Novel Coronavirus Information Center (Elsevier’s free health and medical research on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19

Novel Coronavirus Information Center (Elsevier’s free health and medical research on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19)

(January 27, 2020 - Updated May 1, 2020)

Welcome Note: Welcome to Elsevier's Novel Coronavirus Information Center  Here you will find expert, curated information for the research and health community on SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus) and COVID-19 (the disease).
All resources are free to access and include guidelines for clinicians and patients.

See our directory of all Elsevier's COVID-19 resources

For Researchers: Under the Research tab, you will find the latest early-stage and peer-reviewed research on COVID-19 from journals including The Lancet and Cell Press. We have also made more than 24,000 related articles free to access on ScienceDirect. These articles are also available to download with rights for full text and data mining, re-use and analyses for as long as needed.

View the 24,000+ free articles

Download full text for data mining

Username: public

Password: beat_corona (note: FTP client software/plugin needed to access download).

For Clinicians: Under the Clinical information tab, you will find evidence-based skill guides and care plans for treatment, safety and patient education, along with emergency prepared webinars by the CDC.

For Patients: In the Patient resources section, you can find our 3D4Medical coronavirus video, resources from the CDC and WHO, and information about Elsevier's Patient Access Program for research.

Share your feedback to help us improve our Novel Coronavirus Information Center.

Source:  https://www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center (03.04.2020)

COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Resources on worldometer

COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Resources on worldometer

Coronavirus Updates

 

Source: https://www.worldometers.info/ (19.04.2020)

COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Facilities (ASHE, AHA)

COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Facilities

ASHE has created a resource page to assist health care facilities professionals in their efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The resources cover critical operations such as air quality, safety and security, emergency preparedness and infection prevention.

Top COVID-19 Resources

• AHA Advisory: Technology for the Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Respirators Now Available
  
  Keywords: N95 respirators, reuse, decontamination
   
• Templates for submitting inspection, testing and maintenance waivers to CMS
  Health care facilities can access a templated letter and table to request a waiver under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: CMS, Section 1135, waiver
   
• Medical Air and Oxygen Capacity Tools
  • Ventilator capacity for existing medical gas systems
    A tool, provided by Kaiser Permanente National Facilities Services, provides ventilator capacity based on piping sizes to assist in determining how many ventilators can be served by an existing medical gas system in a given patient care area.
     
  • Sizing of medical gas systems for alternate care sites
    A tool, provided by Beacon Medaes, provides guidance on the sizing of medical gas systems for COVID-19 emergency units.
     
  • VIDEO: Handling and Connecting Medical Gas Cylinders Safely
    BeaconMedaes
     
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) PPE Updates
  • Enforcement Policy for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During COVID-19: Immediately in Effect Guidance
  • Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Respirators During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (Revised)
  • Enforcement Policy for Gowns, Other Apparel, and Gloves During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency
     
• ASHE Alert: ASHE issues recommendation for OR use during COVID-19
  The association recommends that health care organizations perform surgeries and other procedures on COVID-19 positive patients following the same guidelines for active TB patients.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: OR, surgery, positive patients
   
• ASHE Alert: Developing a first responder policy for COVID-19 units
  ASHE has issued recommendations for health care organizations to develop emergency and/or fire response policies and procedures that will help limit exposure for those responding to emergencies in these isolated spaces.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: First responder, emergencies
   
• Frequently Asked Questions
  COVID-19 questions and answers related to negative pressure patient rooms, construction, life safety concerns and disinfection issues.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: Negative pressure, air changes, AIIRs, emergency planning, disinfection, construction, PPE, filtration, alternate care sites
   
• Webinar Recording: Health Care Facilities & COVID-19 Safety: What You Need to Know MEMBERS-ONLY
  Recorded Tuesday, March 17, 2020
  How health care facilities professionals can best prepare for a surge related to COVID-19
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: Negative pressure, air changes, AIIRs, emergency planning, surge capacity, multidisciplinary, PPE conservation, patient placement
  
  Not an ASHE member? Complete this quick form and receive immediate access to the webinar recording.
   
