CBSE 10TH & 12TH BOARD EXAM DATESHEET

 

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• CBSE circular about board exam 2020

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|Donald Trump| Removing The Chinese Stocks From US

 

Weekly Updates

Summary

·     World Wide News

·     Business News

·     Sports News

·     Technology News

 

·     World Wide News

1. President Donald Trump signs a bill for removing the chinese stocks from US and America becouse of tensions between the two countries, For this bill China affect a lot like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. And Baidu Inc.

2. Donald Trump announce that the Covid-19 vaccine is ready and approved on Friday. Trump also tweeted that ‘Distribution to start immediately’ vaccine will immediately  supply the other countries which are hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

3. On Friday the Android users faced issues with the instagram app, users reported on social media and tweeted #Instagramdown it was tranding on Twitter, according to website Downdetector.com has been faceing problem since 4:00 PM.

4. One of the biggest firm of China’s behind the controversial Hambantota port project get first contract in Sri Lanka’s planned $13-billion Port City after the US Government criticised them.

5. Covid-19 vaccine was ready and Indian Government planning to produce 300 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against Corona virus next year, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited for clinical trials and distribution of the shot vaccine in India said that he have agreements with four manufacturers companies in India will produce vaccine doses for us next year.

6. In United States after the Covid-19 pandemic the drug overdoses cases has been rised more than 81,000 drug overdoses deaths in the year of May, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that latest data showed an acceleration of overdoses deaths snice the pandemic took hold at the start.

·     Business News

1. For China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE the World Bank’s staff members face ‘undue pressure’ to ‘manipulate’ data anf adjust scores in two key reports that ranked nation by ease of doing business said by internal investigation.

2. Gucci join Alibaba’s online luxury shopping platform because of the Corona virus pandemic the importance of the Chinese market for high-end brands seeking to reverse a revenue slide, the collaboration of two brands shows on Dec. 21.

3. Due to the Corona virus pandemic 2,200 people lost there jobs world wide in Coca-Cola co. including 1,200 jobs in the US, as the soda maker deepens its restructuring efforts amid ongoing shutdowns of soft-drink friendly venues like movie theaters, bar and stadiums.

4. There are 0.3% increase in non-oil exports $68.3 billion during Octobur-December quarter. The total merchandise exports are forecast to continue to witness a moderation at $77.6 billion in October-December.

5. In Delhi the Gold price on Monday was Rs 48,371 per 10 gram but it gained at the end of Friday at Rs 49,644 per 10 gram. There are rise in the price of Gold by 460 rup but according to HDFC the gold price closed at Rs 48,831 per 10 gram and sliver price also dipped by Rs 629.

·     Sports News

1. On Feb 8 the Australian open and start three week later the schedule organisers confirm this statement after months of speculation over the first Grand Slam of 2021, the original date of Australian is Jan 18  the date was changed because of Covid-19 health security measures.

2. Doha was awarded with the 2030 Asian Games and 2034 event went to Riyadh after a deal was struk between the rival nations. The Qatari capital of Doha beat Saudi Arabian counterpart Riyadh for the 2030 Games in the vote at the Olympic Council of Asia’s general assembly.

3. Jose Mourinho has proven he has risen above criticism and bounced back to take his claim as being a top manger after guiding Tottenham Hotspur to the Premies League summit, Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday.

4. For Knee injury the Liverpool Winger Diogo Jota could miss up to two months his manager Jurgen Klopp said that. He was injurt in Liverpool’S 1-1 draw match against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League on Wednesday.

5. Ankita Raina one of the Top Indian tennis player won her ITF third doubles title of the pandemic-hit 2020 season, clinching the AI Habtoor challenge with Ekaterina Gorgodza here.

6.  The Indian paddler Sharath Kamal’s plans to get some much-needed match time and quality time and training after the long pandemic time Covid-19 for the Table Tennis Champions Leagus in Germany.

·     Technology News

1. After the article reported about the website that the women being assaulted and minor having sex to be uploaded on the site Pornhub was only accepting cryptocurrency payments for premium service.

2.  LG has been planning of launching a rollable smartphone next year. The Korean company know the way to make rollable display and help LG for there new rollable smartphone. According to tipster @cozyplans on Twitter the price of the smartphone will bw $2,359 (₨1,73,000 approx).

3. Samsung’s Galaxy A-series smartphone launch there new smartphone Galaxy A72 this smartphone quite new there are qued-camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary camera. There are also penta-camera setup which make it more attractive and new.

4. On Youtube you may have seen Apple iPhone drop test video from 6 feet or 10 feet. One of the iPhone 6s user ultimate drop his iPhone from 2,000 feet and the phone record all the video.

