Google launches India-specific website on COVID-19

Google launches India-specific website on COVID-19

The website has four key sections: health information, safety and prevention tips, data & insights, and resources.

Google on Tuesday rolled out an India-specific website on coronavirus that delivers comprehensive information about the pandemic, and how to stay productive during this time.

The website -- www.google.co.in/covid19 -- contains information such as key helpline numbers, content about symptoms, protective measures, known treatments, and the latest global and Indian statistics.

It also hosts a collection of videos on how people can use their time productively while at home, as well as resources and training modules for individuals, small businesses, and educators to stay connected and informed, especially when self-isolated at home.

The website has four key sections: health information, safety and prevention tips, data & insights, and resources.

The Safety and Prevention Tips section consists of educational and informative links and videos by the Union Health Ministry, aiming to convey to people the importance of washing hands, declaring symptoms, and adopting responsible behaviour.

The website also carries a snapshot of some of the most popular searches related to coronavirus, including the latest coronavirus news, right way to wash hands, things to do at home, as well as answers to questions like what is social distancing?, what is a lockdown? or what is self-quarantine?.

The Data and Insights section shows up-to-date insights from Google Trends including some of the most searched and trending questions on COVID-19 from India.

The Resources section hosts several useful videos that help parents and kids spend time learning at home, or help people with coping techniques for stressful days, or simply try their hand at new recipes and DIY (do it yourself) projects spanning art and fitness.

To help people get up and running for working from home, there are also links to key resources: Individuals will find tips for getting work done when working from home useful, and teachers can connect with their students using resources like Distance learning resources for schools, Teach from Home tools for teachers, and methods to help kids learn to read at home.

For entrepreneurs running small and medium businesses, there is information on managing their business through uncertainty and training tools for remote working and learning.

Smokers are more at risk for respiratory infections

"Smokers are more at risk for respiratory infections.

Some aspects of coronavirus infection are now slowly becoming apparent to scientists. The exact cause of them is still unknown.One of these is: Coronavirus has the highest number of males. But what is the reason for smoking?

According to a survey in China, 2 out of every 100 men infected with coronavirus died. But in the case of women, one out of every 1 sufferer is dying to 5.7 percent - that's a lot less.

The same trend has been observed in Italy. Italy's health research agency says that 8 percent of the dead in quinidine are male. A theory is being given that smoking is a major factor behind this.

A large part of Chinese men are smokers.

The World Health Organization says those who smoke are more likely to be at risk for covalent nineteen infections.

The WHO says the fingers of the hand come in contact with the lips during a cigarette meal, and it increases the chances of the virus (in the cigarette) being exposed to the virus.


Smokers may have a lung disease before they become infected with coronavirus, or may have reduced lung function, which increases their chances of becoming seriously ill.

Many people who smoke in the hook or in the baby often use a hook or tube - which can easily spread covalent nineteen infections.

In addition, illnesses that cause a patient's body to require more oxygen, or decrease its ability to take oxygen - increase the risk of serious lung disease such as pneumonia in the human body.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Ash, a public health charity in the UK, says those who smoke should quit smoking or quit altogether to avoid the risk of coronavirus.


"Smokers are more at risk for respiratory infections. The risk of them suffering from pneumonia is twice as high as those who don't smoke."

Be Aware of Corona Virus :Basic protective measures against the new corona virus COVID-!9,

World Health Organization (WHO)

Basic protective measures against the new corona virus

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:

Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why?virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Practice respiratory hygiene

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

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Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading

Follow the guidance outlined above.

Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.

If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

Partly false claim a 1981 book predicted the coronavirus 2019 outbreak

A theory widely shared on social media claims that American author Dean

Koontz predicted the 2019-2020 Coronavirus outbreak in 1981. Posts featuring the cover of “The Eyes of Darkness” book and a page in which Koontz allegedly describes the coronavirus in his novel have at least 39,000 shares (examples here and here) and at least 2,000 retweets on Twitter (examples here and here) as of February 27, 2020.

Most of the claims circulating on social media show the book’s cover and a page in the book mentioning a virus called “Wuhan-400”. The widely circulated photo of Koontz’s book page includes some highlighted text reading: “They call the stuff ‘Wuhan-400’ because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside of the city of Wuhan, and It was the four-hundredth viable strain of man-made microorganisms created at that research center”.

