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In the middle of COVID-19 corona virus pandemic situation in India people from academic field are still trying to cope up with the situation by following new normal way of living. The study explores the parents experience about online education system in the state of Maharashtra, India. Study shows both sides of online education system during pandemic. A likert scale questionnaire was designed to distribute amongst the parents of different age group to collect all the need full data for the research. Questionnaire was sent to parents through Google form in defined geographical area and only valid responses considered for study. Also, the study of literature is done through various research papers, articles and journals to understand the concept. It is observed that parents are aware about the importance of online education system in such a pandemic situation. But still there are many parents who are in support of off line education system as they say that it is the only correct method for the academic and social development of children. Furthermore, parents who monitored their children during online education experienced, it resulted better in terms ofunderstandingthetopics,engagementduringtheclass,effectiveutilizationofinternetconnection, not as much of stressful as offline education etc. and felt it is a necessity in current pandemic situation. To summaries the experiences of parents regarding online and off line education, all of them agreed on the fact that it should be mixture of online education and off line education system for the overall development of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 infections and deaths have largely been uneven within and between countries. With 17% of the world's population, India has so far had 13% of global COVID-19 infections and 8.5% of deaths. Maharashtra accounting for 9% of India's population, is the worst affected state, with 19% of infections and 33% of total deaths in the country until 23rd December 2020. Though a number of studies have examined the vulnerability to and spread of COVID-19 and its effect on mortality, no attempt has been made to understand its impact on mortality in the states of India.Method: Using data from multiple sources and under the assumption that COVID-19 deaths are additional deaths in the population, this paper examined the impact of the disease on premature mortality, loss of life expectancy, years of potential life lost (YPLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) in Maharashtra. Descriptive statistics, a set of abridged life tables, YPLL, and DALY were used in the analysis. Estimates of mortality indices were compared pre- and during COVID-19.Result: COVID-19 attributable deaths account for 5.3% of total deaths in the state and have reduced the life expectancy at birth by 0.8 years, from 73.2 years in the pre-COVID-19 period to 72.4 years by the end of 2020. If COVID-19 attributable deaths increase to 10% of total deaths, life expectancy at birth will likely reduce by 1.4 years. The probability of death in 20-64 years of age (the prime working-age group) has increased from 0.15 to 0.16 due to COVID-19. There has been 1.06 million additional loss of years (YPLL) in the state, and DALY due to COVID-19 has been estimated to be 6 per thousand.Conclusion: COVID-19 has increased premature mortality, YPLL, and DALY and has reduced life expectancy at every age in Maharashtra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This write-up is a brief reflection of a rural doctor couple, Dr. Himmatrao Saluba Bawaskar (HSB) and Dr. Pramodini Himmatrao Bawaskar (PHB), working in the remote area of Maharashtra state of India during COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, rural doctors are routinely exposed to symptomatic COVID-positive cases in the outpatient as well as indoor setting. The authors, both husband and wife, were in compulsory quarantine for twice at home and experienced social stigmas attached to a positive case. Here is a report the details of COVID-19 pattern and its management learned from the published scientific papers on COVID-19, and severe acute respiratory syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2 from December 2019 and their own experience in rural setting and the current literature shared in the form of personal narration. Apart from the personal experience of patients experience regarding quarantine period, COVID-19 is discussed in detail for the benefit of rural practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering profession for students and diverse students for Engineering Campuses (ECs) is the prestige to have for both. Worldwide higher education has been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, but particularly pulling padlocked doors of Indian engineering campuses (ECs) down. Students' attitudes regarding choice, liking, and preferences were also affected. Knowing how tough 'college choice' was before the pandemic, one can guess how difficult it will be today. The objective of this study was to explore students' perceptions of choice characteristics related to ECs and diverse students enabling choice decisions under the COVID-19 situation, and to discover any possible relationships among them. Research questions were qualitatively examined with the statistical confirmation of related hypothesizes by utilizing ANOVA and Regression analysis. A self-reported quantitative survey composed of a closed-ended structured questionnaire was administered on the students of first-year engineering who had recently enrolled in ECs of North Maharashtra Region of India, after pandemic hitting India. According to the study, ECs have several characteristics impacting students' selection of ECs under pandemic. The influence of proximity, image and reputation, educational quality, and curriculum delivery was significant in contributing sustainability of ECs. This influence was significant across students' psychological and behavioural biases on likes, choices, and preferences. Furthermore, multiple relationships were noted within the sub-groups of demographic, geographic, socioeconomic, academic performance, and psychological and behavioural traits due to the impact of ECs' characteristics on sustainability. The study has provided a framework for policymakers and administrators to strengthen repositioning towards sustainability while capturing potentially diverse enrolments. Even if we have to coexist with pandemic forever or with more similar pandemics, the findings of this study may undergo a fundamental transformation for ECs (existing and forthcoming). On the other hand, by understanding the importance and relations of choice characteristics may smoothen the complex nature of "college choice" for prospective students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, SARS-CoV-2 has moved from one tide to another with ebbs in between. Genomic surveillance has greatly aided the detection and tracking of the virus and the identification of the variants of concern (VOC). The knowledge and understanding from genomic surveillance is important for a populous country like India for public health and healthcare