Staying six feet away from others may not work, an MIT researcher has warned – saying the coronavirus can rather travel 27 feet and can linger for hours.
The study was conducted by MIT associate professor Lydia Bourouiba, who has researched the dynamics of coughs and sneezes for years. It was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Bourouiba warned that the current social-distancing guidelines to stay six feet from others are based on outdated models from the 1930s, reported the New York Post website.
The professor has said that the “pathogen-bearing droplets of all sizes can travel 23 to 27 feet.”
In the newly published research, Bourouiba also warned that “droplets that settle along the trajectory can contaminate surfaces” — and “residues or droplet nuclei” may “stay suspended in the air for hours.”
According to the New York Post, she noted that a 2020 report from China showed that “virus particles could be found in the ventilation systems in hospital rooms of patients with COVID-19.”
Bourouiba fears that the current guidelines of social-distancing are “overly simplified” and “may limit the effectiveness of the proposed interventions” against the deadly pandemic.
She also says that the health care workers face an “underappreciated potential exposure range” while treating the sick and dying.
“There’s an urgency in revising the guidelines currently being given by the [World Health Organization] and the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] on the needs for protective equipment, particularly for the frontline health care workers,” Bourouiba told USA Today.
The World Health Organization — which suggests 3 feet is enough to remain safe — told USA Today it “welcomed” studies.
“WHO carefully monitors emerging evidence about this critical topic and will update this scientific brief as more information becomes available,” WHO said in a statement to the paper.
According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has affected over seven lakh people globally. (ANI)

China reports 35 new imported coronavirus cases, six deaths

World

Asian Mail

April 2, 2020

Beijing, Apr 02:

China reported 35 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus while the death toll from the COVID1-9 infections increased to 3,318 after six more fatalities were confirmed on Wednesday from the virus hit Hubei province, health officials said on Thursday.

China”s National Health Commission (NHC) in its daily report also said 37 new asymptomatic cases of the coronavirus were reported on Wednesday from the Hubei province.

It said 35 new imported cases were reported on the same day bringing the total number of cases with the infection from abroad to 841. While no locally transmitted cases of the virus were reported from the COVID-19 epicentre Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan.

However, six persons died in the province of the disease on Wednesday.

The province also confirmed 37 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients bringing the total to 721, all of whom had been put under medical observation.

Since Wednesday, China began releasing the data of the asymptomatic cases which numbered more than 1,300 following public concern.

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases are those who are tested positive but do not show any symptoms with potential to cause sporadic clusters of infections.

The NHC said all the people with asymptomatic cases would be put into compulsory 14-day quarantine.

In Hubei province, 1,132 patients are still being treated in various hospitals for the COVID-19 of which 280 are still in severe condition and 120 others in critical condition.

Hubei has so far reported 67,802 confirmed COVID-19 cases in total, including 50,007 in Wuhan, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

As of Wednesday, a total of 81,589 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 have been reported on the mainland, and 3,318 people had died of the disease.

Meanwhile, China has begun airlifting its citizens stranded abroad through chartered flights. PTI

COVID-19: After 4 positive cases, Chattabal area of Sgr declared ‘Red Zone’

Regional
Kashmir

Asian Mail

April 2, 2020

Srinagar, Apr 02:

Following the detection of four positive cases from the area, the administration has declared Chattabal area of Srinagar as ‘Red Zone’.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in a tweet, the district administration Srinagar informed that Chattabal area of Srinagar has been declared ‘Red Zone’.