• Converting alternate care sites to patient space options
  Resources for increasing space capacity with alternate care sites such as hotels.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: Surge capacity, emergency planning
   
• ASHE issues recommendations on COVID-19 for facilities managers
  Six recommendations for facilities managers to consider during the pandemic.
  Health Facilities Management
  
  Keywords: Negative pressure, air changes, AIIRs, emergency planning, security, multidisciplinary
   
• Negative Pressure Patient Room Options
  How to best provide negative pressure patient rooms for COVID-19 patients.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: Negative pressure, AIIRs, air changes, multidisciplinary, surge capacity, PPE conservation, patient placement
   
• Innovative IV Pump Placement
  How to relocate medical equipment to conserve PPE usage.
  American Society for Health Care Engineering
  
  Keywords: PPE conservation, negative pressure
   
• Airborne Contaminant Removal table
  Air changes/hour (ACH) and time required for airborne-contaminant removal by efficiency.
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  
  Keywords: Air changes
   
  • VIDEO: Determining Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) in the Field
    American Society for Health Care Engineering
    
    Keywords: Air changes, negative pressure

News

• CMS suspends majority of survey activity until April 10, 2020
  In S&C Letter QSO-20-20-All CMS expanded on their March 4 S&C Letter QSO-20-12-All by suspending all survey activity except compliant/facility-reported incident surveys and targeted infection control surveys for three weeks. Additionally, CLIA surveys will be prioritized based on immediate jeopardy situations over recertification surveys.
   
• CMS Takes Action Nationwide to Aggressively Respond to Coronavirus National Emergency
  CMS report from March 13, 2020 regarding declaration of national emergency
  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
   
• The Joint Commission to Suspend Surveying in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak
  March 16, 2020
  American Hospital Association

Articles

• Air quality and infection prevention
  The facility engineer’s often overlooked role in ensuring patient safety.
  Health Facilities Management
   
• Handling indoor air quality concerns
  Layered approach to ensuring safety moves from design and installation to routine hazard surveillance.
  Health Facilities Management
   
• University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic Partner to Provide Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing
  Cleveland Clinic
   
• HHS conducts large-scale drill for transporting infectious patients
  The department shares lessons learned from drill in which more than 50 organizations participated.
  Health Facilities Management
   
• Simulator helps hospitals prepare for emergency response
  Connecticut hospitals participate in simulation to comply with CMS' Emergency Preparedness Rule.
  Health Facilities Management
   
• Survey shows hospital staff are better trained to confront Ebola
  Infection preventionists say, however, many facilities still lack manpower resources.
  Health Facilities Management

Also,

On Demand Videos MEMBERS-ONLY

Source: ASHE (11.04.2020)

COVID-GYAN : A Pan-India-Institutional Resource hub of Scientific understanding on COVID-19

COVID-GYAN

A Pan-India-Institutional Resource hub of Scientific understanding on COVID-19 

What is COVID-Gyan?

A multi-institutional, multi-lingual science communication initiative, called CovidGyan, has been created to deal with just this challenge. The initiative is the brainchild of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC). Other prominent partners include Vigyan Prasar, IndiaBioscience, and the Bangalore Life Science Cluster (BLiSC, which comprises InStem and C-CAMP, in addition to NCBS-TIFR). An outcome of this initiative is the launch of the CovidGyan website: https://covid-gyan.in.

This website serves as a hub to bring together a collection of resources in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These resources are generated by public supported research institutions in India and associated programs. The content presented here relies on the best available scientific understanding of the disease and its transmission.

Website: https://covid-gyan.in
Videos in 12 languages: https://covid-gyan.in/videos
Contact email: contact@covid-gyan.in

Source: https://covid-gyan.in (08.04.2020)

IndiaFightsCorona (COVID-19)

#IndiaFightsCorona (COVID-19)

The Helpline Number for corona-virus : +91-11-23978046 or 1075

Government of India is taking all necessary steps to ensure that we are prepared well to face the challenge and threat posed by the growing pandemic of COVID 19 – the Corona Virus. With active support of the people of India, we have been able to contain the spread of the Virus in our country. The most important factor in preventing the spread of the Virus locally is to empower the citizens with the right information and taking precautions as per the advisories being issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Important Information
For Corona - Virus

