Covaxin now out of ‘clinical trial mode’

Covaxin now out of ‘clinical trial mode’

New Delhi:11.03.2021 

The government said regular emergency use authorisation for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin outside of ‘clinical trial mode’ was a validation of India's timely decision-making based on scientific evidence and production of Covaxin was likely to increase along with its use. Niti Aayog member (health) Dr V K Paul said Covaxin was granted permission for regular emergency use authorisation and both Covid-19 vaccines — Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum Institute’s Covishield — had the same licence status now.

“The vaccine has stood the test of time in terms of great safety. It is a triumph for India’s science and technology enterprise and research and development enterprise as well as our industry and I congratulate the teams at ICMR and Bharat Biotech,” Paul said.

Both Covishield and Covaxin were given EUA on January

3. However, in the absence of efficacy data from phase 3 trials, Covaxin was granted EUA under ‘clinical trial mode’ which required vaccinators to take informed consent from recipients before inoculation. It also meant that Bharat Biotech was liable for compensation in case of adverse events under the clinical trial rules. TNN

Scrap old car, get 5% discount on new

Scrap old car, get 5% discount on new

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.03.2021 

The road transport ministry will issue an advisory to all vehicle manufacturers urging them to offer a 5% discount on the sale price of vehicles to buyers if they deposit a certificate of old scrapped vehicle during the purchase of a new one.

The set of notifications to operationalise the voluntary vehicle scrapping policy for private and commercial vehicles, and mandatory scrapping of 15 year-plus government vehicles are likely to be out in the next one week, sources said. TOI has learnt that the advisory to offer discount in sale price of vehicles will be part of the overall policy for roll out of the scrappage policy.

Last week, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had outlined the idea. The voluntary vehicle scrapping policy announced in the Union budget will be applicable for personal vehicles, which are 20 or more years of age and 15 years in the case of commercial vehicles.

The government has also proposed a huge increase in the re-registration fee of 15 year-plus private vehicles and the fitness certificate fee for for 15 year-plus commercial vehicles. Meanwhile, sources said the first slot of vehicles, which will have to be scrapped will be those owned by the Centre and state governments and PSUs.

‘OLD IS GOLD’

Maths, physics not a must for engg: AICTE

Maths, physics not a must for engg: AICTE

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.03.2021 

In a controversial move that would impact the quality of engineers produced in the country, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has made mathematics and physics at Class XII-level optional to get admissions to BE and BTech courses from 2021-22.

As of now, Class XII-level maths and physics subjects are compulsory for admissions to UG programmes in engineering and technology.

The approval process handbook for 2021-22 released by the AICTE has changed the eligibility criteria for UG admissions. Now, students have to pass 10+2 with any of the three following subjects — physics / mathematics/ chemistry / computer science / electronics / information technology / biology / informatics practices / biotechnology / technical vocational subject / agriculture / engineering graphics / business studies / entrepreneurship. Candidates have to score 45% marks (for reserved category students it’s 40% marks) in the above subjects taken together.

Mathematics a foundation for all engineering courses: Experts

AICTE said in its handbook, “The universities will offer suitable bridge courses such as mathematics, physics, engineering drawing for students coming from diverse backgrounds to achieve learning outcomes of the programme.”

The move has come under strong criticism from academicians who said mathematics is a foundation for all engineering degrees. “Bridge course is a remedial course for those who are weak in Mathematics. It cannot replace higher secondary-level mathematics,” said S Vaidhyasubramaniam, VC, SASTRA university. The AICTE’s model curriculum for engineering programmes has Mathematics running up to fifth semester in almost all programmes. “Mathematics and physics have to be compulsory for all engineering courses,” he added.

However, AICTE chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe told TOI: “It is not the question of optional. The choice of three mandatory courses required as input to engineering education are expanded, and hence for different disciplines there could be different three mandatory courses.”

“Emerging areas such as data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning are all based on mathematics. Without knowing maths, students cannot shine in these areas,” said professor D Arivudainambi, department of mathematics, Anna University.

