In India, the number of young people and children who have claimed their lives a new wave of the Coronavirus is sweeping the country, according to what was reported by the French Press Agency, “Agence France Presse,” Sunday.

Some doctors suggest that the reason why people under the age of 45 are more vulnerable is that they go out to work and eat meals outside the home more than those who are older, but there is no conclusive evidence for this.

Young adults may be more susceptible to a new mutated version known as a “double mutation” found in 60% of samples in Maharashtra, which is the hardest hit.

India swept through a new epidemic wave, resulting in a million confirmed infections, within a week, and shook the authorities.

And officials in India at the beginning of the year believed that the country had defeated the epidemic, amid the launch of a massive vaccination campaign.

Residents neglected the wearing of masks and social distancing, with huge crowds taking part in religious festivals and election rallies.

But in hospitals, doctors sounded the alarm against the background of the high number of cases, amid a new phenomenon represented by the admission of more young people to hospitals, due to their infection with the disease, which has always been considered more dangerous for the older groups.

Children in hospitals
And in a country where 65% of the population is under 35 years old, there is growing concern about the impact of the epidemic on young people.

New Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal reported that 65% of new patients are under the age of 45.

While the Indian Medical Research Agency does not have a demographic classification of cases, doctors in major cities confirm that more young patients are being transferred to hospitals.

Although the new Corona virus has infected more than 1.27 million people worldwide, 80% of these cases have mild symptoms.

The World Health Organization confirmed that 80% of the injured recover, noting that every 6 infected person suffers from severe symptoms that reach pneumonia.

Dr. Gon Wilson, president-elect of the Australian Royal College of Physicians and a respiratory physician, in turn, assured the “Guardian” newspaper that all serious infections of the Coronavirus suffer from pneumonia.

Wilson added that people who contract the virus can be classified into four categories, the first being people who are infected with the virus but do not have symptoms, and it is the least dangerous.

And the second category is those who are infected with the virus and its symptoms in the upper respiratory tract such as fever, cough, and headache, and these are able to transmit the infection without knowledge.

As for the third category, it represents the largest number of people infected with the Coronavirus, and they are the people with whom the virus develops to become more like seasonal influenza and are unable to work, so it requires their transfer to hospitals.

While the fourth category includes people with pneumonia.

Wilson pointed out that in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, a study found that among those who tested positive for the virus, nearly 6% had severe symptoms.

While the World Health Organization has confirmed that the elderly and people who suffer from underlying problems such as high blood pressure, heart and lung problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious diseases.

How does pneumonia develop?
As for the stages of development of the infection, Wilson emphasized that the symptoms of fever and coughing for a person with Coronavirus occur as a result of the virus reaching the respiratory tree, which are the air passages that connect air between the lungs and the outside.

He said that viruses infect the lining of the respiratory system and cause a wound in it, which causes inflammation, and this, in turn, irritates the nerves in the lining of the airway, and it appears in the radiation as a patch of dust, which causes coughing.

He added: “If this worsens, which is what happens in the fourth category, it goes beyond the lining of the airway and goes to the gas exchange units, which are at the end of the airways. If these units are injured, they respond by pouring an inflammatory substance into the air sacs located in the Bottom of the lungs. “

He stressed that if the air sacs become inflamed, this causes an “influx of inflammatory materials (fluids and inflammatory cells) into the lungs and ends up with pneumonia, and thus the lung becomes unable to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream, which reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide, and ultimately cause death.

He also stressed that this pneumonia differs from the rest of pneumonia caused by viruses and bacteria, indicating that there is evidence that pneumonia caused by Covid-19 may be severe.

He added that this inflammation affects all parts of the lungs, not small parts, as known infections do.

He said that as soon as we have an infection in the lung, our bodies try to respond, and they struggle to destroy the virus and limit its reproduction, but this response weakens between one person and another, including the elderly and people who suffer from heart, lung, liver, kidney and diabetes diseases, and therefore these are considered The groups most at risk from the virus.

treatment
As for the treatment for this infection, said Dr. Christine Jenkins, President of the Australian Lung Foundation and a respiratory physician: “Unfortunately, we do not yet have anything that can prevent people from contracting pneumonia caused by the Coronavirus.”

