Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in August 2020
When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).
To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
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Great to see Amitabh Bachchan recover and get back home https://twitter.com/SrBachchan/status/1289889025474535425
Above tweet text (of Amitabh Bachchan): "T 3613 - I have tested CoVid- have been discharged. I am back home in solitary quarantine.
Grace of the Almighty, blessings of Ma Babuji, prayers & duas of near & dear & friends fans EF .. and the excellent care and nursing at Nanavati made it possible for me to see this day ."
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From COVID-19: Serum Institute gets nod for Phase 2, 3 trials of Oxford vaccine, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/covid-19-dcgi-nod-to-sii-for-phase-2-and-3-human-clinical-trials-of-oxford-vaccine-candidate/article32256595.ece, 3rd Aug. 2020
Drugs Controller General of India has given approval to Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, to conduct Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca — COVID-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) in India.
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“The firm has to submit safety data, evaluated by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), to the CDSCO before proceeding to phase 3 clinical trials,” a senior official said. “As per the study design, each subject will be administered two doses four weeks apart (first dose on day one and second dose on day 29) following which the safety and immunogenicity will be assessed at predefined intervals.”
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“According to the application, it would conduct an observer-blind, randomised controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of ‘Covishield’ on healthy Indian adults,” the official said.
--- end short extracts from Hindu article ---
Ravi: Good to see India getting the benefit of R&D done by Oxford University and Astra Zeneca (in UK, I believe) for COVID vaccine. I had read about India R&D COVID vaccines getting field tested but I had not known or noted that the Oxford University-Astra Zeneca vaccine would get field tested in India besides its UK field tests.
I read elsewhere that Serum Institute of India (SII) has plans to provide 50% of its production for India while using the other 50% for UK, and other countries.
Note that SII is NOT a govt. orgn. but a proprietorship company (not even a private limited company) owned by a father-son duo (Poonawala family). Its manufacturing facility seems to be based in or around Pune, Maharashtra. As Pune is quite close to Mumbai, I have visited it many times during the years I was based in Mumbai/Dombivli. I am very happy to see a Maharashtra (my former home state) based private company take on financial risks (as it has invested in manufacturing the vaccine even before its final test results are known) and have the technological and scientific capability for producing Oxford University-Astra Zeneca vaccine in large quantities in this global fight against the very horrible COVID pandemic.
[I thank thehindu.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above small extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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WESTERN MOVIE: "A Long Ride From Hell" [Full Movie] [Free Western] - ENGLISH, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4NsWqctePI, around 1 hr. 30 mins.
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Useful article explaining the various COVID tests - RT-PCR, Rapid Antigen Test, Antibody test etc. being done in India now (some of which are being done in Anantapur district).
Things to know before going for your COVID-19 tests, https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/things-to-know-before-going-for-your-covid-19-tests-6537056/, 3rd Aug. 2020
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PM Narendra Modi wears IIT-Kanpur’s Swasa N-95 mask,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/77384962.cms
But there is some confusion on the sales front. Various companies are selling it as their SWASA mask! Maybe that is just an advertisement misinformation issue. Or maybe there are multiple different N95 mask products with same name of SWASA!
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It just blows my mind to read that Mumbai based Mukesh Ambani is now the world's fourth richest person at estimated wealth of (US) $80.6 billion, after the top 3 richest persons in the world, all Americans who made their billions in Information Technology (Jeff Bezos $187 billion, Bill Gates $121 billion and Mark Zuckerberg $102 billion).
Hmm. In my Mumbai commercial working life days (1984 to 2002), never did I expect that a Mumbai businessman would rise to such extraordinary wealth position. Hats off to Mukesh Ambani for this absolutely awesome achievement based on capitalism and hard work, building on the enterprises created by his father, Dhirubhai Ambani who started off in a very small way!
Even in Dhirubhai Ambani days, Reliance (Ambani's main company), was a business force to reckon with in Mumbai. I have worn at least one shirt stitched from Vimal cloth (a brand name of Reliance textiles products)! I recall that shirt clearly as it was a little flashy (perhaps the cloth had some silk type component) yellow coloured shirt which did attract attention. And in my software industry days, I have even visited one of the Reliance industry big factories in the outskirts of Mumbai for some presentation. They used Wang computers (USA) in those days, if I recall correctly, and Datamatics, my first software company, had a sister company which was the exclusive distributor of Wang computers in India, if I am not mistaken.
Even in those days, its company shares were in great demand in Mumbai (and perhaps other cities in India who would be into investment in those days), as the share holders would get handsome dividends and bonus shares. One of my uncles had some Reliance shares and I think, after he passed away at a somewhat early age, his family benefited quite a bit from that investment. So Dhirubhai Ambani was quite popular in Mumbai I think as he distributed the profits his company made quite generously to his company's shareholders. Many ordinary working class folks in Mumbai who had bought his company's shares, were very happy with the periodic windfalls they would get! I think that was the capitalism public limited company success story model. And Dhirubhai Ambani had brought that capitalism public limited company model success story to Mumbai and India in general. Mukesh Ambani seems to have built up in a grand way on the foundation laid by his father, Dhirubhai Ambani.
