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MESSAGE FROM CHQ
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Railways on the forefront to safeguard India from COVID-19 --
In a bid to mitigate the pandemic, Indian Railways has produced about 6 lakhs
reusable face masks and more than 40000 litres hand sanitiser All Railway
Zones, Production Units and PSUs are involved; Some Zones have taken lead in
this regard like WR, NCR, NWR, CR, ECR and WCR Face masks and hand sanitizers
are being made available to all staff coming on duty; These are also being
provided to contract labourers
In continuation of the measures taken to prevent the spread of
COVID-19, Indian Railways is making all out efforts to supplement the health
care initiatives of Government of India. In this direction Indian Railways is
producing reusable face masks and sanitizer in-house in all its Zonal Railways,
Production Units and PSUs.
Indian Railways produced total 582317 nos. of reusable face
masks and 41882 litres hand sanitiser in-house in its Zonal Railways,
Production Units and PSUs till 7th April 2020. Some of the Indian Railway Zones
have taken lead in this regard like Western Railway(WR) with 81008 no. of
reusable face covers and 2569 litres hand sanitiser, North Central Railway(NCR)
with 77995 no. of reusable face covers and 3622 litres hand sanitiser, North
Western Railway(NWR) with 51961 no. of reusable face covers and 3027 litres
hand sanitiser, Central Railway(CR) with 38904 no. of reusable face covers and
3015 litres hand sanitiser, East Central Railway(ECR) with 33473 no. of
reusable face covers and 4100 litres hand sanitiser and West Central
Railway(WCR) with 36342 no. of reusable face covers and 3756 litres hand
sanitiser.
Since freight operations are running 24X7 to maintain essentials
and goods supplies, operation and maintenance staff are working round the
clock. To ensure safety of these staff and boost their morale, following is
being ensured at all workplaces:
(i) Removable face covers and hand sanitizers are being made
available to all staff coming on duty. These are also being provided to
contract labourers. Railway workshops, coaching depots and hospitals have risen
to the occasion are locally producing sanitizers and masks to supplement
supplies.
(ii) All personnel are being encouraged to use reusable face
covers to maintain better hygiene. 2 sets of reusable face covers are to be
available with personnel. All personnel are being counselled to wash face
covers well with soap every day. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have
issued detailed advisory in this regard which has been circulated to all.
(iii) Soap, water and washing facilities are being provided at
all work places. With local innovations hands free washing facilities have been
provided.
(iv) Social distancing is being ensured. Awareness in this
regard is being regularly spread amongst all staff like trackmen and locomotive
pilots.
****
SG/MKV
(Release ID :201114)
(Release ID :201114)
PIB
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
DST approves funding for developing a gel for nasal passage as prevention for COVID 19
Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST says, "The nasal gel being developed in conjunction with other protective measures, will provide a strong extra layer of defense"
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body
of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is supporting a technology
by the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering (DBB), IIT Bombay for
capturing and inactivation of novel corona virus, the causative agent of
COVID-19.
The funding will help the team from the Department of
Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay develop a gel that can be applied to
nasal passage, which is a major entry point of the corona virus. This solution is
not only expected to protect the safety of health workers, but can also lead to
reduction in community transmission of COVID-19, thereby helping disease
management.
Given the contagious nature of COVID-19, health providers
including doctors and nurses are at maximum risk while taking care of COVID-19
patients, particularly asymptomatic ones who cannot be detected and pose a
greater risk in spreading the disease.
The team is planning a 2-pronged approach to limit transmission
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19. Primarily, since
viruses replicate within host cells of the lungs, the first component of the
strategy will be to inhibit binding of viruses to host cells. While this is
expected to reduce host cell infection, viruses will still remain active,
therefore, raising the need to inactivate them.
Secondly, biological molecules would be incorporated, which
would inactivate the trapped viruses in a manner similar to that of detergents.
Upon completion, this approach will lead to development of gels that can be
locally applied in the nasal cavity.
Prof
Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST said, "Our health care workers and others
working in the front-line of fight against the virus deserve a fool-proof, 200%
protection. The nasal gel being developed in conjunction with other protective
measures, will provide a strong extra layer of defense",
Prof. Kiran Kondabagil, Prof. Rinti Banerjee, Prof. Ashutosh
Kumar and Prof. Shamik Sen from the Dept. of Biosciences & Bioengineering
at IIT Bombay will be part of this project. The team has expertise in the areas
encompassing virology, structural biology, biophysics, biomaterials, and drug
delivery and it is expected that the technology would be ready in about 9
months.
(For further details,
contact Prof. Kiran Kondabagil, kirankondabagil@iitb.ac.in, Mob:
9619739630.)
*****
KGS/(DST)
(Release ID :201090)
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