Lungs bear the brunt of the impact in Covid second wave

Lungs bear the brunt of the impact in Covid second wave

Amrita.Didyala@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  02.05.2021 

Unlike its behaviour during the first wave, the Covid-19 virus is now attacking the lungs early on, resulting in many patients being wheeled into hospitals with 60% to 70% lung damage, say doctors. According to them there are also many instances of patients going from comfortably sitting at home to reaching a hospital and succumbing to the virus in barely 10 to 15 hours This pattern, observed in several cases in the city recently, show that sudden deterioration in health — in the latest wave of Covid-19 — is leaving doctors with almost no time for treatment.

Adding to the problem is the large number of patients from poor socio-economic strata who have no access to oximeters and are reaching later than required.

“This time, the virus is directly affecting the lungs in the first few days itself unlike during the first wave. We are seeing patients come with 70% or more damage of the lungs, bilateral damage with only a part of the lung functioning. In patients from poor economic background, there is still lack of understanding on the gravity of the situation and they come after five-six days of symptoms, which makes it worse,” said Dr Marri Mallikarjun, nodal officer, Covid-19 at King Koti Hospital.

In a recent instance, a suspected patient of Covid passed away within hours of developing fever. “After one of our family member tested positive and others were preparing to get tested, my aunt developed fever. Within a few hours, it progressed to gasping and on checking the oxygen saturation, it was less than 78. We rushed to the hospital but by the time we could get a bed, she had deteriorated severely and succumbed shortly after getting a bed,” said the patient’s relative.

Also, deaths among younger patients are being increasingly reported and doctors say that many patients who turned up at emergency rooms were clueless that they had comorbidities.

“This only makes the process of stabilizing them more difficult. When we admit them and start checking their vitals, that is when we find out that they already have a cardiac issue or a kidney failure. In a few cases it might also be information withheld by the patients, but a large chunk of the younger patients is unaware of their actual health status. This is one of the reasons for deterioration, apart from the fact that the virus has severely mutated,” said a senior doctor from the Gandhi Hospital.

Deaths among younger patients are being increasingly reported and doctors say that many patients who turned up at emergency rooms were clueless about comorbidities

As air tickets to US dry up, Indians eye charter flights

As air tickets to US dry up, Indians eye charter flights

ManjuV & Saurabh Sinha TNN

Mumbai/Delhi:  02.05.2021 

With the US set to restrict from May 4 the entry of most non-Americans who are currently in India, one-way fares for flights bound for the western country from cities such as Mumbai and Delhi have shot up. Meanwhile, with restrictions on travel to London and Dubai and no seats left on non-stop flights between India and the US, the scramble for charter flights has begun.

On Saturday afternoon, the cheapest fare available for travel from Delhi to New York on the same day began at Rs 7 lakh, for an Air India flight via Tokyo and onwards to Newark on United Airlines.

“The travel curbs imposed last week by the UK and the UAE have stifled Indian passport holders as they can’t board flights to the US that transits via Dubai and London,’’ said a travel industry insider. Neither can those with American passports fly on the May 2 flight as a negative PCR report is mandatory to fly into the US and the likelihood of getting a test report in 24 hours is slim.

“Indians are now looking at charter flights. A travel company is apparently selling oneway tickets on direct flights from Mumbai to New York for Rs 1.5 lakh. They probably plan to charter an aircraft, but I don’t know whether the operator they have entrusted this job to has managed to procure the requisite permissions to operate the flight,” said a travel industry insider, requesting anonymity.

However, another industry insider said big demand for charters to reach the US was yet to be seen. “Charter companies fly small/medium size airplanes and hardly any of them have permission to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. So, unlike places like Dubai, London and Maldives, the demand for US is mostly restricted to commercial airlines, especially the one’s that go nonstop,” said Rajan Mehra, CEO of Club One Air and former Indian head of Qatar Airways.

