Scientific Endeavour of CSIR-CMERI to contain COVID-19

The COVID-19 becomes a setback to humankind across the globe, left us with so many ever-increasing death cases and thus made the whole world stand still through imposed lockdown scenario. The economy becoming bearish at the fast pace leaving the poorer people in nearly helpless conditions. The Government of India is doing its best to overcome the situation from all possible facets.

A whole lot of scientific community has started applying systematic approaches to contain COVID-19. Most of the R&D laboratories are trying to find the right implementation approach by quickly learning from both successes and failures so that the solution can be achieved at the war-footing level. The researchers of CSIR-CMERI are also trying to find out the best practices to implement "social distancing", "personal hygiene" and "disinfecting common public place" effectively to minimize the spread of coronavirus.

In the past few months, the members of the CSIR-CMERI family worked tirelessly to bring the technological solutions to tackle the danger of COVID-19 and brought a number of relevant technologies to society. Facemask, Road-sanitization Unit, Disinfection Walkway have already reached society [https://www.cmeri.res.in/covid19]. The Institute is working from the front by imparting services (to Durgapur Municipal Corporations & Asansol Municipal Corporations [https://twitter.com/CSIR_CMERI/status/1253752779010650114], Banks, MSMEs, PSUs, etc.) as well as transferring developed technologies during this period of crisis. Approximately 50,000 in-house developed facemasks have been provided to various organizations with the help of 200+ needy families during the lockdown period, particularly when they need maximum economic support for their livelihood [https://twitter.com/CSIR_CMERI/status/1251351777489776641]. The received letters of feedback [https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/Feedback.pdf] have motivated the employee of CSIR-CMERI.

The service of CSIR-CMERI developed Tractor-mounted Road-disinfection unit has been extended for disinfecting the critical places within Durgapur Township, sub-divisional sectors and several dwelling areas [https://twitter.com/CSIR_CMERI/status/1255193777523712002]. For better penetration into society, the technology transfer of Disinfection Walkway and Road-sanitization Unit have also been made to various MSMEs during the past few weeks [https://twitter.com/CSIR_CMERI/status/1253386636986998784].

During last week, CSIR-CMERI has received a number of queries from different fronts about the usage of Sodium Hypochlorite as a disinfection fluid in the developed walkway. One of the scientists' group did a review of the literature [https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/Literature_0.pdf] and found Sodium Hypochlorite within the specified limit is safe. This liquid is commonly used in everyday life, even to treat skin damages. Therefore, thinking NOT to use Sodium hypochlorite is unimaginable.

Similarly, the Institute also received a number of queries regarding the selection and reusability of the facemask effectively during COVID19. One group of scientists performed various studies and provided the report [https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/Report.pdf].

Newest in the series, CSIR-CMERI also developed Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device (HCARD) [https://twitter.com/CSIR_CMERI/status/1254082171695849472] and Soap-cum-Water Dispensing Unit [https://www.cmeri.res.in/soap-and-sanitizer].  HCARD is developed with an aim to help out frontline corona warriors, who are vulnerable and exposed to the infected patients. Using this robotic device, the healthcare personnel in hospitals can attend the patients even by maintaining social distancing from them. Similarly, Soap-cum-Water Dispensing Unit shall be able to help the society at large. The developed dispensing system is designed to enforce the 20 seconds handwash protocol, which is necessary for maintaining personal hygiene.

CSIR-CMERI is facing a major constraint during its initiatives towards fighting COVID19 and that is the gap in the supply chain of the components for developing technologies. In view of this, the Institute prepared a list of urgently required items and urges prospective suppliers, MSMEs, business entities and traders to come out and submit their Expression of Interest in supplying the required items [https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/List_1.pdf] on short notice and help the Institute in its endeavor.  

CSIR-CMERI initiatives for COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading at unprecedented pace throughout the globe. These never before seen conditions demand scientific intervention from scientists and strict precautionary measures from every part of the society. CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, as an Institute has directed its resources optimally to contribute towards fight against COVID-19 through S&T intervention. [https://www.cmeri.res.in/covid19]

Face Masks has been made mandatory throughout the country, to resist the COVID-19 virus infection.  CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur expects that its scientifically-designed cost-effective Facemasks [https://www.cmeri.res.in/face-mask]should reach the masses at large and especially those belonging to the underprivileged strata of the society. CSIR-CMERI is also planning to soon mechanize the manufacturing process of Facemasks so that eventually the price of Face Masks may be reduced to Rs 5/- per Mask. The facemasks developed by CSIR-CMERI have the following features:

• Comparable with commercial masks
• Pore Size< 60 microns
• Inhalation Resistance at 85 L/min < 26 mm H2O
• UV Sterilized
• Reusable

CSIR-CMERI intends to hand over the know-how of facemask manufacturing to the rural communities in its vicinity. The community members will involve themselves in the small-scale production of these masks with hand-holding of the CSIR-CMERI. This rural penetration will have a two-pronged effect on the rural community i.e. firstly, it will help in generating awareness amongst the members of the rural community and also distribution of the locally produced masks amongst the members of the Village. Secondly, the rural populace will get an avenue of income. [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1614374]

Besides this, the CSIR-CMERI also developed Tractor-driven Road Sanitizer Unit as one of the most potent arsenals to counter the COVID-19 crisis through outdoor sanitization. This Road Sanitization unit can be effectively deployed in long stretches of highways, vicinity of toll plazas etc, where there is a massive volume of traffic and good chance of infection spreading. It can also be deployed in Housing Complexes, Office Complexes, Sports Arenas, Apartment buildings etc. This product will ensure maximum sanitisation coverage within minimum possible time, which is the need of the hour. [https://www.cmeri.res.in/road-sanitizer-unit]

To handle the risk of community transmission, the CSIR-CMERI also developed Disinfection Walkways, which can be deployed at multiple critical locations such as Isolation/Quarantine facilities, Mass Transit System Entry points, Medical Centres, Shopping Malls and any other location with a considerable amount of footfall. The said Disinfection Walkways are available in two variants i.e., Pneumatic and Hydraulic [https://www.cmeri.res.in/disinfection-walkway]

Considering the precautionary measures like sanitization of hands and any other contact points, the CSIR-CMERI started developing homemade soaps for the society. This is to ensure that the sanitization cycle of the public doesn't get disrupted owing to unavailability of soaps in the market.

CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur is working round-the-clock to ensure that the efforts of its S&T practitioners can positively influence the society and the nation at this time of unforeseen global crisis. It is therefore an ardent request to all to come together and join hands to defeat the Coronavirus. [https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/EoI_2.pdf]