Top-level capitalism and associated massive business enterprises and wealth, for almost all of my commercial working life, was always associated mainly with Americans and Europeans. Tatas & Birlas were the big industrial houses of India in my commercial-work days but they were not in the world top league from a financial wealth point of view.
That an Indian, and that too from my former home city of Mumbai, made it to this level, through public limited company businesses that provided/provides products and services to people, and distributes profits to shareholders, is something that is worthy of celebration for India, IMHO.
Mukesh Ambani is now 4th richest man in world. Full list of top 10 billionaires, and their net worth, https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/news-mukesh-ambani-4th-richest-man-in-world-full-list-top-10-billionaires-net-worth-640498, 8th Aug. 2020.
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I have to add that he is richer than any European! For a person from India which was dominated by European powers for a few centuries (mainly Britain but prior to Britain establishing itself as the major power in Indian subcontinent, there were other European powers fighting for control in India like the French, Dutch and Portuguese), this is an extraordinary achievement. And public limited company capitalism is a European creation. So an Indian has picked that up well enough to now be richer than any European! Awesome!
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Very interesting and helpful to note that in at least one serious COVID case in Anantapur around 5 days ago, Remdesivir and Dexamethasone (top drugs to treat hospitalized COVID cases though not sure-shot cures as per my understanding of what WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said) were given
From Anantapur sees curfew for second consecutive Sunday, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/anantapur-sees-curfew-for-second-consecutive-sunday/article32255565.ece, 3rd Aug. 2020
Trainee Collector G. Surya Sai Praveenchand was entrusted with the job of coordinating between various wings of the Government General Hospital, Anantapur--the only designated hospital for COVID in the district.
Mr. Praveenchand would be addressing the issues, including the supply of oxygen through pipeline, pertaining to the hospital.
On Sunday, a patient with 57% oxygen saturation and who was gasping for breath, was immediately provided oxygen support with the help of a mobile cylinder carrier at the ‘First Point of Contact’ - Triage Centre at the entrance of the GGH. Within 24 hours, the man’s condition improved and oxygen saturation went up to 85%.
“We are able to improve the health condition of some of our patients after giving the medicine Remedisivir,” Mr. Praveenchand said. The low oxygen saturation patient was immediately given ‘dexamethasone’ at the Triage Out Patient desk itself to reduce further risk.
--- end wiki extracts ---
[I thank thehindu.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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Coronavirus | Anyone with continuous fever, breathlessness and low oxygen levels to be treated in Andhra Pradesh, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/coronavirus-anyone-with-continuous-fever-breathlessness-and-low-oxygen-levels-to-be-treated-in-andhra-pradesh/article32303944.ece, 8th Aug. 2020
The article quotes Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary (Health, Medical and Family Welfare) K.S. Jawahar Reddy, as saying: "Persons with continuous fever for three-four days, breathlessness, and oxygen saturation level below 94% will be considered as severe symptomatic cases. Even without testing they will be immediately admitted to hospitals and treated. To identify them we have given pulse oxy meters to ANMs and with the help of ward and village volunteers and Asha workers patients would be identified at ground level,"
ANM stands for Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (see https://collegedunia.com/courses/auxiliary-nursing-midwifery-anm-nursing) and Asha/ASHA for Accredited Social Health Activist (see https://www.newsclick.in/Andhra-Pradesh-ASHA-Workers-Wage-Hike). So I think both ASHA and ANM workers are essentially health care workers at field (ground) level reaching out to, and serving, people in villages and towns in rural Andhra Pradesh.
[Repeat main link: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/coronavirus-anyone-with-continuous-fever-breathlessness-and-low-oxygen-levels-to-be-treated-in-andhra-pradesh/article32303944.ece ]
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Good to see this - I understand it to be a COVID recovered head constable who is being welcomed back to duty in Bukkapatnam.
[Post with pic: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2914841558732402 ]
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"Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa has recovered 'completely' from Covid-19 and was on Monday discharged from a private hospital here, the state government said. The 77-year-old leader was admitted to the Manipal Hospital on August 2 after he tested positive for coronavirus."
Ravi: Good to see this. It is encouraging to see many persons recovering from COVID in India, including over 70s persons like CM Yediyurappa of Karnataka.
Karnataka CM Yediyurappa recovers from Covid-19, discharged from hospital,
[Article link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-cm-yediyurappa-recovers-from-covid-19-discharged-from-hospital/articleshow/77463647.cms ]
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Hmm. Russian President Vladimir Putin says one of his two daughters has been inoculated with Russian COVID vaccine! I presume that is true and so this is stunning news! There are reports that Russia has side-stepped proper procedure in testing the vaccine. But it seems that it is ready-for-use in Russia, as per current Russian law (which as per one CNN report, had been amended recently to fast-track release of such vaccines for general use). How effective it is, will be known in the coming days.
Russia approves first Covid-19 vaccine for use, Putin says his daughter inoculated, https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/russia-has-developed-first-covid-19-vaccine-says-president-putin/story-O0jsaC8znG8BbxT5sTGuJL.html, 11th Aug. 2020
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Some of my comments on above post ( https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2915683925314832 ):
Yes, data seems to be an issue. But phase 3 trials of the Russian COVID vaccine is to be held in quite a few countries, ****including India**** as per another report.