On Saturday, the cheapest fare available for travel from Delhi to New York on the same day began at Rs 7 lakh, for an Air India flight via Tokyo and onwards to Newark on United Airlines

After losing a dear one, a long wait for funeral

After losing a dear one, a long wait for funeral

Paras.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.05.2021 

The tattered infrastructure has robbed even the dead of dignity, with the last journey of those claimed by Covid-19 filled with humiliation. Chandan Kumar knows it only too well. It took him four days and daily visits to get his uncle’s body from AIIMS to the Green Park cremation ground. “From morning to evening, we were made to sit in the mortuary at AIIMS. We were told the body would be released but nothing happened. I hope no one else suffers the misery that I have gone through,” said the distraught Kumar.

Poor coordination between cremation facilities and the linked hospitals is putting the kin of corona victims to much suffering. Families complain of the final rites being delayed by 3-4 days. They pointed out that arranging private vehicles to carry the body of their relative to the crematoriums is of little use, with funeral facility management often not allowing them entry, citing official regulations. Yet, the hospitals are unable to provide hearses or ambulances to ferry the bodies.

Raj Kumar’s wife passed away in AIIMS Trauma Centre, but he couldn’t get the body cremated for three days. “We are told to come the following day every time we went to get the body,” said Raj Kumar. “There is no system for releasing bodies for cremation.” Similarly, a man said he was able to get his brother’s body only three days after his death on April 26. He alleged, “The poor are being made to suffer because we saw other bodies being released. I was told the hearse had time slots at 8am, 12 noon and 3pm, but people with people get preference.”

The shortage of hearse vans is a big factor behind the slowness in releasing bodies by hospitals. Chandan Kumar said hospitals suggest the use of private hearses. “But if people transport the body in a private van, the Green Park crematorium staff inform us that bodies arriving in such vehicles will not be accepted,” he revealed. “They only cremate bodies coming in government or hospital vehicles. We approached the police, but got no redress.”

Several such complaints about the conflict in rules have surfaced now. An official at the Green Park facility admitted that the district authorities had indeed ordered acceptance of bodies brought only by hospital ambulances or hearses. A municipal official explained. “This year, the daily toll is very high. Each hospital is linked with a cremation ground and the bodies released for cremation regulated to prevent overcrowding at any particular site. That is why private vehicles are not allowed.”

Coordination between cremation facilities & the linked hospitals is poor, which is putting kin of Covid-19 victims to a lot of suffering

Students, academics exempt from US travel curbs on India

Students, academics exempt from US travel curbs on India

Restrictions To Mostly Affect H-1B Visa Holders, Business Travellers

Chidanand.Rajghatta@timesgroup.com

Washington:  02.05.2021 

Indian students seeking to commence studies in US schools, colleges, and universities in fall 2021 may qualify for a National Interest Exception (NIE) to get around the travel restrictions being imposed by Biden administration following the Covid-19 upsurge in India, the US state department said on Friday.

Certain academics, journalists, and individuals who provide critical infrastructure support in the US may also be eligible for the exceptions, the state department said hours after the White House rolled out a travel ban citing “extraordinarily high” case loads and multiple Covid-19 variants circulating in India. “After reviewing the public health situation within India, CDC has concluded that proactive measures are required to protect the nation’s public health from travelers entering the US from that jurisdiction,” President Biden said while a proclaiming the India ban, citing the CDC advise that variants found in India, UK, and South Africa have “characteristics of concern which may make them more easily transmitted and have the potential for reduced protection afforded by some vaccines.”

The state department, which already has similar travel exceptions for Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa, said India too would be subject to the same in keeping with the US commitment to facilitate legitimate travel, although it warned that the pandemic continues to limit the number of visas US embassies and consulates abroad are able to process.

The state department notification said students who already have valid F-1 and M-1 visas intending to begin or continue an academic programme commencing August 1, 2021 or later may enter the US no earlier than 30 days before the start of their academic studies. Such students do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual NIE to travel.

