Covid 19 in India

IIT Delhi develops affordable N95 masks Kawach for protection against Covid 19

IIT Delhi has developed Coronavirus masks at affordable rates

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, there is one essential requirement which is at short supply are masks, that too good quality ones. However, the good news is that an IIT Delhi startup is selling N95 masks at a meagre cost of ₹45, which is just a fraction of the current prices.

The masks named as Kawach are being developed by the startup and are almost exactly like the N95 with respect to engineered filtered layer, proper fitting and will also provide the filtration efficiency of up to 98 percent. The prices have been capped as such that the masses can easily afford it and get enhanced protection.

The startup is being mentored by professors of the department of textile and fibre engineering. The supply for masks should begin asap. Every order is around 100 units or more than that.

IIT Delhi stated that the cost of N95 masks has been quite high, thus, they are making it affordable for the masses. Also, surgical masks which are being used by people do not provide ample amount of protection against the Covid-19 virus. In fact, even sewn clothes and handkerchief will not provide enough protection because of the absence of non woven layer.

As per Bipin Kumar, a professor at the department, Kawach masks have been able to be developed due to the indigenous manufacturing capabilities at IIT Delhi.

IIT has also stated that they are now looking for funding so that they are able to scale up production to meet high-volume demand and also work on an N95 mask product which will be washable and reusable.

Death toll rises to 132, confirmed coronavirus cases reaches 4700 mark in India

India has reported over 4,700 COVID-19 cases and over 400 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total death toll now in India stands at 132.

Updated on Apr 7, 2020: The number of cases of the novel coronavirus across the globe crossed the 1.3 million mark as the global death toll topped 70,000. India has reported over 4,700 COVID-19 cases and over 400 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total death toll now in India stands at 132.

Updated on Apr 7, 2020 8:00 AM IST: Maharashtra remains the worst affected state with 868 confirmed cases and 45 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu (621 cases and 6 deaths) and Delhi (525 cases and 7 deaths).

Updated on Apr 7, 2020 7:00 AM IST: With 16 deaths reported, toll in India from the virus rises to 132.

Updated on Apr 7, 2020 4:00 AM IST: A total of 35 new corona cases have been reported in Rajasthan on Monday taking the total number to 301, confirmed health officials here.

Updated on Apr 7, 2020 2:00 AM IST: The coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh reached 256 on Monday night as 23 cases were reported in the last 12 hours. Indore with 151 cases has the highest number while Bhopal has 61 patients as six new cases were reported here.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020: According to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India has 4,281 confirmed cases, 111 deaths and 310 cured/discharged/migrated cases.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 11:45 PM IST: With 120 fresh cases, Maharashtra’s COVID-19 tally jumps to 868, death toll rises to 52: Official

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 11:30 PM IST: Increase of 704 COVID19 cases & 28 deaths in the last 24 hours, the biggest rise so far in India.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 11:15 PM IST: 37 new positive cases reported in Andhra Pradesh today, taking the tally to 303 in the state: State Health Department.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 11:00 PM IST: Total number of COVID19 positive patients in Punjab stand at 79 with 7 deaths: Punjab Health Department.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 10:45 PM IST: 22 new coronavirus cases in Rajasthan, total rises to 288.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 10:30 PM IST: Number of coronavirus cases in Haryana rises to 87 after 11 people test positive.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 10:15 PM IST: 13 new COVID19 positive cases in the state today including 9 in Kasargod, 2-Malappuram, 1-Pathanamthitta & 1-Kollam; Total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 327: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 10:00 PM IST: 5 new positive cases reported in Uttarakhand, taking the tally to 31: State Health Department.
Updated on Apr 6, 2020 9:30 PM IST: Total positive cases in Tamil Nadu is 621.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 9:15 PM IST: There are 50 new COVID19 positive cases in Tamil Nadu today including 48 from Tablighi Jamaat; Total positive cases in the state is 621 including 570 Tablighi Jamaat returnees.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 9:00 PM IST: In the last 24 hours, 12 new cases have been confirmed for COVID-19 in the state. Till now, there are 163 COVID-19 positive cases in the state, including 4 deaths & 20 discharged: Karnataka Health Department

