<ul><li>India needs at least 38 million masks and 6.2 million units of personal protective gear to fight the global pandemic, according to a Reuters estimate. </li><li>There are reports of shortage of protective gear even for health workers in the forefront dealing with patients infected with Covid-19 <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. </li><li><keyword id="220262" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anupam-Sibal">Anupam Sibal</keyword>, group medical director and senior pediatrician with the <keyword id="731232" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apollo-Hospital-Group">Apollo Hospital Group</keyword>, and the member of the government taskforce says that the lack of access to masks, gloves and other protective gear are isolated cases. </li><li>Business Insider asked experts who should be held responsible wherever there are cases of shortage of important medical equipment.</li></ul>Several reports have shown that the Indian medical staff is low on masks and suits that could save them from Coronavirus infection. The healthcare workers battling the global pandemic are reportedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/nirala-sitharaman-announced-a-50-lakh-per-person-medical-insurance-cover-for-medical-workers/articleshow/74830115.cms">treating patients without basic protective gear</a> or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — including N-95 masks, head covers and glasses. <div type="twitter" handle="fayedsouza" handlename="Faye DSouza" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1171370683034718208/dRoo6ha6_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1295" retweetcount="332" status="This is unacceptable and disgusting. A behaviour like this will demoralise the whole fraternity of doctors and medi… https://t.co/pYWJG0IMbA" createdat="1585831181000" id="1245692379643785218"></div> ‘These are isolated incidents’ However, Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior pediatrician with the Apollo Hospital Group, and a member of the central government taskforce, says that the shortage might just be at an individual level and not at the institutional level. “There might be issues with the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) at the individual level, but I think that there are no major challenges at the institutional level — to support the frontline staff at the hospitals,” Sibal told Business Insider. <div type="image" title="docs" msid="75008464" hostid="261"></div> Even if a few cases of lack of important equipment may lead to loss of lives at worst and, at best, loss of morale for the health workers which can then lead to disastrous results. Therefore, which door should the health workers knock on wherever there is shortage of equipment? It is the responsibility of the health department in every state to ensure there is enough medical equipment at its disposal. The local administration, civic bodies in the case urban areas, has to make sure that these are supplied to the hospitals for the medical staff in time. As of now, the country has 3.34 lakh PPEs across hospitals and another 3 lakh ‘donated’ coveralls are expected to be imported in the next two days, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a tweet. <div type="twitter" handle="MoHFW_INDIA" handlename="Ministry of Health 🇮🇳 #StayHome #StaySafe" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1007597308664377344/ECLJlkpv_normal.jpg" favoritecount="842" retweetcount="333" status="#CoronaVirusUpdates :3.34 lakh PPE coveralls are available with hospitals in the country. Another 3 lakh donated c… https://t.co/FK7vDV2STX" createdat="1585553187000" id="1244526385248391168"></div> But that may not be enough. A Reuters report said that India needs at least <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-equipment/india-needs-at-least-38-million-masks-to-fight-coronavirus-agency-document-idINKBN21F0H3">38 million masks and 6.2 million PPEs</a> to fight the global pandemic. Sibal also agreed that “yes, we can run out of PPEs, so a lot of effort has been made to augment the capacity — whether we have to import, enhance production or loop in other industries like garments and apparel to ramp up the production.” Where is the problem? This may be due to the disruption in the global supply chains as countries close borders. “The shortage of PPE was there, because the raw material was always imported from other countries. But the government has addressed the issue by looping in the textile workers,” said Gautam Bhansali, member of Maharashtra’s state taskforce for Coronavirus.

Where does the buck stop if there is a shortage of protective gear for health workers fighting novel coronavirus?