However, it advised students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas to check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for an NIE to travel, it added. The department said it would also continue to grant NIEs for qualified travelers seeking to enter US for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response, and national security.

In the presidential proclamation announcing travel restrictions issued earlier, the White House too made several exceptions, including for permanent residents (green card holders ), noncitizen who is the spouse of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident/green card holder; any noncitizen who is the parent or legal guardian of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the US citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21; any noncitizen who is the sibling of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21; any noncitizen who is the child, foster child, or ward of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the US. The ban also does not apply to government officials and air and sea crew traveling on work.

The restrictions, expected to be temporary till the pandemic is under control, will mostly affect India’s large white collar work force on H-1B guest visas, and business travellers.

VACCINE MILESTONE FOR US: US said on Friday that over 100 million Americans had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, a milestone that represents almost 40% of the nation’s adults. The number is almost double what the nation had registered at the end of March

Canada to ban entry of foreign students, including from India, to check virus surge

Canada is all set to suspend entry of international students, including from India, to Ontario, the worst-hit province which is battling the third wave of Covid. According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education , an education service provider, there were 5,30,540 international students in Canada in 2020, of which the maximum were from India (34%) followed by China (22%). Ontario has the maximum number of foreign students at 2,42,825 or 46%, it said. PM Justin Trudeau said on Friday the government is considering halting the arrival of international students in Ontario, following a request from the province’s premier Doug Ford, globalnews.ca reported. Ford also called on the government to ban non-essential travel after 36 cases of the B.1.617 variant, originally found in India, were identified in the province, the report said. But, there is no clarity yet on when the change will take effect or how long it will last. PTI

Oz bans arrivals from India, says offenders face 5-year jail, fines

Australia has temporarily banned its citizens from returning from India. The pause on allowing in travelers that were in India within 14 days of arriving will take effect from Monday, health minister Greg Hunt said. Breaches of the ban could lead to a fine of Australian dollars 66,600, five years imprisonment, or both.

There are an estimated 9,000 Australians in India and over 600 of them are classified as vulnerable, according to Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

The decision was based on the proportion of overseas travellers in quarantine in Australia, who have contracted the infection in India, Hunt said.

According to ABC, it is for the first time that Australia has made it a criminal offence for its own citizens to enter the country. The ministry said the decision will be revised on May 15 following advice from the chief medical officer (CMO). AGENCIES

How to talk to friends who believe in fake data

How to talk to friends who believe in fake data

02.05.2021 

The pandemic is fertile ground for misinformation, but experts say you can keep these at arm’s length by staying calm, verifying information and curbing your social media usage

With the country firmly in the throes of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, there are several theories doing the grounds, many of them incorrect. Be it over wearing masks, vaccination, or even safety and distancing guidelines, some bizarre theories are spreading, especially on social media. Experts offer tips on how to engage with friends who happen to believe in these:

Listen, don’t preach

Believers of conspiracy theories aren’t likely to be swayed by people who mock their views. So, instead of lecturing, try to listen and ask questions about how they became interested in the theory. Once they start talking to you, ask them if they’ve considered any other explanations. Whenever possible, have the conversation offline.

Stay calm

Arguing is only likely to result in higher blood pressure for both parties, while resolving nothing. Just remember that some people won’t change their minds, no matter what you say.

Change the subject

When you see your words aren’t having the desired effect, change the topic. If they still insist on continuing, politely say you’d rather talk about something else.

Inform yourself

Fact checking while talking to friends is one thing, but it’s equally important to increase your own defences. To do this, expand your content diet and check your sources.

Verify the claims

Check a variety of news sources, including mainstream local, national and international outlets. Trusted news organisations are your best defence against misinformation. Be especially wary of social media. Also, while perusing content, check who wrote it and who is quoted in it. Are the people named reputable? Do they have a position, or experience, that lends credibility to their claims? Are any other viewpoints expressed in the article? Be wary of claims made by anonymous insiders or hearsay being cited as fact. Also check the dates. Misinformation peddlers often post old photos or news stories and claim it is fresh news.