+91-11-23978046 or 1075

Dial National Helpline Number

States & Union Territories

View pdf for Helpline Number

ncov2019[at]gov[dot]in

Helpline Email ID

States/UTs for quarantine

Guidelines

Notifications & Guidelines

• Guidelines for notifying COVID-19 affected persons by Private Institutions
  View
• Standard Operating Procedure for Passenger Movement post Disembarkation New 
  View
• Guidelines on Dead Body Management 
  View
• DoPT OM - Preventive measures to be taken to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  View
• Latest Testing Guidelines of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  View
• Discharge policy for suspect or confirmed Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases 
  View
• Gazette Notification - Essential Commodities Order, 2020 - with regards to Masks and Hand Sanitizers
  View
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) Order regarding Masks, Hand Sanitizers and Gloves
  View
• Watch all COVID-19 management videos here
  View
• Updated Guidelines on Clinical Management of COVID-19 :
  View
• Guidance on Surveillance for human infection with 2019-nCoV:
  View
• Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities
  View
• Guidance for sample Collection, Packaging and Transportation for Novel Coronavirus:
  View
• Guidelines on use of masks by public
  View
• Guidelines for home quarantine
  View
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for COVID-19 Management- International Cruise Ships at major Indian Ports
  View
• Kerala COVID 19 updates and advisory
  View

For more updates refer https://www.mohfw.gov.in/

Source: https://www.mygov.in/covid-19/?utm_source=mygov_campaign (20.03.2020)

Rotary India Humanity Hero Awards 2020 (Last Date: 15th January, 2020.)

Rotary India Humanity Hero Awards 2020

Submission Last Date: 15th January, 2020.

ABOUT:

Rotary is organizing "Rotary India Humanity Hero Awards" where 4 unsung heroes from India will be awarded. If you look around, you will find some outstanding people who take time out to do good for others and yet, their stories of goodness remain unsung. They are the Unsung Heroes.

With a focus on Economic Development, Health, Literacy and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, we wish to present awards to four Humanity Heroes from across India. These are people who swam against the tide to bring change in the lives of people by providing love, care and support, at times with meagre budget but always with great passion and a will to serve others.

These are real life heroes who may have been working for people by creating, sustainable, measurable, and long-term economic improvements in their communities and livelihoods. They are the people who have also ensured that people have sustainable access to water and sanitation by supporting programs that enhance communities' awareness of the benefits of safe water, sanitation and hygiene. They might also have worked for promoting disease prevention programs, with the goal of limiting communicable\non-communicable diseases or may have educated and mobilized communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases. They are the people who have gone beyond their call of duty, saved every penny of their earnings and set up schools or have send hundreds of children back to school and have ensured that both children and adult have sustainable access to basic education and literacy, etc. The examples can be so many. But because they have not received big awards or they are not in the news, we do not know of them. They are the Unsung Humanity Heroes.

We urge you to look out for such people / organisation and recommend them for the "Rotary India Humanity Hero Awards". Cash award of Rs. 1,00,000/- and a citation will be presented to each hero at an event scheduled on 14th February, 2020 in Kolkata.

A panel of jury drawn from diverse illustrious backgrounds will decide and shortlist candidates from each category who will be then put up for online voting by only Indians.

So find the Humanity Heroes and fill the application online by 15th January, 2020.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

1. nly Indian nationals or an Indian organization (formed or registered in India) can apply.
2. Both self-application & recommendation are allowed.
3. Work done should directly relate to Economic Development, Health, Literacy and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene - Creating awareness/ Sensitization/Direct Contribution
4. Currently active and/or involved.
5. Should have not received any State / National / International recognitions or awards.
6. Should not be a member of a Rotary / Inner Wheel Club or blood relative of any Rotarian / Inner Wheel Member.
7. In case of organization, no member of the Governing Body should be a Rotarian / Inner Wheel Member or blood relative of any Rotary / Inner Wheel Club member.
8. The application can only be filled online.
9. The last date for filling Application is 15th January, 2020.

Focus Areas:

Rotary India Humanity Hero Awards will felicitate 4 unsung heroes from India. The applicant must be directly working or contributing towards the following four focus areas.