<ul><li>Experts tell Business Insider that the <keyword id="8624004" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-vaccine">Coronavirus vaccine</keyword> will take at least a year to develop.</li><li>The lack of a vaccine is not a reason to worry with treatment options available to patients who test positive for Covid-19.</li><li>However, anyone who believes they have symptoms needs to consult a doctor before treating themselves based on information from WhatsApp.</li></ul>Many are hoping — and waiting — for a vaccine for Covid-19. However, experts believe that it will take at least a year before there’s anything on the market. “There are 20 candidate vaccines based on trials which have already started in the US. But then you’re going to have to go through Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV. So, realistically you’re not going to have a vaccine before the end of the year,” Anupam Sibal from Apollo Hospitals told Business Insider. <div type="twitter" handle="BiIndia" handlename="Business Insider India🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1232926719016718336/sfffJHNV_normal.jpg" favoritecount="10" retweetcount="4" status="@BiIndia's @iyer_sriram in conversation with @docmranney, Dr Gautam Bhansali Consultant Physician, Bombay Hospital… https://t.co/ryCGN2vddi" createdat="1585811844000" id="1245611274106363905"></div> According to the World Health Organisation (<a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1227274792425967616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1227274792425967616&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencealert.com%2Fwho-says-a-coronavirus-vaccine-is-18-months-away">WHO</a>) it takes as long as 18 months. However, that’s not a reason to worry. There are already a lot of options on the table for treatment. From the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/trump-touts-unproven-coronavirus-treatment-hours-after-reports-that-it-killed-a-man-in-arizona-who-was-self-medicating/articleshow/74784019.cms">hyped chloroquine malaria pill</a> to basic antibiotics to ward off the infection. As Sibal puts it, “There’s a lot going on.” The need of the hour is for people to stop believing in possible cures that are circulating on WhatsApp and consult an actual doctor if they believe that they are experiencing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/how-to-check-coronavirus-symptoms-at-home/articleshow/74960334.cms">any symptoms</a>. Sibal points out that not every treatment works on every patient. <div type="image" title="cure6" msid="74966986" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Medical staff during their duty at the isolation ward at Aluva General Hospital &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> There are many variables that need to be taken into account, including the patient’s medical history, in order to give the right course of treatment. “The vaccine will take some time but it will definitely be there. Treatment is there depending on the patient’s condition. I request people to not trust WhatsApp university and messages on social media,” said Gautam Bhansali, a consultant physician at Bombay Hospital. Who’s working on a Coronavirus vaccine? As of now, we do not have a vaccine for any of the viruses for the Coronaviridae family. During the SARS pandemic in 2008, many vaccines were tested on animal models but none were deemed safe for humans. Nonetheless, efforts at the University of Queensland are based on evidence from the past outbreak. <div type="image" title="cure9" msid="74967004" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People outside tThe swine flu (H1N1) isolation ward of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on 07,February,2015&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> As of April 2, there are around 50 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/how-to-enroll-in-a-clinical-trial-for-a-malaria-drug-that-could-help-treat-the-coronavirus-or-stop-you-from-catching-it/articleshow/74903005.cms">vaccine candidates</a> under developement, and a few initiated <a href="https://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/key-action/novel-coronavirus-landscape-ncov.pdf">phase-1 trials</a> of human testing — including CanSino Biological Inc and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology — according to data collected by the <a href="https://milkeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Covid19%20Tracker%20NEW4-2-20-final.pdf">Milken Institute.