The emotional pitch

Be wary of content that plays on emotions. Misinformation and conspiracy theories often exploit anger, fear or other emotions. Be cautious of content that features strongly emotional language, or which seems intended to make you outraged. If you read something that gets you fired up, wait until your emotions have cooled before reposting it or sending it to your friends.

Be wary

If you read something that makes an incredible claim, or something that seems too good to be true, check to see if it’s being reported elsewhere. If it’s important news, other outlets will soon confirm the details. Be cautious of explosive claims, especially if they’re only being made on one platform.

— AP

Month before wedding, techie dies without getting ventilator

Month before wedding, techie dies without getting ventilator

Kiran.Parashar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:02.05.2021 

Had he been alive, he would have been happily married next month. For nearly a week, the software professional’s kin ran from pillar to post to find a ventilator, but lost him before they could get one.

Nagarabhavi resident Sagar AG, 28, was excited about getting married in June and wanted to keep it a low-key affair with minimal attendance. But the joyous occasion at his home turned tragic in 15 days after Sagar died of Covid-19 complications.

When he fell ill on April 12, Sagar gave his reports to a private laboratory and tested negative. But two days later, he had fever and cold. Sagar met his doctor and was told to get himself tested again. This time he tested positive and five days later, BBMP officials called him up to check his health status and suggested home isolation.

But his condition worsened and he complained of fatigue and dysentery. “We took him to a nearby hospital and got a CT scan done. Doctors said he was suffering from pneumonia and asked us to immediately shift him to the ICU,” said his younger brother Akshay AG. After several attempts and calls to at least 30 hospitals from April 21, Sagar’s family members were yet to get an ICU bed and ventilator even as his health deteriorated.

His friends appealed for help on social media and visited several hospitals to save Sagar. They said in each hospital they saw at least four patients in the waiting list for a ventilator. He succumbed to the virus on April 27.

LIFE CUT SHORT: Doctors said Sagar AG had pneumonia and needed an ICU bed

Uncle’s treatment can’t be ground for granting bail to murder accused: HC

Uncle’s treatment can’t be ground for granting bail to murder accused: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  02.05.2021 

In a heinous crime like murder, the family background as well as medical treatment being provided to the uncle of the accused-petitioner can’t be the grounds for granting bail.

The high court made this observation while rejecting the bail plea of Srinivasa Reddy, an agriculturalist from Thippareddyhalli, Challakere taluk in Chitradurga.

“When there are 10 eyewitnesses and they have categorically spoken about the petitioner’s overt act of having committed murder of an innocent woman, question of showing any sympathy to him in respect of his family background is not warranted. If the petitioner is granted bail, there is a possibility of him committing similar offences and tampering withwitnesses. Chances of the deceased woman’s son attacking the petitioner to take revenge are also not ruled out. I feel it is not a fit case for granting bail,” Justice K Natarajan noted.

Reddy is accused of murdering Meenakshamma on August 28, 2020. Her son Rajashekar is the complainant in the case. The case of the prosecution is that Reddy came on a motorcycle and attacked the woman with a machete and sickle while she was returning home after work, in the backdrop of a dispute between the two families.

Denying these allegations, Reddy’s counsel claimed the petitioner has been falsely implicated. Placing the genealogical tree, it was further claimed that since his father’s death, Reddy is the only male member in the family and has to take care of his 80-year-old uncle who is suffering from end-stage cancer and being treated in a Bengaluru hospital. Another argument was that the chargesheet has been filed after completion of investigation.

However, the prosecution claimed the weapons used for the crime along with blood-stained clothes recovered by police as well as statements of the 10 eyewitnesses connect Reddy to the crime.