5. After the deal of Facebook and misinformation the Facebook was deploying its most potent tool to battle misinformation on Covid-19. They send direct notification to anyone who commented, like and shared post regarding Covid-19 misinformation and takedown the post for violating on platform, terms and service.

6. Apple have big plans for 2021 they are impoting iPhones around 180 million with OLED display panels. They are import 100 million iPhone 12 units consists of four iPhone models with OLED display.  

WEEKLY UPDATES

 

Weekly Updates                                Business updates 1. In 2021-26 India have potential to export motherboards called printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) which are worth of Rs 8 lakh crore including mobile devices body ice and eye. 2. After the two years the petrol and diesel price on Saturday breached was increased by 27 paise per liter and diesel by 25 paise. This is the highest rate for petrol and diesel since September 2018. 3. On Saturday all the states and union territories decide to go for the first option given by the center to meet the revenue shortfall arising out of the good and services tax (GST) implementation with Jharkhand becoming the latest state to join the list. 4. The gold price was increasing day by day today (Rs. 49150), last week (Rs. 48510.0) the gold price was increased 1.32% from last week. Although the price of gold global is ($1841.4) showing foal by 0.01% by in India it increased by 0.02%. 5. Domestic carriers are facing losses they expecting for 21,000 crores of loss but they get net loss of Rs. 12,700 crores in the financial year ended march 2020 at the same time industry debt level also expecting to increase by 50,000 crores in 2021-23. 6. After the pandemic-related shocks the Australia recovered and grew his economy by 3.3% in the third quarter treasurer josh Freedenberg said that the country still has a lot of ground to make up from the coronavirus downturn.                                                         Sports Updates 1. In the honor of the former caption Diego Maradona Italian club Napoli renamed its stadium from stadia San Paolo to stadia Diego Armando Maradona. 2. Ashish Shelar Former Mumbai Cricket Association president and BJP leader fill his name for president’s post in the Boxing Federation of India challenging Ajay Singh in elections to be held on December 18. 3. Cristiano Ronaldo help Juventus beat Dynamo Kyiv in the match and scored his 750th career goal and leave their team with chance of securing top spot in its Champions League groups.  4. Thomas Bach will have no opponents for his re-election as president said by the International Olympic Committee in a vote scheduled in March. He was the only candidate for the presidential poll more than 100 IOC members were said that. 5. The five Olympic rings are back in Tokyo Bay nearby Yokohama and Rainbow Bridge. They were removed the Olympic rings for maintenance four month ago and Olympics were postponed in Tokyo until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.                        Technology Updates 1. Do not use WhatsApp’s disappearing messages because it is self-destruct after seven days it is a good feature and also have issues. This feature makes a lot of sense for WhatsApp groups where you get loads of messages. 2. Galaxy S21 series was expecting launched in January the new smartphone will reportedly not work with a bunch of Samsung smartwatches and fitness trackers. 3. For getting more attention from public Apple has revamped its accessibility site with a whole host of new additions also adding to their repertoire of features that make iPhone, iPad and other devices easily accessible to people. 4. The Amazfit planning to launch smartwatches series features GTR 2, GTS2, and GTS 2 mini in the country on December 17. The Amazfit’s GT2 series known for his health and fitness focused features. 5. YouTube will take strong action on offensive comment on any video firstly before posting any comment YouTube will ask that ‘Is this something you really want to share?’ then they found something wrong they will take strong action against Him/Her. 6. Artificial intelligence for better Indian economic growth add $500 billion in better forecast of floods and accurate diagnosis of diseases. They also committed UD 10 billion for expanding India’s digital footprint.                                                    World Wide Updates 1. Kang Kung-wha Minister of South Korea doubt on the claim of North Korea that there are no coronavirus cases, while offering the South’s help in combating the Pandemic. 2. South Africa will be paying about 327 million rant ($22 million) for the first delivery of the coronavirus vaccines under the convex initiative that will cover about 10% of the population of South Africa. 3. Moscow made the vaccine of the coronavirus and began distributing of the vaccine firstly the vaccine made available to doctors and other medical workers, teacher and social workers. 4. The US State Department has terminated five cultural exchange programs with China, calling them ‘soft power propaganda tools’ while other are programing under Mutual Educational the five-program funded under soft power propaganda. 5. Donald Trump redirect $306 billion in US military funds to build a wall along the Mexican border but the court said that Trump broke the rules he uses military money to the wall project after congress refuse to pay for it.

