Blood pressure medicines dont raise COVID-19 risk: research

Washington D.C: Commonly used blood pressure medicines do not heighten susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, or increase the risk of becoming seriously ill with the disease, three major studies said Friday, positive news for the millions of people who take them.The research primarily concerned angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), which are also given to diabetes patients to help protect their kidneys. ....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster 79

(With regular inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev)790: Social distancing reduces COVID-19 infection: Evidence from ChinaIntensive non-pharmaceutical interventions were introduced in China to stop transmission of the novel coronavirus disease. As transmission increases in other countries, the link between age, contact patterns, social distancing, susceptibility to infection, and COVID-19 dynamics remains unclear. To answer some of these questions, researchers assessed contact surveys data for Wuhan and Shanghai prior to and during the outbreak and contact tracing information from Hunan Province....read more

World Covid Meter 1st May

210 Countries, Crosses 3 M today, Deaths to Cross 250,000 in one week with Current Trend ofaround 5000 deaths per day if new cases continue for another 10 days with Minimum 237165First reported Case: 10th JanuaryTotal cases and numbers are based on RT PCR test which has only 67% sensitivity (no false positive). Total number likely to be higher (5-33%) ....read more

Why do we not offer onions to God?

Anything that grows under the ground is not offered to God. According to Vedic science, anything which is grown under the ground is Tamasik in nature and produces sluggishness, heaviness and extreme aggressiveness. Not only onion, all food products grown under the ground are not offered to God and are not supposed to be eaten during spiritual fasts....read more

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After pharma, pesticide industry eyes make in India opportunity from Covid

The Indian Express- Harish Damodaran

While the focus has been on pharmaceuticals, the issue of “Chinese dependence” is coming to the fore, especially post Covid-19, also in pesticides. India’s imports of crop protection chemicals – mainly the technical material or active ingredients that go into making end-use formulations – stood at Rs 9,266.84 crore in 2018-19, most of it coming from China (Rs 4,904.28 crore), US (Rs 1,050.69 crore) and Germany (Rs 614.53 crore). “Just as in pharma, the government should encourage backward integration by our industry to reduce excessive reliance on imports of technicals, particularly from China,” says Rajesh Aggarwal, managing director of Insecticides (India) Ltd. The Rs 1,250-crore annual sales company – along with UPL, Gharda Chemicals, PI Industries, Meghmani Organics, Indofil Industries, Coromandel International and NACL Industries (formerly Nagarjuna Agrichem) – is among the few major domestic manufacturers of technical grade pesticides. “We can and should do more. And this is the time for the government to also help,” points out Aggarwal, whose company manufactures technical-grade products that include herbicides (bispyribac-sodium, pretilachlor and atrazine), insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin and thiamethoxam) and fungicides (thiophanate methyl). Significantly, India, in 2018-19, exported crop protection chemicals worth Rs 22,090.18 crore, a large part of it to Brazil (Rs 4,314.74 crore) and the US (Rs 4,238.63 crore). “Our exports are higher than the domestic market, the size of which is Rs 19,000-20,000 crore. Investing in technical manufacturing capacity will allow us to project ourselves as more serious players in the global market. We can emerge as an alternative global supplier to China of both formulation products and technical material,” adds Aggarwal.

Moderna, Switzerlands Lonza strike deal on potential COVID-19 vaccine

ET Healthworld

Moderna Inc and Swiss contract drugmaker Lonza Group AG said on Friday they would accelerate the manufacturing of the U.S. drug developers potential coronavirus vaccine. The announcement comes at a time when drugmakers are pausing clinical trials for other disease areas as they focus on testing potential treatments for the coronavirus. The experimental vaccine, mRNA-1273, is being tested in early-stage trial by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, with Moderna expecting to begin mid-stage trial in the second quarter. Under the 10-year collaboration agreement, the companies aim to manufacture up to a billion doses per year as technology transfer is expected to begin in June, and the first batches of the vaccine are expected to be manufactured in Lonza U.S. in July. "Over time, the parties intend to establish additional production suites across Lonzas worldwide facilities, ultimately allowing for the manufacture of material equivalent to up to 1 billion doses of mRNA-1273 per year for use worldwide", the statement added.

2 doctors attacked in Andhra Pradeshs Vijayawada

India Today- Ashish Pandey

Two doctors, who were returning home after completing their duty, were allegedly attacked in Andhra Pradeshs Vijayawada on Friday night. Four men, in an inebriated condition, attacked the two junior doctors in two separate incidents on the same night in Vijayawada, police said. "The miscreants first attacked a junior doctor returning home in his car. He, however, managed to drive away with some damage to his car. But, soon after another junior doctor, who was on his bike, was stopped by the drunk men. They also torched his two-wheeler and fled from the spot," police said. The police have now registered a case against the accused and a probe is underway. The police are trying to nab the accused based on CCTV footage available in the area. Earlier, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanded the Centre bring in a law to protect doctors and other healthcare staff amid a rise in incidents of violence against medical staff working to fight novel coronavirus. Referring to the violence and attacks faced by the healthcare workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the IMA said it has shown much restraint in spite of extreme provocations. "That doesnt mean our patience is endless. Abuse, violence, spitting, the pelting of stones, denial of entry to societies and residential accommodation have been tolerated so far since we expected the governments to do their normal duty.”

Coronavirus outbreak: Tally crosses 500 mark in Agra, 38 hotspots in the city

Newsd- IANS

With 22 new Covid-19 cases, the number of positive cases has touched 501 in the Taj city, health officials said on Saturday. District authorities have declared nine new hotspots. So far 7000 samples have been taken. While 15 succumbed to Covid-19, 126 people have fully recovered and sent home. In the last three days, the number of cases touched an alarming 111. In neighbouring Firozabad district, the number of cases has gone up to 122, while Mathura reported ten new cases. Agra, which is in the red zone, is now totally sealed. Patrolling on the highways has been intensified. Meanwhile, responding to complaints and appeal for medical support, the SN Medical College opened its emergency ward for non-Covid patients. District authorities have asked the private doctors and nursing homes to provide medical services, after strictly following the protocol and guidelines.