HEALTH

Candidate working towards :

1. Improving the capacity of local health care professionals
2. Promoting disease prevention programs, with the goal of limiting the spread of communicable diseases and reducing the incidences of and complications from non-communicable diseases
3. Enhancing the health infrastructure of local communities
4. Educating and mobilizing communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases
5. Preventing physical disability resulting from disease or injury
6. Reducing the mortality and morbidity rate for children under the age of five
7. Reducing the maternal mortality and morbidity rate
8. Improving access to essential medical services, trained community health leaders, and health care providers for mothers and their children
9. Any other work directly related to Health.

WATER AND SANITATION

Candidate working towards :

1. Providing equitable School/community access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene
2. Strengthening the ability of School/communities to develop, fund and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems
3. Supporting programs that enhance communities' awareness of the benefits of safe water, sanitation and hygiene
4. Any other work directly related to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY

Candidate working towards :

1. Support programs that strengthen the capacity of communities to provide basic education and literacy to all
2. Increasing adult literacy in communities
3. Working to reduce gender disparity in education
4. Supporting studies for career-minded professionals related to basic education and literacy
5. Any other work directly related to Literacy

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Candidate working towards :

1. Building the capacity of entrepreneurs, community leaders, local organizations, and community networks to support economic development in impoverished communities
2. Developing opportunities for productive work
3. Reducing poverty in underserved communities
4. Any other work directly related to Economic and Community Development

Nomination Form (Apply Online) / INSTRUCTIONS: 

https://rotaryindiahumanityheroawards.org/form-instructions

Source: https://rotaryindiahumanityheroawards.org/ (09/01/2020)

IIT-Delhi researchers develop AI-based disease detector

The system is apt for low-resource environments, to detect malaria, TB, and cancer within seconds. 

By HRK News Bureau

- March 27, 2019

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi have created a low-power electronic hardware system, based on artificial intelligence (AI), which is capable of detecting malaria, tuberculosis, intestinal parasite and cervical cancer within a few milliseconds.
The researchers aim to build a neuromorphic system exclusively for the healthcare sector, in places where there are limited resources and paucity of specialists.
AI-based software do exist for apps used for diagnosis. However, this is the first time that a portable, low-power and cost-effective hardware has been developed to make AI-based systems available in areas with resource constraints.
While microscopy is most suitable for low-resource areas that are prone to diseases, these special equipment are rather expensive and require trained experts or technicians to operate them. Therefore, these are not feasible in places where there is already a dearth of resources, especially skilled technicians. In such a scenario, diagnosis is often based on observation of symptoms and clinical signs alone. Needless to say, such a process is not reliable and chances of errors are many.
Not surprisingly, treatment based on such erroneous diagnoses results in higher mortality and drug resistance. To add to that, there is the additional issue of having to purchase medicines unnecessarily.
The IIT researchers have managed to come up with the best, most reliable and cost-effective alternative that can ensure quality diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and is ideal for low-resource environments.

Source: 27 March 2019, Daily Newsletter

NETEC Emerging Infectious Disease Workshop - Omaha, NE, September 19th-20th, 2018 at Truhlsen Events Center at UNMC

NETEC Emerging Infectious Disease Workshop - Omaha, NE

September 19th - 20th, 2018 

at Truhlsen Events Center at UNMC

Workshop topics to include:

• Ongoing and Emerging Threats
• Impact of Highly Pathogenic Respiratory Viruses on Planning, Staffing and PPE
• Lessons Learned While Caring for Patients with Ebola
• Optional Regional Stakeholders Focus

Concentration Tracks:

Attendees will have the opportunity to select from one of three tracks to attend during the workshop.

EMS/Prehospital: Targeted for EMTs, paramedics, first responders and their leadership. This is an operational course focusing on appropriate use of PPE in infectious pathogen scenarios, vehicle preparation and decontamination, challenges faced during transport and patient hand-off.

Health Care and Public Health Leader: For clinical and operational decision makers, Emergency Managers, nursing and laboratory leadership. This track will focus on incident management, exercise planning and execution, public health concerns and concepts, and preparation of facilities and team.

