COVID CAUSE

IIT, KGP allots two floors of its super specialty hospital to state govt for quarantining inter-state travellers

“The upcoming hospital is rightly being used to serve its cause towards the healthcare of the people even before its launch. We received a request from the office of the District Magistrate about three weeks back and immediately communicated our agreement towards it. We are in contact with district administration and the local community and ready to offer necessary help within our capacity,” said Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director of IIT, KGP.

Biswabrata Goswami

MIDNAPORE, 5 MAY: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur has allotted two floors of the upcoming super specialty hospital to the district administration for quarantining people who have been travelling from other states to West Bengal on medical grounds.

Dr B C Roy Institute of Medical Science and Research, the super specialty hospital of IIT, Kharagpur, has been busy for the past few weeks and the facility which was already used for accommodating and testing 300 people, shall be used for further batches of people coming in for reasons as considered acceptable to the state administration, said Dr Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director of the premier institution.

Prof. Tewari, who has been busy reaching out to campus residents and students in small groups said, 

“The upcoming hospital is rightly being used to serve its cause towards the healthcare of the people even before its launch. We received a request from the office of the District Magistrate about three weeks back and immediately communicated our agreement towards it. We are in contact with district administration and the local community and ready to offer necessary help within our capacity.”

About a month back, with the announcement of the lockdown, a large influx of people moved to the borders of Bengal from various southern states with medical documents. They were patients and their families returning from Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vellore after undergoing treatment or health check-ups.

As per hygiene and safety protocols they were scheduled to be tested for COVID. But testing about 300 people would have taken extensive facilitation for the local state administration. Here is where IIT Kharagpur came to the rescue. About 9200 sq.m. area spread over two floors of the super specialty hospital was made available to the district administration of West Midnapore to be used as a quarantine facility for these passersby.

According to an IIT spokesperson, the phase I of the IIT Kharagpur super specialty hospital was scheduled to start its outpatient department in June-July. Following this, the phase with 400 beds was planned to be extended with the launch of inpatient specialties encompassing Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Urology and Nephrology. The phase II was scheduled at a later stage with an additional 350 beds and Comprehensive Cancer Care, Radiology etc.

______________________________________

Vaibhav Chaudhary, IAS, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kharagpur said, “We had about 300 people coming in after the lockdown was implemented and they were stuck at the border as they could not travel further into the state without being tested for COVID. While we could test 50 samples in a day, we needed a facility to accommodate the others. The hospital facility was well suited for the purpose with the huge available area, built-in structure, adequate toilets, electricity. Even the elevators were put into operation.”

_______________________________________

He further remarked, “the location of the hospital was a vantage point as it is away from inhabited rural areas due to which we could avoid any speculation among the local community regarding accommodating these people.” 

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force on Sunday (May 3, 2020) held fly-past and showered flowers at the Institute’s medical facility to salute the corona warriors.

The Institute apart from delving in R&D to fight COVID-19 is also engaging in social outreach to help large sections of people. Last month IIT Kharagpur also launched an initiative to support about 10000 people around the campus who are dependent on the campus for their livelihood through various temporary jobs.

The alumni of the Institute are donating funds generously to sustain these people who are affected by the COVID-19 lockdown for a few months through supply of food and essential items and PPEs. The Institute has also contributed Rs. 1 crore to the PM Cares fund raised from employees and other sources.

A disinfection tunnel for inbound vehicles and good carriers has also been built coupled with WHO approved sanitization facilities such as hand wash, appropriate use of PPEs.

Courtesy: Images from IIT timeline.

TMC activists raid BJP worker's house, 5 hurt

Police said the family members have lodged a complaint with us and they will initiate a case against the accused.

Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

MIDNAPORE, 5 MAY: At least five persons including women were injured when a group of Trinamul Congress workers flouting the lockdown norms raided the house of a BJP worker at Dudhkomra village under Daspur police station limits in West Midnapore today.

The incident occurred hours after the victim’s family head lodged a complaint against a neighbourer named Prabhash Kotal, a Trinamul Congress worker with the Daspur police yesterday.

The BJP worker, Shyamal Kotal alleged that the accused had forcefully cut down several trees grown in their land for his vested interest. “Today, when I went to our land to take photos of the felled trees, some labourers were then taking rest under the trees there. Prabhash misled the labourers against me and attacked my house along with them. They ransacked my house and beat up my aged mother and wife. They also broke the iron grill of my house”, Shyamal alleged.

Police said the family members have lodged a complaint with us and they will initiate a case against the accused.

