Introduction: Obesity may contribute to the initiation, progression, transmission, and deterioration of COVID-19. However, there was lack of such studies carried out by Indian workers. Materials and Methods: Data of cumulative cases of COVID-19 of various countries as on the day the peak incidence were reported in each country during the first and second waves of the pandemic was obtained from the internet. Data on prevalence of overweight were obtained by doing a thorough search of existing literature. The data so collected were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 20 to establish a correlation coefficient between overweight and COVID-19. Data pertaining to overweight status and age profile and COVID-19 status as on 28 Feb 2021 was collated as part of routine surveillance from the Health Department in an urban area. The total population for which the above data was obtained was 1107. The data so collected were subject to statistical analysis using SPSS version 20, to find out the odds ratio of overweight as a risk factor for COVID-19 after adjusting for age. Results: Correlation coefficient between overweight and COVID-19 for data pertaining to the first wave and the second wave 0.95 and 0.94, respectively. Odds ratio of overweight as a risk factor for COVID-19 after adjusting for age works out to 2.95 (95% confidence interval 2.30- 3.78). Mean age of the study subjects was 32.61 years (median 32 years, minimum 19 years, maximum 54 years, standard deviation 6.62). Limitations: The limitation of the present study is that the workers could only obtain retrospective data, carry out a case-control study and calculate odd ratio for overweight as a risk factor for COVID-19.

Introduction:Various workers have demonstrated that environmental surfaces near patients in health care settings are full of contamination. However, despite extensive search on the internet studies on efcacy of disinfection on various surfaces were conspicuous by their scarcity. Methodology:Randomly selected sites measuring one sq inch in size were marked on various surfaces in a presumably Non Covid19 health care facility. A total of twenty four samples were taken as against the minimum required of twenty. The surfaces were subsequently disinfected using 70% alcohol based disinfecting wipes which were procured locally. All samples were suitably labelled to avoid any mixing of samples. The samples were plated on blood agar media and Mc Conkey's media and incubated at 370C for 3 days. The mean levels of contamination on various surfaces before and after disinfection were analysed and compared for log10 reduction using appropriate statistical tests. Results:The difference in mean level of contamination across the various surfaces before disinfection was statistically very highly signicant at 5% level of signicance. (F = 6980453.16, p = 0.00). The difference in mean level of contamination across the various surfaces after disinfection was statistically not signicant at 5% level of signicance. (F = 3.14, p = 0.08). This study demonstrates that 70% alcohol based disinfecting wipes which are easily available locally are equally effective in reducing microbiological contamination on various surfaces.Conclusions:In our study, the workers have conrmed that use of 70% alcohol based disinfecting wipes which are commercially available can signicantly reduce the microbiological plate count from various commonly touched surfaces in a health care setting.

Background: The second wave of COVID-19 hit India with the nation reporting over 4 lakh cases daily since second week of April 2021. Keeping in view the lack of adequate data in this regard; and the public health importance of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the researchers proceeded to carry out the study.  The aim of the study was  to  study  the clinicoepidemiolgical profile of hospitalised COVID19 cases in an urban area.Methods: The workers carried out a cross sectional descriptive study. Period of the study was April 2021 to September 2021. Detailed epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiological data was obtained in respect of 149 cases of Covid-19.Results: Mean age of the cases was 39.79 years. One hundred and twelve (75.17%) cases were males, while thirty- seven (24.83%) were females. One hundred and twenty-nine (86.57%) gave history of fever. Eight (6.04%) cases were totally asymptomatic. Clinical condition of six (4.02%) cases necessitated them to be placed on ventilator for various periods of time. Eight (5.36%) cases were administered oxygen for various periods of time. All the cases recovered after varying periods of time; and there were no fatalities. Diabetes mellitus was the commonest comorbidity; and it was seen in twenty (13.42%) of cases.Conclusions: Our study has indicated that symptomatology of the disease may vary over time. The researchers believe that the most important conclusion of our work is that the world must remain alert to the characteristics of the virus and the disease.