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 8:30 PM IST: 57 new COVID-19 cases in Mumbai; tally 490 including 34 deaths: BMC.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 8:00 PM IST: 39 positive cases in Odisha.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 7:30 PM IST: As of 12 PM today, the total number of active cases reported in West Bengal is 61, of which 55 cases are from 7 families only: Mamata Banerjee.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 7:00 PM IST: Total COVID19 cases are 109; Active cases 103 (85 in Kashmir division and 18 in Jammu). 3 new cases so far in Kashmir: Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary-Planning, Jammu and Kashmir.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 6:30 PM IST: 266 positive cases detected till 9 am today. 243 of them are those who attended Delhi Jamaat & their contacts: AP Medical & Health Dept Special Chief Secy.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 6:00 PM IST: 1,750, out of total 2,083 foreigner Tablighi Jamaat members have been blacklisted till now: MHA official.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 5:30 PM IST: 693 new COVID19 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 4067 in India out of which 1445 cases are related to Tablighi Jamaat.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 5:00 PM IST: 9th out of 10 COVID19 patients in Chhattisgarh has also now fully recovered: Chhattisgarh Health Minister.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 4:30 PM IST: Bhopal’s count touches 50 as 9 more test positive.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 4:00 PM IST: Two deaths in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, taking the total toll in the state to 3.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 3:30 PM IST: 18 people who were in quarantine after attending Tablighi Jamaat event shifted to Medical College Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 3:00 PM IST: 14 new cases reported in Andhra Pradesh today, said a state government release, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 266.
Updated on Apr 6, 2020 2:30 PM IST: 16 new cases in Gujarat, state total now 144.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 2:00 PM IST: Nine persons with Tablighi links test positive in Haryana’s Palwal, state total up to 85.
Updated on Apr 6, 2020 1:30 PM IST: Kanika Kapoor cured, discharged from hospital.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 1:00 PM IST: Third death in Uttar Pradesh, curfew in parts of Varanasi.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 12:30 PM IST: Death toll in India crosses 100, positive cases at 4067, 291 cured.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 12:00 PM IST: 8 more people test positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan, state count 274.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 11:30 PM IST: 16 more people (all men) have tested positive for COVID-19, they are admitted at various hospitals in the state: King George’s Medical University (Lucknow) Administration

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 11:00 AM IST: Telangana has reported 62 new Covid positive cases on Sunday night, taking the total to 334, according to a stage govt release. This includes 33 recovered and discharged and 11 deaths so far.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 10:00 AM IST: Total coronavirus cases rise to 135 in Indore.

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 9:00 AM IST: 6 more persons tested positive in Rajasthan’s Bikaner. 5 of them are relatives of 60-yr-old COVID-19 positive woman who died earlier. 1 of them is a 17-yr-old male & is a contact of a Tablighi Jamaat returnee positive case. Total 266 cases in state: State Health Dept

Updated on Apr 6, 2020 8:00 AM IST: 23 more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, taking the total number of cases in Bhopal to 40 including 20 Tablighi Jamaat (Delhi) returnees: State Health Department

Cosara Private Limited: 1st and only Indian company to develop Covid19 Test Kit

Ahmedabad based molecular diagnostic company Cosara Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd, becomes first and only Indian start-up to manufacture RTPCR COVID-19 test kits.

It received licence from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

It is a joint venture between Core Diagnostics Inc and Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Limited.

Mohal Sarabhai, Director of CoSara, said, “Presently, there are 52 government-approved testing facilities and delivering the kits to those is the first target, in addition to pursuing 60 accredited private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests. Overall, our target market will be private as well as government labs.”

The kit was originally designed by co-diagnostics, the first US-based company to receive a CE marked for a COVID-19 diagnostics.

Dwight Egan, CEO of Co-Diagnostics stated, “The high-quality tests built on the patented CoPrimer technology will have a positive impact on what is projected to be the largest healthcare market in the world. Co-Diagnostics is honoured that our joint venture has achieved such a significant milestone.”

The company is expected to sell these kits in the Indian market and also export to surrounding regions.

This test uses nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal swab and serum samples to detect Coronavirus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine.

Although health officials here and abroad are working to track and contain the growing epidemic, still no drug has been developed by scientists which can cure this deadly Coronavirus. Research work is still in progress.

By the time a patient gets to know about his disease, he/she may have 50% fibrosis and its too late.

At this point of time this test kit by Cosara Diagnostics private Ltd. may prove as a boon to the world.