New Delhi: Amid increasing number of Covid-19 cases in India, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given approval to use anti-HIV drugs to Covid-19 patient in severe cases.
"Yes approval have given to use anti-HIV drugs to Covid-19 patient in severe cases but with prescribed protocol," said Luv Agarwal, joint secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ETV Bharat on Monday.
The Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) has also said that anti-HIV drugs Lopinavir and Ritonavir can be used to treat Covid-19 patients in severe cases.
Lopinavir and Ritonavir, the protocol suggests, can be used in adults over 18 years of age who are confirmed positive for Covid-19 and have complications such as severe respiratory distress, very low blood pressure and new-onset organ dysfunction.
Interestingly, three old patients including an Italian couple cured with anti-HIV drugs in Jaipur.
Officials said the Italian couple aged 69 and 70 along with a 85 years old Indian man were treated with anti-HIV drugs after their condition worsened. They are now tested Covid 19 negative.
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Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has advised to all state governments and union territories to close all educational establishments including (school, universities, etc), gyms, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools and theatres in view of Covid-19.
"Students should be advised to stay at home. Online education to be promoted," the advisory side.
The advisory has also suggested to encourage private sector organisations to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible.
It is also suggested that meetings, as per is possible, shall be done through video conference. "Minimise or reschedule meetings involving large number of people and less necessary," the advisory said.
The advisory from the health ministry also suggested to keep already planned weddings to a limited gathering and postpone all non essential social and cultural gatherings.
Meanwhile, the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Covid-19 also reviewed the overall situation across India with his cabinet colleagues from other ministries.
The GoM meeting has resolved that travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from March 18.
"No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from 12 hours on March 18. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure," the GoM said.
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The GoM also resolved for expanding compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from and transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
"This travel advisory shall be in force till March 31," the GoM said.
Meanwhile, the total Covid-19 positive cases in India touches 114 with four new cases from Odisha, J&K, Ladakh and Kerala.
Officials said that contact tracing activity of these positive cases has led to identification of more than 5,200 contacts, who age kept under surveillance.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has issued a 24×7 nationwide toll free number 1075/011-23978046 to fight against Covid-19.
