'Mission Dharavi': Virus battleground in India's biggest slum

The principal of the Scuderia Ferrari Mattia Binotto has said the team will reconsider their availability in Formula One shortly if austere budget caps are imposed.&nbsp;

Formula One has come to a halt with no races conducted in this year's championship, thus leading to major hit in their finances. So the F1 authorities had decided in cutting down on team budget but Ferrari boss is against this decision as he feels cutting down the budget will risk depreciating F1 as the zenith of motorsport.

In 2019, before the pandemic hit the sport, teams had agreed to a budget cap of $175 million for 2021. But after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the sport has come to a halt. With nine races being cancelled, this year the championship is on the verge of being called off.&nbsp;

After the last week meeting between the FIA and the teams, a budget on $145 million was set for 2021 and $130 million for 2022 was proposed. But the teams did not agree with the budget scale. Binotto, who heads the oldest Formula One team threatened that Ferrari will walk away from the sport.&nbsp;

Mattia Binotto told the Guardian: “The $145m level is already a new and demanding request compared to what was set out last June. It cannot be attained without further significant sacrifices, especially in terms of our human resources. If it was to get even lower, we would not want to be put in a position of having to look at other further options for deploying our racing DNA.”

Ferrari is the oldest team in the sport, who has been competing in the sport since the first championship in 1950.&nbsp;

“F1, we have all sorts of teams with different characteristics,” Binotto said. “They operate in different countries, under different legislation and with their ways of working. Therefore it is not simple and straightforward to make structural changes simply by linearly cutting costs.

“We are well aware that F1 and indeed the whole world right now is going through a particularly difficult time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is not the time to react in a hurry as there’s a risk of making decisions on the back of this emergency without clearly evaluating all the consequences.”

Binotto said that Ferrari has represented the country (Italy, which is one of the worst-hit nations in terms of coronavirus pandemic) and it is their "ethical duty" to look after their personals and avoid large scale job losses. He even stressed that this company is way more than just making profits.&nbsp;

Team Red Bull's principal Christian Horner also did not agree to the new budget planned.&nbsp;

The principal of the Scuderia Ferrari Mattia Binotto has said the team will reconsider their availability in Formula One shortly if austere budget caps are imposed.

The principal of the Scuderia Ferrari Mattia Binotto has said the team will reconsider their availability in Formula One shortly if austere budget caps are imposed. Formula One has come to a halt with no races conducted in this year's championship, thus leading to major hit in their finances. So the F1 authorities had decided in cutting down on team budget but Ferrari boss is against this decision as he feels cutting down the budget will risk depreciating F1 as the zenith of motorsport. In 2019, before the pandemic hit the sport, teams had agreed to a budget cap of $175 million for 2021. But after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the sport has come to a halt. With nine races being cancelled, this year the championship is on the verge of being called off. After the last week meeting between the FIA and the teams, a budget on $145 million was set for 2021 and $130 million for 2022 was proposed. But the teams did not agree with the budget scale. Binotto, who heads the oldest Formula One team threatened that Ferrari will walk away from the sport. Mattia Binotto told the Guardian: “The $145m level is already a new and demanding request compared to what was set out last June. It cannot be attained without further significant sacrifices, especially in terms of our human resources. If it was to get even lower, we would not want to be put in a position of having to look at other further options for deploying our racing DNA.” Ferrari is the oldest team in the sport, who has been competing in the sport since the first championship in 1950. “F1, we have all sorts of teams with different characteristics,” Binotto said. “They operate in different countries, under different legislation and with their ways of working. Therefore it is not simple and straightforward to make structural changes simply by linearly cutting costs. “We are well aware that F1 and indeed the whole world right now is going through a particularly difficult time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is not the time to react in a hurry as there’s a risk of making decisions on the back of this emergency without clearly evaluating all the consequences.” Binotto said that Ferrari has represented the country (Italy, which is one of the worst-hit nations in terms of coronavirus pandemic) and it is their "ethical duty" to look after their personals and avoid large scale job losses. He even stressed that this company is way more than just making profits. Team Red Bull's principal Christian Horner also did not agree to the new budget planned.

Principal of Scuderia Mattia Binotto threatens Ferrari will quit Formula One over COVID-19 cancellations

Andy&nbsp;Murray&nbsp;has said that he would "definitely" play in the rescheduled French Open in September, if it is able to take place as planned.