</a> Other biotechnology companies like Moderna and Inovio Pharmaceuticals have funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). IBM’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/the-worlds-fastest-supercomputer-joins-the-battle-against-coronavirus-to-find-cure/articleshow/74725396.cms">supercomputer</a> is also on the job using resources provided by Hewlett Packard (HP), Amazon, Microsoft and Google to try and speed up the hunt for a cure. <div type="image" title="cure4" msid="74967065" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;IKDRC Hospital stamping Corona checking sticker on patients at the Civil Hospital Compound in Ahmedabad &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, there’s still a possibility that none of vaccines prove safe or, even effective, on humans. A study of the success rate of clinical development between 2006 to 2015 found that moving from Phase I to a successful Phase III was around 11.5%. Using what we already know to create a treatment Doctors are now using existing viral treatments to treat Coronavirus patients. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/could-a-malaria-pill-from-the-1940s-treat-the-coronavirus-early-results-for-chloroquine-have-caught-the-eyes-of-doctors-analysts-and-even-elon-musk/articleshow/74698558.cms">Chloroquine</a>, which has proven as an effective method of treating malaria, has shown positive results in China during preliminary trials. “We have a combination of anti-retrovirals that are being used. We also have another drug called <keyword id="8775508" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="remdesivir">remdesivir</keyword> and we’re looking at data,” said Sibal. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/we-dont-have-any-good-treatments-for-the-novel-coronavirus-right-now-but-scientists-are-racing-to-change-that/articleshow/74431738.cms">Remdesivir</a> is front runner with studies showing that it could keep the infection from replicating itself once a patient tests positive. Using that information, Phase III trials are being conducted in the US, China and Italy. <div type="image" title="cure5" msid="74967094" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People lined up for Coronavirus testing in Beleghata&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> WHO’s multi-country trial called ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/the-world-health-organization-is-launching-a-multi-country-solidarity-trial-to-fight-the-coronavirus-and-the-us-and-uk-are-not-involved/articleshow/74701557.cms">Solidarity</a>’ with participation from 10 countries is using a combination of these drugs to try and devise a treatment. Another method of treatment that has proven effective is passive antibody therapy. Plasma in the blood of patients who have recovered from the infection can be used to boost the immunity of patients who are currently infected. The positive aspect in all of this is that medicine has come a long way. “In the olden days, it would take you years to even think about a candidate vaccine and now it was done in a few weeks,” said Sibal. Currently, there are over 2,000 active cases in India with 156 patients who have recovered and 56 have died. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/whether-india-will-extend-its-coronavirus-lockdown-will-be-decided-by-next-week-say-experts/articleshow/74960603.cms">Whether India will extend its Coronavirus lockdown will be decided by next week, say experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/why-india-cannot-replicate-singapore-and-south-korea-models-to-contain-the-coronavirus-pandemic/articleshow/74965781.cms">Coronavirus taskforce members explain why India cannot replicate Singapore and South Korea models to contain the pandemic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/coronavirus-lockdown-changing-the-way-the-earth-vibrates-is-a-reminder-that-nobody-is-alone-during-the-pandemic/articleshow/74965089.cms">Coronavirus lockdown changing the way the Earth vibrates is a reminder that nobody is alone during the pandemic</a>

