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COVID-19 live update: India shuts down as confirmed cases surge to 5194 and global toll crosses 72,000

COVID-19 live update: India shuts down as confirmed cases surge to 5194 and global toll crosses 72,000
According to the Ministry of Health, there are now 5194 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. @Shutterstock

From the number of positive cases in India surging to 4281 to New York emerging as the new epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, we bring you the latest updates.

Written by Jahnavi Sarma |Updated : April 8, 2020 4:25 PM IST

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe. India is in complete lockdown with all states and Union Territories taking drastic measures to curtail movement of people in a desperate bid to contain the spread of the disease.Today, India continues with the 21-day country-wide quarantine where 1.3 billion citizens will stay at home. India is, basically, in self-isolation from the world.With the number of confirmed cases standing at 5194 (including active cases, deaths, cured, discharged and migrated patients) and the death toll being 149, let us look at the latest on the coronavirus front in India and abroad.

CORONAVIRUS CASES SURGE IN INDIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD

According to the latest figures released by the by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on 2nd April, currently, India's COVID-19 toll is 4643 active cases, 149 deaths, 401 cured/discharged and 1 migrated. Active cases exclude deaths, cured, discharged and migrated patients. With India under complete lockdown, health professionals are urging everyone to maintain social distancing and follow the precautionary measures.

Elsewhere in the world, the situation is no better with most countries in lockdown mode. There are now 1,282,931 confirmed coronavirus cases around the world and the death toll stands at 72,776, according to the latest updates by the World Health Organization. In the US, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases have gone up to 333,811. In the UK, the number of positive cases rose to 51,612 and, in France, the virus has infected 73,488 people so far even as the death rate and cases of new infections in Italy shows a slight fall. Meanwhile, Spain has reported that more than 13,000 fatalities and 135,032 positive cases. According to the National Health Commission, in mainland China, there has been an increase in coronavirus cases with the numbers now reaching 83,071. New cases are mostly imported in the country. There have been reports of more locally transmitted cases in Mainland China. This comes after China reported no new cases for a few days.

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CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN INDIA

India has broadened the testing parametres to include asymptomatic people who fall in the high risk category. Around 12 private labs are now authorised to test for COVID-19 and there are 15,000 collection centres for samples across the country. Of these, 19 labs are in Maharashtra, two each in Haryana and Tamil Nadu and one each in Delhi, Gujarat and Karnataka. The government has also put a cap of RS 4500 on each corona virus test. According to guidelines, this may include Rs 1,500 for a screening test for suspect cases and an additional Rs 3,000 for confirmation test.

UPDATE ON THE VACCINE FRONT

There is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19. Doctors are isolating patients and treating symptoms. But scientists are racing against time to develop a vaccine at record time. The human trial for one such vaccine has already started in the US. But it will be available in the market only after about a year. China and Europe have also started clinical trials for a vaccine. But the journey of a vaccine from trials to the market is a long one. People need to prepare themselves to wait for more than a year before they get the benefits even as the World Health organisation warns of an accelerating pandemic.

Meanwhile, researchers are also investigating the use of the drug chloroquine, commonly used in the treatment of malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, in coronavirus cases. This drug may be able to reduce the duration of symptoms, as well as viral shedding. This will help prevent the spread of disease. Researchers of a study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents say that hydroxychloroquine (Plaqenuil) used in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax or Azithrocin) may reduce coronavirus symptoms. But there have been no definite results as yet and a confirmed treatment may still be a long way off.

ON THE LOOK OUT FOR POSSIBLE TREATMENT PROCEDURES

With the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of abating, experts across the world are working against time to develop a cure and a vaccine to the disease. Acknowledging the seriousness of the current situation, the World Health Organisation has fast-tracked the trial of 4 existing treatment procedures as possible cure for the new viral threat. In an unprecedented move, the premier organization has announced a global trial, called SOLIDARITY.

WHO is currently focusing on four treatment procedures that may prove useful against the coronavirus. The first is an experimental anti-viral compound called remdesivir. The second is a combination of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, used in malaria treatment. The third is a combination of two HIV drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir. Experts say that these drugs, when used in combination can inhibit coronaviruses. The fourth is a combination of lopinavir, ritonavir and interferon-beta, an immune system messenger that can cripple viruses and regulate inflammation. It showed promise in fighting MERS virus.

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. The FDA says that these drugs could be prescribed to teens and adults with COVID-19 "as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible". The statement came after the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that marked the first EUA for a drug related to COVID-19 in the US, a media report said on Monday.

Scientists need to find a cure fast. If they take the normal route, it will probably be years before we see any kind of a cure. So, they have opted for the next best solution repurposing drugs already approved for other diseases. These drugs are relatively safe. They are also contemplating unapproved drugs that showed promise during the SARS and MERS outbreaks.

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