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New Delhi, Jun 5 () Five employees of the Union health ministry, including a director, an under-secretary have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last seven days, prompting the authorities to carry out a "major and comprehensive disinfection and sanitisation" of office premises from June 6-7. Besides two officers and a doctor, two employees who have contracted the disease are from the Centre for Health Informatics under the Health Ministry. They frequented the Nirman Bhawan building, sources said. "Those who had come in contact with these COVID-19 infected officials have been advised to quarantine themselves. Further contract tracing is on," a source said, adding a few more staff had tested positive earlier. In view of these developments, the Union Health Ministry on June 4 issued a fresh office memorandum stating, "It has been decided to initiate major and comprehensive disinfection and sanitization of office premises (Nirman Bhawan) on June 6-7." "Accordingly, the entire premises of the Ministry of Health and DGHS, Nirman Bhawan will remain closed from June 6 to 7 except for emergency COVID-19 team," the memorandum read. As part of the "deep sanitisation" exercise, rooms, washrooms, door knobs, switches, handles, tables, workstations, chairs, armrest of chairs, sofas, almirahs, and office equipment such as computers and printers, will be sanitised. The ministry has issued another office memorandum on June 3 advising all staff to follow precautionary measures strictly in order to contain the spread of the disease. "The number of COVID-19 positive cases are going up steadily. Many officers of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have tested COVID-19 positive.It has been noted that at times social distancing is not being maintained in office premises," the June 3 memo read. Listing a series of precautionary measures to be followed "strictly", the ministry said wearing of masks is mandatory for all employees, only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to attend office and the staff should maintain social distancing mandatorily. Meetings and conferences should not be done physically and may be organized through video conferencing only, and work from home should be facilitated in case of an emergent situation, it said. "All JS's/EAs concerned shall ensure that their officers/staff attend office at staggered working hours as per DoPT office memorandum," the memo stated. The ministry advised discouraging entry of visitors in the office complex and sanction leave whenever any request for self-quarantine is received. It also advised against using each other phones, desk and other work tool, avoiding loitering and crowding in the corridors and maintaining respiratory etiquettes. "All employees should try and use stairs as far as possible except those who may have problems using the staircase. The movement of physical receipt/ file/ should be discouraged so as to avoid the infection through frequent touching of papers," the memorandum read. PLB NSD NSD

5 staff test COVID-19 positive; major sanitisation drive at health ministry on June 6-7