Some claims circulating also include an additional page that mentions the year 2020 and the outbreak of a “severe pneumonia-like illness”.

This is partly false. While it is true that Koontz wrote about a fictional virus in his novel and that its name “Wuhan-400” refers the Chinese city in which the 2019 Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) (here) actually started, the illness in his book doesn’t share more traits with COVID-19.

In his novel, Koontz described “Wuhan-400” as “China’s most important and dangerous: new biological weapon in a decade”. He also wrote it was developed by labs outside of the city of Wuhan.

There is no proof that the new coronavirus was created in a lab. The virus is believed to have originated late last year in a food market in Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife (see here). Health experts think it may have originated in bats and then passed to humans, possibly via another species.

Reuters looked at further references of “Wuhan-400” in Koontz’s book.

The symptoms and behavior of Koontz’s “Wuhan-400” are very different to COVID-19. In the novel, the virus has an incubation period of “only four hours”. COVID-19’s incubation period is between 1-14 days. According to World Health Organization (here), the most common incubation time is around five days.

Koontz also describes “Wuhan-400” as a disease with a “kill-rate” of a 100%. “Once infected, no one lives more than twenty-four hours. Most die in twelve”, he writes. COVID-19’s death rate is far from this, according to the WHO, the case-fatality rate is between 2% and 4% in Wuhan and 0.7% outside Wuhan (here).

The symptoms described by Koontz are different to COVID-19. In his novel, “Wuhan-400” causes the secretion of a “toxin that literally eats away brain tissue” causing loss of control of bodily function. “The victim simply ceases to have a pulse, functioning organs, or any urge to breathe”, writes Koontz. Meanwhile COVID-19 infections have a wide range of symptoms, including fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Mild cases can cause cold-like symptoms, while severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory illness, kidney failure and death.

In the novel, “Wuhan-400” is described to be “infinitely worse” than Ebola (EVD), but COVID-19 is less threatening than EVD. According to the WHO, the average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%, while case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks (see here). The new coronavirus death-rate is between 2% and 4% in Wuhan and 0.7% outside Wuhan.

It is worth noting that in the first edition of “The Eyes of Darkness” in 1981, the fictional virus was not named after the Chinese city, but after a Russian locality named “Gorki” (Gorki-400). In the original version of the novel, the virus was developed outside of “Gorki” and it was meant to be the “Soviet’s most important, dangerous new biological weapon in the decade”. This is confirmed by a Google Books’ search of the word “Wuhan” in the 1981 edition (here). In this edition “Wuhan-400” brings no results.

According to the South China Morning Post, the name of the virus was changed on the re-release of the book in 1989, toward the end of the Cold War. Their article here includes photographs of the previous edition that references “Gorki-400”). In this edition, Koontz also published his novel under his real name instead of using his pseudonym “Leigh Nichols”.

Reuters tried to contact the author and the publisher but is yet to receive an answer.

Some of the posts on social media also share a third image of a book page without any attribution (here), wrongly suggesting it is part of the same book. This page reads: “In around 2020 a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments”.

This page does not belong to “The Eyes of Darkness”. It comes from the 2008 book “End Of Days: Predictions and prophecies about the end of the world” by Sylvia Browne, an American author who claimed to be a psychic (see the page here).


This claim is therefore partly false. Dean Koontz did write about a fictional virus called “Wuhan-400” in the 1989 re-release of his 1981 novel “The Eyes of Darkness”, but symptoms and effects of the disease do not match the official description of COVID-19. The additional page present in some claims suggesting an outbreak “around 2020” is from a different book.
This claim is therefore partly false. Dean Koontz did write about a fictional

virus called “Wuhan-400” in the 1989 re-release of his 1981 novel “The Eyes of Darkness”, but symptoms and effects of the disease do not match the official description of COVID-19. The additional page present in some claims suggesting an outbreak “around 2020” is from a different book.

Coronavirus precautions are changing life for NASA

While NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy is safe Coronavirus precautions are changing life for NASA from contamination in pre-flight quarantine, ... But in recent satellite interviews with the media, he described how different ... Cassidy further explained to Bill Harwood from CBS News that "if you'd asked ... SpaceX to launch next 60 Starlink internet satellites today.

Coronavirus spreads in WA with 26 new COVID-19 cases, as most elective surgery suspended

Elective surgery in Western Australian will be suspended for all but the most serious cases as the state confirms the number of those diagnosed with COVID-19 has jumped by 26

overnight.