-------------------------------------------------

The BJP Ghatal district president Antara Bhattacharya said, “A group of TMC workers attacked the house of our party worker on a silly matter. I have asked the police to take action on the attackers unless our party will take necessary action”.
-------------------------------------------------

A Trinamul Congress leader, however, said our party does not support it and if the party finds that any party worker was involved with this incident for their vested interest, action would be taken against them. 

Tipplers breath a sigh of relief after state government allows standalone liquor shops to reopen

The guideline stated that no more than five customers will be allowed to remain in a shop at one point of time. Not more than two bottles of liquor shall be sold to any customer, at a time, from any retail shop.

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 4 MAY: The tipplers in the districts breathed a sigh of relief as the state government allowed standalone liquor shops to reopen from Monday in green, orange and red zones, but not in containment areas.

The guideline issued by the government in this regard said only ‘OFF’ category shops selling, IMFL, and country spirits will remain functional and not ‘ON’ shops.

The excise directorate of the state government in its order (no. C-01/E dated 04/05/2020) also disallowed outlets located in shopping complexes to reopen. The sale of liquor for consumption ‘ON’ the premises is strictly prohibited.

It also stated that only those customers wearing masks will be given liquor and the social distancing norm has to be strictly followed. There should be a distance of 6 feet between two customers in the queue.

The guideline stated that no more than five customers will be allowed to remain in a shop at one point of time. Not more than two bottles of liquor shall be sold to any customer, at a time, from any retail shop.

Flouting social distancing, local residents in huge numbers were seen queuing up outside liquor shops in the districts like East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Nadia from early morning today.

The queues were seen as early as 7.30 am in some parts of East Midnapore and Nadia, but local residents were not confirmed whether the shops would open or not.

At Nandakumar in East Midnapore, the police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the people who were seen standing close to each other flouting the social distancing norms.

In contrast to this incident, women in large numbers were seen queuing up in front of a liquor shop at Moyna in East Midnapore to protest against the Center’s decision on reopening liquor shops.

Holding placards, the women, most of them are housewives, gathered in front of a liquor shop maintaining social distancing norms and raised voice against the government’s decision on reopening of liquor shops in their areas.

--------------------------------------

“We are protesting against the Center’s decision that has allowed liquor sale across the country during the lockdown phase. As the liquor sale had been banned during the last two consecutive lockdown phases, we were happy to see that our men were unable to have liquor. We were freed from everyday chaos and harassment prompted by our men addicted to the liquors”, said Arati Jana, a housewife in Moyna.

--------------------------------------

Later, police rushed to the site and assured them that no liquor shop would be opened as the state government had no clear instruction on this matter till that time.

Due to this, people in these three districts were seen putting lines in front of liquor shops in the event of confusion. East Midnapore and West Midnapore are the red zones and people gathered in front of liquor shops are violating social distancing. The people standing there said that they have been waiting for the shop to open from 5 in the morning; however, they do not know at what time the shop will open.

In Krishnagar, Nadia local residents in large numbers were seen queuing up in front of liquor shops even after 4 pm in the event of confusion. As they flouted social distancing norms, the local police intervened.

Six RPF jawans tested positive for Covid-19 discharged from hospital

Though, a universally accepted protocol for discharge of a cured Covid-19 patient is yet to evolve. Chinese model is being followed with slight variation in different countries. But medical surveillance may be required for a longer period, a senior health official said.

Biswabrata Goswami

MIDNAPORE, 3 MAY: Six RPF jawans who were found tested positive for Covid-19 being treated at the Boroma Sirona Covid Hospital in Mecheda were discharged today. They have been advised to stay in home quarantine for the next 14 days.

At least 11 of 28 constables of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) who reached Howrah station from Delhi earlier last month have tested positive for Covid-19.

Among the infected jawans, six jawans from Kharagpur who were admitted in the Covid hospital at Mecheda were tested negative for the last two consecutive tests and so they have been discharged from the hospital, said Dr Girish Chandra Bera, chief medical officer of health, West Midnapore.

Though, a universally accepted protocol for discharge of a cured Covid-19 patient is yet to evolve. Chinese model is being followed with slight variation in different countries. But medical surveillance may be required for a longer period, a senior health official said.

China recommends discharging Covid-19 patients if they don't have fever for three days, show improved respiratory symptoms, reduced inflammation in respiratory tracts and test negative twice in consecutive samples taken at least 24 hours apart.

These discharged patients are to stay in isolation - no contact with family members, separate dining and no outdoor activity -- for 14 more days. It is mandatory for them to wear a face mask and live in a room with good ventilation.

