Health

25th March 2021 marked one year of the COVID-19 lockdown that was imposed by the Government of India in order to curb the countrywide spread. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on 24th March 2020 emphasised the need to impose a nation-wide lockdown and ensure the wellbeing of the citizens.  From March last year to this, a lot has changed. India has made some rapid advancements in terms of COVID-19 preparations and is currently administering phase II of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Additionally, the states have also re-opened industries, airports, workplaces, public transport, gyms, markets, malls…

“People have forgotten that the virus is still here,” says Dr Narendra Kumar Arora, member, National Covid Task Force. “They stopped wearing masks, or don’t wear them properly. They began to organise large social gatherings. It helped the virus spread,” causing a second country-wide wave of the COVID-19 infections, with daily cases crossing 50,000, for the first time since October last year.  Worryingly, the second wave seems to be more widespread than the first one, with the number of daily cases rising sharply from a low of about 8600 a day in February first week to a new high of 59,118…

On 2nd March, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) started a vaccination drive for senior citizens and those over 45 years of age with comorbidities. Since then, over two lakh people have been vaccinated in the city. But due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, where 3,260 patients tested positive just yesterday, BMC is trying to make the process of vaccination easier. On 20th March, BMC announced that those eligible can now simply walk-in to their nearest vaccination centre and get vaccinated. They don't have to wait for their scheduled appointment. But even if you don't have to wait…

Latest reports reveal that over two lakh people have been vaccinated in Mumbai, but the city's major population, citizens from its many bastis, are conspicuously absent from vaccination centres. Consider Cheetah Camp in Mumbai's M-East ward: conversations with multiple residents in Maharashtra Nagar, Cheeta Camp, Shivaji Nagar and other parts show that awareness about COVID-19 vaccination is minimal. "There is absolutely no discussion about vaccination in Cheeta Camp," Nawab Khan, a resident, says. Nawab is part of a community-based organisation formed under Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Dattak Vasti Yojana or slum adoption scheme. His work is field-based, involving collection of garbage,…

Translated by Sandhya Raju மூத்த குடிமக்கள் மற்றும் 45 வயதுக்கு மேல் இணை நோய்கள் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு மார்ச் மாதம் 1-ம் தேதி இரண்டாம் கட்ட கோவிட் தடுப்பூசிக்கான பதிவு தொடங்கப்பட்டது. சுகாதார மற்றும் குடும்ப நல அமைச்சகத்தின் அறிவிப்பின்படி, பொது மக்கள் கோ-வின் வலைதளத்தில் மட்டுமே பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்றும் தடுப்பூசி பணியில் ஈடுபடுபவர்கள் மட்டுமே கோ-வின் செயலி உபயோகிக்க வேண்டும் என தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. Read more: Interview: When and how will Chennai get the COVID vaccine? எவ்வாறு பதிவு செய்வது? நேரடியாக சென்று பதிவு செய்ய முடியுமா? என்னென்ன அடையாள அட்டை தேவை? இது போன்ற பல கேள்விகளுக்கு இந்த கட்டுரை மூலம் பதிலளிக்க முயற்சித்துள்ளோம். கோவிட் தடுப்பூசி. படம்: வி. நரேஷ் குமார். பதிவு செய்யும் நடைமுறை என்ன? அருகாமையில் உள்ள தடுப்பூசி மையத்தில் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக்கொள்ள கோ-வின் வலைதளமே அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட பதிவு…

On October 2nd last year, Neha Jaiswal, woke up with a stiff back, severe body ache and mild fever. The fever subsided the next day but other symptoms persisted. On the fourth day, her doctor advised a COVID test, which came out positive. She was advised complete rest and home quarantine for 14 days. After a week, the only symptom she showed was fatigue, which seemed to get worse with each passing day.   During the second week, Neha, a content writer, developed severe migraine along with the fatigue. Then her blood pressure dropped rapidly. And though she was on complete…

The general perception is that branded packaged milk is better than loose/unbranded milk. Better because it would be processed and packed hygienically, would not have added water, and would be free from any other adulterants. "Whoever is taking packet milk, please be careful. I received two packets today and it was quite clear that both packets had been resealed with fire. I called the milk supply person and he isn’t answering my calls.” Earlier this month, the residents of Lokhandwala Township, Kandivali East, received this message from a vigilant lady, along with pictures of the milk packets she had written…

Starting March 1, there has been much excitement among our senior citizens – and all because of the Covid vaccine. As one meme doing the social media rounds said, “Children take parents for vaccination!” My parents got the Covid vaccine at Dayanand Sagar Hospital, Kumaraswamy Layout, Bengaluru, on 4th March 2021.  They had registered on the Aarogya Setu app and managed to get an appointment after trying for several hours the previous day. Those familiar with the process would be aware that beneficiaries are asked to select the hospital and date and then choose between “Forenoon” and “Afternoon” slots.  Read…

With Phase-II of COVID-19 vaccination having begun from March 1st, India’s fight against the pandemic is picking up pace. The first phase, which commenced on January 16th, saw healthcare workers (HCWs) and other categories of frontline workers (FLWs) eligible for vaccination. The second phase targets two categories: 1. Persons aged 60 and above   2. Persons between 45 to 59 years of age who have a specified comorbidity (scroll down for list of comorbidities). For monitoring and streamlining the vaccination process throughout the country, the government has created a digital platform, CoWIN (COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network). CoWIN is designed to help…

Registrations for the second phase of the vaccine drive against COVID were kicked off on March 1st. In this phase, citizens above 60 years of age and people above 45 years of age with comorbidities can register themselves for getting the vaccine. According to the announcement made by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,  Co-WIN website is the only place for registration for common citizens and the Co-WIN mobile application is only for administrators.  Read more: Interview: When and how will Chennai get the COVID vaccine? But what is the registration process like? Is there any provision for offline…