The tennis season has been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic since last month and will not resume until mid-July at the earliest.

Wimbledon has been cancelled and Roland Garros organisers controversially moved the French Open until September 20-October 4, starting just a week after the end of the US Open, from its usual start date in May.

"I'd definitely play on the clay, if it goes ahead," former world number one&nbsp;Murray&nbsp;told CNN.

"I'm a bit sceptical whether it will. I would imagine tennis would be one of the last sports to get back to normality because you've obviously got players, coaches and teams coming from all over the world into one area.

"I'd be surprised if they're back playing sport by September time, but we'll see."

Murray&nbsp;had been due to return from a hip injury at the Miami Open last month.

The 32-year-old Scot had considered retiring before surgery allowed him to make an initial comeback from injury last year, winning his first ATP title since 2017 in Antwerp last October.

"I was training to get ready for that and that was going to be a good test. I was fit and feeling pretty strong,"&nbsp;Murray, currently ranked 129th in the world, said.

Tennis chiefs said this week they were launching a relief programme would be launched to help lower-ranked players financially during the lockdown.

"Players ranked 250-300 in the world, it's going to be really, really challenging for them," added three-time Grand Slam champion&nbsp;Murray.

"And I think in the last few years, there has been some improvements and some changes, but probably not enough.

"Sometimes you see the prize money cheque for the winner of the Grand Slams. And it's... something like $4 million. Could that money be used better and spent elsewhere in the earlier rounds or the qualifying draws or maybe used to grow some of the smaller events?"

Andy Murray has said that he would "definitely" play in the rescheduled French Open in September, if it is able to take place as planned. The tennis season has been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic since last month and will not resume until mid-July at the earliest.

Andy Murray has said that he would "definitely" play in the rescheduled French Open in September, if it is able to take place as planned. The tennis season has been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic since last month and will not resume until mid-July at the earliest. Wimbledon has been cancelled and Roland Garros organisers controversially moved the French Open until September 20-October 4, starting just a week after the end of the US Open, from its usual start date in May. "I'd definitely play on the clay, if it goes ahead," former world number one Murray told CNN. "I'm a bit sceptical whether it will. I would imagine tennis would be one of the last sports to get back to normality because you've obviously got players, coaches and teams coming from all over the world into one area. "I'd be surprised if they're back playing sport by September time, but we'll see." Murray had been due to return from a hip injury at the Miami Open last month. The 32-year-old Scot had considered retiring before surgery allowed him to make an initial comeback from injury last year, winning his first ATP title since 2017 in Antwerp last October. "I was training to get ready for that and that was going to be a good test. I was fit and feeling pretty strong," Murray, currently ranked 129th in the world, said. Tennis chiefs said this week they were launching a relief programme would be launched to help lower-ranked players financially during the lockdown. "Players ranked 250-300 in the world, it's going to be really, really challenging for them," added three-time Grand Slam champion Murray. "And I think in the last few years, there has been some improvements and some changes, but probably not enough. "Sometimes you see the prize money cheque for the winner of the Grand Slams. And it's... something like $4 million. Could that money be used better and spent elsewhere in the earlier rounds or the qualifying draws or maybe used to grow some of the smaller events?"

Murray 'would play' September French Open, if it goes ahead

Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan is making the most of his family time amid coronavirus lockdown. He took to Twitter and shared a video of him batting against his son Zoravar.

Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan is making the most of his family time amid coronavirus lockdown. He took to Twitter and shared a video of him batting against his son Zoravar. The prolific batsman called it "Quarantine Premier League". Also read: Watch: Seven-year-old Pari Sharma leaves Michael Vaughan, Shai Hope and other top cricketers in awe with her batting skills Dhawan posted the video with a caption: "Quarantine Premier League ka sabse gripping moment Dhawan vs Dhawan." Quarantine Premier League ka sabse gripping moment 😅 Dhawan vs Dhawan 💪🏻😈 pic.twitter.com/fDHVF8nVYC — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) April 22, 2020 × Dhawan is not the only one spending time with his family. Many cricketers such as David Warner, Virat Kohli, James Anderson are among those who shared videos with their loved ones. Australian opening batsman David Warner was seen dancing with his daughter on the famous Bollywood song "Sheila ki Jawaani". View this post on Instagram Indi has asked to also do one for you guys! 😂😂 please help me someone!!!!!! #statue A post shared by David Warner (@davidwarner31) on Apr 17, 2020 at 11:37pm PDT × Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli who are spending and enjoying their quarantine time together, keep their fans occupied with updates of their lives. The couple is usually busy goofing around each other. In a recent video shared by Anushka, she can be seen sharing the screen with husband Virat Kohli as she brings the cricket field experience. Guessing that the cricket husband must be missing some on-field action, Anushka was seen imitating a crowd hoot as she asked for Virat to hit four runs. She was seen saying: "Aye Kohli chauka marna''( Kolhi hit a four) as Kohli gives her a straight face. View this post on Instagram I thought he must be missing being on the field. Along with the love he gets from millions of fans, he must be especially missing this one particular type of fan too. So I gave him the experience 😜😂🏏 A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on Apr 17, 2020 at 12:54am PDT × Veteran England seamer James Anderson is enjoying his break from cricket due to the coronavirus threat. The English pacer spearhead posted a light-hearted video of him lifting his daughters as weights while training at home. He wrote: "The girls are more than happy to help me train at home," in the caption. View this post on Instagram The girls are more than happy to help me train at home 👍 A post shared by James Anderson (@jimmya9) on Mar 17, 2020 at 2:20pm PDT ×

Watch: Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Virat Kohli, among top cricketers spending fun time with family!

Civilians and charities raising millions for coronavirus relief fund

People of Indian origin in the UK have emerged as the worst affected ethnic group from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an official data on COVID-19 deaths in hospitals across England.

Figures released this week by the National Health Service (NHS) England show that of the 13,918 patients who died in hospitals till April 17 after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, 16.2 per cent were of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background and those identifying with Indian ethnicity made up 3 per cent of that.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/eleven-members-of-a-family-in-delhi-test-positive-for-coronavirus-294229" hreflang="en">Eleven members of a family in Delhi test positive for coronavirus</a>

This was followed by Caribbeans as the second-largest ethnic group affected in the COVID-19 death toll at 2.9 per cent, followed by Pakistanis at 2.1 per cent.

The data, only a limited snapshot of the UK-wide COVID-19 tests, follows the British government's announcement of a review into the coronavirus death toll disparity among the BAME population.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-to-test-prevalence-of-coronavirus-in-general-population-294178" hreflang="en">Britain to test prevalence of coronavirus in general population</a>

"We have seen, both across the population as a whole but in those who work in the NHS, a much higher proportion who've died from minority backgrounds and that really worries me," said UK health secretary Matt Hancock while launching the review last week.

The proportion of deaths among BAME groups is much higher compared to their roughly 13 per cent make-up of the total population.

A further breakdown shows COVID-19 deaths among those identifying with white ethnicity at 73.6 per cent and mixed ethnicity at 0.7 per cent.

Of the 16.2 per cent BAME figures, those of Bangladeshi ethnicity are at 0.6 per cent, any other Asian background 1.6 per cent, African 1.9 per cent, any other black background 0.9 per cent, Chinese 0.4 per cent and any other ethnic group 2.8 per cent.

"The government must take every necessary step to address this devastating disparity and protect all sectors of the population equally and now," said Dr Chaand Nagpaul, Council Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors' union lobbying for the review.

"It also means taking vital steps now to protect our BAME communities until we can develop a detailed understanding of the threats they face. This could include that those at greatest risk, including older and retired doctors, are not working in potentially infectious settings," he said.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the COVID-19 death toll data for NHS workers, which stands at 69, also reveals a higher proportion of BAME casualties including the death of Dr Manjeet Singh Riyat, the UK's first Sikh emergency medicine consultant, this week.

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) recently announced a new academic tie-up with the Imperial College London to set up a research forum to delve deeper into this disparity within the medical profession in the UK.

"This research has the potential to give data required to delineate vulnerable groups in the pandemic and give clear advice on how to reduce the impact on the BAME population," BAPIO president Dr Ramesh Mehta said.

The new study also aims at establishing a new research database as a national resource for the scientific communities to support other studies to improve the future wellbeing of NHS healthcare staff.