<ul><li>Cipla will launch its version of Remdesivir in the next 1-2 days under the brand name 'Cipremi'.</li><li>The drug will be sold at an approximate price of ₹4,000 per vial.</li><li>Remdesivir is considered a key drug in the fight against Covid-19 as a randomised clinical trial conducted with the drug demonstrated faster clinical recovery in hospitalised patients.</li><li>The Union Health Ministry has asked all the states to strengthen their vigil, so that black marketing of Covid-19 drug Remdesivir is prevented.</li></ul>As India faces a shortage of Covid-19 drug Remdesivir, the pharmaceutical company Cipla said it will launch its version of Remdesivir in the next 1-2 days. <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/exclusive-as-india-faces-shortage-of-remdesivir-cipla-says-its-supplies-will-hit-market-in-next-1-2-days-6281911.htm">In an interview with CNBC TV18</a>, Kedar Upadhyay, Cipla’s CFO said that the Daman-based Sovereign Pharma had released the first batch of the drug from its manufacturing plant and Cipla will be selling it under the brand name 'Cipremi'. While Mumbai-based BDR Pharma holds the contract for manufacturing of Cipla’s Remdesivir, the company has further sub-contracted the manufacturing of the finished dosage and packaging to Daman-based Sovereign Pharma. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="76747405" title="These are the companies manufacturing COVID-19 drug Remdesivir in India" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> "We are attempting to launch Remdesivir in the next 1-2 days. We cannot comment on the volumes just as yet, but there is a huge demand-supply gap in the market," Upadhyay told CNBC TV18. However, <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/exclusive-as-india-faces-shortage-of-remdesivir-cipla-says-its-supplies-will-hit-market-in-next-1-2-days-6281911.htm">reports</a> say that Sovereign Pharma has the capacity to scale up production to 95,000 vials per month. Sovereign Pharma got all necessary approvals for manufacturing the drug within a week, after an inspection by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. The drug will be sold at an approximate price of ₹4,000 per vial. Upadhyay told CNBC that the company is also preparing to set up a Remdesivir manufacturing facility in-house. Remdesivir is considered a key drug in the fight against Covid-19. The drug’s popularity grew after a randomised clinical trial used the drug on 1,063 patients over 60 centres across US, Europe and Asia and saw faster clinical recovery in hospitalised patients. To expand the supply of Remdesivir, US-based Gilead earlier announced non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements with generic pharmaceutical manufacturers based in India, Egypt and Pakistan. The agreements allow Cipla and other companies including Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.; Hetero Labs Ltd.; Syngene, a Biocon company; and Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd. to manufacture Remdesivir for distribution in 127 countries. Government cracks down on Remdesivir black market The Union Health Ministry has asked all the states to take all measures to ensure that Remdesivir is not sold in the black market. The ministry acted upon it after t<a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/health-ministry-steps-in-to-curb-black-marketing-of-covid-drug/1888995">he Directorate General of Health Services said that it has received </a>a letter from LocalCircles routed through the Health Ministry, raising concerns over black marketing and overpricing of Remdesivir in certain markets. "In view of the above, you are requested to instruct your enforcement officials to keep strict vigil on the matter to prevent black marketing and sale of Remdesivir injection above the MRP," the DGHS said in the letter to the states. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/the-us-bought-up-90-of-the-worlds-supply-of-remdesivir-for-the-next-3-months-and-patents-mean-many-countries-wont-be-able-to-get-any/articleshow/76729248.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">The US bought up 90% of the world's supply of remdesivir for the next 3 months, and patents mean many countries won't be able to get any</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/gilead-rises-after-pricing-its-coronavirus-fighting-drug-remdesivir/articleshow/76692239.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Gilead rises after pricing its coronavirus-fighting drug remdesivir</a>