The health official said, “The Chinese experience was followed up everywhere in the world for treatment of Covid-19 patients with countries altering the protocol depending on their own clinical experience. In India, hospital care begins from identification of a suspect case. Isolation begins with sample being taken for Covid-19 testing. Even if the patient’s sample test negative, the person is discharged from the hospital only on the basis of clinical symptoms. Doctors take a call on individual cases.”

                                                     
                                                    HIGHLIGHTS

• RNA viruses like coronavirus tend to remain in human body for longer duration

• Patients cured of coronavirus are required to stay in isolation for 14 days after discharge

Meanwhile, the discharge of the RPF jawans marked the recovery of all jawans from Kharagpur which falls under Red zone. Because of the RPF jawans who were tested positive for Covid-19 in Kharagpur, the West Midnapore district has moved from Green zone to Red zone district recently.

The West Midnapore district administration has sealed off three barracks and a TB hospital in Kharagpur soon after the RPF jawans tested positive for Covid-19.

The police have also restricted movements in the railway colonies near to the Kharagpur rail station, a senior police officer said.

To curb the spread of the dreaded virus, the district health department tracked the people who came in contact with the infected jawans. The railway health staff and officials had also carried out an investigation to trace the persons who came in contact with the jawans. “Even we are looking for those who had handled the jawans' weapons. We have tracked some people and they have been sent to a quarantine center for observation. So far, we have sent 115 persons in quarantine”, said a senior railway officer.

The 28-member RPF contingent — from the Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railway — had left for Delhi and Rajasthan on 20 March for zonal training of RPF jawans which railway officials termed “an important assignment”.

The group took the train from the national capital to Kolkata on 13 April and reached Howrah on the next day. Upon arrival, the RPF personnel took a bus to Kharagpur around 8am.

As the nationwide lockdown had come into effect on 25 March, the RPF contingent had been stuck in New Delhi. The members stayed at the barracks in Dayabasti, New Delhi, till 12 April.

“It was decided to run parcel special trains for transportation of essential goods during lockdown. Subsequently, the parcel special trains started from 31 March. Since there was scarcity of ammunition with RPF in SER, the ammunition collecting contingent was advised to move by suitable parcel train from Delhi. It is pertinent to note that the on-duty movement of armed forces was exempted from the restrictions imposed during the lockdown,” the railways ministry had said.

"Journalism, Fake News, and Disinformation" Handbook

Amman, 3 May 2020 - On World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO is fighting back against disinformation and misinformation, in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, journalists have been working around the clock to provide readers with comprehensive and up-to-date reporting on the global pandemic. Much of this coverage has focused on the reality of the crisis — what is happening, what can be expected, and new guidelines issued by governments. No crisis can be resolved without accurate and reliable information. At all levels, from governments to individuals, the decisions we make can be a matter of life and death and must be based on facts and science.

At the core of UNESCO's mandate lies freedom of the press and freedom of expression, which is celebrated annually on May 3rd. UNESCO believes that these freedoms allow for mutual understanding to build sustainable peace. It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

In the spirit of the World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) are officially launching the Arabic version of the “Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training” publication, providing a powerful tool to media in the battle to confront disinformation.

The publication draws on insights and advice from global experts and seeks to equip journalists to tackle the scourge of ‘information disorder’. Seven chapters explore the very nature of journalism, with modules focused on why trust matters; thinking critically about how digital technology and social platforms are conduits of information disorder; fighting back against disinformation and misinformation through media and information literacy; fact-checking 101; social media verification and combatting online abuse.

“Unchecked and even untrue facts and news are often inadvertently spread by citizens; the mutation of that news into misinformation has been as contagious as coronavirus,” said Costanza Farina, UNESCO Representative to Jordan. “The Arabic version of this publication comes at a critical moment for all those who practice or teach journalism in the Arab region”, Ms. Farina added.

Given its structure, this handbook is particularly useful for journalism educators, media professionals and editors and all those interested in how information is shared and used. Emphasizing that calling out disinformation is critical mission, the handbook is both a guide and a call to action.

“In light of the recent developments in the world on the issue of COVID-19 - we had to learn that knowledge is paramount. For an educational institute like FNF, this is the essence of our work. In times when knowledge can decide the fate of life, in times when personal freedoms are infringed for the ‘greater good’” said Dirk Kunze, Regional Director of FNF MENA.  He added, “We need a strong and intellectually well equipped "forth power" to keep an open eye. This project, among others in the MENA region and in Germany, is part of FNF’s plan to provide practical solutions to counter disinformation during the current global crisis and beyond”.

