Union Health Minister Asks Department Of Biotechnology, Others To Fastrack Development Of COVID-19 Vaccine

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan held a video-conferencing meeting with directors of Department of Biotechnology, its 18 autonomous bodies and PSUs and asked them to fastrack the activities pertaining to the development of the vaccine for COVID-19, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, here on Tuesday. Mr. Agarwal said that Health Minister asked them to fast-track the development of antibody detection kits, RT-PCR detection kits and the COVID-19 vaccine, under Make in India. He said,

Union Health Minister held a video-conferencing meeting with Directors of Department of Biotechnology, its 18 autonomous bodies and PSUs and asked them fast-track development of antibody detection kits, RT-PCR detection kits and COVID-19 vaccine, under Make in India. The meeting was called to review the researches.

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Mr. Agarwal said that Union Health Minister held a meeting with Delhi LG, Delhi health Minister, DCPs, DMs to review the COVID-19 surveillance activities. He informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for home isolation of people who either have very mild COVID-19 symptoms or are in the pre-symptomatic phase. He said,

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

Responding to a question on the threats to health professionals while treating COVID-19 patients, Mr. Agarwal said,

Through online training, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is informing about necessary health precautions while treating COVID-19 patients. If a health professional does not adhere to safety measures guidelines, he can be infected with the coronavirus. We are asking them to take required health precautions.

Mr. Agarwal said that there is nothing called a model to combat COVID-19. He said,

There is nothing called a model to combat COVID-19. There is nothing called Agra Model and Bhilwara Model. We need to follow the containment zones strategy. Even a small mistake can cause a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. We need to adhere to social distancing and other guidelines to combat COVID-19.

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