Assam reports one more coronavirus case, state tally mounts to 45

Confirming the report, Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "One person from Cachar dist has tested positive for #COVID19. Total #COVID19 patients in Assam now stands at 45."

Assam on Wednesday has reported one more positive case for Covid-19, taking the state tally to 45. The new case has been reported from the Cachar district.
Confirming the report, Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "One person from Cachar dist has tested positive for #COVID19. Total #COVID19 patients in Assam now stands at 45."
On Tuesday, two Covid-19 positive cases were detected in Goalpara and Kokrajhar district.
Assam has registered 45 positive cases for Covid-19 so far, including nine cases from Golaghat district, six cases each from Morigaon and Goalpara districts, five cases each from Dhubri, Bongaigaon districts, four cases from Nalbari district, two cases each from Karimganj and Cachar district and one each from South Salmara, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Hailakandi and Kokrajhar district.
One patient hailing from Hailakandi district died at the hospital on April 10 while 34 others were discharged from hospitals.
Assam has now 10 active Covid-19 cases.

Italy Claims To Develop First COVID-19 Vaccine: Here Is The Current Status Of All The Potential Coronavirus Vaccines

Italy Claims To Develop First COVID-19 Vaccine: Here Is The Current Status Of All The Potential Coronavirus Vaccines

The novel coronavirus is rapidly spreading its fang globally and has already led to more than 2,58,344 deaths and 3.66 million positive cases. Yes, that is a huge number and will most likely continue to rise in the coming days. Even though the countries across the globe have closed their borders and continue to take stringent measures (including a complete lockdown) to contain the spread of this highly infectious virus, the flattening of the curve is yet to be seen.

In the United States, COVID-19 has caused more than 68,000 fatalities and the number of positive cases has touched almost 1.2 million. Italy, on the other hand, remains one of the worst-hit nations in the world with 2,13,013 positive cases. It is important to note these two countries boast of one of the most sophisticated healthcare systems in the world.

Health experts across the globe have been constantly reminding people to stay indoors so as to not overwhelm the health care system and give the medical experts and scientists more time to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Ultimately, social distancing and lockdown serve the same purpose--to prevent more people from getting infected and buying more time.

02/10​When will we have the coronavirus vaccine

The world has joined hands to find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus and scientists and medical researchers across the globe are scrambling for the first breakthrough. Since the virus spreads easily and is already overwhelming the healthcare system of most countries, a vaccine is the most effective way of putting a pause on the spread of infectious disease. At present, almost 80 groups globally are working at break-neck speed for the same, even though a vaccine fit for humans normally takes years to develop. Currently, there are 111 potential vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 which are in different stages of clinical trials.

03/10​Italy claims to develop first COVID-19 vaccine

While multiple research groups are developing potential vaccines, Italian scientists have claimed to develop a vaccine that has successfully generated antibodies in mice that work on human cells. The vaccine has been tested in the Spallanzani Hospital hospital in Rome. It is said to be one of the most advanced stages of testing of a potential vaccine in the country as the vaccine neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 in the human cells.

After a single vaccination, the mice developed antibodies that can block the virus from infecting human cells. The researchers selected the two best candidates after observing that the five vaccine candidates generated a large number of antibodies.

04/10​The ‘significant’ breakthrough of Israel

Yesterday, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett announced the country had a remarkable breakthrough in the development of COVID-19 vaccine. He said that Israel's Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) has developed a monoclonal neutralising antibody, which will effectively neutralise novel coronavirus in the body of the carriers. Bennet stated that Italian researchers have made a ‘significant breakthrough’ in developing an antibody to combat novel coronavirus. He was quoted as saying, “I am proud of the institute staff for this terrific breakthrough.”

05/10​The Oxford vaccine against COVID-19

Oxford University initiated a phase-1 human clinical trial of its vaccine on April 23, where two volunteers were injected and Elisa Granato is one of the first ones to get injected with the vaccine. The vaccine -ChAdOx1 nCoV-19- was developed under three months by the University’s Jenner Institute. It uses a weakened strain of common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees. For the vaccine to work, scientists have taken the genetic material of the novel coronavirus present on the surface of the virus and put it in the virus.

06/10​The plasma therapy

Plasma therapy is being treated as yet another complementary treatment to help the COVID-19 patients recover. The convalescent plasma therapy involves transfusing a blood component known as plasma from the body of people who have recovered from the virus attack to the severely ill patients or coronavirus patients who are at a high risk. This is said to help in kickstarting the passive immunity in the patient and could help those whose bodies aren’t producing enough antibodies to curb the disease.

Several hospitals across India have dived in to use plasma therapy for treating the coronavirus patients including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi Health Minister had reported that six severely ill patients of COVID-19 had nearly recovered after the usage of convalescent plasma therapy.

However, it is important to note that there are no definitive studies that show the effectiveness of plasma therapy in strengthening the immune system against the disease. Moreover, the Union Health Ministry has advised against considering plasma therapy as the ultimate treatment to battle the highly infectious disease as it is at an experimental stage and has the potential to cause life-threatening transfusion-related complications.

07/10​The effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine--The malaria drug

The malaria drug paved its way to the limelight after reports of Donald Trump requesting India to supply hydroxychloroquine to the US surfaced online. The US President has been backing the malaria drug as a treatment for the novel coronavirus, even though the clinical trials are underway to understand the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of novel coronavirus.

As per several reports, hydroxychloroquine is the first-line treatment of patients suffering from novel coronavirus in the US as it said to contain antiviral and immune-calming properties. Even the health experts in India believe that the anti-malarial drug is “only available remedy” for the novel coronavirus.

A clinical trial also claimed that HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) can efficiently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and has a good potential to combat the disease, but prolonged usage and overdose of the same can result in poisoning.