Weekly current affairs

Weekly updates                       Technology Updates 1.Echo Frames Amazon tool was upgraded with better audio quality, longer battery, more features like support for calendars and new colors. 2.Instagram update announced they are launching branded content and reels soon and branded content ads in stories people can easily show their content. 3.Apply is planning to launching new privacy feature to iOS to limit ‘invasive, even creepy tracing by third-party firm. 4.India was the largest player base in the world of PUBG after got banned in India on June so karfton sign a deal with Microsoft Azure to host his game.                                    Business Updates 1.IPR-Intellectual property rights and competition lows both encourage innovation and help in human progress RBI Governor D Subbarao said that on Saturday. 2.For like Boris Johnson’s the UK was plans to state to development of bank to help fund and infrastructure project to boost economy. 3.Mukesh Ambani one of the richest business man and the owner of Reliance said that on Saturday that India entered a crucial phase its fight against coronavirus and cannot let the guard down at this juncture. 4.Us president Donald Trump and Asia-Pacific economic cooperation forum are plan to work together free and open non-discriminatory trade.                          Sports Updates 1.Brigid Kosgey and Anabel eyeshine the world record holders for half Marathon add to field for Delhi on Saturday for the upcoming event. 2.The Tokyo Olympics were postponed for eight months ago and new will open on July 23,2021. Hard time is coming. 3.Sports secretary Ravi Mittal announced that the Government launching a fitness app in January next year with the use of app people can take care of their body ad stay fit. 4.Serie A’s 20 club voted unanimously Thursday to accept a 1.7 billion euro offer from a consortium of private equity fund that will charged with sale and TV promotion.                                                                        Worldwide Updates 1.The coronavirus cases have been raised 57 million including 1,376,763 fatalities and many as 40,096,686 report are recorded. 2.On Friday Nov. 13,2020. A suicide car bomb exploded in Afghanistan: 3 dead, 11 injured with this accident. 3.Donald Trump tweet that ‘I WON THE ELECTION' before the announcement of election and day after tweet Joe Biden won rhea election and won White House. 4.Eldest son of Donald Trump was tested positive for the novel coronavirus according to the Trump statement he is quarantined in out of his cabin.

 

5G is seen as a game-changer for India

Sudharma Times

                     {13 September 2020 ~ 19 September 2020}

Tech News

 

~by Gaurave

5G is seen as a game-changer for India

The launch of 5G-enabled technologies is expected to be transformative in the telco and other industries by unlocking various disruptive new technologies. Global investment in the 5G industrial chain over 2020-2035 is likely to reach US$ 3.5 trillion

5G is around the corner...and there is an ever-increasing euphoria amongst the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), the TMT ecosystem and the consumer community at large at the vast opportunities 5G will bring. Simply put, 5G is expected to be significantly smarter, faster and efficient compared to its legacy 3G and 4G predecessors. For instance, it holds a promise of 100 times more speed relative to 4G networks. The possibilities, with a network like this, are unfathomable.

The launch of 5G-enabled technologies is expected to be transformative in the telco and other industries by unlocking various disruptive new technologies. Global investment in the 5G industrial chain over 2020-2035 is likely to reach US$ 3.5 trillion. More than US$12 trillion sales are expected to be generated by global industry applications driven by 5G technology.

5G has the potential to become the world's predominant LAN and WAN technology over the couple of decades, especially in green-field rollouts. Organisations building new factories, ports, or campuses can significantly reduce their usage of wired connections. The next five years will likely see a boom in private 5G implementations at locations that would greatly benefit from better wireless technology-in terms of speed, capacity, latency, and more. Application and installation of the Private Networks could vary from a manufacturing facility, buildings, large campuses, notified or designated locations within geographies, healthcare and in mining sectors for autonomous mobility in areas where it is dangerous for humans to enter.

Closer to home, we expect significant application in 5G enabled internet of things - across smart cities and industry 4.0 use cases. Globally, these two areas account for nearly 44 per cent of 5G applications. Other applications likely to gain scale in India at a later date with enhancement in the coverage and technology are sensor based crop monitoring, remote machinery control, surveillance, energy management and smart transport.

1.Paytm returns to Google Play Store hours after takedown
September 19,2020

Shortly before the Paytm Android app was reinstated on the Play Store, Paytm tried to allay users' concerns in a blog post, assuring them that their money is completely safe

Paytm has returned to Google Play Store hours after being taken down on account of violating the app store's policies on gambling. At the time of filing this report, the app was available for download and update on Play Store.

