New York leaders look at harrowing week ahead

The region has the largest concentration of coronavirus cases in the nation, with nearly 1,000 deaths in New York state alone.

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Ohio governor criticizes Trump administration on FDA mask ruling

DeWine, a Trump ally, appealed directly to the president to overrule the agency.

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De Blasio downplays CDC travel advisory

Mayor says he's focused on getting needed supplies for health-care facilities.

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Dr. Birx: States should copy New York on medical preparations

“We are asking every single governor and every single mayor to prepare like New York is preparing now,“ she said.

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Karnataka CM Yediyurappa holds all-party meeting over coronavirus strategy

Coronavirus

The meeting included leader of opposition Siddaramaiah, and was held in the Vidhana Soudha.

PTI

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There was no shortage of masks and testing kits for detecting coronavirus cases in Karnataka and the government would import them if a need arose, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said in an all-party meeting at the Vidhana Soudha on Sunday. Apprising leaders of political parties on measures taken by his government to combat the spread of coronavirus, he also told the all-party meeting that the government has decided to provide life insurance cover to police and civic workers and has taken extra precautions to maintain the supply of food grains. "There is no shortage of testing kits, medicines and masks. If there is a need, we will import more... We will distribute testing kits to all the district and taluk hospitals," he said. The state has so far reported 83 COVID-19 cases including three deaths and five recoveries. Yediyurappa said supply of food grains would be made through the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the government had taken extra precautions to avoid any difficulties. He told the leaders that there was no restriction on agriculture activities in the state. "I have been regularly holding meetings since March 13 regarding the measures taken to contain the transmission of COVID-19," BS Yediyurappa said. Health Minister B Sriramulu, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar, IT-BT Minister CN Aswath Narayan, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, Siddaramaiah, JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, DK Shivakumar and former speaker KR Ramesh Kumar also attended the meeting.  Yediyurappa said that a task force comprising of ministers and officials has been formed to oversee the implementation of the government orders in view of the 21-day lockdown. He highlighted the prevailing situation across the globe saying normal life has been paralysed everywhere.  The Chief Minister also briefed the leaders about the number of clinics all over the state, availability of medicines and protection gear for the doctors and in quarantine rooms in the state.  At the meeting, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that there were shortcomings in the screening of passengers coming from abroad and stressed on the need to maintain supply of essentials. Flagging concerns over the COVID-19 screening process, Siddaramaiah said around 4,500 people were yet to be tracked, which needs to be taken up on a war footing.  "The government is saying that we have not reached the third stage but in Nanjangud (Mysuru district), a person contracted the disease though he does not have any travel history. This must be probed," Siddaramaiah said.  The former Chief Minister asked the government to make sure that the free distribution of food grains to weaker sections takes place without any difficulty from April 1, as announced by the central government. He objected to the police excesses while enforcing lockdown. Siddaramaiah also asked the government to bring the police personnel under special insurance cover.

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COVID-19: Karnataka to do mass testing with the help of imported rapid kit

Coronavirus

The kit made by a Singaporean manufacturer will give results in 15 minutes, a senior health department official said.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image

In an attempt to emulate the South Korean model of doing mass testing of coronavirus (COVID-19) using rapid technology, the Karnataka government wants to buy one lakh such antibody-based kits. The kits will be sourced from a Singaporean manufacturer and will cost less than Rs 800 per test compared to the present Rs 2,500 per test. The kit will take a blood sample from a patient’s finger with a pin prick. Speaking with TNM, Dr CN Manjunath, the Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research and the nodal officer of  testing for COVID-19 in the state, said, “We are going to acquire it from a National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune validated company — Sensing Self Private Limited. These kits will give results in 15 minutes. I have been told these kits have been tested elsewhere in Europe, South Korea amongst other places.” Sensing Self is among the 12 private rapid testing solutions approved by NIV to screen people. “If these test kits say that a patient is COVID-19 negative then we won’t do further tests, but if there is a positive result, we will confirm it via our legacy testing,” explained Dr Manjunath. He further noted that it was this system that had worked in South Korea and helped them to understand the burden of the disease. “Otherwise in our present method of testing, we will not know many cases and there will be many hidden cases,” he added. Worldwide, the South Korean model has been hailed as they have been successful in tackling the virus without disrupting much of normal life. On an average they did around 18,000 such tests per day and managed to reach a measure of positive cases to less than 100 in a matter of two weeks from a peak of 909 at the end of February. As of date, Karnataka has done a total of 3,170 tests. However, the state government has yet to implement a rapid testing protocol. The tests in place currently are based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR tests) and give results in 24 hours. Rapid testing kits on the other hand may give results within an hour, but they do not give definitive diagnoses and are used to identify if someone has been exposed to the virus. So far the testing is done in five government and three private laboratories in the state for coronavirus disease—-  Bangalore Medical College, NIV’s Field Unit in Bengaluru, Mysore Medical College, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences. The three private labs are Neuberg Anand Reference Laboratory, Cancyte Technologies lab in Bengaluru and Kasturba Hospital Lab in Manipal. Further testing can also be done at the Air Force Command Hospital in Bengaluru. The state government is also in talks with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) among others. 