According to experts, the reasons behind the disproportionately high coronavirus mortality rates for the ethnic minority population of the UK is likely to be down to a complex set of factors, including greater propensity among some ethnicities for heart disease and diabetes, specific vitamin deficiencies, the lack of social distancing measures within multi-generational family setting or a genetic predisposition.

The government's review is aimed at collating enough data to look into measures that would minimise the risk for these communities.&nbsp;

People of Indian origin in the UK have emerged as the worst affected ethnic group from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an official data on COVID-19 deaths in hospitals across England.

People of Indian origin in the UK have emerged as the worst affected ethnic group from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an official data on COVID-19 deaths in hospitals across England. Figures released this week by the National Health Service (NHS) England show that of the 13,918 patients who died in hospitals till April 17 after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, 16.2 per cent were of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background and those identifying with Indian ethnicity made up 3 per cent of that. Also read: Eleven members of a family in Delhi test positive for coronavirus This was followed by Caribbeans as the second-largest ethnic group affected in the COVID-19 death toll at 2.9 per cent, followed by Pakistanis at 2.1 per cent. The data, only a limited snapshot of the UK-wide COVID-19 tests, follows the British government's announcement of a review into the coronavirus death toll disparity among the BAME population. Also read: Britain to test prevalence of coronavirus in general population "We have seen, both across the population as a whole but in those who work in the NHS, a much higher proportion who've died from minority backgrounds and that really worries me," said UK health secretary Matt Hancock while launching the review last week. The proportion of deaths among BAME groups is much higher compared to their roughly 13 per cent make-up of the total population. A further breakdown shows COVID-19 deaths among those identifying with white ethnicity at 73.6 per cent and mixed ethnicity at 0.7 per cent. Of the 16.2 per cent BAME figures, those of Bangladeshi ethnicity are at 0.6 per cent, any other Asian background 1.6 per cent, African 1.9 per cent, any other black background 0.9 per cent, Chinese 0.4 per cent and any other ethnic group 2.8 per cent. "The government must take every necessary step to address this devastating disparity and protect all sectors of the population equally and now," said Dr Chaand Nagpaul, Council Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors' union lobbying for the review. "It also means taking vital steps now to protect our BAME communities until we can develop a detailed understanding of the threats they face. This could include that those at greatest risk, including older and retired doctors, are not working in potentially infectious settings," he said. Meanwhile, an analysis of the COVID-19 death toll data for NHS workers, which stands at 69, also reveals a higher proportion of BAME casualties including the death of Dr Manjeet Singh Riyat, the UK's first Sikh emergency medicine consultant, this week. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) recently announced a new academic tie-up with the Imperial College London to set up a research forum to delve deeper into this disparity within the medical profession in the UK. "This research has the potential to give data required to delineate vulnerable groups in the pandemic and give clear advice on how to reduce the impact on the BAME population," BAPIO president Dr Ramesh Mehta said. The new study also aims at establishing a new research database as a national resource for the scientific communities to support other studies to improve the future wellbeing of NHS healthcare staff. According to experts, the reasons behind the disproportionately high coronavirus mortality rates for the ethnic minority population of the UK is likely to be down to a complex set of factors, including greater propensity among some ethnicities for heart disease and diabetes, specific vitamin deficiencies, the lack of social distancing measures within multi-generational family setting or a genetic predisposition. The government's review is aimed at collating enough data to look into measures that would minimise the risk for these communities.

COVID-19: Indians among worst affected ethnic groups in England

Messages exchanged from balconies and windows during global lockdown

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer on Wednesday took to Twitter to propose&nbsp;an idea for a merger of the men's and women's association.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1252922285096423424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The men's division in the game is headed by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) whereas the women's division is headed by Women's Tennis Association (WTA).&nbsp;

The 20-time Grand Slam winner said that "probably should have happened."&nbsp;

Roger Federer posted a series of tweets elaborating&nbsp;his proposal&nbsp; as he&nbsp;said: "We can come out of this with two weakened bodies or one stronger body."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time. 
These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with 2 weakened bodies or 1 stronger body. <a href="https://t.co/30SbbAla5g">https://t.co/30SbbAla5g</a>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1252931040399839233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Federer added: "I am not talking about merging competition on the court but merging the two governing bodies that oversee the men's and women's professional tours."

"It's too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories."

