Udisha Srivastav &Amp;Amp; Ruchika Chitravanshi

Stories by Udisha Srivastav &Amp;Amp; Ruchika Chitravanshi

'We are moving fast towards the peak of the epidemic'

'We are moving fast towards the peak of the epidemic'

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2020

Unsurprised by the rising numbers, epidemiologists are concerned about the virus reaching rural and tribal areas where the health infrastructure is weak, reports Ruchika Chitravanshi.

'Covid has not crushed demand for foreign education, it has only delayed it'

'Covid has not crushed demand for foreign education, it has only delayed it'

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2020

'Students are taking a keen interest in a hybrid model, where they start classes online and then complete the course on campus.'

Companies allowed to extend AGMs by up to 3 months

Companies allowed to extend AGMs by up to 3 months

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2020

Indian companies are required to hold AGMs within six months of closure of the financial year.

Covid-19: Testing times for plasma banks

Covid-19: Testing times for plasma banks

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2020

While the process of extracting plasma itself is simple, doctors say that it is the screening of donors, testing and filling up of numerous forms that takes time.

Swachh Bharat man, Param Iyer calls it a day as sanitation secy

Swachh Bharat man, Param Iyer calls it a day as sanitation secy

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2020

Iyer, popularly called Param, is keen to return to the US where he had spent several years working with the World Bank at its Washington office -- a job he later quit to become road manager for his daughter, a professional tennis player.

COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt from Delhi, Mumbai

COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt from Delhi, Mumbai

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2020

The two cities finally got their act together by ramping up the testing capacity and implementing stricter quarantine norms.

India may see wave of peaks in COVID-19 cases

India may see wave of peaks in COVID-19 cases

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2020

Many experts feel the concept of a national peak is nebulous, given that the growth in case numbers is dominated by a handful of states.

Drop in health expenditure amid pandemic surprises experts

Drop in health expenditure amid pandemic surprises experts

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2020

The ministry of health and family welfare spent Rs 3,948 crore in May this year compared to Rs 7,816 crore in the corresponding month of the previous year. On the other hand, at Rs 12,930 crore, the expenditure had risen almost 200 per cent in April against Rs 4,327 crore in the corresponding month of 2019-20.

Where's the Covid-19 data, ask scientists

Where's the Covid-19 data, ask scientists

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2020

Epidemiologists worry there's little or no data being shared on mortality by age group and contacts traced, which makes it difficult to understand how the effects of Covid-19 might be different in the Indian population, reports Ruchika Chitravanshi

COVID-19: Govt panel recommends capping private hospitals' rates

COVID-19: Govt panel recommends capping private hospitals' rates

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2020

The committee has recommended Rs 8,000-10,000, Rs 13,000-15,000, and Rs 15,000-18,000 including PPE costs for isolation beds, and ICUs with or without ventilator, respectively, to all hospitals. Currently, hospitals are charging Rs 24,000-25,000, Rs 34,000-43,000 & Rs 44,000-54,000 (excluding PPE cost).

Health expenditure in April trebles to Rs 13,000 crore

Health expenditure in April trebles to Rs 13,000 crore

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2020

Experts say a large part of the expenditure in April was spent on heads such as creating infrastructure for testing capacity and procuring testing kits, among other things.

ICMR study hints at much wider spread of COVID-19

ICMR study hints at much wider spread of COVID-19

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2020

ICMR's serological survey, whose findings will be made public next week, suggests that the rate of contagion may be a lot higher in most-affected cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.

Senior citizens account for 50% of India's COVID-19 deaths

Senior citizens account for 50% of India's COVID-19 deaths

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2020

Nearly half of all coronavirus patients in the country have been cured, taking the recovery rate to over 48 per cent.

No signs of Covid curve flattening, cases to peak in Jul-Aug

No signs of Covid curve flattening, cases to peak in Jul-Aug

Rediff.com   18 May 2020

'We don't know how complicated things will get with the onset of the monsoon.'

As India learns to 'live' with COVID-19, hospitals brace for new normal

As India learns to 'live' with COVID-19, hospitals brace for new normal

Rediff.com   12 May 2020

Most feel as the movement of people normalises, the in-patient volumes in hospitals will grow and by the end of May, occupancy should be around 50 per cent, and 75 per cent over a period of time.

Audit cos to go digital for clearing lockdown hurdle

Audit cos to go digital for clearing lockdown hurdle

Rediff.com   11 May 2020

There has been an exponential increase in the use of technology to validate financial numbers, with a greater reliance on electronic evidence, use of live videos where possible, data analytics, and project management software to overcome the physical limitations in verifying transactions and accounts.

Explain how you contracted COVID-19: Delhi govt to medics

Explain how you contracted COVID-19: Delhi govt to medics

Rediff.com   2 May 2020

A letter sent out by Delhi government asked all medical directors to provide a written explanation on how the health workers contracted the disease despite wearing protective gear, maintaining safe distancing and taking all precautions.

Can disinfectant tunnels actually spray out the virus?

Can disinfectant tunnels actually spray out the virus?

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2020

These are becoming one of the most in-demand commodities in the COVID world with malls, offices, banks, and shops lining up to install the structure at their entrances. The company swamped with these orders is a relatively new one, Chennai-based Nanolife, which has patented its Rajat Bhasma formula or the silver nanoparticles solution as a healthy disinfectant. Sceptics, however, say if a person is potentially exposed to the COVID-19 virus, spraying the external part of the body would not kill the microbe, which is inside the body.

Bankruptcy: India Inc gets breather for 6 months

Bankruptcy: India Inc gets breather for 6 months

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2020

Govt has decided to suspend Sections 7, 9, and 10, which are used to trigger insolvency proceedings for six months or a period not exceeding one year from the date they commence.

Elephant in the room: Is it community infection or no?

Elephant in the room: Is it community infection or no?

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2020

'Call it by whichever name, but there is transmission happening between people.'