Greater Chennai Corporation unveils app for telemedicine

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologies

The Greater Chennai Corporation on Tuesday launched an app offering telemedicine services to people free of cost.

Special nodal officer J. Radhakrishnan launched the “GCC Vidmed” app on Tuesday.

Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash was present.

“Residents can use the app to get telemedicine services free of cost 24×7. The pandemic has increased the risk of getting COVID-19 infection in hospitals. The app allows people to consult a physician without visiting the hospital,” said an official. Those availing telemedicine services will be screened for COVID-19 once the doctor finds symptoms.

Arrangements will be made to send teams of doctors to help such residents at home. The information about the residents will be shared with zonal health officials who will assist those at home.

The civic body has started telecounselling for residents in the containment zones.

Any resident can call 044-25384520 to get help, including on civic issues, relating to COVID-19 containment in the city. For example, residents who need ambulance, those who want their neighbourhood sanitised and also report civic issues related to the pandemic can call the number.

Civic officials said the telemedicine services will help at least 4.25 lakh people in containment zones where movement has been restricted. In addition to the residents in 690 containment zones, others who wish to provide information about the risk of infection can call also the helpline.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – May 12th, 2020

Social activist installs sanitiser plant for residents in Chromepet

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Resources of Free Materials, Science & Technologies
The sanitiser plant installed for residents at New Colony in Chromepet | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The sanitiser plant installed for residents at New Colony in Chromepet | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The plant is helping residents and shopkeepers in the locality get sanitisers free of cost

Social activist V. Santhanam has come forward to show the way for residents to fight COVID-19 by installing a 1,000-litre capacity sanitiser plant.

The sanitiser plant, installed in front of his house in New Colony in Chromepet is helping residents and shopkeepers in the locality to get sanitisers free of cost.

Mr. Santhanam said the use of sanitisers is being recommended by health officials to prevent COVID-19 infections. As a social cause, a sanitiser-making unit has been installed, wherein residents can come with a one-litre bottle and fill their bottles for free.

The sanitiser plant cost ₹1.50 lakh and was installed through his family owned Sri Saranagathi Seva Trust, he said. Mr. Santhanam said the sanitiser plant was installed by Noble ECo Systems in Vengaivasal. The sanitiser plant has very low operational costs, with only two units of electricity being consumed per day for running the plant and the raw material for producing sanitiser being salt, it does not cost much, Mr. Santhanam added.

The sanitiser plant was inaugurated by Pallavaram Municipal Commissioner Mathivanan on Sunday.

A large number of residents and commercial establishments including provision shops are benefiting from this in the area.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – May 11th, 2020

IIT-Madras startup creating textile with antimicrobial material to tackle coronavirus

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

The coated textiles can be primarily used to manufacture N95 masks, surgical masks, PPE and food packaging bags, among others, with inherent properties of inactivating the virus.

A petrol pump employee wearing personal protective equipment PPE kit at a fuel filling station in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav/EPS)
A petrol pump employee wearing personal protective equipment PPE kit at a fuel filling station in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav/EPS)

Chennai :

An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras-incubated startup Muse Wearables is developing novel and scalable methods for coating textiles with nanoparticles-based antimicrobial agents that can inactivate the human coronavirus on contact, the Institute said on Monday.

These coatings are expected to be effective up to 60 wash cycles, thereby making the textiles re-usable.

The coated textiles can be primarily used to manufacture N95 masks, surgical masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and food packaging bags, among others, with inherent properties of inactivating the virus.

According to the Institute, Muse Wearables’ current pilot machine can coat textiles of length up to 100 metres within a few minutes, thereby making it a viable commercial solution that can be deployed immediately.

Muse Wearables was incubated by IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

“They have quickly mobilised and repurposed their offerings in response to the situation and are striving to make a positive contribution to the nation’s anti-virus efforts,” Dr Tamaswati Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer, IIT Madras Incubation Cell, said in a statement.

Some highlights of these nano-particles coated textiles include, anti-microbial properties — it continuously captures and destroys viruses and other microbes upon contact. Other viruses are as small as 30 nanometres can also be inactivated permanently.

It does not leach while washing in water and is environment-friendly. At present, the particles can be coated on materials like cotton, polyester and cotton – polyester. More fabrics will be tested soon.

It is non-toxic and therefore can be safely used for making masks and other PPEs, the Insititute.

Currently, the startup is assembling the coating machine and will shortly commence coating various textiles with different nanoparticle solutions.

Their coated textiles are expected to be ready for testing by the first week of May 2020. The start-up is also partnering with a mask manufacturing company to launch five-layered Antiviral N95 Masks at an estimated price of Rs 300 per piece.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by IANS / May 04th, 2020