'Speed up COVID-19 vaccine development process': Health minister to Dept. of Biotechnology

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday asked  directors of Department of Biotechlogy, its 18 automous bodies and PSUs to speed up activities in developing vaccine for COVID-19, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

Health Minister also asked m to fast-track development of antibody detection kits, RT-PCR detection kits, and COVID-19 vaccine, under Government’s Make in India programme.

"Union Health Minister held a video-conferencing meeting with Directors of Department of Biotechlogy, its 18 automous bodies, and PSUs and asked m fast-track development of antibody detection kits, RT-PCR detection kits and COVID-19 vaccine, under Make in India. meeting was called to review researches," said Agarwal during daily press briefing.

Joint Secretary said that Union Health Minister also held a meeting with Delhi LG, Delhi health Minister, DCPs, DMs to review COVID-19 surveillance activities in national capital.

RE | Plasma rapy In Experimental St, t COVID Treatment Until ICMR Approves: Health Min

RE | 'Indigeus Production Of Test Kits By May; 1 Lakh Tests/day A Reality Soon': Health Min

visory for symptomatic patients

Health Ministry has vised people having mild symptoms or undergoing pre-symptomatic phase of COVID-19, to observe home isolation.

"Such patients with requisite self-isolation facility at ir residence will w have option for home isolation. As per eligibility for home isolation, person should be clinically assigned as a very mild case/pre-symptomatic case by treating medical officer," he said.

Speaking of threat to health professionals treating COVID-19 patients, Agarwal said, through online training, Health Ministry is trying to make health professionals aware of need to follow safety guidelines. “If a health professional does t here to safety measures, he can be infected with coronavirus. We are asking m to take required health precautions,” he ded.

A total of 1,543 new COVID-19 cases have been identified in last 24 hours, taking tally in country to 29,435. As many as 6,869 people have been cured of coronavirus and recovery rate in India stands as 23.3 per cent, Ministry said.

RE | SC Asks Centre To Ensure PPE Kits Are Provided To Health Workers In n­-COVID Treatment Areas

RE | Delhi: Nearly 90 Health Workers Test Positive For COVID-19, Says Health Minister Jain

(With inputs from ANI)