Coronavirus vaccine will take at least a year to make but that's not a reason to worry — as long as you stay away from 'WhatsApp university'

<ul><li>India’s 21-day lockdown is set to end in another 12 days.</li><li>Experts believe that next week’s data will be critical to determine whether or not the lockdown shall remain in place.</li><li>Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed states to coordinate with the central government to form a common ‘exit-strategy’ to prepare for April 14.</li></ul>India’s nationwide 21-day lockdown is set to end in 12 days. Doctors unanimously believe that implementing the lockdown was the only way to ensure containment in India with 1.35 billion people. However, whether or not the lockdown should end of April 14 will be determined by the how the outbreak plays out in the coming week, according to experts. <div type="twitter" handle="BiIndia" handlename="Business Insider India🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1232926719016718336/sfffJHNV_normal.jpg" favoritecount="10" retweetcount="4" status="@BiIndia's @iyer_sriram in conversation with @docmranney, Dr Gautam Bhansali Consultant Physician, Bombay Hospital… https://t.co/ryCGN2vddi" createdat="1585811844000" id="1245611274106363905"></div> “We need to look at data to actually answer that question. The government will look at the mathematical models and data prediction to decide what is the best way forward in terms of lockdowns. But, one thing is very clear, social distancing is here to stay for a bit,” Dr Anupam Sibal, the group medical director of Apollo Hospitals told Business Insider. <div type="image" title="lockdown4" msid="74960675" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People maintain social distance to buy vegetables at Kotak School Ground in Chinnawaltair, Visakhapatnam during Coronavirus lockdown &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Even a second 28-day lockdown might not be enough, says study A study by the Centre for Mathematical Science by the University of Cambridge estimates that the 21-day lockdown won’t be enough. Even a second 28-day lockdown will prove ineffective, the study says. <div type="image" title="image (6)_edited" msid="74960636" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Four ways the Coronavirus outbreak could play out in India according to a study by the Centre for Mathematical Science, University of Cambridge&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Their forecast shows that the best way to flatten the curve is to implement a flat 49-day lockdown. Alternatively, two more phases of one 28-day lockdown and one 18-day lockdown may also ‘flatten the curve’ significantly. “This week, things will definitely increase. Next week we’ll know if the lockdown actually benefited. If things are better, then I feel the government may extend the lockdown for another two weeks. But, all of this depends on the data that we get back,” said Dr Gautam Bhansali — a consultant physician at Bombay Hospital. <div type="image" title="lockdown5" msid="74960697" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Deserted Sion-Panvel highway creek bridge seen during a countrywide lockdown to fight Coronavirus&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, the government is optimistic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed states to coordinate with the central government to formulate a common exit-strategy for a “staggered” re-emergence of the population on April 14. Other experts told Business Insider that the data may take longer to process as the Nizamuddin hotspot may skew the results. <div type="image" title="lockdown3" msid="74960705" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Delhi fire service personnel sanitise an area near Nizamuddin mosque, after people who attended the religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat&amp;#39;s Markaz, tested postive for COVID-19, in New Delhi.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “In the next few weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should remain the areas of focus,” Modi <a href="https://www.narendramodi.in/pm-interacts-with-cms-to-bolster-efforts-to-tackle-covid-19-549102">told the ministers</a>. More Coronavirus cases on the horizon — rural outbreak will lag behind urban spread According to Sibal and Bhansali, India was bound to see an uptake in cases due to its density and population size. However, they also said that the country is doing considerably better than its European counterparts, in the 10th week of the Coronavirus. “India will fall into diversification, almost a tale of two cities. There will be a strategy which will need to be deployed in the urban metros and there will be a natural lag which hits rural India starting probably 10-12 days from now, where we will maybe see bubbling of cases,” Dr Marcus Ranney of Thrive Global told Business Insider. <div type="image" title="lockdown2" msid="74960714" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Essential supplies being handled to migrant workers in Kolkata, West Bengal during the nationawide Coroanavirus lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “The wise thing to do would be to look at the data next week because now is the point where symptoms will start to show themselves in the cities assuming local transmission,” he added. Sibal, Ranney and Bhansali agree that the government, those in the private sector and civil society as a whole needs to be careful to not take their “foot off the pedal”. A slowdown in the uptake of cases won’t necessarily imply that India’s out of the woods. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/narendra-modi-speech-and-highlights-on-april-3/articleshow/74959547.cms">Indian Prime Narendra Modi urges people to light candles, torches, and mobile flashlights on April 5 at 9 pm⁠— as a symbol of a unified fight against novel coronavirus</a>

Whether India will extend its Coronavirus lockdown will be decided by next week, say experts

New Delhi, Apr 11 () Doctors of Indian origin across the world have joined hands under the umbrella of 'Global Indian Physician COVID-19 Collaborative' to combat coronavirus which has engulfed 185 countries and claimed over one lakh lives. The move aims to "foster cross systems learning" to develop prevention and management strategy for COVID-19 which will include encompassing vaccination, newer diagnostic tests, ventilation strategies, early warning algorithms to identify deterioration, use of antiviral therapy, plasma therapy and novel agents, a statement from the collaborative said. "In my 65 years as a doctor, I have never seen what we are seeing today and I am sure that the world as we know, will never be the same again. But, COVID-19 has also made us aware that we can form a united force to take on any challenge by breaking the barriers that we have erected," Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group and Founder President, Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) said. The Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), Canada India Network Society (CINS) and Canadian Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (CAPIH) have come together for the collaboration. The collaborative will hold its first meeting through video conferencing on Saturday, Ramesh Mehta, President, BAPIO said. The experts will share their experiences and discuss strategies to halt the spread of the virus, he said. With the United States having the highest number of coronavirus cases, the learnings from there can help others, Suresh Reddy, President, AAPI said. "COVID-19 has presented a unique opportunity for 1.4 million physicians of Indian origin working across the globe to come together and be at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, as we have done on many occasions in the past. The world is looking up to us for solutions," Anupam Sibal, President GAPIO, said. According to John Hopkins Corona Virus Resource Centre, over 17 lakh people in 185 countries have been contracted with novel coronavirus which has claimed over one lakh lives globally. With over five lakh confirmed cases of COVID- 19, the United States is leading the global tally of patients, the data says. In India, the total number of coronavirus cases increased to 7,447 on Saturday, with 1,035 cases reported within last 24 days. A total of 239 deaths have been reported so far across the country, a health ministry official has said. He said 642 persons have recovered in the country. The Centre had imposed a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus as social distancing is possibly the only way to prevent people from contracting the deadly virus. ABS SRY