Lockdown in Nagpur city from Mar 15-21

Lockdown in Nagpur city from Mar 15-21

Nagpur:11.03.2021 

Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government on Thursday decided to impose a lockdown in Nagpur district from March 15 to 21.

Only essential services such as vegetable and fruit shops and milk booths will stay open, according to the order issued by the Nagpur district administration.

“Complete lockdown to remain imposed in Nagpur City Police Commissionerate area from March 15 to March 21. Essential services will continue,” said Nagpur guardian minister Nitin Raut.

Maharashtra reported 13,659 new cases and 54 deaths in the last 24 hours. With this, the cumulative count of the cases in the state has reached 22,52,057. The state currently has 1,00,240 active coronavirus cases. Registering as many as 9,913 recoveries in the last 24 hours, Maharashtra’s total recovery count went up to 20,99,207, the Union health ministry informed on Thursday mor ning. ANI

Two students test positive, doctors suspect college group pic session

Two students test positive, doctors suspect college group pic session

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:11.03.2021 

Two students in a private PU college in Bengaluru tested positive for Covid-19, two days ago and doctors are mystified over how they contracted the virus. Aged 18 years, the two, both boys, were screened at a flu clinic at a private hospital after they showed symptoms. They are now in home isolation.

“They said they followed all precautionary measures in classes and on the campus,” said Dr Sudha Menon, head of internal medicine, Fortis hospital, Bannerghatta Road. She suspects a group photo session to be the source of infection. “None had worn masks during the photo session and the students stood shoulder-to-shoulder.”

With no restrictions on movement and people moving around freely – many of them without masks – Covid cases are on the rise, say doctors. On Thursday, Bengaluru reported 488 new Covid cases.

Of the 10 districts with the most cases in the country, Bengaluru stands fifth with 5,526 active cases as on Thursday morning, Union health ministry data reveals. Pune has the highest number of active cases at 18,474 followed by Nagpur (12,724), Thane (10,460) and Mumbai (9,973).

Doctors warn that lowering one’s guard during regular classes could trigger a surge. Dr Ambanna Gowda, a Bengaluru-based physician, said a 19-year-old- boy consulted him online for medication after testing positive for Covid on Thursday.

“With colleges reopening there is a spike,” Dr Gowda said. “This was expected. The boy said he had gone to college and perhaps picked up the infection from the canteen.” The boy’s parents have also been asked to take the test as they have symptoms.”

At MS Ramaiah hospital more than 40 patients were admitted with the infection. The number was just 20 three weeks ago, says Dr Karthik A, consultant, department of medicine at the hospital. He said of the 50-60 people turning up at the flu clinic, about 10% are testing positive.

“There is a 20-30% increase in the number of people coming to the flu clinic compared to the past three weeks,” Dr Karthik said. “If there are 2-3 carriers of the virus in a gathering of 100 people, it can spread to a minimum of 10 individuals and the chain continues. People are facing Covid fatigue, but we need to be cautious for next month as a surge is obvious.”

Adding to concerns is the high number of cases being reported from Maharashtra. On Thursday, state health minister K Sudhakar, in a tweet, admitted that Maharashtra reporting over 13,000 cases in the past 24 hours is cause for concern.

SUPERSPREADERS? Doctors say there has been a 20-30% increase in the number of people visiting flu clinics in hospitals in the past week

When a disease signals start of a new life

WORLD KIDNEY DAY

When a disease signals start of a new life

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.03.2021 

A tennis coach, a dancer, an IT professional. A dramatist, a yoga teacher. They come from different worlds, yet belong to the same one — of those living well with kidney disease.

The five were part of a group of people who came together on World Kidney Day to speak out about how kidney disease does not mean the end of life.

“It’s just the beginning of a new one, a healthier more disciplined one,” said Dr Rajan Ravichandran, nephrologist and chairman of the Sapiens Health Foundation, an NGO championing the cause of kidney failure patients for over two decades, and organizer of the World Kidney Day event.

In keeping with the year’s theme – living well with kidney disease -- several people who had successfully battled kidney disease were honoured by the foundation.