She added: “Scientists are already testing all kinds of drugs and we hope to discover that there are different combinations of viral and antiviral drugs that can be effective, but at the present time, there is no existing treatment other than supportive treatment, which is what we provide to people in intensive care.”

She said: “We put the patient on respirators to maintain high levels of oxygen in the body so that the lung can function normally again and recover.”

The World Health Organization announced that the number of new infections with the Coronavirus in the world decreased by 16%, last week, to nearly 2.7 million cases.

On Tuesday, the UN agency revealed new figures, using data issued until Sunday, stating that the number of registered deaths decreased by 10% compared to the previous week, reaching 81,000 deaths.

Five of the six regions that released data reported a decline in the number of injuries, and the eastern Mediterranean region alone recorded an increase of 7%.

The spread of mutated copies
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that “the number of new infections decreased for the fifth week in a row, dropping by about half compared to five million injuries recorded in the fourth week of January.”

He said, “This shows that mere public health measures give results, even in light of the spread of mutated copies of the virus.”

He added, “What matters now is the way in which we will respond to this trend. The fire has not been extinguished, but rather we have reduced its size. If we stop fighting it on any front, it will return with force.”

For 13 years, the ancient New York Times Square used to hold an annual art competition celebrating love for Valentine’s Day, or Valentine’s Day. Previously, tourists would watch the winning artwork on their way to a Broadway show, or while gazing at billboards on the street or visiting M & M’s.

But the situation is different this year, as the number of tourists witnessed a significant decline in February of this year, and the crowds that used to crowd on their way to “Times Square”, no longer preferred it in light of the outbreak of the Corona pandemic.

The winning artwork this year was called “Love Letters,” a monument made of thin wood in the form of two intertwining hearts, which began showing on February 10th. The monument was designed with multiple spaces, allowing visitors to interact with each other while maintaining a safe distance. The work also sheds light on topics broader than love, such as solidarity, collective resilience, and reunification. It also allows visitors to view their love messages, and if they are unable to come, they can send their messages electronically.

A challenging year
“We wanted to expand the idea of ​​love beyond just romantic love,” said Jane Cooney, art program director at Times Square, noting that the program collaborated with design and architecture firm Redmaed to prepare for the competition, adding: “It was a full year.” Challenges on several levels, so we wanted to expand the idea of ​​love to include synergy. “

These new themes represent a broader trend that began to appear in many American cities on this year’s Valentine’s Day. Cities and institutions struggling after a year of losses and isolation as a result of the pandemic decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a new way, just as they did in other areas that were forced to make adjustments to them, from the sidewalks of roads to the interior designs of offices. All this has resulted in a new focus on the love that goes beyond romantic passion, including platonic love and love for the places we consider our home and the societies in which we inhabit.

Love in a broader perspective this year
Also this year, Portland, Maine, in the United States, seeks to continue its ancient history in celebrating Valentine’s Day. In this city, the tradition of “the ghost of Valentines” originated decades ago, with unknown people spreading decorations in the shape of hearts throughout the city.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the downtown area began receiving messages of love addressed to the city and its independent businesses.

Carrie Tyson, executive director of the Portland Downtown Development District, said: “It is a movement that aims to remind you that you love your human brother and love your neighbor and where you are.”

Some believe that these efforts play an effective role in overcoming the barriers imposed by the pandemic, such as wearing masks and social distancing, all of which hinder communication in public places. The pandemic has made interaction between strangers a risky matter and forced them to move away or reconsider their relationship with places that In the past, it was essential to maintaining a social life, from restaurants, cafes, and even houses of worship.

A challenging year
“We wanted to expand the idea of ​​love beyond just romantic love,” said Jane Cooney, art program director at Times Square, noting that the program collaborated with design and architecture firm Redmaed to prepare for the competition, adding: “It was a full year.” Challenges on several levels, so we wanted to expand the idea of ​​love to include synergy. “

Love in a broader perspective this year
Also this year, Portland, Maine, in the United States, seeks to continue its ancient history in celebrating Valentine’s Day. In this city, the tradition of “the ghost of Valentines” originated decades ago, with unknown people spreading decorations in the shape of hearts throughout the city.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the downtown area began receiving messages of love addressed to the city and its independent businesses.

Carrie Tyson, executive director of the Portland Downtown Development District, said: “It is a movement that aims to remind you that you love your human brother and love your neighbor and where you are.”

