Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, addressing the presser, said that the worries over the shortage of PPEs were unfounded and misguided.
New Delhi| The Union Health Ministry in its daily briefing on Covid-19 on Thursday dismissed the concerns over the availability of hydroxychloroquine and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, addressing the presser, said that the worries over the shortage of PPEs were unfounded and misguided.
He said, “Contrary to popular belief, PPE does not only mean overall covers. It’s a mix of components. Only in high-risk areas, the whole component is used. In other places, N95 masks and gloves are sufficient.”
“For example, an N95 mask can be used by a doctor for 8hours. But, if a doctor will use one mask per patient and then dispose it off, or uses four-five masks a day then that’s misuse,” he further added.
Responding to the question over the death of a doctor in MP’s Indore, the ministry said that lack of PPEs isn’t the concern in this matter. “We focus on infection prevention in our training. We would really urge that all guidelines be followed. Enough PPEs are being provided wherever necessary,” Agarwal said.
Lav Agarwal also stressed that India has adequate supplies of hydroxychloroquine or HCQ- the drug that’s said to be effective in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
“Without a doubt, it can be said that India has enough stock fo HCQ, we have enough even after factoring in future projections. But I would like to say that HCQ cannot be administered to anyone. It is being given only to doctors treating Covid-19 patients and contacts,” Lav Agarwal added.
“Just like any medicine, hydroxychloroquine also has side-effects It cannot be administered to anyone who has heart ailments,” he further said speaking on the HCQ.
According to the recent data given by the health ministry, India has reported 549 new cases in one day. The total cases across the country have soared to 5734. The death toll is at 166 while 473 people have recovered and have been given a discharge.
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