Cipla says COVID-19 drug Remdesivir will hit market this week

Dhaka, The <keyword id="9605255" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="oxford-astrazeneca">Oxford-AstraZeneca</keyword> Covid-19 vaccine from the <keyword id="95879" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword> (SII) is being rolled out across <keyword id="6354759" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword> on Sunday amid lukewarm interest from the people to receive the shots against the virus. Two million <keyword id="6249639" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vaccine-doses">vaccine doses</keyword> arrived in the country on time from India as a gift. The vials were sent across the country as planned, and the vaccinators and volunteers have been trained. The nationwide immunisation drive against the coronavirus in 1,015 centres started on Sunday after revising its vaccination plan to administer 3.5 million doses in the first month instead of 6 million. The programme will include as many as 2,402 teams of health workers. Each team will comprise four members, two health workers and two volunteers. "Alhough the Bangladesh government is set to launch the mass vaccination programme across the country on Sunday, due to country-wide Anti-India propaganda public apathy to get registered for it looks to be a major challenge to make the drive a success," ABM Abdullah physician, academic, professor emeritus of Dhaka University and the personal physician of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said on Saturday night. Under the circumstances, the government has decided to vaccinate 3.5 million people instead of over 6 million in the first month of the drive, said Zahid Maleque, the Health Minister of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government has purchased 30 million doses of the vaccine. It has already received a total of seven million doses of the vaccine. Bangladesh is expected to receive 12.5 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the first half of 2021 under COVAX, the WHO-backed global scheme for distributing the coronavirus vaccines. The two-day piloting was successfully carried out on January 28, but none of the 567 volunteers who took the first shot of the two-dose Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has complained of any major side effect. But the response from people eligible for inoculation in the first phase has been underwhelming. Employees of the <keyword id="46535" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Health-ministry">Health Ministry</keyword> will be administered with the Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday morning, said Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). "Political leaders and people's representatives will take part in vaccination centeres in different hospitals of the capital and the country to motivate the people for the vaccination," he added. Mohammad Enamur Rahim, physician and State Minister for Relief and Disaster Management and Farhad Hossain, state minister for <keyword id="194520" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Public-Administration">Public Administration</keyword> will administer the corona vaccine at Gastroliver Hospital in the capital and Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka. While the government's target was to vaccinate 260,000 people each day, only 3,28,000 people got registered online in eleven days as of Saturday afternoon. The doses will be administered in five stages under three phases. Priorities will be given to health workers and others on the frontline. Health workers from each group can vaccinate a maximum of 150 people. Hence it will be possible to vaccinate 3,29,400 people on the first day. According to the national Covid vaccine distribution and preparation plan, the Bangladesh government will inoculate 80 per cent of the country's population, or around 138.24 million people, Health Minister Maleque said. Each person will be given two doses of the vaccine, he added. "Anyone will be registered and vaccinated. If there is a delay in registration, the vaccines will be given first and the data will be recorded later. We will not send anyone back." Zahid urged all to get vaccinated saying that preparations for the inoculation drive are almost complete. "All those who have been vaccinated so far are healthy." At least 2,400 teams will work in the country. Each team has the capacity to vaccinate 150 people. At the district and upazila level, vaccination will be administered from 8 am to 2.30 p.m. Health representatives are conducting campaigns, including using loudspeakers, publishing contents in various media outlets to encourage people in rural areas across the country to take the shot. A participant has to bring his National Identity Card for registration. Many people do not have smartphones and may not be able to register and or this reason, chairmen, mayors and MPs will bring the people to the centres and get them registered and vaccinate. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/how-big-is-indias-debt-and-should-it-be-a-worry/articleshow/80688623.cms">How big is India's debt and should it be a worry?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-why-you-arent-being-able-to-apply-for-brookfield-reit-ipo-through-zerodha-groww-angel-broking-and-other-stockbroking-apps/articleshow/80686457.cms">Here's why you aren't being able to apply for Brookfield REIT IPO through Zerodha, Groww and other stockbroking apps</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/analysts-explain-why-indigo-paints-shares-fell-with-a-thud-just-like-burger-king-and-mrs-bectors-and-what-to-do-with-it-now/articleshow/80704864.cms">Indigo Paints joins the league of Burger King and Bector's — frenzied IPOs that fizzled out</a>