The American tennis legend Billie Jean King was one of the first to voice his support to Federer's idea, he said: "The WTA on its own was always Plan B. I'm glad we are on the same page. Let's make it happen."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I agree, and have been saying so since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together, has long been my vision for tennis. 
 
The WTA on its own was always Plan B. 
 
I’m glad we are on the same page. 
 
Let’s make it happen. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneVoice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneVoice</a> <a href="https://t.co/FHbQHLiY6v">https://t.co/FHbQHLiY6v</a>
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillieJeanKing/status/1252953431414919168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

King played a major role in the creation of WTA.&nbsp;

Federer's long-time on-pitch rival and 19-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal too joined the movement. He said: "It would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men's and women's tennis in only one organisation."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> as you know per our discussions I completely agree that it would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men's and women's tennis in one only organisation 🎾👍🏻 <a href="https://t.co/fTCfvMiU4G">https://t.co/fTCfvMiU4G</a>
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1252957445342846978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Many leading ladies in the game came forward to support Roger Federer's idea. These ladies included Simona Halep and Serena Williams.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1252922285096423424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Tennis has been on a halt since early March due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic. Players have been on a social media spree ever since and have shared various videos of them training or enjoying life with their loved ones.&nbsp;

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer on Wednesday took to Twitter to propose an idea for a merger of the men's and women's association. Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer on Wednesday took to Twitter to propose an idea for a merger of the men's and women's association. Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one? — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020 × The men's division in the game is headed by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) whereas the women's division is headed by Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The 20-time Grand Slam winner said that "probably should have happened." Roger Federer posted a series of tweets elaborating his proposal as he said: "We can come out of this with two weakened bodies or one stronger body." It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time. These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with 2 weakened bodies or 1 stronger body. https://t.co/30SbbAla5g — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020 × Federer added: "I am not talking about merging competition on the court but merging the two governing bodies that oversee the men's and women's professional tours." "It's too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories." The American tennis legend Billie Jean King was one of the first to voice his support to Federer's idea, he said: "The WTA on its own was always Plan B. I'm glad we are on the same page. Let's make it happen." I agree, and have been saying so since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together, has long been my vision for tennis. The WTA on its own was always Plan B. I’m glad we are on the same page. Let’s make it happen. #OneVoice https://t.co/FHbQHLiY6v — Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 22, 2020 × King played a major role in the creation of WTA. Federer's long-time on-pitch rival and 19-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal too joined the movement. He said: "It would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men's and women's tennis in only one organisation." Hey @rogerfederer as you know per our discussions I completely agree that it would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men's and women's tennis in one only organisation 🎾👍🏻 https://t.co/fTCfvMiU4G — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 22, 2020 × Many leading ladies in the game came forward to support Roger Federer's idea. These ladies included Simona Halep and Serena Williams. Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one? — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020 × Tennis has been on a halt since early March due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic. Players have been on a social media spree ever since and have shared various videos of them training or enjoying life with their loved ones.

Roger Federer proposes 'merger' of tennis associations, support pours in

People in the United States are buying more alcohol&nbsp;than ever before, especially online amid the&nbsp;"shelter-in-place" order due to Covid-19.

According to statistics released by&nbsp;American information, data and measurement firm,&nbsp;Nielsen, online alcoholic beverage sales&nbsp;increased 441 per cent and 387 per cent&nbsp;during the first two weeks of April itself.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-benefit-higher-death-rate-for-malaria-drug-in-coronavirus-study-293900" hreflang="en">No benefit, higher death rate for malaria drug in coronavirus study</a>

Since customers are staying at home due to the fear of getting infected by the virus, they are gravitating towards delivery.

Startup company Drizly which delivers alcohol from stores to customers in nearly 200 US cities, said that&nbsp;''sales have been so strong that its growth keeps breaking the previous week's record''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-sues-chinas-leaders-over-coronavirus-293897" hreflang="en">US state sues China's leaders over coronavirus</a>

New customers have doubled and are currently making up 33 per cent&nbsp;of the company's total sales.

"Consumer awareness of the alcohol ecommerce category has exploded over the last six weeks, as more people turn to delivery services as a safer alternative," said Drizly's CEO Cory Rellas.

In the first week of April, online wine sales represented the industry's fastest-growing product, according to Nielsen, because of the Easter holiday.