Shortly before the Paytm Android app was reinstated on the Play Store, Paytm tried to allay users' concerns in a blog post, assuring them that their money is completely safe. The popular digital payment platform said that it is talking to Google and the app will be back shortly. The company clarified that users can continue to use the Paytm app like before.

"We assure all our users that their balances and linked accounts are 100 per cent safe. Our services are fully functional on all existing apps and you can continue enjoying Paytm like before," Paytm said in the blog post.

Earlier today, Google had removed Paytm app from the its Play Store over alllegations of running online casinos and allowing unregulated gambling. It was in reference to the 'Paytm Cricket League' game in Paytm First Games section on the consumer app that allows users to get player stickers after each transaction, collect them and get cashback in exchange. Other apps by Paytm - Paytm for Business, Paytm Mall, Paytm Money, Paytm Mall Store Manager and Paytm Instore Orders - were available on the Play Store.

2.Financial frauds up due to digital dependence; Centre to come up with Cyber Security Strategy: NSA
September 18,2020

Doval was delivering a virtual lecture at the COCONXIII, a hacking and data privacy conference hosted by the Kerala Police and Society for Policing of Cyberspace and Information Security Research Association.

Urging citizens to be vigilant when online, National Security Advisor (NSA) AjitDoval said financial frauds have surged drastically during COVID-19 pandemic due to greater dependence on digital payment platforms. He added the Centre was coming up with the National Cyber Security Strategy-2020, which proposes a safe, secure, trustworthy, reliant and vibrant cyberspace for India's prosperity.

"There is a greater dependence on digital payment platforms due to reduced cash handling and greater data sharing is happening online and presence on social media has also increased. While we are able to manage our affairs online to a certain extent, malicious actors also found in it a new opportunity," AjitDoval said.

Doval was delivering a virtual lecture at the COCONXIII, a hacking and data privacy conference hosted by the Kerala Police and Society for Policing of Cyberspace and Information Security Research Association. According to the NSA, the work environment has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said there was a 500% uptick in cyber crimes due to limited awareness and cyber hygiene.

"Financial frauds have seen exponential increase due to greater dependence on digital payment platforms. The adversaries are tempted to exploit the crisis situation due to various misinformation, fake news, etc. The huge cyber data floating in the cyber space is a gold mine for extracting information that can undermine the privacy of our citizens," Doval said.

3.Apple set to release iOS 14 today, iPadOS14, watchOS 7, tvOS 14 to debut as well
September 17,2020

Apple is set to launch its latest iOS 14 software on Wednesday, September 16, company's CEO Tim Cook revealed at Apple's virtual event held on Tuesday (September 15).

The cult iPhone maker will also release its upcoming iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 alongside iOS 14 for all compatible devices on Wednesday. The iPadOS will come packed with features such as an enhanced search experience, pull-down menus, and redesigned sidebars.

Although Cook did not divulge the release time of the software, the iOS 14 is likely to reach compatible iPhone models and seventh-generation iPod touch at around 10:30 pm, India time, on Wednesday.

iOS 14 update will be available for download on all iPhone models in compatibility list of iOS 13.

This means the software will be supported on iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and the iPhone SE (2020).

Besides all these iPhone models, iOS 14 will also be compatible with the seventh-generation iPod touch.

You can download iOS 14 on your iPhone or iPod touch once it reaches your device by going to Settings>General>Software Update.

The software will also be downloaded automatically if you have already chosen that option on your device.

Apple unveiled iOS 14 software as the next iteration in the iOS family at WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) 2020 which was virtually held in June this year.

The software comes with new Maps features, comprising adding cycling as a transportation option, and routing for electric vehicle owners to help them find charging points along the way. iOS14 also has an in-built translator, improved security and privacy features in the Safari browser, and an enhanced and redesigned Siri.

However, the privacy feature that allows iPhone users to opt-out of in-app tracking will be delayed. Apple said the feature would not be immediately enforced when iOS 14 software is released following a hullabaloo by ad giants including Facebook, which lobbied against the proposal.

The Cupertino giant said it would give developers time until next year to adjust to the changes.

4.FAU-G not Sushant Singh Rajput's idea: Mumbai court passes order against rumours
September 15,2020

The restraining order was passed by the court after it was approached by private companies GOQii Technologies Private Limited and SudionCore Private Limited.

The Bombay City Civil Court has passed an interim order against unknown persons, restraining them from posting and reposting social media messages asserting that the online game FAU-G was the brainchild of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The court, in its order passed on Thursday, September 17 said that the "miscreants/anti-social elements" disseminating "false and defamatory tweets, videos, and messages" on several social media platforms will be prosecuted "in furtherance of the criminal complaint already filed before the law enforcement authorities."

