The Delhi Government today, i.e., Tuesday, April 28, 2020 allowed self-employed individuals such as plumbers, electricians and water-purifier repairmen to resume their work during lockdown.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority also allowed carpenters and motor mechanics to work during the lockdown. No other non-essential service providers have been given permission to resume work. The permission has been given, keeping in mind the summer season as there is a huge demand of air-conditioner, cooler and fan repairing.
Separately, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi – Manish Sisodia has said that it will not be possible to conduct the remaining exams of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for class 10 and 12. Hence, the students should be promoted on the basis of internal exams only. He also said that for the next year, the entire syllabus should be reduced by at least 30% and the entrance examinations of JEE, NEET and other higher education institutions should also be taken on the basis of the reduced syllabus.
Speaking at the press briefing today, the Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare – Lav Agarwal said that no new cases of coronavirus reported from 17 Districts in last 28 days. He also said that India’s doubling rate of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has now increased to 10.2 days. Giving the reference of plasma infusion therapy, he informed the media that there is no approved therapy for treatment of the outbreak. Plasma therapy is in experimental stage but there is not enough evidence to claim it can be used as treatment for COVID-19.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched national-level study to understand the efficacy of plasma infusion therapy. However, until ICMR concludes its study and a robust scientific proof is available, plasma therapy should be used only for research or trial purpose. If plasma therapy is not used in proper manner under proper guideline then it can also cause life threatening complication and its use for treatment right now will also be illegal.
In a series of tweets, the official twitter handle of ICMR tweeted, “Currently, there are no approved, definitive therapies for #COVID19. Convalescent plasma is one of the several emerging therapies. However, there is no robust evidence to support it for routine therapy. @US_FDA has also viewed it as an experimental therapy (IND). 1/4”
Currently, there are no approved, definitive therapies for #COVID19. Convalescent plasma is one of the several emerging therapies. However, there is no robust evidence to support it for routine therapy. @US_FDA has also viewed it as an experimental therapy (IND). 1/4
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) April 28, 2020
Another tweet read, “#COVID19 convalescent plasma therapy comes with its own share of technical challenges, like antibody titer testing. There are also several risks of using this therapy including life-threatening allergic reactions and lung injury. 2/4”
#COVID19 convalescent plasma therapy comes with its own share of technical challenges, like antibody titer testing. There are also several risks of using this therapy including life-threatening allergic reactions and lung injury. 2/4
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) April 28, 2020
Talking about multi-center clinical trial, ICMR tweeted, “Given the serious uncertainties around #COVID19 convalescent plasma therapy, @ICMRDelhi has initiated a multi-center clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using this therapy in #COVID19 patients in India. 3/4”
Given the serious uncertainties around #COVID19 convalescent plasma therapy, @ICMRDelhi has initiated a multi-center clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using this therapy in #COVID19 patients in India. 3/4
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) April 28, 2020
The last tweet read, “Despite the threat of #COVID19 #pandemic, there’s a need to ensure the ethical integrity & establish the scientific basis of using #COVID19 convalescent plasma therapy in patients. #covidharegadeshjeetega. 4/4”
Despite the threat of #COVID19 #pandemic, there's a need to ensure the ethical integrity & establish the scientific basis of using #COVID19 convalescent plasma therapy in patients. #covidharegadeshjeetega 4/4
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) April 28, 2020
Meanwhile, India reported 1,594 cases and 51 casualties in the last 24 hours. Dharavi, Asia’s biggest slum in Mumbai reported 42 cases alone.
As per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, there are more than 29,964 cases and there have been 937 casualties.
