[reignofchaos]

Our office is shut worldwide from Monday for a period of 2 weeks after which it will be evaluated further. Everyone will have to sit at home or work from home - whatever possible.

Even for those who can't work, office will cover their leave time so that folks get paid as usual. If you fall sick from COVID19, you don't lose any leaves.

[nagr22]

The restrictions are getting crazy! I just heard that my cousin's wedding which was scheduled to happen in a week has been postponed due to his fiancee (who is a foreign citizen) couldn't get her visa approved! Apparently the Indian embassy in US is not very helpful about this inspite of producing sufficient evidence that it is their wedding!

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

The grain of truth is that the virus may survive longer on a cold surface than a hot one, but this doesn't mean summer will save us. Remember that the virus loves being in bodies. 37C is no problem for it at all.

Inside the body, not outside. I heard some doctors also say it gets rapidly deactivated from 27c on wards outside the body. Particularly the head of Corona ward in Madurai GH. There was a flutter in Tamil Social media last month, after newspaper photos of their Corona ward inauguration by lighting lamp and cutting ribbon + cake!

Even the HIV is all powerful while inside the body. But easily destroyed outside. We can always hope, but keep our powder dry.

[volkman10]

Google employee from Bengaluru tests positive for coronavirus.

Link

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by Gansan

Inside the body, not outside. I heard some doctors also say it gets rapidly deactivated from 27c on wards outside the body. Particularly the head of Corona ward in Madurai GH. There was a flutter in Tamil Social media last month, after newspaper photos of their Corona ward inauguration by lighting lamp and cutting ribbon + cake!

Even the HIV is all powerful while inside the body. But easily destroyed outside. We can always hope, but keep our powder dry.

Many inaccuracies. Virus by default stays dead outside a body. There is no evidence to suggest that 27 deg or higher will kill the virus. The various inferences of higher temperature are based on the regular flu which subsides in the summers. But what people fail to tell everyone is that it returns with greater vigor in the fall (Sep/ Oct) months.
As of now, all this is conjecture.

[gk01]

A comprehensive (and living) article on this topic:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020...e-coronavirus/

PS: Sorry if this is posted already.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

asked in office to allow us all to work from home but have been turned down. I know of a handful of other folks who have asked in their offices and have been turned down too. Pathetic!

That's unusual. Our US offices are supporting work from home. We've even cancelled our single biggest customer event there for the year at a considerable loss and certain future losses in terms of customer engagement and possible sales. The Bangalore office is being shut for the whole of next week.

Very odd that a company would take such a 'no shutdown' stance in this panic (or at least heightened awareness) period. Might be blamed for this later.

[fhdowntheline]

I believe this is a time when all governments must do what they can to protect their counterymen and minimise the burden on healthcare systems. People must avoid petty thinking , keep calm and avoid planning any mass gatherings or international travel unless its an emergency,for a temporary period until the rate of global transmission subsides .It is not rocket science.

[Sheel]

MOD NOTE - Please stick to the topic and be civil and courteous in your replies to fellow BHPians.

[laluks]

Guys, please check this out. Spreading unconfirmed information about COVID-19 is a punishable offence. So all whatsapp, youtube stuffs let it be. Please don't get into trouble forwarding such. Already we do have a handful to sort now.

Rumour-mongering about COVID-19 is a punishable offence now in Karnataka

State issues ‘Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020’

Any efforts by individuals or organisations to spread misinformation or rumours about COVID-19 will now be treated as a punishable offence under the “Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020” issued by the State government on Wednesday.

“No person, institution or organisation should use any print or electronic media for misinformation regarding COVID-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health and Family Welfare. This is to avoid spread of any rumour or unauthenticated information regarding COVID-19. In case anyone is found indulging in such activity, it will be treated as a punishable offence under these regulations,” said Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary (Medical Education and Health and Family Welfare).

Addressing presspersons on Wednesday, he said these regulations have been issued under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (Central Act 3 of 1897). “They have to be mandatorily observed by the public to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 in the State. These regulations are necessary as ordinary provisions of the law that are in force currently are insufficient to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the State,” he said.

The temporary regulations will come into force immediately and remain valid for one year.

Flu corners

According to the notification, all hospitals in the State, including private facilities should mandatorily have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19. Besides, all hospitals, during screening of such cases, should record the history of travel of the person if he/she has travelled to any country or area where COVID-19 has been reported. Apart from this, the hospitals should also record the person’s history of coming in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.

“In case a person has any history of coming in contact with a suspected or confirmed case in the last 14 days and the person is asymptomatic, then the person must be kept in home quarantine for 28 days from the day of exposure. If the person (with a history of coming in contact with suspected or confirmed case) is symptomatic, the person must be isolated in a hospital as per protocol and tested for COVID-19,” stated the notification.

Asymptomatic persons should use masks and take precautions to avoid contact with any person including family members for a period of 14 days from the date of arrival. Hospitals should provide information about screened suspected cases to the Office of the jurisdictional District Health and Family Welfare without any delay.