The restraining order was passed by the court after it was approached by private companies GOQii Technologies Private Limited and SudionCore Private Limited.

The firms had claimed that they and others associated with them, including ambassador actor Akshay Kumar, were being "caused great hardship" by the alleged libelous messages, videos, etc being circulated on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube.

The companies also issued a press statement stating that if any "miscreant or anti-social element disseminates any false tweets, videos, and/or messages on any social media platforms" against them or those associated with them shall be liable for contempt of court.

Health Related News

~by Nikhil

1. Jaipur Foot USA announces free artificial limb fitment camp in Gujarat on PM Modi’s birthday
18,sep,2020

Jaipur Foot USA has said it will organise a state-level free artificial limb fitment camp in Gujarat that will provide limbs, hearing aids, clutches and wheelchairs to differently-abled persons.

Making the announcement on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 70th birthday, Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari said the camp will be organised as soon as it is safe amid the pandemic. He said an inaugural function will take place in Vadnagar, Modi’s birthplace, and the camp is likely to come up in Mehsana or Ahmedabad.

The camp will provide Jaipur Foot limbs, hearing aids, clutches and wheelchairs.

Bhandari said Jaipur Foot USA has communicated to the Prime Minister’s Office about the planned camp.

As part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, the Ministry of External Affairs had launched the ‘India for Humanity’ initiative in October 2018, under which 13 artificial limb fitment camps were organised in 12 countries and more than 6,500 artificial limbs were fitted.

The MEA had said the artificial limb fitment camps generated a lot of goodwill for India in countries where these were organised such as in Malawi, Iraq, Nepal, Egypt, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Syria. India has been extending humanitarian assistance under its Development Partnership which is derived by its core value of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam.

2. Coronavirus is driving discrimination against migrants, foreigners in Asia, warns Red Cross
17,sep,2020

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned on Thursday that the novel coronavirus is driving discrimination towards vulnerable communities in Asia, including migrants and foreigners. The humanitarian agency surveyed 5,000 people in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Pakistan and found about half blamed a specific group for spreading the coronavirus, with many mentioning Chinese people, immigrants and foreigners. “It is particularly concerning that both national migrant and foreign workers are blamed for the spread of COVID-19 as they are quite vulnerable already,” Dr Viviane Fluck, one of the lead researchers and the agency’s Asia Pacific community engagement and accountability coordinator, told Reuters.

She said there should be more focus on combating “rumors that are linked to underlying power dynamics and structural issues of inequality”. More than half of the Indonesians surveyed blamed “foreigners and rule-breakers” while in Myanmar, the groups most often thought to be responsible were people from China and other foreigners. In Malaysia, two-thirds blamed a “specific group”, most frequently mentioning migrants, foreign tourists and “illegal foreigners”, the researchers said. Malaysian authorities arrested hundreds of undocumented migrants and refugees in May in a crackdown the United Nations said could push vulnerable groups into hiding and prevent them from seeking treatment.

Police said at the time the operation was aimed at preventing people from travelling amid movement curbs. In Pakistan, most people surveyed blamed inadequate government controls on the Iranian border, followed by nationals including pilgrims coming back from Iran and then people from China. In all four countries, higher education had a small impact on whether respondents blamed a specific group, with university graduates slightly less likely to hold certain people responsible, the researchers said.

3. Coronavirus pandemic: One in 10 Covid-19 patients return to hospital after being sent home from ER
16,Sep,2020

Nearly one in 10 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 needed to return to the hospital within a week of discharge from an emergency department visit, according to a new study which assessed data from more than 1,400 patients who were admitted during the first three months of the pandemic. The study, published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine, assessed data of COVID-19 patients from the Philadelphia region in the US between March and May 2020. It found that factors like lower pulse oximetry levels, and fever were some of the most telling symptoms that resulted in return trips that resulted in admission. “We hope this study helps emergency clinicians have more informed conversations with patients suspected to have COVID-19,” said the study’s lead author Austin Kilaru from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in the US. “It can be difficult to make this diagnosis and send patients home without knowing if they will get sick in the coming days. This study gives clinicians a few signposts to know how often and when patients may need to return, and what risk factors to pay attention to,” Kilaru said.

In the research, the scientists looked at 1,419 patients who went to an emergency department (ED) between March 1 and May 28, 2020, were discharged, and tested positive for COVID-19 in the seven days surrounding that visit. According to the study, 4.7 per cent of the patients returned to the hospital and were admitted within just three days for their initial ED visit, and an additional 3.9 per cent were hospitalised within a week. In total, the researchers said 8.6 percent of patients were coming back to the hospital after their first ED visit due to COVID-19.

