Coronavirus alert! Recent updates.

WHO has declared the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic .

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has already taken on pandemic proportions, affecting over 100 countries in a matter of weeks. Looking at the severity of the viral outbreak, WHO has declared the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic .

India, suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations,employment, till April 15 to prevent the spread of coronavirus as the number of positive cases reached to an alarming 119. So far we have encountered two corona virus death, one in Karnataka and one in Delhi.

First person in a test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine

(SEATTLE) — U.S. researchers gave the first shot to the first person in a test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine Monday — leading off a worldwide hunt for protection even as the pandemic surges.

With a careful jab in a healthy volunteer’s arm, scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle begin an anxiously awaited first-stage study of a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed in record time after the new virus exploded from China and fanned across the globe.

ADA Coronavirus Resource Center for Dentists

ADA Calls Upon Dentists to Postpone Elective Procedures (March 16, 2020)

The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19. The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team.

In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.

As health care professionals, it is up to dentists to make well-informed decisions about their patients and practices. The ADA is committed to providing the latest information to the profession in a useful and timely manner.

The ADA is continually evaluating and will update its recommendation on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.

If you have questions that are not answered by the FAQ, please email MSC@ada.org.

Read more: ada.org

Track, Test & Treat COVID-19

Meanwhile in Rajasthan, the doctors of Sawai Man Singh Hospital were successful in treating an italian coronavirus positive patient by using combination of HIV, Swine flu and Malaria drugs.

They gave her a combination of Lopinavir 200mg/Ritonavir 50mg  twice a day along with Oseltamivir, useful in swine flu treatment, and Chloroquine used in treatment of malaria.

Two patients have now tested negative for COVID-19 virus after the treatment.

Source: Times of India

Workplace school and home guidance for preventing COVID 19

Dental Clinic guidance for preventing COVID 19

According to studies conducted in various groups of COVID-19 positive patients, the most frequent comorbidities reported were in patients often treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ) inhibitors.

Human pathogenic Coronaviruses bind to their target cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 which is expressed by epithelial cells of the lung, intestine, kidney and blood vessels.

The expression of ACE2 is substantially increased in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, who are treated with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers (ARBs).Hypertension is also treated with ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which results in an upregulation of ACE2..ACE2 can also be increased by thiazolidinediones and ibuprofen .

It is therefore hypothesised that diabetes and hypertension treatment with ACE2-stimulating drugs increases the risk of developing severe and fatal COVID-19.

Source: The Lancet.

Why social distancing matter?

In view of the situations concerning the COVID-19 breakout and in response to the goverment's declaration of the state of emergency, the California Dental Association has requested co-operation from all the California dentists in following the declared guideline which is as follows:

"The California Dental Association strongly recommends that dentists practicing in California voluntarily suspend nonessential or non-urgent dental care for the next 14 days. As always, it is expected that dentists will continue to be available as needed for emergency care and services. "

This recommendation is made after careful consultation with various state and national public health experts.

CDA has clearly stated that they are not making the request lightly and as health care professionals, dentists have a role to play in "flattening the curve" in order to follow sound, scientific public health advice to help limit infections and slow the spread of the virus.

CDA also mentioned that they are sensitive to the economic impact of this step and they have assured that CDA will advocate on behalf of all dentists in California for economic relief packages.

Source: cda.org

Infants Born to Mothers With a New Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Chinese case study suggests COVID-19 is not transmitted from pregnant mothers to newborns. Infants Born to Mothers with a New Coronavirus (COVID-19). This feature reveals that none of the four newborns of the mothers with COVID-19 developed COVID-19 infection. At follow up, the four newborns were health and had grown on formula feeding.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.00104/full

Novel Corona Virus Update (India)

1. Total number of passengers screened at airport : 12,76,046
2. Total number of confirmed COVID 2019 cases across India * : 114 (including foreign nationals, as on 16.03.2020 at 04:00 PM)
3. The Helpline Number for corona-virus : +91-11-23978046
4. The Helpline Email ID for corona-virus : ncov2019@gmail.com
5. Guidelines to States/UTs for quarantine
6. Advisory – Social Distancing
7. The Helpline Numbers of States & Union Territories for corona-virus
8. Guidelines to States/UTs for quarantine