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Five ways to help underprivileged people affected by the lockdown in Bengaluru

Coronavirus

The Chief Minister has also sought support and donations through the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

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Several non-government organisations (NGOs) have been seeking donations to help the underprivileged during the coronavirus pandemic. While a majority of people are able to go out and buy groceries and other essentials, daily-wage workers and homeless people who live a hand-to-mouth existence are left in the lurch, as supplies are uncertain. Across India, migrant labourers can be seen walking to their hometowns due to lack of transportation and because they have run out of money to buy food. Since many have felt that the government is simply not doing enough, local NGOs and social upliftment organisations have stepped in to provide basic support — food packets, monetary aid, cooked meals — to marginalised people, including senior citizens, people with disabilities and widows, to ensure nobody goes hungry. Here are five ways in which you can contribute to these Bengaluru-based organisations: Maarga This NGO that works with the marginalised in Bengaluru is organising a drive to protect the families of daily wage earners and marginalised communities like domestic workers, drivers, construction workers, hospital and school workers, hotel workers and other low paid unorganised community families. In the first phase, Maarga is distributing dry rations worth Rs 1,000 to 1,000 families in Koramangala slum clusters, such as Rajendranagar, Shastri Nagar, Geethanjali Slum, Ambedkar, Samatha Nagar and LR Nagar. You can support by direct cash transfer to Maarga or giving in kind. There are on-field volunteers who will ensure the contribution reaches the people who need it the most. You can send your contributions to the Maarga’s savings bank account. Canara Bank Branch: Sampangiramanagar Account number: 1175101051216 IFSC code: CNRB0001175 UPI ID: 9449820566@ybl You can also support by volunteering. For this, write to Maarga at maargakarnataka@gmail.com or call 86186 97826 or 94498 20566 Ondede This organisation, led by activist led by Akkai Padmashali, works for the rights of the transgender community. Akkai is not receiving funds directly but is coordinating and connecting those who have a need with people who want to donate. Contact Akkai at 99800 42532. Global Concerns India This organisation is looking for donations and volunteers to distribute rations to the urban poor. They are accepting donations in the form of flour (atta), rice, dal/lentils, cooking oil, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, eggs, and commodities. A family of six people gets 6 kgs rice, 2 kgs dal, 1 litre of cooking oil, 500 grams of sugar, 250 grams of tea leaves, 2 kg atta, potatoes, onions and tomatoes per week. One can also donate money; 80G receipts will be extended for amounts Rs 500 and above. Send your full name and PAN card number to Global Concerns India. Donate money to: State Bank of India Branch: St Mark’s Road Current Account No. 37212110862 IFSC: SBIN0000813 MIRC: 560002057 To volunteer, contact Brinda Adige on 9845518138 or email: brindaadige@gmail.com Namma Bengaluru Foundation This organisation, which works on civic issues, is now distributing food to slum dwellers and homeless people. They are looking for volunteers to help with the distribution. Contact: Usha Dhanaraj on 9591143888/ 9591985287 or Harish Kumar on 6362642704. Karnataka Chief Minister’s Relief Fund The Chief Minister of Karnataka sent an appeal to the general public and to industrialists, “to provide an advanced medical support system and to donate voluntarily on humanitarian grounds for the noble cause of providing health services”. Contributions to this Relief Fund are exempted under section 80G (2) of Income Tax Act. Please use PAN as AAAGC1692P or GGGGG0000G while submitting returns. Interested people can transfer funds online to the following account. Account Name: Chief Minister Relief Fund Covid-19 State Bank of India Branch: Vidhana Soudha Account Number: 39234923151 IFSC Code : SBIN0040277 MICR: 560002419 Cheques and Demand Draft may be posted to: No. 235/A, 2nd floor, CMRF Section, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore-560001. UPI ID: cmrfcovid19@sbi For information for more verified organisations that are looking for donations, visit the COVID-19 Relief website: www.covid-relief.in   Here's a call for action given that the government is still very much silent when it comes to relief measures for the needy. So, how can we extend our support to others during this time of uncertainty and desperation? A compilation of suggestions. (thread) — Ishu (@DimpledJalebi) March 24, 2020  

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