“We were surprised with the overall rate that patients return and need admission, which is twice that of other illnesses,” Kilaru explained. “The concern is not that emergency physicians are making wrong decisions, but rather that COVID-19 can be unpredictable and turn severe rather quickly,” he added.

Compared to patients in the 18 to 39 years of age range, the researchers said those over 60 were more than five times as likely to require hospitalisation after being discharged from their initial emergency department visit. The study noted that people in the 40 to 59 age range were three times as likely to require hospitalisation than the younger group.

When it came to individual symptoms, the researchers said patients of any age with low pulse oximetry readings were about four times as likely to require hospitalisation upon return as compared to those with higher readings. They said patients with fevers were more than three times as likely as compared to those without.

“If the patient had other factors such as an abnormal chest X-ray, the likelihood of needing to come back to be hospitalised goes up even more,” said the study’s senior author, M. Kit Delgado from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

However the researchers said there were no signs of differences along racial or gender lines.

“This further contributes to the evidence that the known racial disparities in COVID mortality are not related to differences in care and outcomes among patients once treated in the same hospital system,” Delgado said. Rather, the disparities are structural related to the higher rates of infection and access to care in low-income communities, which are disproportionately Black and Hispanic,” he added.

The scientists believe the findings can better inform doctors on who is most appropriate for home recovery, and underscored the need for remote monitoring as a useful tool for looking after COVID-19 patients.

4.Covid-19 pandemic: Tiny antibody completely neutralises novel coronavirus
15,Sep,2020

Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have isolated the smallest biological molecule to date that they say completely and specifically neutralises the SARS-CoV-2 virus which cause Covid-19. Ten times smaller than a full-sized antibody, the molecule has been used to construct a drug -- known as Ab8 -- for potential use as a therapeutic and prophylactic against SARS-CoV-2, according to the study published in the journal Cell.

The researchers, including Sriram Subramaniam from the University of British Columbia in Canada, found that Ab8 is highly effective in preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and hamsters. Its tiny size not only increases its potential for diffusion in tissues to better neutralise the virus, but also makes it possible to administer the drug by alternative routes, including inhalation, the researchers said. The drug does not bind to human cells, which is a good sign that it won’t have negative side-effects in people, they said. “Ab8 not only has potential as therapy for COVID-19, but it also could be used to keep people from getting SARS-CoV-2 infections,” said study co-author John Mellors, from the University of Pittsburgh in the US.

“Antibodies of larger size have worked against other infectious diseases and have been well tolerated, giving us hope that it could be an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19 and for protection of those who have never had the infection and are not immune,” Mellors said. The tiny antibody component is the variable, heavy chain (VH) domain of an immunoglobulin, which is a type of antibody found in the blood. It was found by “fishing” in a pool of more than 100 billion potential candidates using the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as bait, the researchers said.

Ab8 is created when the VH domain is fused to part of the immunoglobulin tail region, adding the immune functions of a full-size antibody without the bulk, they said. Clinical trials are testing convalescent plasma -- which contains antibodies from people who already had COVID-19 -- as a treatment for those battling the infection, but there isn’t enough plasma for those who might need it, and it isn’t proven to work. The researchers set out to isolate the gene for one or more antibodies that block the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which would allow for mass production.

5. Startup soars, providing in-house health care in the time of the coronavirus pandemic
14,Sep,2020

The U.S. emergency department, long an imperfect shelter for those with non-urgent medical needs, is perhaps the last place you want to be amid a pandemic.

Covid-19 has aggravated an already-broken U.S. health-care system in which at least 30% of emergency department visits were deemed unneeded before the virus’s arrival. Patients with less urgent conditions often wait hours for care, and they’re usually left with a hefty bill. Now, a new heath-care model is seeking to bridge the gap between clinical care and telemedicine, offering hands-on medical aid inside people’s homes.

In a time of Covid, a company known simply as Ready is logging more than 15,000 visits and 10,000 Covid-19 tests a month to patients in New York City, Los Angeles, the District of Columbia, Reno, Miami, and even the marshy bayous outside New Orleans. When called, Ready quickly dispatches an EMT or paramedic to a patient’s home. There, its so-called Responders work with doctors linked through iPads to take vitals, diagnose problems, prescribe therapies or, if needed, escalate cases to the closest ER.

While this may sound like a concierge service for the rich, Ready’s target market is Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans that’s accounted for about half of its patient visits.