Doctors of Indian origin form global collaborative to fight COVID-19

<ul><li>Several incidences of abusive behavior across the country show that health workers are facing unexpected problems while battling the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. </li><li>There were reports that quarantined people in Delhi misbehaved with the nurses. </li><li>In Indore, a shocking video of an angry local mob attacking healthcare workers and civic officials was recorded on camera. </li></ul>A couple of weeks ago, the whole country was cheering the frontline warriors of the coronavirus fighting the battle for all of India. However, several incidences of abusive behaviour across the country explains that these healthcare workers are facing unexpected problems while battling the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. "Occupants were unruly since morning and made unreasonable demands for food items. They misbehaved and abused staff at the quarantine centre. They started spitting all over and on persons working/attending them including doctors. They also started roaming around the hostel building,” said Deepak Kumar, CPRO, Northern Railway. On April 1, a few participants of Tablighi Jamaat, who have been put in quarantine facilities in Delhi, sang obscene songs and misbehaved with healthcare staff and spat at the doctors and nurses. In Indore, a shocking video of an angry local mob attacking healthcare workers and civic officials was recorded on camera. Moreover, 100 other locals were abusing the health workers who came to take the samples. Seven people were arrested in this incident for injuring two female doctors in Taatpatti Bakhal area of Madhya Pradesh. <div type="twitter" handle="anandrai177" handlename="Dr.ANAND RAI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1242484839447588865/8P1qAi2b_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3206" retweetcount="2005" status="Attack on doctors during sample collection in tatpatti bakhal, indore. This is shameful,how we will work in this a… https://t.co/WSDRle8pke" createdat="1585763521000" id="1245408589931397121"></div>Separately, a doctor and other health workers in Hyderabad were also assaulted by the relatives of a 49-year old who succumbed to coronavirus. Indian health authorities are fighting against the stigma and taboo that has been in India for a long time. If there’s anything that India has learnt in the last few years is that mob mentality spreads like wildfire. There’s no sealing the panic and unruly behaviour Whatsapp rumours can cause. Facing the danger Apart from the abuse, healthcare workers are facing serious dangers too. Most doctors lack PPE kits that can protect them from catching infection as they come in contact with the infected. They are also frustrated with the fact that many people take the transmission and contraction casually. “There have been some isolated incidents that have been unfortunate and that have lowered the morale of the community, when they are not given the kind of cooperation they want. They could be comfortably sitting at home, being on social media, watching TV. But, they are risking their lives and one would expect everyone to come together and be responsible and would cooperate,” Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior pediatrician with the Apollo Hospital Group Moreover, the scale of this outbreak can also cause trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. These people have been separating themselves from their families to prevent infection, resulting in anxiety and depression. The long hours and stressful work isn’t helping either. While India is yet to deal with any such cases, a<a href="https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-local/colorado-er-doctor-brings-comfort-dog-to-hospital-to-soothe-health-care-wokers"> hospital in Colorado in the US</a> brought comfort dogs to soothe the team of doctors fighting coronavirus which allows them to calm down while meditating with the dog. In India however few measures are being taken to calm the nerves. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/videos/misc/indians-got-so-excited-about-janta-curfew-they-failed-its-purpose-in-battling-coronavirus/videoshow/74961421.cms">Coronavirus cases in India </a>