Bangladesh rolls out two million COVID-19 vaccine from Serum Institute of India

New Delhi, Jul 10 () Doctors in state hospitals are being advised to use antiviral Remdesivir on COVID-19 patients strictly as per protocol amid some reports of liver damage in such patients treated with the drug, official sources said. While the health ministry is reviewing the guidelines on the usage of the drug following the adverse reports, states and union territories are also being asked to orient doctors on the protocols of Remdesivir use and not to prescribe it indiscriminately. To prevent black-marketing and overcharging of the drug, India's drug regulator Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has asked manufacturers to set up a helpline where the patients or their family members can contact in case the drug is not available in the market and also put on their websites details of distributors and supply chain. "AIIMS specialists tasked by the Centre to provide expert guidance are advising doctors in state hospitals to use the drug as mentioned in the protocols stating it has been approved for restricted emergency use purposes in moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 subject to a set of conditions under 'investigational therapies' and not as a mainstream treatment," a source said. Remdesivir has been included as an "investigational therapy" in the clinical management protocols for COVID-19 based on limited available evidence at present. "The drug is being increasingly prescribed in the absence of any proven treatment leading to a rise in demand. But then the data derived from the studies so far suggest that its use can cut down the duration of the hospital stay and does not have any effect on the mortality," an official explained. Responding to a question on whether Remdesivir will be dropped from COVID-19 treatment protocols after its negative impact on liver has been indicated, a senior Union Health Ministry official during a briefing on Thursday had said that they are aware of few studies which have indicated some adverse events. "We are aware of this and within the ministry also there is a technical group of domain knowledge experts headed by DGHS that is looking into the evidence as it comes up. "If there is a requirement to modify or refine our clinical treatment protocols we will definitely do it," Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty in the Union Health Ministry, said. He also said that the DCGI has written letters to companies manufacturing them with two specific suggestions to prevent the blackmarketing and overpricing of the drug. "First suggestion was that these companies must put in place a 24x7 helpline where the patients or their family members could contact in case the drug is not available in the market or is being overcharged. "Second suggestion given was that they must proactively put on their website the details of their distributors and their supply lines so that all confusion and anxiety in the market subside," Bhushan elaborated. In addition, he said, the DCGI has also directed state governments to instruct drug inspectors to ensure that there is no black marketing of drugs which is being used in treatment of COVID-19 patients. Three companies, Hetero, Cipla and Mylan have been given permission by India's drug regulator to manufacture and market the anti-viral drug remdesivir for "restricted emergency use" on hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Written informed consent of each patient is required before the use of the drug while active post-marketing surveillance data and reporting of serious adverse events have to be submitted. In the letters, Bhushan mentioned, DCGI told these firms to upload the information on their websites regarding the distributors and supply chain details along with quantities where Remdesivir has been made available, so as to prevent black marketing and overcharging of the drug. Considering the emergency and unmet medical need for COVID-19 disease, the drug controller said, the CDSCO has granted permission to companies to manufacture and market Remdesivir injectable formulation for restricted emergency use for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 infection subject to various conditions and restrictions. "This office has received representation raising concerns regarding black-marketing and overcharging of the drug Remdesivir injectable formulation in the country," the DGCI wrote. PLB ZMN

Doctors advised to use Remdesivir on COVID-19 patients strictly under laid-down protocol