Some believe that these efforts play an effective role in overcoming the barriers imposed by the pandemic, such as wearing masks and social distancing, all of which hinder communication in public places. The pandemic has made interaction between strangers a risky matter and forced them to move away or reconsider their relationship with places that In the past, it was essential to maintaining a social life, from restaurants, cafes, and even houses of worship.

New stamp to celebrate
Valentines Day is also taking on a new character this year for the same lovers who are always keen to celebrate it. Jane Kim and BJ Kim had married in Times Square on Valentine’s Day in 2014, and they return every year to renew their vows while their three daughters accompany them. They even named their youngest daughter “Valentine” after their favorite holiday.

The couple says their wedding day was especially special because it was taking place in the hustle and bustle of the city, while strangers passed by. For them, the pandemic reminds them that strangers are just as important as close people. “It helps you appreciate all kinds of relationships,” Jain added.

The head of the British genetic surveillance program, Sharon Peacock, said that the emerging coronavirus strain, which was first discovered in the British province of Kent, is on its way “to sweep the world.”

The strain is already circulating in more than 50 countries so far, and it quickly became the most common variant in large parts of the UK within a few months.

Early data indicates that this “most contagious and deadly” strain has symptoms different from the known strain of the emerging coronavirus, which requires new and separate research on it.

More severe symptoms
In general, people with this strain experience the same symptoms as Covid-19, but with a more severe cough. 35% of people who were diagnosed with the virus reported severe frequent coughing, while extreme fatigue and muscle weakness ranked second, affecting 32% of cases, and loss of smell, taste, or both was reported in only 15% of cases.

The mutated version of the virus contains 23 changes compared to its original version (Wuhan version), some of which can affect the body’s immune response and also affect the set of symptoms associated with infection.

A recent study also revealed that the Kent strain acquired a mutation similar to the South African variant, which may make it more vulnerable to vaccine resistance. But it is not yet certain.

Mechanism of mutation
According to the British researcher, “Often errors occur during the viral RNA replication process, and these errors result in viruses that are similar but not identical copies of the original virus. Mistakes in the process of copying viral RNA are called“ mutations. ”The viruses that carry these are called Mutations are “variants.” Variables can be caused by one or more mutations.

Altmann asserts that all mutations have the same effect. When a mutation occurs only at one point; It will not necessarily change any of the building blocks (amino acids) in the way a human or virus is created.

A test for infection with the Coronavirus may require a visit to a medical facility or one of the testing centers via cars, but this is no longer the case in the American city of Oakland, California, as the lobbies of its international airport have a proliferation of machines selling test packages for $ 149 a package.

The black machines provide travelers with semi-self-test packages, which the buyer uses to extract a sample of saliva, then sends it to the laboratory to receive the result within 48 hours via an electronic application, which is the service expected to be provided in a number of other airports and public places.

‘Crisis Service’
Vending machines provide RT-PCR tests to detect the Coronavirus using saliva, which has obtained an emergency use summary by the US Food and Drug Administration, as stated in a report by Forbes.

The company, which produces Wellness for Humanity, is targeting up to 1,000 machines that sell tests of the same class in several US cities during the coming months.

The producing company describes itself as being made up of a group of social entrepreneurs seeking to contribute to the provision of Corona tests urgently, against the background of the pandemic and its impact on the social environment, and it proposes, through the site, alternatives to conducting the tests, either by sending sample units to take home, or buying them From instant vending machines, or going to sampling sites.

The site specifies the price of the sample drawing unit, called SDNA-1000, at $ 149 when buying it from the machines, or delivering the unit to the home. The site also offers a promotional offer to its users by purchasing one package carrying 4 tests at a price of $ 559, as for the fees for renting a machine The sale of units in commercial sites and shops, reaching $ 15,000 for an initial 6-month period, according to the website.

How to use
In addition to the offers and prices, the site also provides a guide to using the test packages, which begins with recording the package on the company’s official website, saving the sample holder’s data, to receive the test result later, and then placing the saliva sample in the designated containers, then adding a chemical spectrum to the sample and shaking it for a few seconds, Taking care not to drink, food, or chewing gum half an hour before applying the sample.

To complete the dispatch process, the packages provide customized bags, bearing the biological hazard symbol, inside which the containers are placed and sealed before re-sending the package by mail to the competent laboratory, whose location is shown on the outer box.