Meanwhile, wine grew 36.5 per cent in&nbsp;comparison&nbsp;to the previous&nbsp;year and up 5.2 per cent&nbsp;from the previous week.

<ul data-layout="list-hierarchical-xs">
</ul>

&nbsp;

People in the United States are buying more alcohol than ever before, especially online amid the "shelter-in-place" order due to Covid-19. According to statistics released by American information, data and measurement firm, Nielsen, online alcoholic beverage sales increased 441 per cent and 387 per cent during the first two weeks of April itself.

People in the United States are buying more alcohol than ever before, especially online amid the "shelter-in-place" order due to Covid-19. According to statistics released by American information, data and measurement firm, Nielsen, online alcoholic beverage sales increased 441 per cent and 387 per cent during the first two weeks of April itself. Also read: No benefit, higher death rate for malaria drug in coronavirus study Since customers are staying at home due to the fear of getting infected by the virus, they are gravitating towards delivery. Startup company Drizly which delivers alcohol from stores to customers in nearly 200 US cities, said that ''sales have been so strong that its growth keeps breaking the previous week's record''. Also read: US state sues China's leaders over coronavirus New customers have doubled and are currently making up 33 per cent of the company's total sales. "Consumer awareness of the alcohol ecommerce category has exploded over the last six weeks, as more people turn to delivery services as a safer alternative," said Drizly's CEO Cory Rellas. In the first week of April, online wine sales represented the industry's fastest-growing product, according to Nielsen, because of the Easter holiday. Meanwhile, wine grew 36.5 per cent in comparison to the previous year and up 5.2 per cent from the previous week.

Alcohol sales soar online in US amid coronavirus

United Nations' food relief agency has warned that the&nbsp;world is at risk of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 30 countries in the developing world could experience widespread famine, and in 10 of those countries there are already more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation, said David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-covid-19-can-push-half-a-billion-people-into-poverty-291463">How COVID-19 can push half a billion people into poverty?</a>

He also said that ''with a short time to act before hundreds of millions starve, urgent action is needed to avoid a catastrophe''.

According to the fourth annual&nbsp;Global Report on Food Crisis,&nbsp;the number suffering from hunger could go from 135 million to more than 250 million.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-benefit-higher-death-rate-for-malaria-drug-in-coronavirus-study-293900" hreflang="en">No benefit, higher death rate for malaria drug in coronavirus study</a>

The countries highlighted in this report include,&nbsp;Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti.

Addressing the UN Security Council during a video conference, Beasley said ''we could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a short few months," he said. "The truth is we do not have time on our side."

In a call to action, he added: "I do believe that with our expertise and our partnerships, we can bring together the teams and the programmes necessary to make certain the Covid-19 pandemic does not become a human and food crisis catastrophe."

The World Food Programme claimed&nbsp;that those most at risk are in 10 countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change.

United Nations' food relief agency has warned that the world is at risk of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 30 countries in the developing world could experience widespread famine, and in 10 of those countries there are already more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation, said David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

United Nations' food relief agency has warned that the world is at risk of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 30 countries in the developing world could experience widespread famine, and in 10 of those countries there are already more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation, said David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP). Also read: How COVID-19 can push half a billion people into poverty? He also said that ''with a short time to act before hundreds of millions starve, urgent action is needed to avoid a catastrophe''. According to the fourth annual Global Report on Food Crisis, the number suffering from hunger could go from 135 million to more than 250 million. Also read: No benefit, higher death rate for malaria drug in coronavirus study The countries highlighted in this report include, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti. Addressing the UN Security Council during a video conference, Beasley said ''we could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a short few months," he said. "The truth is we do not have time on our side." In a call to action, he added: "I do believe that with our expertise and our partnerships, we can bring together the teams and the programmes necessary to make certain the Covid-19 pandemic does not become a human and food crisis catastrophe." The World Food Programme claimed that those most at risk are in 10 countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change.

World at risk of 'biblical famines' due to COVID-19, says UN

April 22 in history: Hitler accepts defeat, first Earth Day celebrated and more

A malaria drug widely touted as a potential cure for COVID-19 showed no benefit against the disease over standard care -- and was in fact associated with more deaths, the biggest study of its kind showed Tuesday.