“Chattabal has been declared Containment (Red) Zone in view of cluster of 4 positive cases. Containment zone: Administrative boundary of the residential colony and a buffer zone of additional 5 Km radius,” District Administration Srinagar tweeted—(KNO)

If I fail, I will never come back to you: Tendulkar to Azhar

Sports

Asian Mail

April 2, 2020

New Delhi, Apr 02:

It is no secret that the legendary Sachin Tendulkar started his career as a middle-order batsman and it was only when Navjot Singh Sindhu got injured in New Zealand that the little master got his first opportunity at the top of the innings in ODIs. And Tendulkar has revealed that he asked skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and manager Ajit Wadekar to give him one chance in Auckland.
Speaking on his personal app 100MB, Tendulkar said: “When I left the hotel in the morning, I didn’’t know am going to open the batting. We reached the ground and Azhar and Wadekar Sir was there in the dressing room. They said Sidhu is unfit because he has sprained his neck. So, who do we open with and I said give me one chance. I am so confident I can go out and attack all those bowlers.
“The first reaction was why do I want to open? But i was confident I could do that. And it was not like I would slog upfront and come back, I would continue batting after that and play my normal game which is attacking.
“Till then, only once in 1992 World Cup, Mark Greatbatch had done that because the normal trend was to play off the first 15 overs as the ball was new. You would see the shine off and then slowly look to accelerate and press the peddle as hard as you can in the last 7 to 8 overs. So, I thought if I could go and press the peddle hard in the first 15 overs, it would put a lot of pressure on the opposition and I said if i fail I will never come back to you, but give me one chance. And it clicked.”
Tendulkar finished with 82 runs from 49 balls that included 15 boundaries and two sixes. And there was no looking back as he went on to play some classics at the top of the order for India as he finished his ODI career with 18,426 runs that included 49 hundreds and 96 fifties.–IANS

IPL owners await April 14 advisory before planning next meeting

Sports

Asian Mail

April 2, 2020

New Delhi, Apr 02:

The coronavirus outbreak has seen the world come to a standstill and even sporting events across the globe have either been suspended or cancelled. The fate of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) also hangs in balance as the country is under a 21-day lockdown. And IPL franchises have decided that they will have the next meeting only after the government comes up with a fresh advisory on April 14.
Speaking to IANS, an official of one of the franchises said that it doesn’’t make any sense to have meetings when the future is uncertain, adding that there will be a clarity once the current lockdown ends and a fresh advisory is issued.
“We last met the BCCI officials at the HQ and after that the next meeting was called off as it was clear that a clarity from the government on the situation with regards to the pandemic is a must. Now that our 21-day lockdown comes to an end on April 14, we will get clarity on how things stand and if we will need any further steps in that direction to fight COVID-19. Once that clarity is got, we can all sit down and chalk out the road ahead. The owners will meet only after the fresh advisory comes,” the official said.
There have also been talks of having an IPL without foreign players considering that international borders have been locked down. But an official of a franchise said that just like one franchise feels that having an IPL without foreigners is an option, there are others who want foreigners.
“Why do you think the October-November window is being looked at? It is because we want a full IPL with the foreign stars. Even if the international border lockdown stays for six months, the foreign players would be free to come down by then. Yes, every franchise is free to voice their opinion, but let me tell you that would be the last option as a lot of the grandeur that comes with the IPL will then be lost,” the official said.
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma among others has been very vocal that he is still keeping his fingers crossed that the IPL will happen this year.
“Still looking forward, fingers crossed. At some stage, if things settle down, it should happen,” Rohit told Kevin Pietersen on Instagram live. “We have got a few good additions to the squad like Chris Lynn, Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile. Boult is a good buy on a pitch like Wankhede with the swinging ball, I was looking forward to that. Along with Bumrah, he would have made a good combination.” –IANS

COVID-19: Young footballers have shown young India is ready: Rijiju

Sports

Asian Mail

April 1, 2020

New Delhi, Apr 01:

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has lauded the Indian men’’s football team and former players for their helping hand towards the fight against COVID-19, saying young athletes have shown the way.
“I congratulate the Men’’s National Football Team, @chetrisunil11 and his boys & some ex-footballers for coming forward to contribute 50 lakhs to #PMCaresFund. Our young football players have shown that young India is ready to do it’’s bit as #IndiaFightsCorona,” Rijiju said in a tweet.
The minister also appreciated Hockey India for their contribution to the cause.
“I appreciate Hockey India for contributing Rs 25.00 lakh towards the #PMCaresFund showing solidarity in India’’s resolve to fight against the Covid-19 Pandemic. #IndiaFightsCorona,” he said in another tweet.
Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri said in a tweet on Tuesday that the members of the team have come together and “put on table a sum that has been sent to the PM-Cares Fund” to help in the fight against coronavirus.
Chhetri added that the reason why he is mentioning this on Twitter is so others who have the capacity to make donations are inspired to do so.
“We’’ve always received more than we can give. Which is why in this time of need, all of us national team players have come together and put on the table a sum that has been sent to the PM-Cares Fund to help India’’s fight with the pandemic,” said Chhetri in a series of tweets.
“It’’s been heartening to see everyone — cutting across caps, goals, age and experience — give, and give with a smile. When word got out, even some who have long stopped pulling on an India shirt, turned up and asked to be counted. That’’s what a team is all about.
“The ONLY reason we’’re talking about this here is so that it can gently prod those who have been fortunate enough to get, to give back. We’’re in this together.”
The All India Football Federation has also pledged to contribute Rs 25 lakh to the PM CARES Fund.
Hockey India on Wednesday also pledged to contribute Rs 25 lakhs towards the PM Cares Fund.
Over 1,600 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported so far in India and 38 people have lost their lives. –IANS

Europe toll hits grim milestone as UN warns of humanity’’s worst crisis since WWII

Top Stories
World

Asian Mail

April 1, 2020

Paris, Apr 01:

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 30,000 lives in Europe alone, a global tally showed Wednesday, in what the head of the United Nations has described as humanity’’s worst crisis since World War II.
Italy and Spain bore the brunt of the crisis, accounting for three in every four deaths on the continent, as the grim tally hit another milestone even though half of the planet’’s population is already under some form of lockdown in a battle to halt contagion.
Across the Atlantic, President Donald Trump warned of a “very, very painful two weeks” as the United States registered its deadliest 24 hours of what he called a “plague”.
America’’s outbreak has mushroomed rapidly. There are now around 190,000 known cases — a figure that has doubled in just five days.
Some 41,000 deaths have been recorded worldwide from more than 830,000 infections since the pandemic emerged in China in December.
For UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the extraordinary economic and political upheaval spurred by the virus presents a real danger to the relative peace the world has seen over the last few decades.
The “disease… represents a threat to everybody in the world and… an economic impact that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past.
“The combination of the two facts and the risk that it contributes to enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict are things that make us believe that this is the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War,” he said.
As companies shut down for undetermined periods and entire workforces are forced to stay home to halt the spread of COVID-19, scenes of economic desperation and unrest were emerging across the globe.
In Italy, queues were lengthening at soup kitchens while some supermarkets were reportedly pillaged.
Half a million more people now need help to afford meals, Italy’’s biggest union for the agriculture sector Coldiretti said, adding to the 2.7 million already in need last year.
The economic pain of lockdowns is especially acute in the developing world.
In Tunisia several hundred protested a week-old lockdown that has disproportionately hit the poor.
Africa’’s biggest city Lagos was set for its second full day of lockdown on Wednesday — but with some of the world’’s biggest slums, home to millions who live hand-to-mouth, containment will be difficult.
Wary of a collapse of the world’’s economy with shops shuttered and millions forced into shorter working hours or losing their jobs completely, the globe’’s leading central bankers have pumped billions of liquidity into the system.
Last week, G20 leaders said they were injecting USD 5 trillion into the global economy to head off a feared deep recession.
In the European Union, however, battle lines have been drawn over the terms of a rescue plan.
Worst-hit Italy and Spain are leading a push for a shared debt instrument — dubbed “coronabonds”.
But talk of shared debt is a red line for Germany and other northern countries, threatening to divide the bloc.
The tone sharpened this week, with Italian politicians even taking out an advertisement in a major German newspaper to remind Europe’’s biggest economy of WWII debts in a bid to jolt it into action. (Agencies)