*Clinician: For the clinical staff, including laboratorians, required to wear PPE. Didactic sessions for nurse and laboratory personnel will focus on different elements of PPE, including donning and doffing protocols, the role of the trained observer, advanced clinical skills, and special populations concerns (e.g. Pediatrics, OB, and other special populations)Clinical skills topics will vary by workshop location, and may include: specimen collection, peripheral IV insertion, urinary catheter placement, containment wrap for transport, and spills management.*Laboratorians in the Clinician track will have the option to attend a specialized session: Laboratory Theory and Practice.

PPE:

Participants selecting the Clinicians track or the optional Day 2 session: Laboratory Theory and Practice will be asked to bring their facility's full PAPR “wet” level or equivalent PPE. Each attendee will be wearing full PPE for 2 – 4 hours each day.

• PPE Requirements: Full institutional ensemble for two days, to include suit or gown, shoe covers, apron (if used), PAPR or equivalent, to include belt and battery, gloves.

A form letter for travel with PPE equipment is available for download here.

Click here to download the Workshop flyer

Source: https://netec.org/training/ and https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0013-0021-44c5eaf3afe648538d229a28e2fabe4d

Research Fellowships in Humanities and Social Science -2018 , Wellcome Trust, London

Research Fellowships in Humanities and Social Science

(An award up to £275,000.)

By 

Wellcome Trust, London

This scheme supports postdoctoral researchers in health-related humanities and social sciences who do not hold established academic posts.

Scheme at a glance:

Career stage: Early, Intermediate, Returning to research

Level of funding: Salary and research expenses covered

Duration of funding: Up to 3 years

Who can apply: You can apply for a Research Fellowship if you’re a postdoctoral researcher who wants to carry out an extended period of research on your own project.
You must not have a permanent contract, or a contract that will last longer than this fellowship.
You should also:

• be based (or planning to be based) in the UK, Republic of Ireland or a low- or middle-income country
• have sponsorship from an eligible host organisation.

In most cases, applicants should have been awarded a PhD before they apply.

What we're looking for:

We will assess:

• the significance and originality of your proposed research
• the suitability and relevance of your approach to your research topic
• your previous research contributions eg publications, conference papers, public engagement and policy-related work
• the suitability of the host organisation for your research and for developing your independent career.

We consider applications from researchers in the early stages of their careers as well as more established researchers. We’ll consider the suitability of your previous research contributions according to your career stage and experience.
If you’ve been away from research (eg for a career break, parental leave or long-term sick leave), we’ll take this into account when we consider your application.
Most successful applicants will be pursuing university research careers. But we also encourage researchers who want to follow health-related research careers elsewhere.
We encourage you to check that your application is competitive by discussing your project with:

• your intended supervisor
• researchers in relevant health-related fields
• the research office at your host organisation.

What we Offer: A Research Fellowship is for up to three years, or you can hold it part-time over a longer period.

An award will not usually be above £275,000. Support includes: 

1. a basic salary (determined by your host organisation)

2. personal removal expenses

3. research expenses

During your fellowship, you can apply for public engagement funds to involve the public in your research and inspire learning.

Key dates: We consider applications twice a year. January 2018 round.

• Preliminary application deadline: 11 January 2018, 17:00 GMT.

• Full application deadline: 29 March 2018, 17:00 BST.

• Shortlisting: May 2018.

• Interviews: July 2018.

How to Apply: You must submit your application through the Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker (WTGT).

Start your application

 

CONTACT: Contact our information officers if you have a question about funding.

• Send a message
• +44 (0)20 7611 5757

f you have a question about the scope and content of your proposal, contact the relevant person in our Humanities and Social Science team.

• Wellcome Trust, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

SOURCE: https://wellcome.ac.uk/funding/research-fellowships-humanities-and-social-science (10/11/2017)

Call for Papers: BRITISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH, Vol.3 (6), June 2016.

Call for Papers

BRITISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH RESEARCH
(BJMHR)

ISSN: 2394-2967

Submit your manuscript for Volume 3, Issue 6, June 2016 at editor@bjmhr.com

Processing charges: To publish a research/review article in coming issue, processing charges are for Indian Rs.1500/- and 75 $ USD for others.

Author guideline and copy right form available at www.bjmhr.com

CONTACT: Editor-In-Chief, British Journal of Medical and Health Research
Email: editor@bjmhr.com | website : www.bjmhr.com

Source: An email message from editor@bjmhr.com