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I modified the main post. Here are some sentences I added, along with some unmodified sentence(s) for context: There are reports that Russia has side-stepped proper procedure in testing the vaccine. But it seems that it is ready-for-use in Russia, as per current Russian law (which as per one CNN report, had been amended recently to fast-track release of such vaccines for general use). How effective it is, will be known in the coming days.
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Yes, it is of concern that the vaccine seems to be unsafely fast-tracked (as per Western scientist reports). But if Russia really goes ahead and vaccinates large numbers of people say from September onwards, that will be a very big event in this fight against COVID. Whether that will be a great success or have some horrible problems - one does not know. ... This is a horrible pandemic and a horrible war against it.
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Russia is 4th highest in COVID cases in the world, around 900,000. India is 3rd with 2.26 million.
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India to be involved in Russia’s Sputnik vaccine
The Phase 3 clinical trials will be held in India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Brazil, the Philippines, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/india-to-be-involved-in-russias-sputnik-vaccine-125127, 11th Aug. 2020
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My understanding of the Telugu post is that a lady staff of Puttaparthi municipality who had tested positive for corona (COVID) (around) twenty days ago, and who was in home quarantine, has now returned to duty (after recovery). She was felicitated for coming back to duty after overcoming corona by Puttaparthi municipal commissioner and Puttaparthi DSP (top police officer for Puttaparthi mandal).
Great news! Congratulations to the lady for coming back to duty after recovery (she may have been asymptomatic or mild symptoms case).
Good to see such recoveries in Puttaparthi among persons who had asymptomatic or mild cases of corona/COVID.
[Shared FB post: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1968402923291234&id=659917657473107 ]
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Interesting! COVID antibody test for Rs.600; blood sample has to be provided:
[Linked article: https://www.1mg.com/labs/test/covid-antibody-test-clia-33488 ]
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School re-opening in COVID pandemic - the big challenge!
This longish article gives an analysis of the matter from a USA based doctor and parent of three pre-teen and teenage school kids. I have read almost the whole article - will be reading the last part soon. Thought of sharing it right away before I take a break from Internet and Computer to do other stuff.
[USA] Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Why I am not sending my kids back to school, https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/12/health/covid-kids-school-gupta-essay/index.html, 12th Aug. 2020
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Fascinating article. I was able to relate to many of the old 1990s pics of China as I have seen quite similar scenes in rural India of those days. Of course, China has zoomed past India in material development especially of rural China.
[Shared article: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3096181/33-years-changing-china-seen-through-lens ]
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Good to see that Karnataka opposition leader and former CM Siddaramaiah, who is 70+, and who like CM Yediyurappa (also 70+), has now recovered from COVID and has been discharged.
"Siddaramaiah recovers from #Covid19. "His vital parameters were stable and at discharge, he was comfortable and asymptomatic. Follow-up and home quarantine as per guidelines advised," Dr Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Hospitals confirms. " -
https://twitter.com/ralpharakal/status/1293867587726606339 , 13th Aug. 2020.
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On a non-public FB post I wrote:
[For those who may not know - my political neutrality statement first:] Please note that I have a PUBLICLY (POLITICALLY) NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in comments that I put up about USA politics. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me having voted in USA elections. I am a well-wisher of the people of the USA.
The foreword - https://disloyalthebook.com/download-the-disloyal-foreword-written-by-michael-cohen/ - is chilling!!! "I was driving because I couldn’t fly or take the train to Washington. If I had, I was sure I would be mobbed or attacked. For weeks, walking the streets of Manhattan, I was convinced that someone was going to ram me with their car. I was exactly the person Trump was talking about when he said he could shoot and kill someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it. "
Hmm. I-95 is something I can easily relate to, as some of my memories of driving on it many times in the 1980s, are still quite fresh, including driving down, with friends, from Nashua, NH, through New York City, to Washington DC.
I did not know that Michael Cohen had driven down to DC on the eve of his congressional hearing.
It was simply chilling for me to read the threats he received and think about how vulnerable he would have felt as he drove from NYC to Washington DC then.
I am NOT taking sides on this matter - for or against Michael Cohen vis-a-vis President Trump. I don't know what is true and my view is that on these super-sensitive matters, court of law is the best way to determine the truth.
But what has moved me to make this comment, is the level of threats and fear that Michael Cohen has so powerfully expressed in his foreword. Really chilling!
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Good to see Union Home Minister now test negative for Coronavirus
Coronavirus | Amit Shah tests negative for COVID-19, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amit-shah-tests-negative-for-covid-19/article32355981.ece?homepage=true, 14th Aug. 2020
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At around 52 mins into the video, we have PM Modi starting his address to the nation
74th Independence Day 2020: PM Modi unfurls Tricolor & addresses the Nation from Red Fort | PMO, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqaSQB-Nnc, around 2 hrs 30 mins., streamed live by PMO India on 15th Aug. 2020.
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