officials for advance planning. An integrative analysis of the publicly available datasets in GISAID from India reveals the differential distribution of clades, lineages, gender, and age over a year (Apr 2020–Mar 2021). The significant insights include the early evidence towards B.1.617 and B.1.1.7 lineages in the specific states of India. Pan-India longitudinal data highlighted that B.1.36* was the predominant clade in India until January–February 2021 after which it has gradually been replaced by the B.1.617.1 lineage, from December 2020 onward. Regional analysis of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 indicated that B.1.617.3 was first seen in India in the month of October in the state of Maharashtra, while the now most prevalent strain B.1.617.2 was first seen in Bihar and subsequently spread to the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and West Bengal. To enable a real time understanding of the transmission and evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes, we built a transmission map available on https://covid19-indiana.soic.iupui.edu/India/EmergingLineages/April2020/to/March2021. Based on our analysis, the rate estimate for divergence in our dataset was 9.48 e-4 substitutions per site/year for SARS-CoV-2. This would enable pandemic preparedness with the addition of future sequencing data from India available in the public repositories for tracking and monitoring the VOCs and variants of interest (VOI). This would help aid decision making from the public health perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge, awareness, and practices (KAP) about COVID-19 among the marine fishers who are engaged in the high-risk occupations and depend on the vulnerable sources of income in the Maharashtra state of India, were investigated to understand the behavioral changes and vulnerability among the respondents because of COVID-19. Data were collected through an online survey from 1st July to 30th July 2020 during the first peak of COVID-19 in the study area by using the questionnaire. Authors based on the latest recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the questionnaire and covered the KAP aspects under study. The questionnaire was administered through Google form link and the link was disseminated through social media such as Facebook and What's App. The completed responses (n = 533) received from the eligible sample, excluding those outsides of the fisher community and duplicate entries were considered for analysis. Appropriate statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Among the respondents, 447 men (83.86%) and 86 women (16.14%), with a mean age of 45.4 years (M = 45.4, SD = 1.18). The results revealed that 70.92% of respondents perceived a low risk of infection because of COVID-19 with M = 1.77 and SD = 0.583, but authors found the perceived severity score high (M = 3.95, SD = 1.21) among the 60.97% of respondents. Around 95% of respondents were aware of the COVID-19, while almost all respondents knew the medium of infection and symptoms of COVID-19. The behavior of respondents towards COVID-19 infection was positive and was following sufficient precautionary measures suggested by WHO to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the demographic features of respondents like age, education were significantly contributing to the KAP of the fisher community. The results confirmed the importance of KAP which is reflected in the behavioral responses of the fishers while tackling the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The results regarding the risk perception, severity, KAP about COVID-19 provide a collective understanding of the emerging infectious disease among the marine fishers of Maharashtra state of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus is spreading globally with an increasing rate of mortality. It is spreading in all state of India with different strains. Maharashtra is one of the most severely impacted states in India, having the highest number of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease) cases. Currently, there is no effective treatment for COVID-19. As social distancing and all other preventive measures are very costly from both social and economic points of view. Therefore, vaccination is now only a critical new tool to make our immune system stronger in the battle against COVID-19. Using geo-visualization tools, this review article aims to investigate the present status of COVID-19 vaccination in Maharashtra, India. The current status is shown through compiled maps of district-wise vaccination by age, vaccination by gender, vaccine category, total vaccination doses, and total vaccination has done in Maharashtra till July 2, 2021. The collected COVID-19 vaccination data is processed for the required results. The special distribution map for a different parameter of the present study has been carried out using Arc GIS software. After processing and combining vaccination and geospatial data, we compiled and generated district-wise graduated colour maps of Maharashtra. This review article briefly covers the Introduction, vaccination and its importance, and district-wise COVID-19 vaccination status of Maharashtra. Some basic advice and suggestions to improve the vaccination rate are also covered. The data and outcomes presented in this review are susceptible to change over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 presenting as SARI (severe acute respiratory syndrome) mandates the need for ICU (intensive care unit) hospitalization, increasing healthcare burden. This study aims to determine knowledge of healthcare professionals towards management of SARI in COVID-19 suspected cases. Methods: A total of 313 healthcare professionals from the state of Maharashtra, India completed a questionnaire-based survey study adapted from the WHO interim guidance for management of SARI in COVID-19 suspected cases. Convenience sampling method was used and the distribution of responses was presented as frequencies and percentages. Sub-groups were classified on the basis of gender, age, profession and ICU vs. Non-ICU setting. Descriptive statistics were performed for all groups based on percentage of correct responses and individual pairwise comparisons were done using the Chi-Square test. Results: The median and mean percentage of correct responses for all sub groups was only 66.80% and 58.62% respectively. A higher percentage of total correct responses were those from the ICU setting with a higher overall performance from medical postgraduates. The nursing and allied healthcare professionals had a poor overall performance. Conclusions: The findings indicate lacunae in several aspects of SARI management which calls for nationwide studies and implementation of comprehensive training programmes. A uniform structured training program with team-oriented crisis resource management suitable for all healthcare professionals irrespective of prior training in COVID-19 management must be implemented. Furthermore, the findings of this study can serve as a baseline to develop training resources for healthcare professionals for COVID-19 management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]