New Delhi, May 22 () A revised government advisory on Friday recommended use of hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medication for asymptomatic healthcare workers working in non-COVID-19 hospitals, frontline staff on surveillance duty in containment zones and paramilitary/police personnel involved in coronavirus infection related activities. As was mentioned in the earlier advisory, the drug against the infection is also recommended for all asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in containment and treatment of COVID-19 and household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. The revised advisory issued by the ICMR, however, cautioned that the intake of the medicine should not instill a sense of false security. The recommendation was made after the Joint Monitoring Group under the Chairmanship of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and including representatives from AIIMS, ICMR, National Centre for Disease Control, National Disaster Management Authority, WHO and experts drawn from central government hospitals reviewed the prophylactic use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the context of expanding it to healthcare and other frontline workers deployed in non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 areas. Three new categories ---all asymptomatic healthcare workers working in non-COVID hospitals/areas of COVID hospitals/blocks, asymptomatic frontline workers such as surveillance workers deployed in containment zones and paramilitary/police personnel involved in COVID-19 related activities ---have now been included. According to the revised advisory, "at NIV, Pune, the report of the in-vitro testing of HCQ for antiviral efficacy showed reduction of infectivity and log reduction in viral RNA copy of SARs-CoV2". "The drug is contraindicated in persons with known case of retinopathy, hypersensitivity to HCQ and cardiac rhythm disorders," it said. The drug is not recommended for prophylaxis in children under 15 years of age and in pregnancy and lactation, the advisory said. Rarely the drug causes cardiovascular side effects such as cardiomyopathy and rhythm (heart rate) disorders, it said. "In that situation the drug needs to be discontinued. The drug can rarely cause visual disturbance including blurring of vision which is usually self-limiting and improves on discontinuation of the drug," the revised advisory said. The drug has to be given under strict medical supervision with an informed consent, it stated. The National Task force (NTF) for COVID-19 constituted by the ICMR reviewed the use of HCQ for prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection for high risk population based on the emerging evidence on its safety and efficacy. The data on assessment of HCQ prophylaxis among 1,323 healthcare workers indicated mild adverse effects such as nausea (8.9 per cent), abdominal pain (7.3 per cent), vomiting (1.5 per cent), hypoglycemia (1.7 per cent) and cardio-vascular effects (1.9 per cent), the advisory said. However, as per the data from the Pharma covigilance programme of India, there have been 214 reported instances of adverse drug reactions associated with prophylactic HCQ use, it said. Of these, seven were serious individual case safety reports with prolongation of QT interval on ECG in three cases, it added. Highlighting the studies on prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the advisory stated that a retrospective case-control analysis at ICMR has found that there is a significant dose-response relationship between the number of prophylactic doses taken and frequency of occurrence of SARSCoV-2 infection in symptomatic healthcare workers who were tested for coronavirus infection. Another investigation from three central government hospitals in New Delhi indicates that amongst healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 care, those on HCQ prophylaxis were less likely to develop SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to those who were not on it. The benefit was less pronounced in healthcare workers caring for a general patient population. Besides, an observational prospective study of 334 healthcare workers at AIIMS, out of which 248 took HCQ prophylaxis in New Delhi also showed that those taking HCQ prophylaxis had lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection than those not taking it. According to the advisory, the drug has to be given only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner and it is advised to consult with a physician for any adverse event or potential drug interaction before initiation of medication, it said. Front line workers should use PPEs in accordance with the guidelines issued by the health ministry and they should be advised to consult their physician (within their hospital/surveillance team/security organisation) for any adverse event or potential drug interaction before initiation of medication, the advisory said. If anyone becomes symptomatic while on prophylaxis, he/she should immediately contact the health facility, get tested as per national guidelines and follow the standard treatment protocol, it said. Apart from the symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, breathing difficulty), if the person on chemoprophylaxis develops any other symptoms, he should immediately seek medical treatment from the prescribing medical practitioner, it said. All asymptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases should remain in home quarantine as per the national guidelines, even if they are on prophylactic therapy, the advisory added. ASK/PLB SRY