The demand for anti-malaria drugs skyrocketed after preliminary reports from China found out that it enabled the recovery of COVID-19 patients. The results of the trial showed that hydroxychloroquine helped in shortening the duration of cold, cough, and fever in COVID-19 patients. However, while the malaria-drug showed promise in mild to moderately ill patients, a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), claimed that it did not work for critically ill patients.

The HIV-drug combo has been one of the most touted treatment plans for the COVID-19. This antiviral drug combination was initially found to be effective in treating the coronavirus patients as doctors of SMS hospital of Jaipur, Rajasthan claimed to have given the combination of anti-HIV drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir tablets to two Italian patients. In another incident, a British national in Kerala, who had tested positive for novel coronavirus, was also given the HIV-drug combo, following which he tested negative for COVID-19.

However, a clinical trial of the patients in China showed that the drug combo did not improve the condition of COVID-19 patients. The trial was conducted on 199 critically-ill patients and has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

09/10​US drug company begins human trials of COVID-19 vaccine

As per the World Health Organization, there are currently 8 COVID-19 vaccines which have entered the human trial phase. In the USA, Pfizer and BioNtech (pharmaceutical companies) have partnered together and have started the clinical trials of their BNT162 vaccine programme.

Both the companies are working on four RNA vaccine candidates and they injected 12 healthy adults with the mRNA vaccine candidate. In an RNA vaccine, the RNA enters the human cells and tells the cells how to build a spike protein of the coronavirus (without getting sick). Once the antigen is recognised by the body, it develops protective antibodies.

10/10​The status of coronavirus vaccine in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed India’s status in developing a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, drug discovery, diagnosis, and testing on Tuesday. It was found that as of now more than 30 vaccines are in different stages of development while a few are ready to go to clinical trial stages. It is also important to note that the pune-based Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest vaccine maker and India produces 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines.

Assam registers 44th COVID19 positive case in Kokrajhar

The body of the young man from Assam did not return to Kochbihar

 Shivshankar Sutradhar, Kochbihar: A man traveling from Kochbihar to Assam was found to be positive.  Assam Health Minister Himanta Bishwasharma said on social media that a man from Kokrajhar in Assam was recently admitted to hospital in a critical condition.  His corona is positive.  The man had visited Kochbihar a few days ago.

 On Tuesday night, the health minister posted this information on Twitter, Facebook and other social media, causing panic in the Kochbihar district.  The district administration became active.  Kochbihar district administration contacted Kokrajhar district administration.  Then the district magistrate Pawan Qadian said, 'That person is a resident of Kokrajhar district.  He was in the institutional quarantine of Kokrajhar a few days ago.  He reached Assam on April 13.  A search has been launched for his whereabouts in Kochbihar.

 At present Kochbihar district is in the green zone.  Corona has not been able to put her hand here yet.  Although saliva samples of 1131 people were tested, all the reports were negative.  Meanwhile, the crowds on the roads have been increasing since the lockdown eased a bit.  In most cases there are complaints that social distance is not being observed.  As a result, many are fearing the spread of infection.  In this situation, the people of Kochbihar are panicking over the news given by the Health Minister of Assam.  Was he infected with corona while he was in Kochbihar?  Which areas did you go to?  Who did you come in contact with?  Those questions have come up.  Despite the demands of the district administration, they are looking into all the issues seriously.

With this, the number of active COVID19 cases in Assam has risen to 11.

Out of the total 44 COVID19 cases registered in Assam so far, 32 patients were earlier discharged from various hospitals across the state after their recovery from the disease.

The deadly disease has claimed one positive patient in Assam.

Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on May 4

Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on May 4

Coronavirus in India: Total number of positive cases (including deaths): 42,248 as of May 4.

States/UTs death toll (Details are updated as we receive information) Total deaths in India: 1,391

No. of people discharged: 7797

World report 

Coronavirus Cases: 3,566,004

Deaths: 248,282

Recovered: 1,154,014

Colonel, Major Among 5 Killed in Encounter in J&K's Handwara, PM Modi Says Sacrifice Won't be Forgotten

Colonel, Major Among 5 Killed in Encounter in J&K's Handwara, PM Modi Says Sacrifice Won't be Forgotten

The five personnel had gone missing during an anti-militancy operation in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir

Colonel, Major Among 5 Killed in Encounter in J&K's Handwara, PM Modi Says Sacrifice Won't be Forgotten

The five personnel had gone missing during an anti-militancy operation in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Colonel, Major and two jawans of the Indian Army along with a sub-inspector of J&K police were killed in an encounter in North Kashmir’s Handwara on Sunday, in which two terrorists were also killed.

Based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking the civilians living in a house in Changimulla, Handwara, of Kupwara district hostage, a joint operation was launched by Army and JK Police.

"A team comprising five Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians. The team of Army and JK Police entered the area and successfully extricated the civilians, an officials statement of the army said.

"However, during the process, the team was subjected to heavy volume of fire by the terrorists. In the ensuing fire fight, two terrorists were eliminated and the team of five army and JK personnel, comprising two Army officers, two Army soldiers and one JK Police Sub Inspector, attained martyrdom,” the official statement added.

Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the commanding officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit who lost his life in Handwara, was decorated twice for gallantry in counter-terrorist operations.

The five personnel had gone missing during the op on Saturday.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Chanjmulla area of Handwara in the north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the security forces maintained a tight cordon and conducted searches in the area.

However, contact with militants was established on Saturday evening and an encounter ensued, the official said.

Condoling the death of the security personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

"Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens. Condolences to their families and friends," Modi said in a tweet.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condoled the deaths on Twitter. "The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara(J&K) is deeply disturbing and painful. They showed exemplary courage in their fight against the terrorists and made supreme sacrifice while serving the country. We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice," he wrote.

Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.