“Covid accelerated a trend that had already begun, which is a shift from institutional brick-and-mortar urgent care to the home setting,” according to Julian Harris, a Ready board member. “It’s impressive to see the organization rise to the challenge of providing care in the most difficult of times, in places and to populations that other companies have not focused on.” That’s “compelling for an investor,” he said.

In Ready’s latest Series C fundraiser, to be announced this week, investors including GV, the venture-capital arm of Google parent Alphabet Inc., pumped in another $54 million to help boost Ready’s valuation to $354 million. Other repeat investors included Deerfield Management Co. and Town Hall Ventures, the fund launched by Andy Slavitt, the former acting administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Obama administration.

The idea for Ready came during a trip to Israel by serial entrepreneur Justin Dangel, 46, now the company’s chief executive officer. Dangel was galvanized by a nonprofit that equipped Israeli EMTs with motorcycles and defibrillators, with the objective of beating ambulances to patients and victims of trauma.

A health-care outsider, Dangel later spoke with EMTs in the U.S. about the service. That sparked talks about ways to utilize EMTs to relieve pressure on the U.S. system and, eventually, to the birth of Ready, which treated its first patient in 2018.

But it’s been the pandemic that’s validated the business model, drawn new capital and talent, and fueled the company’s growth. With Covid-19, telemedicine use has reached record highs. Ready, meanwhile, has seen a five-fold surge in demand for its services since March. “This is a social impact project that’s gotten out of control,” Dangel said.

On the last Monday of March, as a flood of virus cases pushed New York to a breaking point, Governor Andrew Cuomo pleaded during a news briefing for health-care workers to come to the city to help.

Ready had planned to begin services in New York in 2021. But hearing that call spurred the company to reach out to Cuomo’s office with an idea: Ready could conduct Covid-19 tests within the city’s public housing complexes.

“It was the perfect fit,” said Gareth Rhodes, deputy superintendent to the New York State Department of Financial Services. “It wasn’t just about bringing a test, it was about providing an opening to a whole plethora of health-care services.”

Abel Collado, 25, is a paramedic and firefighter from the Bronx. He was just weeks into his new job at Ready when the partnership launched. The company had fewer than 15 Responders in the city at the time, and Collado was tasked with conducting testing in the communities he grew up in.

“Words can’t describe what it’s like to be a young adult who is born and raised, and grew up on these streets, and is still living in them, to serve these people,” Collado said. Treating patients from within their homes has allowed Collado to better address the socio-economic factors that influence health outcomes. Some have little means of transportation, while others lacking a primary care physician aren’t able to easily get their medications. Many can’t speak English.

Collado has since become a supervisor, and has been pivotal to the recruitment of 150 full and part-time Responders employed by the company that have conducted more than 5,500 visits and 3,600 Covid-19 tests for New York City Housing Authority residents. Now, Ready is seeing New Yorkers outside of the partnership with the state as well.

More than 1,300 miles away in Louisiana, Ochsner Health System Inc. has also turned to Ready to conduct Covid-19 tests. In this case, they’re not just for symptomatic patients, but for the immuno-compromised preparing for surgery or chemotherapy. Ready also handles follow-up when patients are discharged.

Well before the virus swept the nation, Louisiana’s largest health system decided to take a chance on a startup headquartered in New Orleans after struggling for years to reduce unneeded ER visits. Ready was integrated into Ochsner’s medical triage platform in 2018, creating a pathway for Responders to beeline directly to some of their first patients’ homes. It also created an appointment-based community health-care program for Ochsner’s “Medicaid frequent-fliers”—underserved patients who often seek care in the ER.

Alexi Deville is a 26-year-old EMT from Metairie, Louisiana. She meets with Medicaid patients identified by Ochsner once a week for as long as three months. Working with doctors online, she treats their allergies, coughs, and rashes. She also finds them in-network primary care doctors, schedules appointments and gets prescriptions refilled, she said. “I’ve been here all my life,” Deville said. “I know these faces.”

Ochsner saw a 70% reduction in non-emergency ER visits between June 2018 and Dec. 2019 as a result of this service, said Harry Reese, Jr., the system’s vice president of post-acute and home care. “We saw it as a cost-effective model that could be scaled quickly,” Reese said.

New York and Ochsner don’t pay Ready directly for these services. Instead, the company gets reimbursed by insurers. Its pitch to health-systems: Give us access to your patients and we’ll take care of the rest. Its pitch to payers: We’re cheaper than the ER.

The average ER bill is $2,000 per visit, according Premier Inc., which helps thousands of hospitals and health systems manage costs. Premier estimates that if those 3 in 10 “unnecessary” visits could be prevented or managed in lower-cost settings, $2.5 billion could be saved yearly.