No testing in private labs

No private laboratory has been authorised to collect or test samples for COVID-19 in the State. All such samples have to be collected as per guidelines issued by Government of India and have to be sent to the jurisdictional government designated laboratory by the District nodal officer.

Besides, any person with a history of travel in the last 14 days to COVID-19 affected countries must report to the nearest government hospital or call the toll-free helpline 104 so that necessary measures, if required, can be initiated by the Health Department.

Forceful isolation of suspected cases

If a suspected case of COVID-19 refuses admission or isolation, the authorised officials can forcefully admit and isolate such cases for a period of 14 days from the onset of symptoms or till the laboratory reports are received.

If cases are reported from a defined geographic area such as a village, town, city, ward, colony or settlement, the district administration has been empowered to seal the area, bar entry and exit of the population from and into the area, order closure of schools, offices and ban public gatherings, ban vehicular movement, initiate passive and active surveillance and isolate suspected cases in hospitals, the notification said.

In such a situation, the staff of all government departments will be at the disposal of the district administration and can be deployed for taking up containment measures. The District Disaster Management Committee headed by Deputy Commissioner has been authorised to prepare a planning strategy.

“Anyone who violates these regulations can be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860),” the notification added.

Link

[MasterChief]

We all know that the best way to stop coronavirus from spreading is by washing hands. But how does it exactly work? A very interesting article is available at https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-disinfectants

It informs and I quote "the virus is a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the virus falls apart like a house of cards and dies – or rather, we should say it becomes inactive as viruses aren’t really alive." Simple, yet effective.

[vivek95]

Let me clear the air on this one. I am a Doctor and I can say it with utmost certainty that a good immunity helps combat any kind of viral or bacterial illnesses. Now for God sake, this does not mean that a healthy immune individual will not contract COVID-19 altogether. It's naive to think like that. Also, good immunity does not infer that you will not exhibit symptoms of this disease 100% of the times. However, there is a tiny possibility that certain individuals may not absolutely manifest any signs and symptoms with an underlying COVID-19 infection. It can happen that, the virus infected his/her body, immune system is at work and all this while you are not showing up any signs and symptoms, did not even realise your body fought a silent battle. In short, termed as "asymptomatic". I am sure everyone here is well aware of this phenomenon.

Do I have any evidence to back this claim with respect to Sars-Cov2 thats causing COVID-19 ?? - Yes, some people have tested positive without obvious sickness. The characteristics of this new strain of virus and the natural course of illness is still being studied extensively. In due course of time, microbiologists, physicians will come up with full details. Let us patiently wait until then.

It is possible that 5 years down the line, we will start reading in medical textbooks that certain percent of individuals will remain asymptomatic with Sars-Cov2 and that be linked to good immunity. I am sure my other Doctor friends and senior Doctors in this forum will agree with me. Aren't we medicos presently aware that >10% of people who contract Dengue virus remain totally asymptomatic ?? Dengue entered and left and you did not even realise !! Yes, this happens. So, why can't this be the case with COVID-19 or any other illness.

I am using the case study of other viruses as hypothesis and not my figment of imagination when I write all this. End of the day, it definitely makes sense to eat healthy and boost your immunity. Your chances of fighting this disease are higher. There is no point in pointless debate for now. Precaution is the key. By the way, paying attention your healthy diet and immunity which is free of cost is anyday better than mass buying and wearing of masks resulting in acute shortage when actual patients require them. Period !

Plausibility of aerosol transmission is established according to some studies. So if you are breathing aersols from an infected person, you are likely to contract the disease. Please note that, I am using words like "possible", "plausible", "likely" etc because things are in grey zone yet.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Let me clear the air on this one.-------
Plausibility of aerosol transmission is established according to some studies. So if you are breathing aersols from an infected person, you are likely to contract the disease. Please note that, I am using words like "possible", "plausible", "likely" etc because things are in grey zone yet.

Thanks for this very sane & balanced post.

I am relying only on the WHO website for any information.

[vibbs]

More recommendations from WHO can be found in the below link. In these times, if there is a website, I would recomend to get information on dos and donts, it is this.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...ronavirus-2019

Originally Posted by vivek95

Let me clear the air on this one. I am a Doctor and I can say it with utmost certainty that a good immunity helps combat any kind of viral or bacterial illnesses. Now for God sake, this does not mean that a healthy immune individual will not contract COVID-19 altogether. It's naive to think like that. Also, good immunity does not infer that you will not exhibit symptoms of this disease 100% of the times. However, there is a tiny possibility that certain individuals may not absolutely manifest any signs and symptoms with an underlying COVID-19 infection. It can happen that, the virus infected his/her body, immune system is at work and all this while you are not showing up any signs and symptoms, did not even realize your body fought a silent battle. In short, termed as "asymptomatic". I am sure everyone here is well aware of this phenomenon.
.

Thank you sir for yet another valuable post. I look forward daily to read your responses in this thread.

[AZT]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Let me clear the air on this one. I am a Doctor

Thank you Doctor. We need more informed people like you posting, please keep calling out any pseudo science / incorrect information you see.


Request Mods to please ban repeated commenters adding zero value and pushing unverified articles / YouTube videos.