The US government funded analysis of how American military veterans fared on hydroxychloroquine was posted on a medical preprint site and has not yet been peer reviewed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-treatment-chloroquine-and-hydroxychloroquine-can-cause-heart-problems-292401">COVID-19 treatment: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can cause heart problems</a>

The experiment had several important limitations, but adds to a growing body of doubt over the efficacy of the medicine that counts President Donald Trump and right wing news&nbsp;channel Fox News among its biggest backers.

Researchers looked at the medical records of 368 veterans hospitalized nationwide who either died or were discharged by April 11.

Death rates for patients on hydroxychloroquine were 28 percent, compared to 22 percent when it was taken with the anti-biotic azithromycin -- a combination favored by French scientist Didier Raoult, whose study on the subject in March triggered a surge of global interest in the drug.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-bought-over-29-million-hydroxychloroquine-doses-from-india-trump-291292">US bought over 29 million hydroxychloroquine doses from India: Trump</a>

The death rate for those receiving only standard care was 11 percent.

Hydroxychloroquine, with or without azithromycin, was more likely to be prescribed to patients with more severe illness, but the authors found that increased mortality persisted even after they statistically adjusted for higher rates of use.

Other drawbacks include the fact that the study did not assign people randomly to groups, because it was a retrospective analysis meaning it looked back on what had already happened.

In addition, the results are hard to generalize because the population was highly specific: most of the patients were male, with a median age over 65, and black, a group that is&nbsp;disproportionately affected by underlying illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

There was no added risk of being on ventilator among the hydroxychloroquine only group, leading the authors to suggest that increased mortality among this group might be attributable to side-effects outside the respiratory system.

Previous research has found that the medicine is risky for patients with certain heart rhythm issues and can cause blackouts, seizures or at times cardiac arrest in this group.

Hydroxychloroquine and a related compound chloroquine have been used for decades to treat&nbsp;

Washington,&nbsp;United States&nbsp;|&nbsp;AFP&nbsp;|&nbsp;Tuesday 4/22/2020 - 03:54 UTC+5&nbsp;|&nbsp;486 words

 
ADDS BACKGROUND

A malaria drug widely touted as a potential cure for COVID-19 showed no benefit against the disease over standard care -- and was in fact associated with more deaths, the biggest study of its kind showed Tuesday.

The US government funded analysis of how American military veterans fared on hydroxychloroquine was posted on a medical preprint site and has not yet been peer reviewed.

The experiment had several important limitations, but adds to a growing body of doubt over the efficacy of the medicine that counts President Donald Trump and right wing news channel Fox News among its biggest backers.

Researchers looked at the medical records of 368 veterans hospitalized nationwide who either died or were discharged by April 11.

Death rates for patients on hydroxychloroquine were 28 percent, compared to 22 percent when it was taken with the anti-biotic azithromycin -- a combination favored by French scientist Didier Raoult, whose study on the subject in March triggered a surge of global interest in the drug.

The death rate for those receiving only standard care was 11 percent.

Hydroxychloroquine, with or without azithromycin, was more likely to be prescribed to patients with more severe illness, but the authors found that increased mortality persisted even after they statistically adjusted for higher rates of use.

Other drawbacks include the fact that the study did not assign people randomly to groups, because it was a retrospective analysis meaning it looked back on what had already happened.

In addition, the results are hard to generalize because the population was highly specific: most of the patients were male, with a median age over 65, and black, a group that is disproportionately affected by underlying illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

There was no added risk of being on ventilator among the hydroxychloroquine only group, leading the authors to suggest that increased mortality among this group might be attributable to side-effects outside the respiratory system.

Previous research has found that the medicine is risky for patients with certain heart rhythm issues and can cause blackouts, seizures or at times cardiac arrest in this group.

Hydroxychloroquine and a related compound chloroquine have been used for decades to treat malaria, as well as the autoimmune disorders lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

They have received significant attention during the novel coronavirus pandemic and have been shown in lab settings to block the virus from entering cells and prevent it replicating -- but in the pharmaceutical world, "in vitro" promise often fails to translate into "in vivo" success.

The true answer can only be determined through very large, randomized clinical trials that assign patients to receive either the drug under investigation or a placebo.

Several of these are underway, including notably in the United States, Europe, Canada and the&nbsp;United Kingdom.

