Day: May 30, 2020

Sanjay Kundu appointed new Himachal DGP

3:07 pm May 30, 2020

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s principal secretary Sanjay Kundu has been appointed as the new state director general of police (DGP) on Saturday, the state’s chief secretary said. An IPS officer of 1989 batch, Kundu is going to replace Sita Ram Mardi who is retiring on May 31. Kundu will assume charge […]

MP: Sunday 'corona' curfew to be lifted as pandemic under control now, says CM

MP CM orders analysis of each COVID-19 death in state

3:00 pm May 30, 2020

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the health department and doctors to conduct an analysis of each death caused by in the state so far. He gave this direction on Friday during a meeting held to review the coronavirus situation in the state. “The chief minister directed the doctors and administrative […]

Melbourne, Home-made cloth face masks may need a minimum of two layers, and preferably three, to prevent the dispersal of viral droplets associated with COVID-19, according to a study. Researchers, including those from the University of New South Wales in Australia, noted that viral droplets are generated by those infected with the novel coronavirus when they cough, sneeze, or speak. As face masks have been proven to protect healthy people from inhaling infectious droplets as well as reducing the spread from those who are already infected, several types of material have been suggested for these, but based on little or no evidence of how well they work, the scientists said. In the current study, published in the journal Thorax, the researchers compared the effectiveness of single and double-layer cloth face coverings with a surgical face mask (Bao Thach) at reducing droplet spread. They said the single layer covering was made from a folded piece of cotton T shirt and hair ties, and the double layer covering was made using the sew method described by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The scientists used a tailored LED lighting system and a high-speed camera to film the dispersal of airborne droplets produced by a healthy person with no respiratory infection, during speaking, coughing, and sneezing while wearing each type of mask. Their analysis showed that the surgical face mask was the most effective at reducing airborne droplet dispersal, although even a single layer cloth face covering reduced the droplet spread from speaking. But the study noted that a double layer covering was better than a single layer in reducing the droplet spread from coughing and sneezing. According to the researchers, the effectiveness of cloth face masks is dependent on the number of layers of the covering, the type of material used, design, fit as well as the frequency of washing. Based on their observations, they said a home made cloth mask with at least two layers is preferable to a single layer mask. "Guidelines on home-made cloth masks should stipulate multiple layers," the scientists said, adding that there is a need for more research to inform safer cloth mask design.

Organic masks to fight coronavirus

2:52 pm May 30, 2020

Bhubaneswar: The state-owned Utkalika has started production and marketing of organic masks, manufactured by traditional artisans, with covering the face becoming the new norm in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Such masks made up of Sambalpuri cotton fabric have attracted customers as these are handwoven, natural/organic dye of Kotpad fabric is used, washable and […]

Tribals’ protest in four Maharashtra districts enters fifth day

2:47 pm May 30, 2020

Thane: The agitation launched by tribals at some places in Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Nashik districts of Maharashtra over their various demands, including getting ration cards, continued for the fifth day on Saturday, an organisation that is spearheading the protest said. Hundreds of tribals from remote villages in these four districts have been protesting against […]

Nadda promises OBC status for left out Hindu backward castes

Year of accomplishments: Nadda on 1 yr of Modi 2.0

2:43 pm May 30, 2020

New Delhi: BJP president J P Nadda said on Saturday that the one year of the Modi government’s second term had been a year of accomplishments, and unimaginable challenges that it faced with bold and timely decisions. Nadda underlined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led from the front during the novel coronavirus pandemic, and took […]