ICMR issues revised advisory on use of hydroxychloroquine

(Eds: Adding details) New Delhi, Jul 9 () Amid a spurt in coronavirus cases, the government on Thursday said India has not yet reached the community transmission stage of COVID-19 and asserted that there have been localised outbreaks in some geographical areas. The Centre's assertion came on a day India registered a record single-day surge of 24,879 COVID-19 cases, taking the caseload to 7,67,296 while the death toll climbed to 21,129 with 487 new fatalities, the updated Union Health ministry data at 8 AM showed. The ministry said despite the India being the second most populous country, its COVID-19 cases and deaths per million population are amongst the lowest in the world. "In spite of a population of 1.3 billion people, India has been able to manage COVID-19 relatively well," Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty in the Union Health ministry said. According to the World Health Organization report, India has 538 cases per million population while it is at least 16-17 times more in some countries, Bhushan said. "Again we have 15 deaths per million population, whereas we have countries where it is 40 times as much," he said. Asked if India has entered the community transmission phase, Bhushan said, "Even today, the health minister (Harsh Vardhan) clearly said after the GoM that India has not reached the stage of community transmission. In some geographical areas, there have been localised outbreaks." "We should not forget that in our country, 49 districts alone account for 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases. In a country of more than 733 districts, if 49 districts account for 80 per cent cases, then it is not justified to talk about community transmission," he said at a press briefing. Wherever there are active cases, if the prescribed protocol is followed, in three days close contacts of such cases can be traced and tracked, he said. "So in such a situation in which you can trace and track close contacts of active cases, talking about community transmission is not justified," Bhushan said, adding that the WHO has also not given a specific definition of localised outbreak and community transmission. They (WHO) have given this right to their member states to analyse the situation and do its reporting which the global body shows on its website, he said. On an average, India is testing more than 2.6 lakh samples per day for COVID-19, an ICMR official said at the briefing, asserting that testing has been ramped up in the country in a big way. COVID-19 recovered cases are 1.75 times that of active cases, Bhushan said. "The gap between active COVID-19 cases and recovered cases is progressively increasing in the country. As on July 9, the recovery rate stands at 62.09 per cent," he said. Asked about a WHO spokesperson saying that there are indications that the virus may be airborne, Bhushan said, "We are keeping abreast with the information coming out of the WHO headquarters on this particular aspect, but you would all appreciate and realise that even during the initial stages of the outbreak, we and the PM had repeatedly emphasised on 'do-gaz doori' (Two-metre distance). "So this concept protects you from small droplets that may remain suspended in air for longer period of time." It is an "evolving and dynamic" situation, he added. The ministry official further said people over 60 years account for 53 per cent of India's COVID-19 -inked deaths. Of the total COVID-19 deaths in India, one per cent are from the age group of 14 years and below, 3 per cent from 15 to 29 years age group, 11 per cent from 30 to 44 years age group, 32 per cent from 45-59 years age group, 39 per cent from 60-74 years age group and 14 per cent from 75 years and above age category. When asked to comment over ICMR Director General's letter envisaging the launch of COVID-19 vaccine by August 15, the ministry officials clarified that the spirit behind the letter was "only to expedite duly approved clinical trials without compromising on safety and security concerns". The sites for carrying out phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials for the potential COVID-19 vaccine have been finalised but the trials are yet to begin, Bhushan said. "In record time, indigenous vaccine candidates have been developed for the new disease. The aim of the letter was to ask sites to fast-track it. We need the vaccine today, if we go by conventional methods to develop the vaccine and take two years then there is no use of it," scientist at ICMR Nivedita Gupta said. Asked about reports of black-marketing and overpricing of drugs used in COVID-19 treatment, Bhushan said the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has written to the companies which are manufacturing these drugs and made two specific suggestions -- they must put in place a 24x7 helpline and proactively put out their distribution and supply details on their website. Responding to a question on whether Remdesivir will be removed from COVID-19 treatment after there were indication of its negative impact on the liver, Bhushan said that it is a rapidly evolving situation. "Not only in respect of Remdesivir, but in respect of Tocilizumab also, there have been a few studies which have indicated some adverse events. We are aware of this and within the ministry, there is a technical group of domain knowledge experts headed by DGHS that is looking into the evidence as it comes up. "If there would be a requirement to modify or refine our clinical treatment protocols, we will definitely do it," he said. PLB/UZM/ASK TDS TDS