A malaria drug widely touted as a potential cure for COVID-19 showed no benefit against the disease over standard care -- and was in fact associated with more deaths, the biggest study of its kind showed Tuesday.

A malaria drug widely touted as a potential cure for COVID-19 showed no benefit against the disease over standard care -- and was in fact associated with more deaths, the biggest study of its kind showed Tuesday. The US government funded analysis of how American military veterans fared on hydroxychloroquine was posted on a medical preprint site and has not yet been peer reviewed. Also read: COVID-19 treatment: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can cause heart problems The experiment had several important limitations, but adds to a growing body of doubt over the efficacy of the medicine that counts President Donald Trump and right wing news channel Fox News among its biggest backers. Researchers looked at the medical records of 368 veterans hospitalized nationwide who either died or were discharged by April 11. Death rates for patients on hydroxychloroquine were 28 percent, compared to 22 percent when it was taken with the anti-biotic azithromycin -- a combination favored by French scientist Didier Raoult, whose study on the subject in March triggered a surge of global interest in the drug. Also read: US bought over 29 million hydroxychloroquine doses from India: Trump The death rate for those receiving only standard care was 11 percent. Hydroxychloroquine, with or without azithromycin, was more likely to be prescribed to patients with more severe illness, but the authors found that increased mortality persisted even after they statistically adjusted for higher rates of use. Other drawbacks include the fact that the study did not assign people randomly to groups, because it was a retrospective analysis meaning it looked back on what had already happened. In addition, the results are hard to generalize because the population was highly specific: most of the patients were male, with a median age over 65, and black, a group that is disproportionately affected by underlying illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. There was no added risk of being on ventilator among the hydroxychloroquine only group, leading the authors to suggest that increased mortality among this group might be attributable to side-effects outside the respiratory system. Previous research has found that the medicine is risky for patients with certain heart rhythm issues and can cause blackouts, seizures or at times cardiac arrest in this group. Hydroxychloroquine and a related compound chloroquine have been used for decades to treat Washington, United States | AFP | Tuesday 4/22/2020 - 03:54 UTC+5 | 486 words ADDS BACKGROUND A malaria drug widely touted as a potential cure for COVID-19 showed no benefit against the disease over standard care -- and was in fact associated with more deaths, the biggest study of its kind showed Tuesday. The US government funded analysis of how American military veterans fared on hydroxychloroquine was posted on a medical preprint site and has not yet been peer reviewed. The experiment had several important limitations, but adds to a growing body of doubt over the efficacy of the medicine that counts President Donald Trump and right wing news channel Fox News among its biggest backers. Researchers looked at the medical records of 368 veterans hospitalized nationwide who either died or were discharged by April 11. Death rates for patients on hydroxychloroquine were 28 percent, compared to 22 percent when it was taken with the anti-biotic azithromycin -- a combination favored by French scientist Didier Raoult, whose study on the subject in March triggered a surge of global interest in the drug. The death rate for those receiving only standard care was 11 percent. Hydroxychloroquine, with or without azithromycin, was more likely to be prescribed to patients with more severe illness, but the authors found that increased mortality persisted even after they statistically adjusted for higher rates of use. Other drawbacks include the fact that the study did not assign people randomly to groups, because it was a retrospective analysis meaning it looked back on what had already happened. In addition, the results are hard to generalize because the population was highly specific: most of the patients were male, with a median age over 65, and black, a group that is disproportionately affected by underlying illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. There was no added risk of being on ventilator among the hydroxychloroquine only group, leading the authors to suggest that increased mortality among this group might be attributable to side-effects outside the respiratory system. Previous research has found that the medicine is risky for patients with certain heart rhythm issues and can cause blackouts, seizures or at times cardiac arrest in this group. Hydroxychloroquine and a related compound chloroquine have been used for decades to treat malaria, as well as the autoimmune disorders lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. They have received significant attention during the novel coronavirus pandemic and have been shown in lab settings to block the virus from entering cells and prevent it replicating -- but in the pharmaceutical world, "in vitro" promise often fails to translate into "in vivo" success. The true answer can only be determined through very large, randomized clinical trials that assign patients to receive either the drug under investigation or a placebo. Several of these are underway, including notably in the United States, Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom.

No benefit, higher death rate for malaria drug in coronavirus study

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Wionintern

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.