With the rise in the number of cases of novel coronavirus infection all around the world, researchers and medical experts are in a race to develop a vaccine and are also testing current anti-viral and various other treatments for curing COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel corona-virus SARS-CoV-2, which presently has no cure.

A team of researchers from Queen's University in Belfast in Northern Island have, however observed a new problem associated with COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial or antibiotic resistance is another common problem faced by the healthcare systems of the world, and the team has notified of a sharp rise in the condition, related with the treatment and aftermath of the pandemic, as reported by news agency IANS.

Meanwhile yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with 21 States and Union Territories through video conferencing. During his interaction, the Prime Minister observed that timely decisions taken to combat the pandemic have been effective in containing its spread in the country. He said, its early preparedness approach helped the country to chalk out measures to save many lives.

Mr. Modi said, when India's fight against COVID-19 will be analyzed in the future, the time will be remembered for how the Centre and States worked together to fight the pandemic. The Prime Minister said they have presented an example for cooperative federalism to the world. Mr. Modi said that even a single loss of life due to corona-virus is saddening and the nation should not lower its guard even during the unlock. He urged every citizen to strictly follow all necessary precautions including wearing masks, maintaining Do Gaj ki Doori and washing hands regularly with soap. Mr. Modi said, they have tried to save each and every life.

The Prime Minister said, even though India has a huge population, corona-virus has not assumed as life threatening a form as in the rest of the world. He said that health experts world over are praising the discipline shown by Indians, adding that the recovery rate in the country is now over 50 percent. He also noted that India is amongst the nations with the least deaths due to corona-virus.

The first part of the two-day interaction yesterday witnessed participation of States and Union Territories including Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, Sikkim and Lakshadweep.