Ready’s services cost payers $150 to $200. For patients seeking Covid-19 tests who don’t have insurance, Ready is reimbursed by the U.S. government under a series of recent economic stimulus packages.

It’s cheap in comparison because Ready has little overhead, employing around 70 physicians, clinicians and nurse practitioners who squeeze plenty of 20-minute stops into the workday, a time frame Dangel said is more than two-times longer than the average ER or urgent-care visit. Ready contracts with Teledoc Health Inc. when it needs additional licensed medical officials.

Meanwhile, its 450 full and part-time EMTs and paramedics—a cheaper form of medical labor—are able to deliver the care in person. That gives the company a “structural advantage” over an emerging field of rivals, Dangel said.

“It’s not like the hospital, where brick-and-mortar business is such that it loses money on Medicaid, but makes it on commercial patients,” said Harris, the board member who is also a partner at Deerfield, and who was the federal government’s chief health-care financial officer from 2013 to 2015.In 2021, Ready plans to launch a pilot program that will allow more than 100 doctors to dispatch responders into their patients’ homes. “We’re building a technology platform that can be sold separately,” and scaled nationally, Harris said. “You can expect that ultimately people will have access to Ready Responders in every city in America.”

6. Obesity, diabetes raise Covid-19 death risk
13,sep,2020

Young adults with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) usually get mild symptoms, but risks of complications and death rise significantly for people under 35 with obesity, hypertension and diabetes, according to a new research.

An analysis of clinical profiles of 3,222 young adults (aged 18-34 years; mean age of 28.3 years) hospitalised for Covid-19 between April 1 and June 30 in 419 hospitals in the US revealed that 21% of them needed intensive care, 10% required mechanical ventilation, and 2.7% died.

Morbid obesity, diabetes and hypertension were the most common risk factors in young adults, with those having more than one of these conditions facing risks comparable to older adults having no pre-existing illnesses, reported a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, which is the journal of the American Medical Association.

The study found that 36.8% of hospitalised young adults were obese, 24.5% were morbidly obese, 18.2% had diabetes, and 16.1% had hypertension (morbid obesity, hypertension and being male are associated with greater risk of mechanical ventilation and death).

In India too, men with Covid-19 are twice more likely to die than women, with men accounting for 69% of all deaths, reveals health ministry data. People under 40 with Covid-19 account for fewer than 10% of total Covid-19 deaths in India, with deaths being the highest in the 61-70 years age group in both genders.

“People under 40 usually have mild disease and most cases can be managed at home or in Covid Care Homes. Those who are hospitalised almost always have co-morbidities like obesity, diabetes and hypertension, and less than 5% need ICU admission. But if they do and are put on ventilator, their vascular risk increases and their chances of getting a heart attack or stroke becomes the same as older adults,” said Dr Yatin Mehta, chairman Institute of Critical Care and Anaesthesiology, Medanta The Medicity, Gurugram.

Covid-19 has also been called a vascular disease as it leads to the formation of blood clots in arteries and veins, which can block blood supply to the heart, brain and lungs and lead to stroke, heart attack and respiratory failure.

“If you are obese, you are likely to be diabetic or have hypertension, and vice versa, so the risk is compounded,” said Dr Mehta.

The progression of Covid-19-induced thrombosis is very rapid in young adults, with deaths often occurring within 24 hours of hospitalisation. “Older adults die of pneumonia and other Covid-19-related complications, but sudden, unexpected death is more common in young adults in their 20s and 30s, whose condition dips very rapidly. In such cases, the cause of death is usually cardiovascular, with abnormal clotting in brain, lungs and heart leading to cardiac arrest,” said Dr Shiv K Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi.

At Max SuperSpecialty in New Delhi’s Saket, people under 40 account for less than 4.5% deaths, with 29% deaths occurring in those between 40 and 59 years old, and 47% deaths in the 60-74 age group.

Those over 75 years account for 18% deaths at the hospital. “Young people have mild disease and rarely need hospitalsiation, but they need to be isolated to break the chain of infection, which makes testing, tracking and treating important, as does social distancing and wearing masks,” said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, clinical director, Max Healthcare.

“We should not look at the absolute number of cases and deaths; those will always be high, given India’s large population. What we must look at is deaths per million, and India has 56 deaths per million compared to 596 for the US and 61 for Brazil, which remain far lower than other countries even if you factor in some amount of under-reporting...,” said Dr Budhiraja.

Four young adults, the takeaway is that those with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension share the same risks as older adults. So they must seek Covid-19 treatment under supervision from the moment they get their test results.