PM Modi reviews COVID-19 situation in the country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting reviewed the national level status and preparation in the context of the pandemic.
 
It took stock of the situation in different states and union territories including Delhi. The meeting was attended by the Home Minister, Health Minister, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Health Secretary, DG ICMR, and other officials of the Empowered Groups.
 
Dr. Vinod Paul, NITI Aayog member and Convenor of the Empowered Group of Medical Emergency Management Plan, made a detailed presentation on the current status and likely scenario of COVID-19 cases in the medium term. The members noted that two-thirds of the total cases in the country are in 5 states. In view of the challenges being faced by the large cities, it was discussed to augment testing as well as the number of beds and services to effectively handle the peak surge of daily cases.

The Prime Minister took cognizance of the recommendations of the Empowered Group on city and district-wise requirements of hospital and isolation beds. He instructed Health Ministry officials to undertake emergency planning in consultation with the States and UTs. Mr. Modi advised the Health Ministry to ensure suitable preparations in view of the start of the Monsoon season.

The present and emerging scenario of the COVID-19 disease in the capital was discussed and the projections for the next 2 months were deliberated. Prime Minister suggested that the Home Minister and Health Minister should convene an emergency meeting with Delhi's Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister in presence of senior officials of both the Union and State government, along with officials of Municipal Corporations of Delhi, to plan a coordinated and comprehensive response to handle the challenges posed by rising cases of COVID-19. The Prime Minister appreciated outstanding work done by several states, districts, and cities in containing and controlling the COVID-19 successfully.

Shah to hold a meeting with Delhi LG, CM to discuss corona crisis

Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today to review the situation in the national capital regarding COVID-19. Seniors members of the State Disaster Management Authority will also attend the meeting.

Mr. Shah will also be meeting with the Mayors of municipal corporations of Delhi, later in the evening today. Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan, Director AIIMS, Dr. Randeep Guleria, and other senior officers will be present in both these meetings.

The dual meeting has been called by the Home Minister in the wake of rising cases of coronavirus in the National Capital, which is the third-highest. The Supreme Court had pulled up the Delhi government on the state of affairs in the hospitals.  

AIR correspondent reports that the two meetings of Home Minister Amit Shah slated today holds high significance in the wake of rising cases in the city.

The total number of cases in Delhi has touched 36 thousand 8 hundred 24. In the last 24 hours, a total of two thousand 1 hundred 37 new confirmed cases of Coronavirus have been reported.
 
Death Toll in the National Capital has reached one thousand 2 hundred and 14. In the wake of rising cases,  Delhi LG has constituted an expert advisory committee to advise the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on various aspects of COVID-19 management in the city.
 
The committee will give advice on the challenges being faced in Delhi and suggest measures to ramp up medical infrastructure. It will also advise the Disaster Management Authority on the integration of measures being taken by the various agencies for the effective mitigation of Covid-19.
 
Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Director of AIIMS Delhi and Director, NCDC  are part of the committee.

Loss of smell, taste included as new symptoms of Coronavirus

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued the clinical management protocol for COVID-19. Loss of smell and loss of taste are included as new symptoms of Coronavirus amongst others.
 
The Health Ministry suggested that investigational therapies and drugs-Remdesivir, Convalescent Plasma Therapy, Tociluzimab, and Hydroxychloroquine should only be used in a defined subgroup of COVID patients. Ministry advised that Remdesivir may be considered in patients with the moderate disease who are on oxygen.
 
Convalescent plasma may be considered in patients with a moderate disease whose oxygen requirement is progressively increasing despite the use of steroids. In the case of Convalescent Plasma Therapy, it is advised that the recipient should be closely monitored for several hours post-transfusion for any transfusion related adverse events, and its use should be avoided in patients with IgA deficiency or immunoglobulin allergy.
 
Health Ministry also suggested that the use of Tocilizumab may be considered in patients with moderate disease with progressively increasing oxygen requirements and in mechanically ventilated patients, not improving despite use of steroids.