32 more testing labs can come up with AIIMS as mentor

Number of infected people may rise if more tests done: Pharma industry expertsNEW DELHI: India may not be testing enough for Covid-19 and once more tests are conducted the novel coronavirus infection numbers could rise, said pharma industry experts at a webinar hosted by Bennett University on Thursday.The industry is facing issues with scaling up its existing manufacturing capacities, and transportation of the finished kits. The delay in getting the results also remains a concern, experts said at the webinar on ‘Combating Covid-19: Biotech to the Rescue’, organised by the biotechnology department under the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Bennett University....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster 57

Can BCG flatten the curveA report titled “Mandated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination predicts flattened curves for the spread of COVID-19″ analyzes daily reports of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in over 50 countries.Researchers stat that countries with a current policy mandating BCG vaccination have significantly slower growth of both cases and deaths, as compared to other countries....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster 56

How many healthcare workers have been affected in USAAt least 9,282 healthcare workers have contracted the coronavirus in the United States in a two-month period that has resulted in 27 deaths, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to detect myocardial involvement in COVID-19 patientCardiac troponins by high-sensitivity assays (hs-cTn) must be regarded as a crucial diagnostic and prognostic aid during the COVID-19 pandemic....read more

Am I a spiritual seeker?

Every one cannot be a spiritual seeker. In fact, majority is not interested in seeking spiritual knowledge and they keep themselves busy in the worldly desires. To become a good seeker, one needs to acquire many qualities.In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, in a state of disturbed mind, sought guidance from Lord Krishna. In Katha Upanishad, Nachiketa, as a healthy seeker, learned the knowledge of life after death from Yama. ....read more

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India will Export ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ in Malaysia to Combat COVID-19

The Policy Times

India has agreed to sell hydroxychloroquine tablets to Malaysia for use in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, a Malaysian minister told Reuters on Wednesday, with New Delhi partially lifting its bar on exports of the anti-malarial drug. India is the world’s largest producer of hydroxychloroquine, sales of which have soared across the world including in the United States, especially after President Donald Trump touted it as a potential weapon against Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. New Delhi had last month put a hold on exports of hydroxychloroquine to secure supplies for itself, before agreeing this month to supply it to some of its neighbours as well as “nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic”. “On 14 April, India has given permission for Malaysia to import 89,100 tablets,” Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaffar told Reuters on Wednesday. “We will try to get more hydroxychloroquine tablets from India, which is also subject to stock availability.” India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. Malaysia has been using hydroxychloroquine for mild to severe COVID-19 cases along with other drugs, according to its treatment protocol seen by Reuters. It has the second highest number of infections of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia with nearly 5,000 cases, 82 of whom have died. India’s decision to sell the sought-after drug to Malaysia signals a turnaround in relations between the countries that had soured because of repeated criticism of some Indian policies by Mahathir Mohamad, before he resigned as Malaysia’s prime minister in February.

How an anti-malarial drug has become a tool of Indias diplomacy

Aljazeera- Akash Bisht

Days after India banned the export of pharmaceuticals amid the coronavirus pandemic, it reversed its decision after US President Donald Trump last week demanded New Delhi ship anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to the United States. Foreign policy experts in India expressed shock at Trumps threat of retaliation against India - a close trade and security ally of the US. But New Delhis decision to export HCQ seems to have changed the US presidents tune immediately. "Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!" tweeted Trump. Earlier, the US president, while speaking to reporters, had called Modi "terrific" and said the US will "remember" that India allowed what they had requested. Modi was quick to respond, underlining the close ties between the two countries. "Fully agree with you President @realDonaldTrump. Times like these bring friends closer. The India-US partnership is stronger than ever. India shall do everything possible to help humanitys fight against COVID-19. We shall win this together," Modi tweeted.

Five Covid-19 patients discharged in Assam in 24 hours

India Today- Hemanta Kumar Nath

Three Covid-19 patients who were treated at the Goalpara Civil Hospital were discharged from the hospital on Thursday in presence of Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and junior minister Pijush Hazarika. Earlier, two other coronavirus patients were discharged from Sonapur Covid-19 hospital on Wednesday evening. The Assam health minister said that all the patients were linked with the Nizamuddin Markaz and they will now be put under home quarantine for 14 days. “These patients’ recent test reports have come out negative and the active Covid-19 patients in Assam are slowly recovering,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Assam has reported 32 positive cases so far. A Covid-19 positive patient from Hailakandi district died on April 10.

Delhi pizza delivery boy tests positive for coronavirus, 72 families quarantined | 10 points

India Today

At least 72 families in Delhi have been quarantined after a pizza delivery agent from the national capitals Maliviya Nagar tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Along with the 72 families, 17 colleagues of the delivery agent have also been placed under quarantine. The pizza delivery boy, who works at a local pizza outlet, had reportedly been showing symptoms for around 20 days. He is now undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi. Here are the top 10 developments of the days big story on coronavirus: 1. A delivery agent of a local pizza outlet in Malviya Nagar area of Delhi has tested positive for novel coronavirus. The pizza delivery boy had been showing symptoms for around 20 days. 2. A resident of Delhis Malviya Nagar, the delivery boy was tested after he continued to show symptoms of novel coronavirus. His test results came back on April 14 and showed that he had tested positive for Covid-19. He is now admitted to a hospital in Delhi where his condition is stated to be stable. 3. Soon after he tested positive, 17 other delivery boys from the outlet where he works were put under institutional quarantine. 4. The Delhi administration then traced over 70 families where the agent had gone to deliver food. These families belong to Delhis Malviya Nagar and Hauz Khas, the two main areas where the delivery boy had gone in the past 20 days. 5. Seventy-two families from these South Delhi areas have now been placed under home quarantine as a precautionary measure. 6. As per reports, the Delhi outlet where the patient was working has been temporarily closed for 14 days. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure, the outlet said in a statement.