COVID-19: India not in community transmission stage, says govt

New Delhi, Jun 13 () With the coronavirus cases rising sharply to nearly 39,000 in the national capital, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others on Sunday to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the city. A separate meeting will be held with the mayors and municipal commissioners of Delhi's three civic bodies. Kejriwal will also interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his counterparts including West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka, where the coronavirus cases are on a much higher side, on June 17. The national capital recorded 2,134 fresh coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the COVID-19 tally in the city to 38,958, while the the death toll mounted to 1,271, according to the latest Delhi health department bulletin. It was the second consecutive day when the number of reported cases breached the 2,000-mark. On Friday, Delhi had witnessed 2,137 cases, the highest single-day spike here. As many as 57 fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours. The number of coronavirus cases in Delhi is the third highest in the country after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Another meeting of the DDMA is also scheduled on June 16 which will see discussion on capping private hospital and ambulance charges and reducing COVID-19 private lab tests in the wake of complaints of exorbitant prices. The meeting will be attended by Kejriwal and Baijal. Taking note of the "gravity" of the coronavirus situation in the national capital, the Delhi High Court has directed the AAP government and the Centre to increase the number of beds and ventilators for COVID-19 patients. "Considering the gravity of the situation, we hereby direct the respondents (Centre and Delhi government) to increase the number of the beds for COVID-19 patients and also try to increase the number of ventilators so that all COVID patients in need can get these facilities," the bench said in its order which was passed on June 11 but made available on Saturday. Earlier this week, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said the coronavirus patients in Delhi are expected to reach 5.5 lakh by July end. During the same period, 1,50,000 beds will be needed, Kejriwal had said. On the Sunday's meeting, Shah's office tweeted, "Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah and Health Minister, @drharshvardhan to hold meeting with @LtGovDelhi, CM Delhi &amp; members of SDMA to review situation in the capital regarding COVID-19 tomorrow, 14th June at 11 am. Director AIIMS and other senior officers would also be present." Hours later, the home minister's office announced that a separate meeting will be held on Sunday with the mayors and top officials of Delhi's three municipal corporations -- North, South and East. Baijal is the chairman of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). He has also formed a six-member panel to formulate a COVID management plan and suggest ways to ramp up medical infrastructure in the capital. The six-member panel also includes National Disaster Management Authority members Krishna Vatsa and Kamal Kishore; Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) DG Balram Bhargava, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, DGHS Additional DDG Dr Ravindran and National Centre for Disease Control Director Surjit Kumar Singh. This comes close on the heels of Baijal's recent assertions on hospital beds and testing, and overturning of two Delhi government orders -- reserving hospital beds only for residents of Delhi in hospitals except those run by the Centre and testing of only symptomatic patients. There has been criticism from different quarters over the handling of COVID-19 cases in the capital with complaints of non-availability of beds in hospitals for patients and difficulty in getting the tests done in laboratories. The Supreme Court on Friday lashed out at the city government, terming as "horrific" the state of affairs in Delhi hospitals with bodies being stacked next to COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, a day after the apex court expressed concern over fewer coronavirus tests in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain put the onus on the ICMR, saying its guidelines should be changed for the testing to increase. The Supreme Court had had asked the government to ensure that there should be a "steep increase in the testing both by Government hospitals and private labs" as "non-testing of the patients is not a solution to the problem". Jain said that the Delhi government is following the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). "If you want the number of tests conducted for coronavirus to increase, ask the Indian Council of Medical Research to change its guidelines. We cannot flout ICMR guidelines," he said. The Delhi government had last week issued testing guidelines making it mandatory that only symptomatic patients will be tested for COVID-19, but the Lieutenant Governor had overruled it on Monday stressing that ICMR guidelines testing of contacts of patients be followed "without any deviation". In its efforts to ramp up the health infrastructure, the Delhi government is planning a 10,000-bed makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients under a sprawling tent in south Delhi to prepare for a projected surge in cases in the city. The planned COVID-19 facility will come up at the south Delhi campus of spiritual organisation Radha Soami Satsang Beas on the Delhi-Haryana border. Similar facilities have been established in Mumbai. The city has a total 9,647 dedicated COVID-19 beds in state-run, central, and private hospitals. Of these, 5,402 are occupied. The Delhi government has also started the process to identify community halls and stadiums which can be converted into makeshift COVID-19 hospitals. Kejriwal has also appealed to all doctors to volunteer for the city government's telemedicine helpline to provide free healthcare advice to people. In a video message, Kejriwal urged them to register with the government by giving a miss call on 08047192219. ACB SLB GVS HMP SKV PR RT

Amit Shah to meet LG, Kejriwal on Sunday to discuss COVID-19 situation; Over 2,000 new cases for 2nd day