Indian doctors have an unexpected problem while battling Coronavirus

<ul><li>India is currently grappling with the shortage of funds, infrastructure and personnel to deal with the <keyword id="8829783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-pandemic">Coronavirus pandemic</keyword>.</li><li>While Singapore and South Korea are often touted as successful stories in dealing with <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword>, experts believe that India cannot replicate those models.</li><li>Instead, they believe that India needs to work on a strategy by learning from what the West, East and the developing worlds are doing, and then adapting those learnings for India.</li></ul>Although doctors agree unanimously that the 21-day nationwide lockdown is the only way to control the spread of <keyword id="8622255" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-In-India">Coronavirus in India</keyword>, there has to be a strategy to deal with the inevitable surge in infections. As the government scrambles to chalk out a strategy that works for India, experts tell us why India cannot replicate the Singapore and South Korea models. <div type="twitter" handle="BiIndia" handlename="Business Insider India🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1232926719016718336/sfffJHNV_normal.jpg" favoritecount="10" retweetcount="4" status="@BiIndia's @iyer_sriram in conversation with @docmranney, Dr Gautam Bhansali Consultant Physician, Bombay Hospital… https://t.co/ryCGN2vddi" createdat="1585811844000" id="1245611274106363905"></div> Many experts believe that India should evolve its own. “I think what India needs, what India has and what India will do is work on an India strategy. Learn from whatever the West, East and the developing world has to teach and develop a strategy that looks at the ground realities, complexities and diversity of India,” Dr Anupam Sibal, the group medical director of Apollo Hospitals told Business Insider. Here’s what Singapore and South Korea got right Singapore and South Korea are two countries that are often praised for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/flattening-the-curve-how-china-south-korea-taiwan-and-singapore-brought-coronavirus-under-control/articleshow/74859218.cms">successfully controlling the spread of Coronavirus</a>. Unlike India and a few other countries that went into a complete lockdown, Singapore allowed its citizens to go about their daily lives by following precautions like using masks and regular health checks. Singapore was also one of the first countries to ban flights from China, effectively shutting down the primary source of infections. Beyond that, it used aggressive contact tracing and quarantine measures to make sure the spread is under control. South Korea’s fight against Coronavirus is underpinned by its aggressive testing measures. In a country of 51 million people, South Korea tested more than 20,000 people per day, which is more than any other country. India’s vast population, diversity and lack of infrastructure are its biggest constraints <div type="image" title="Nashik Hospital" msid="74966167" hostid="261"></div> On the outset, implementing aggressive quarantine, contact tracing and testing measures seem like good ideas. However, all of that goes out of the door when India’s problems are considered. Its vast population, diversity, lack of infrastructure and personnel are its biggest constraints. In addition, the government’s failures in terms of coordination and implementation add to the troubles. In comparison, Singapore and South Korea have fewer issues to deal with. Their cumulative population of 57 million means that they are not as constrained for resources. They also have experience in dealing with pandemics like the SARS outbreak in 2002. This makes it difficult for countries like India to implement the models used by Singapore and South Korea. “We have to understand that we have a set of constraints – in terms of personnel, in terms of capital availability and in terms of infrastructure. Based on all of those different resources, how can we best play our most successful hand and strategize towards this,” Dr Marcus Ranney of Thrive Global told Business Insider. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/data-of-coronavirus-patients-state-wise-in-india/articleshow/74669748.cms">Coronavirus cases in India state wise</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/flattening-the-curve-how-china-south-korea-taiwan-and-singapore-brought-coronavirus-under-control/articleshow/74859218.cms">Flattening the curve: How China, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore brought Coronavirus under control</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/whether-india-will-extend-its-coronavirus-lockdown-will-be-decided-by-next-week-say-experts/articleshow/74960603.cms">Whether India will extend its Coronavirus lockdown will be decided by next week, say experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/coronavirus-updates-in-india-and-steps-taken-by-narendra-modi-government/articleshow/74723667.cms">A look at Indian government response to coronavirus, so far, shows some quick reactions but not enough foresight</a>

