Centre preparing SOP to avert post COVID infection

Indian Council of Medical Research sets up a panel of experts including members from AIIMS, ICMR, Health Ministry to prepare SOP to handle the post COVID-19 infection as many such cases are reported in the country. Of late, hospitals from across the country are receiving complaints of post-COVID infection like chest pain, lung infection among others.

New Delhi: As cases of post COVID-19 infection is coming almost on a regular basis, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is preparing an SOP to counter the threat.

"Yes we have set up a panel of experts including members from AIIMS, ICMR, Health Ministry and a few other top medical institutes to chalk out an SOP to fight post-Covid infection," said ICMR director-general Dr Balram Bhargava on Tuesday.

Of late, hospitals from across the country are receiving complaints of post-Covid infection like chest pain, lung infection among others. "We are compiling data from people who have got cured, and whoever is getting admitted to the hospital," said Dr Bhargava.

Referring to the case of reinfection, where a cured person from Covid19 disease got reinfected in Hong Kong, Dr Bhargava said that the case needs to be looked closely. "Immune system of the person needs to be examined. The COVID mutation also needs to be looked into," said Dr Bhargava.

He said that two experts committee have examined the serosurvey report being conducted by ICMR on containment areas. "With this serosurvey, we tried to understand the percentage of Covid19 infection prevalent amongst people," said Dr Bhargava while addressing a press conference in New Delhi.

He said that the report will be published by the Indian Medical journal this week. He further informed that the Serum Institute of India (SII) will start phase III clinical trial of Oxford vaccine candidate for Covid19.

Dr Bhargava said that India has witnessed a tremendous change in the testing and diagnosis of Covid19 patients. "With the help of one testing laboratory, 1,000 tests were being conducted per day till March 15 and now on August 21, 1 million tests have been conducted with the help of 1524 labs," Dr Bhargava said.

During the course of time, India became self-reliance as far as testing kits are concerned. Rajesh Bhusan, secretary in the Health Ministry said that both India and Russia are in talks over SputnikV vaccine.

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"Yes both the sides had some discussion on the vaccine. We have also sought for some more data on the issue," said Bhushan.

Referring to the reopening of schools, educational institutions and metro rail service, Bhushan said that both health ministry and home ministry had a detailed deliberation on the issue. "Whatever is permitted, it will be mentioned in unlock phase 4," the health secretary said.

Bhushan said that India is doing well in its fight against Covid19 pandemic. He said that the recovery rate touched 75 per cent whereas the active cases in India are only 32.2 per cent of the total cases. India at present has 7,04,348 active cases and 24,04,585 recovered cases.

He said that 2.70 per cent of the total active cases are on oxygen support, 1.92 per cent are on ICU and 0.29 per cent are on the ventilator.

"Number of recovered patients is now 3.4 times of active cases. India has also conducted more than 3.6 crore tests to date. In spite of increasing testing, the number of COVID positivity is decreasing, " said Bhushan.

On August 13, 2.68 crore tests were conducted whereas the positivity rate was 8.93. "On August 25, 3.6 crore tests were conducted and the positivity rate came down to 8.60," said Bhushan. India at present has around 1500 testing laboratories.

"Although 58,390 people have died due to Covid19 disease, India's mortality rate is the lowest in the world," he said and added that India has recorded 1.84 per cent mortality rate.

Significantly, more than 51 per cent decades fall in the age group of 60 and above, 36 per cent fall in the age group between 45 to 60. "Gender wise analysis of death cases shows that 69 per cent of death cases happened to make patient and 31 per cent to female," said Bhushan.

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