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.