Coronavirus taskforce members explain why India cannot replicate Singapore and South Korea models to contain the pandemic

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51699562.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> First came content, then came the internet bus to distribute the content and now in 2016 comes the <keyword id="2721905" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health-search">Health search</keyword> to customise the content. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Swedens-Klarna-stalked-legendary-Silicon-Valley-VC-Sequoia-on-Google-Street-View-before-bagging-it-as-an-investor/articleshow/51694642.cms">Google</a> in collaboration with <keyword id="56368" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Apollo-Hospitals">Apollo Hospitals</keyword> launched health information search in India, today, including Hindi as a search language. “In India 1 in 20 <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> searches are health related,” said Prem Ramaswami, Product Manager, Search, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Why-Google-tweeted-about-cubed-rutabagas/articleshow/51691366.cms">Google Inc</a>.
 

	This health search will give accurate, well-curated and verified information of 431 diseases, including neglected tropical diseases and mental health conditions. For India, they have also launched ‘LITE’ cards as 50% of the internet users are on 2G connection, said Prem.
 

	The information includes symptoms, most common medical facts and illustrations. This is different than the normal Google searches as this is customised according to local terms used for different diseases like Madras Eye for conjunctivitis. 
	 
	One can even save a pdf of the content and share to make it available to a larger audience.
 

	The content is sourced and reviewed by numerous doctors. Besides Prem also works with 3 medical doctors in his product team.
 

	“By next year they plan to target about 1.5 billion of<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Google-is-deliberately-deactivating-some-of-its-customers-old-smart-home-devices/articleshow/51687530.cms"> internet users</a> in the country,” Prem told Business Insider India.
 The idea was inspired by the paper illustrations and medical charts at an ASHA run local hospital at Bhallavgarh. Hence the journey started, said Anjali Joshi, Vice President, Search, <keyword id="109316" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google-Inc-">Google Inc.</keyword> 

	But this search works when we enter a disease, not the symptoms.
 

	“This becomes too complicated and we are not working at it right now,” said Anupam Sibal, Medical Doctor, Apollo Hospitals.
 This product was launched in Brazil two weeks ago and in US last year. It is available in <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword>, <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> and Desktop platforms.

With Google, now search your health woos away

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/45043288.cms" /> <keyword id="1856949" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="minister-for-communication">Minister for Communication</keyword> and Information Technology <keyword id="6354886" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar-Prasad">Ravi Shankar Prasad</keyword> said on Tuesday that <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> needs to have a good network of hospitals, which are affordable to common man. 
 At the release of a commemorative stamp to celebrate the 15th anniversary of India's first successful liver transplant at <keyword id="56368" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Apollo-Hospitals">Apollo Hospitals</keyword> in New Delhi, the minister said, "One of the most important challenges today is to provide good healthcare. It has to be affordable also." 
 On Nov 15, 1998, the first successful pediatric and adult <keyword id="188761" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="liver-transplants">liver transplants</keyword> in India were performed at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi. A two-year-old boy, Sanjay Kandaswamy, from Kancheepuram, was the first child to receive a successful liver transplant with his father as the donor. 
 
"This is in recognition of the extraordinary talent of people in healthcare in India. The success of the transplant programme is one such stellar example of the quality of our doctors and the innovation they have brought in this field," said Prasad. 
 It was important to see how to encourage <keyword id="48430" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Organ-donation">organ donation</keyword> and stop racketeering in organ trade in India, he added. 
 
"Within the span of these 15 years, approximately 4,500 liver transplants have been performed in India," said Prathap C.Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals. 
 "Today is a special day for all of us. The journey that we started in 1998 has culminated in hundreds of lives being saved," according to Anupam Sibal, group medical director, senior pediatric <keyword id="2583917" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="gastro-enterologist">gastro-enterologist</keyword> and <keyword id="2583918" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="hepatologist">hepatologist</keyword> at Apollo Hospitals. 
(Image: Press Information Bureau)

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