The Arabic version of the handbook has been produced in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in MENA (FNF MENA). UNESCO Amman Office is collaborating with Al Rai Media Training Centre and FNF MENA, to host an online training and a series of webinars to mark the launch of the Arabic version of the handbook.

The first webinar will coincide with World Press Freedom Day, during which experts will examine national trends in COVID-19 disinformation, for a target audience of primarily journalists. It will take place over the Zoom platform on May 3rd at 2:00 p.m. Amman Time (GMT +3). Registration links can be found on the UNESCO and FNF MENA social media platforms.

The handbook can be accessed online at: https://en.unesco.org/fightfakenews.

Virtual attendance: For those who cannot be there, live streaming of cremations provides chance to say goodbye

For the first time in the state, Ranaghat municipality in Nadia has launched an app conducting live streaming of cremation for those, who are staying away from home and have lost loved ones during this tough time.

Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

KRISHNAGAR, 2 MAY: The coronavirus pandemic has meant much of what we’re used to have has been put on hold, but there are some areas of life that we just can’t control. Cremation and funeral activities are considered an essential service that will continue amid the many changes happening throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

For the first time in the state, Ranaghat municipality in Nadia has launched an app conducting live streaming of cremation for those, who are staying away from home and have lost loved ones during this tough time.  

Due to the restriction imposed on movements from one place to another during lockdown phase, the relatives of the deceased who are staying outside at different places across the country or in foreign countries are now able to watch live streaming of cremation of their loved ones.

Biswajit Hazra (named changed on request), an engineer with a private company in Bangalore, had to watch his 84-year-old mother’s cremation online on Tuesday as he was unable to come to his native village in Ranaghat due to the lockdown.

“I had managed to obtain permission from the authorities to travel from Bangalore to my village in a four-wheeler. But my relatives advised me to stay in Bangalore. I watched the cremation of my mother on Ranaghat municipality’s app live streaming,” Biswajit Hazra said.

“I had managed to obtain permission from the authorities to travel from Bangalore to my village in a four-wheeler. But my relatives advised me to stay in Bangalore. I watched the cremation of my mother on Ranaghat municipality’s app live streaming,” Hazra said.

The coronavirus pandemic has not only affected people’s lives but also changed their deaths.

Like Biswajit, many people who are staying away from home are being forced to watch online cremation service due to the restrictions to contain the outbreak.

Partha Chatterjee, chairman of Ranaghat municipality said, “We have launched the app many days ago. But this time, we have begun live streaming cremation more regularly to allow people who either stay outside or are self-isolating to still be a part of the ceremony”.

“We have begun live streaming cremation, which we’ve had lots of positive feedback from folks who are either unable to travel or feel like they don’t need to be out in the public,” said Chatterjee.

He also said, “A few days ago, one of my relatives died. Most of her family members stay in foreign countries. With the help of our live streaming cremation service, they all watched the cremation. This apart, we receive many calls from different people who wished to watch cremation of their loved ones”.

Samik Majumdar, PA to chairman and who monitor the entire system said, “Anyone who wish to watch live streaming cremation will have to install ezviz app. Then he or she will have to put user name rghat.municipality@gmail.com followed by putting up password – rana@123. The fourth step is to put verification code –TKNIIZ”.

“Since the beginning of this app and live streaming cremation, several people encouraged us for this service and even they have requested to initiate funeral services online. But, we have currently no plans to start such service because many institutions here provide such services”, said Majumdar.

Kalyani varsity opens its international guest house to doctors, nurses and health workers battling novel coronavirus


Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 2 MAY: Kalyani university has opened its doors to the doctors, nurses and health staffs, the front liners battling the Covid-19.

This initiative has come at a time when doctors and medical workers are being ostracised from communities, evicted from their homes and forced to sleep in hospital bathrooms and on floors over fears they may be carrying coronavirus.

Dr Sankar Kumar Ghosh, vice-chancellor of Kalyani university said, “We have offered 14 rooms of our International Guest House for the doctors, nurses and health workers who are relentlessly fighting against coronavirus. This time, our institution is closed due to this tough time. So, we have opened our door for the front liners”.

“This decision to house health care workers including doctors is but a small expression of our appreciation and concern for those who continue to sacrifice so much for all of us,” said Dr Ghosh.

This initiative, however, has created a sensation among the locals as the latter predict that it can spread the virus among them. But, the university authority has asserted that when the situation will come in favour and the health workers will leave the rooms, they will sanitize the entire guest house.