Pandemic gyaan special

The drug Favipiravir: is a prescription-only drug approved for patients with mild to moderate symptoms. It is now being released on the Indian market as Fabi-flu. A strip of 34 tablets costs Rs 3,500. And typical dosage: 18 tabs on Day 1, followed by 8 tabs daily for upto 14 days.  (The Hindu)

Dreaded public toilets: pose multiple but moderate risks. Recent research warned against ‘toilet plumes’ created when we flush the toilet—which fling hordes of virus-laden particles into the air. Then there are taps, towel dispensers and—above all—crowding caused by long lines in a small space. The last being routine in India. The good news: a shared toilet is still less riskier than, say, going to a house party. (National Geographic)

Breathing techniques: The best practice is to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. The reason: your nose produces nitric oxide that helps kill germs of all kinds. A Nobel-prize winner explains how. (The Conversation)

Desperately looking for plasma? Dhoondh.com helps match patients with potential blood plasma donors. Now, not all experts are convinced of the value of plasma therapy in treating acute cases. But it is commonly prescribed by doctors when a patient turns critical—sending the patient’s family on a desperate quest. The reassuring bit about Dhoondh: it is an initiative of two founders who just want to help, having experienced the nightmare of Covid-19 first-hand. (Mint)