Spain death toll hits 9,053 as virus cases pass 100,000

World

Asian Mail

April 1, 2020

Madrid, Apr 01:

The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged over 9,000 on Wednesday after a record 864 deaths in 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases passing the 100,000 mark, the government said.
Spain has the world”s second-highest death toll after Italy, with the virus so far claiming 9,053 lives and the number of confirmed cases reaching 102,136.
But on a day-to-day basis, the rate of new infections continued its downward trend, showing an increase of just over 8.0 per cent, compared with nearly 11 per cent on Tuesday, health ministry figures showed.
And the death rate has also slowed, from 27 per cent a week ago to 10.5 per cent on Wednesday, with officials saying the data appear to show the epidemic is reaching its peak.
But officials have warned that even if the epidemic is peaking, the pressure on the intensive care system would be subject to a lag of at least a week or longer, with hospitals likely to reach crisis point by the end of this week or early next.
Madrid remains the worst-hit region, with 3,865 deaths and nearly 30,000 cases, leaving hospitals and mortuaries overwhelmed. (AFP)

‘Two India’s – One performing Yoga, Watching Ramayana And Playing Antakshari, Other Fighting For Survival’: Kapil Sibal

India
Top Stories

Asian Mail

April 1, 2020

New Delhi, Apr 01:

In an apparant reference to the situation of the migrant labourers across the country, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said that there are two types of people, one who are performing yoga and watching Ramayana while other, who are trying to reach home, are fighting for survival.
Taking to Twitter, Sibal wrote, “Two India’s–One ( at home ) Doing yoga Watching Ramayana Playing Antakshari The other ( trying to reach home ) Fighting for survival Without food Without shelter Without support.”
In another tweet, Sibal on Tuesday slammed the incident in which disinfectant was sprayed on migrant labourers who were returning to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
“Disinfectant Spray. Time to sanitise our politics, Not migrant workers reaching Bareilly to go home They work -1) in factories, 2) harvest crops, 3) in restaurants, hotels, 4) in construction projects, highways, 5) in homes. They build India, Treat them with dignity,” Sibal tweeted.
Earlier on Monday, after a video went viral in which officials wearing protection gear were seen spraying disinfectant on migrant labourers in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, the government said thataction has been taken against those responsible.
Hundreds of migrants, a majority of whom are daily wage workers, started rushing to their native places from different states amid uncertainty over their livelihood following the announcement ofa 21-day nationwide lockdown last week to limit the spread of the coronavirus. (Agencies)

Govt’’s decision to slash interest on small savings based on ‘’stupid advice’’: Chidambaram

India

Asian Mail

April 1, 2020

New Dehi, Apr 01:

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, on Wednesday, criticised the Union government for the decision to cut interest rate on several savings, saying, the decision “may be technically correct, it is absolutely the wrong time to do so”.
“In times of acute distress and uncertainty about income, people depend on the interest income on their savings. Government must reconsider immediately and restore old rates until June 30,” Mr Chidambaram said in a series of tweet.
The senior Congress leader’s response came after the government decided to cut the interest rate of many savings like Public Provident Fund, National Savings Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra.
“I know that sometimes government acts on stupid advice, but I am amazed how stupid this advice was”, he mocked.
He further said that after the three quarters’ growth rates of 5.6, 5.1 and 4.7 per cent, the fourth quarter of 2019-20 ended yesterday.
“Quarter four growth could not have been more than 4 per cent. So annual GDP for 2019-20 must be a disappointing 4.8 per cent”, Mr Chidambaram said and added, “In my view, we should not worry about growth now. The focus should be on saving people’s lives whatever it takes”.
“That is why I am appalled that the government has not yet announced Financial Assistance Plan II (FAP II)
after the miserly and disastrous FAP of March 25.
Days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an economic package of 1.76 lakh crore, Mr Chidambaram had demanded that the government announce a second special package to meet the challenge, in view of national lockdown, a measure to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak. UNI