While actor Madhu Balaji, of The ‘Crazy’ Drama Troupe and kidney donor to his sister-in-law, spoke on the importance of organ donation, dancer K Sangeetha spoke about how surviving Lupus, an automimmune disease. “I was diagnosed when I was14 years old. The disease resulted in kidney failure. My mother donated her kidney to me,” said Sangeetha. “I just want people to know that while kidney disease can take a toll on your physical health, mental health is just as important. You need to keep strong and tell yourself you can do it.Today, I have my own Youtube channel, I teach dance, and I am doing my UGC teacher’s training programme. Everything is possible, just keeping looking ahead.”

IT professional Shyam Shankar J spoke about how his family survived Covid 19. “My father is on dialysis, my mother has a kidney ailment due to protein loss, I have had a kidney transplant and we all tested positive for Covid19. It was traumatic because we were the first people in our apartment building to get Covid and were forced out of home quarantine into a hospital by our neighbours,” said Shyam. “We survived the ordeal. I just want to tell people there need not be any phobia or stigma about the disease.”

Elderly couple get 10 years’ RI for sexual assault of 4-year-old

Elderly couple get 10 years’ RI for sexual assault of 4-year-old

Rebecca.Samervel@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:11.03.2021 

In a rare instance, a now 81-year-old woman and her 87-year-old husband were found guilty of the 2013 sexually assault of their 4-year-old neighbour and sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. This is probably thefirst case in the city where a woman has been found guilty for such a crime under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The special Pocso court relied on testimonies of the child and her mother, and medical evidence.

Special judge Rekha N Pandhare ordered the accused to pay Rs50,000 each to the child as compensation within a month. The court observed that the victim being a child and the accused being of the age of her grandparents, were supposed to take care of her. Instead, they sexually assaulted her, the court ruled.

In the trial by special public prosecutors Veena Shelar and Geeta Nayyar, seven witnesses deposed. The child was eight at the time of deposition.

In a statement to police, the child said she returned from school at 10am on September 4, 2013. She had something to eat, watched cartoons on TV and at noon went to the fourth floor of her building to play with a friend. The child said that as her friend was sleeping, she decided to return home. She said at that time, the accused, whom she referred to as ‘dada’ and ‘daadi’ (grandfather and grandmother), called out to her.

The child said when she went to the man, he carried her and took her into the house. He made her sit on the swing but he slapped her when she tried to leave. The child alleged that while the woman held her, the man undressed her and sexually assaulted her. The woman repeated the act. She said once again, when she tried to run, the man spat on her face. The child said she got afraid and after the accused let her go, she dressed up and ran home.

The child’s mother had told police that after she returned from work and finished household chores, at10pm she tried to put the child to bed. The mother said the child said she wanted to tell her something and pleaded with her not to scold her. After the mother assured the child, she confided in her about the incident. The mother said she checked the child’s private parts and found inflammation. The mother informed the father and complained to police. The accused was arrested the next day.

Father of two sets 16-year-old girl on fire for rejecting his advances

Raipur:

A married man with two children, who was stalking a minor girl for months, allegedly set her on fire in the early hours of Thursday after she spurned his advances.

He also got burnt when she fought back, engulfed in flames. He managed to flee the spot, but was arrested within hours. Now, both of them are in hospital with severe burns.

The incident took place in a residential locality on the outskirts of Raipur. The accused, Karan Porte, broke into the house of a 16-year-old girl, and poured kerosene on her while she slept, say police. Despite being ablaze, the teenager grappled with him, burning him in the process. Injured, Porte ran out of the house before the girl’s family members could understand what was going on. They doused the fire but by then she had suffered 50% burns. She was taken to hospital where she is in a critical condition.

Police traced Porte through his mobile phone location and arrested him. He has suffered 25% burns and was admitted to hospital, say sources. The girl’s parents said they had repeatedly warned him not to harass her but he persisted, say police. Preliminary probe indicates he tried one last time to force her into ‘marriage’ on Wednesday evening, and decided to kill her when she refused, say police. TNN