish hospitals

"My hospital (Largest University Hospital in Stockholm) currently treats 10-15% of all in-patients with covid and 20-25% of all ICU covid cases in Sweden. We stopped treating with HCQ and CQP last week as did all other designated covid hospitals in Stockholm, which has >50% of Swedish cases. Other regions have come to similar conclusions. So yeah, in this case it’s more or less true for all of Sweden."

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/fwbimu/_/fmnxadj?context=1000

"The only standard treatment options are oxygen, iv fluids, iv antibiotics if CRP is very high, and acetaminophen/paracetamol if there’s a fever.

All other pharmacological treatments are on a case-by-case or study basis. In those contexts some patients are still getting HCQ. Other treatments being used are Lopinavir+Ritonavir (Kaletra), Tocilizumab (RoActemra) and Remdesivir (Gileads Non-approved Ebola drug). Tamiflu is still being given to some where the ddx is not clear. Recovered patient-derived plasma is given to some in the ICU as well.

Therefore the only shift in strategy is to no longer give HCQ or Chloroquine phosphate as a standard cocktail to all covid cases. Simply because we don’t really see any obvious benefit in patients getting it vs those who don’t. Hence the need to study it in controlled settings instead."

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/fwbimu/_/fmo1zo1

IRCTC suspends bookings for its 3 private trains till Apr 30; bookings were earlier suspended till end of 21-day lockdown: official

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1247498107631226884

#confirmed #india

CHANNEL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Daily counts haven't been posted in a while and will no longer be posted unless a milestone is reached or it is relevant to a situation analysis.

You can find websites that track the numbers with #liveupdates in the tagged messages.

This decision has been taken because the testing is lagging behind so the confirmed numbers are not an accurate representation of the spread. The deaths also depend on whether the individuals were tested positive earlier or if a post-mortem test is conducted.

Measures being taken, important information that isn't getting adequate mainstream media attention, major international news, and resources will be updated.

On March 30, the Cabinet Secretary denied that the Indian government will be extend the lockdown after 21 days.

Updates to the extensions in different areas will be listed here:

Odisha to extend lockdown till April 30; schools to remain closed till June 17: CM Naveen Patnaik

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1248142249910603777

Punjab cabinet extends curfew restrictions till April 30: Special chief secretary KBS Sidhu

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1248576572186976257

#confirmed #officialsource #india

1,30,000 samples tested for COVID-19 so far in country: ICMR official

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1248203492910493696

For reference, the total cases are currently 5,734 - https://www.mohfw.gov.in/

#confirmed #officialsource #india

#situationanalysis
Let's assume that every person has to be tested twice (it likely ranges from 3 minimum to a maximum of 6 that we know of based on Kanika Kapoor's tests). Even if the ones who have died were only tested once to confirm the positive result, you don't have to eliminate them because the number is negligible (<200).

Based on this , the number of people who have been tested has to be 65,000 or less (most likely less).

More updates on extensions:

Lockdown will continue till April 30 and further decision on complete lifting depends on prevailing situation: Maharashtra CM

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1248946800599265280

Lockdown in Telangana extended till April 30: CM K Chandrashekar Rao

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1249027341067513856

PM Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 am on Tuesday: PMO

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1249621978941546496

Tuesday is the last day of the previously announced lockdown. Live updates will be posted.

#india #information

PM Modi's address to the nation

https://youtu.be/F07fXd4vVlg

This display of our collective strength is true tribute to B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, says PM

People have saved the country while facing difficulties, says PM on coronavirus

India's fight against coronavirus is going on very strongly, says PM Modi in address to the nation

When India had 550 coronavirus cases, we went for a 21-day lockdown to prevent spread of the virus

The decisions India has taken in regards to Coronavirus has been the right one

The economic costs have been high but it cannot be compared to the lives of Indians

Despite all the efforts, the way Coronavirus is spreading has made the world more alert

After discussion with states, suggestion was made to extend the lockdown

Lockdown will now be extended till 3 May

Efforts have to be made to ensure that the virus doesn't spread into new areas

Strict steps have to be taken to prevent new hotspots from being created

Every area will be carefully observed to ensure lockdown measures are being followed

The areas where lockdown is observed and there is low possibility turning into a hotspot, the measures will be relaxed after April 20

There will be a detailed guideline issued tomorrow

Young scientists of India encouraged to develop the vaccine

Points to keep in mind:
Take care of the elders and those at risk in your family
Follow lockdown and social distancing rules
Homemade masks and face covers essential
Follow the guidelines by AYUSH ministry to increased immunity. Download the Arogya Setu app
Help poor families as much as possible
Don't remove employees from jobs
Respect health professionals

Full text here: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1614215

Spraying of disinfectant on people for COVID-19 management is physically and psychologically harmful: Union Health Ministry

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1251587209905332225

This tweet was posted at 12:33 AM.

#india

Government prohibits supply of Non-Essential Items through e-Commerce under Lockdown Restrictions to fight COVID-19

Full press release: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1615967

#officialsource #confirmed #india