(Eds: Incorporating related stories) New Delhi, Jun 4 () The Delhi government has warned that private hospitals which do not comply with its direction to reserve 20 per cent beds for coronavirus patients by Friday will be converted into dedicated COVID-19 facilities, as the Centre too expressed concern over the rising number of cases in the national capital which crossed the 25,000 mark. Addressing an online briefing, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Thursday that his government's entire focus is on saving people's lives and ensuring adequate facilities for COVID-19 patients who need hospital care, without getting entangled in data or any competition with other states. He said private hospitals that have been asked by the government to reserve 20 per cent beds for coronavirus patients will be converted into dedicated COVID-19 facilities if they fail to comply with the order by Friday. Earlier, the Delhi government had asked 61 private hospitals to reserve 20 per cent beds for COVID-19 patients. With 1,359 more people testing positive, the total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 25,004. Twenty-two deaths were also reported on Thursday as the toll reached 650. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan chaired a high-level meeting through video-conferencing to review the preparedness for prevention and control of the coronavirus infection in Delhi. At the meeting, which was attended by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal and Delhi's health minister Satyendra Jain, Vardhan expressed concern over all districts of the national capital being affected by COVID-19, and high positivity rates and low testing levels in many districts. "Rising cases, high positivity rates and low testing levels in many districts are worrisome," Vardhan was quoted as saying in a health ministry statement. He also stressed on the need to rapidly increase bed availability in view of the rise in cases along with avoiding unnecessary delay in admission of patients. The Union minister emphasised on the need for ramping up testing, coupled with aggressive surveillance, contact tracing and stringent containment and perimeter control measures. The high rate of infection in the healthcare workers was also a serious issue, he noted. "It indicates poor infection prevention control practices in healthcare settings and needs to be attended to on priority," he said. In the joint virtual press conference with Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Sisodia said private hospitals have time till Friday to reserve beds for coronavirus patients. "We already have our dedicated COVID-19 facilities. Three more private hospitals were added yesterday (Wednesday). And if those private hospitals with mixed use (20 per cent reserved beds) are facing logistics issues, then they will be fully converted into dedicated COVID-19 facilities," he said. The idea behind the move is to make sure that no hospital refuses to treat patients suffering from coronavirus, the deputy chief minister said. He also urged people who are infected with coronavirus but are asymptomatic to remain at home and isolate themselves. In terms of cities, Delhi has the highest cases after Mumbai. With regards to the states, Delhi has the highest cases after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. "We do not have to get into data or any competition with other states, our focus is to save the lives of the people. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also believes that our attention should be more on helping people recover by providing them with proper medical facilities," Sisodia said. He said COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Delhi and the government has started focusing on ensuring that those who need hospitalisation get beds and proper treatment facilities. Five government and three private hospitals -- Moolchand Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Saroj Super Speciality Hospital -- are dedicated COVID-19 facilities. Many private hospitals have followed the instructions to start the mixed system, but others are facing problems in complying with them, Sisodia said. Jain said asymptomatic patients with no or very mild symptoms -- slight fever and mild cough -- can be treated and recover in home quarantine. Patients with moderate (respiratory rate of more than 15 per minute and oxygen level below 94 per cent) and severe symptoms (respiratory rate of more than 30 per minute and oxygen level below 90 per cent) require hospitalisation, he added. The city government has also issued a new set of guidelines for testing of COVID-19 patients. According to an order issued by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) in Delhi on June 2, the revised strategy for COVID-19 testing is for symptomatic patients. All symptomatic (ILI symptoms) individuals with history of international travel in the last 14 days, symptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases; all symptomatic healthcare workers or front-line workers involved in containment and mitigation of COVID 19 and all patients of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) are to be tested, the order said. Direct and high-risk contacts (diabetic, hypertension, cancer patients and senior citizens) of a confirmed case to be tested once between day 5 and day 10 of coming into contact with a confirmed case, it said. Also, all symptomatic people within hotspots or containment zones, all hospitalised patients who develop ILI symptoms and all symptomatic among returnees and migrants are to be tested within seven days of the illness, it said. All testing in these categories have been recommended to be done by real time RT-PCR tests only, the order said. In the wake of sealing of borders by Delhi and its satellite cities citing the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to convene a meeting of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for easing inter-state movement. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, hearing a plea against the border restrictions in the NCR, said the states should have a common programme and a common portal for inter-state movement. "We are of the view that in the facts of the present case, the Government of India shall convene a meeting of concerned State officials/UTs and endeavour to find out a common programme, common portal for easing the inter-state movement on all state borders in the National Capital Region," the bench, also comprising justices S K Kaul and M R Shah, said in its order. Officials said the Delhi government is in favour of opening the borders, but there were some concerns by the states involved. They noted that when economic activities are again restarting, the borders too should be opened. Earlier this week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said Delhi will seal its borders for at least a week in view of the coronavirus pandemic. VIT KND PLB ABA MNL SJK SA PR RT

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