                                                                                                                                           PHOTO: Health Minister Roger Cook has announced hospital visit restrictions in WA. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

It brings the total number of people infected to 90 in the state.


Of the 26 cases confirmed overnight, 12 are men and 14 are women and they are aged from 17 through to 72.
Health Minister Roger Cook said as of Tuesday all category three elective surgery would be cancelled.


In addition to that, no new category two elective surgeries would be booked from Monday.

Lovlina Borgohain becomes first Assamese woman to qualify for Olympics

Lovlina Borgohain is an Indian amateur woman boxer. She won a gold medal at 1st India Open International Boxing Tournament held in New Delhi and a silver medal at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati.

Born: 2 October 1997 (age 22 years), Golaghat

Height: 1.77 m

Nationality: Indian

Total Fights: 8

Wins: 5

NASA selects SpaceX for 2022 'Psyche' asteroid mission

 

NASA has selected Elon Musk-run SpaceX to provide launch services for the agency's Psyche mission that would journey to a unique metal-rich asteroid, also named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

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The Psyche mission currently is targeted to launch in July 2022 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the US space agency said in a statement late Friday.

The total cost for NASA to launch Psyche and the secondary payloads is approximately $117 million, which includes the launch service and other mission-related costs.

The Psyche asteroid is considered unique, as it appears to largely be made of the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet - one of the building blocks of our solar system.

Deep within rocky, terrestrial planets, including Earth, scientists infer the presence of metallic cores, but these lie unreachably far below the planet's rocky mantles and crusts.

Because we cannot see or measure Earth's core directly, the mission to Psyche offers a unique window into the violent history of collisions and accretion that created terrestrial planets, said NASA.

The launch of Psyche will include two secondary payloads: Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE), which will study the Martian atmosphere, and Janus, which will study binary asteroids.

NASA's Launch Services Programme at Kennedy Space Center in Florida will manage the SpaceX launch service, said the US space agency. 

US, Taliban sign peace agreement

Afghanistan women showed apprehension at the news of an agreement being reached in Qatar on Saturday [File: Omar Sobhani/Reuters]

 Moments after United States and Taliban negotiators struck a deal to end America's longest war fought in Afghanistan, Marwa Khan, a Kabul resident, called his mother and said: "They have signed the deal, the war is over."

"This war has brought so much sorrow. I cry looking at people who lost their loved ones. This is a step forward for us," Khan told Al Jazeera.

New Delhi: The central government has taken a big step in view of the declining level of engineering studies in the country. In this regard, the government has issued an order to open a new engineering college in the country in the 2020 session nor to increase any seats in any B.Tech course. Also, the college will be closed due to poor performance and violation of rules. The entire focus of the government is on increasing quality rather than opening new colleges due to dwindling demand for engineers in national and international markets.

According to a senior official of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will not recognize new engineering colleges in the academic session 2020-21. States will soon be informed in this regard. Apart from this, no seat will be increased in any B.Tech course in any engineering college. Colleges will have to focus on specialization in various courses like Artificial Intelligence in Computer Science and Engineering, Internet of Things, Internet SW, Mobility etc.

Delhi Riots: AAP Criticised for Focusing on Optics; Women's Delegation Meets Kejriwal

Delhi Riots: AAP Criticised for Focusing on Optics; Women's Delegation Meets Kejriwal

New Delhi: A delegation of concerned citizens and women’s rights activists met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday evening, in light of continuing communal riots in the national capital.

The delegation strongly urged the Delhi government heads to take “more visible and proactive measures” to prevent rioting and restore peace and confidence in the city.

Prominent activists and professionals Farah Naqvi, Vrinda Grover, Kavita Krishnan, Bhasha Singh, Ayesha Kidwai, Sarojini Nadimpally, Navsharan Singh, Tani Bhargava, Pratiksha Baxi, Indira Unninayar, Ratna Appnender, Maya John and Poonam Kaushik were a part of the group.

They suggested that the chief minister and all Aam Aadmi Party MLAs should “send out a strong message of moral leadership against communalism and targeting of vulnerable Muslims”. The group said that video messages by Kejriwal and appeals for Hindu-Muslim unity should be circulated.

Also read: Mosques and Huts Burned, Children Attacked, at Least 1 Dead in Mustafabad

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