Thread: The Indian health ministry will hold a press con today, 29 days after the last press con!
54th* press con, 9 Jul 2020.
Live tweets here:
54th* press con, 9 Jul 2020.
Live tweets here:
thread reg absence of press cons
Press con off to an unsurprising start, puffing up of chest & lulling off complacency:
"India is 2nd largest population in world... and /THUS/ we are doing relatively well. Look at this graph... What do I mean by this... ... deaths per million is better in India than others."
"India is 2nd largest population in world... and /THUS/ we are doing relatively well. Look at this graph... What do I mean by this... ... deaths per million is better in India than others."
"Gap b/w active & recovered cases, those who'v gone home, is increasing. So "case load of covid in India" is 2.6lk ppl. Tells us end of day we /have managed/ situation & health infra is /not/ unduly burdened"
Recovered cases/ those discgarged frm hosps, are 1.75 times < active
Recovered cases/ those discgarged frm hosps, are 1.75 times < active
- data on covid cases per age groups presented
- ICMR official telling us news already reported days ago in media, on "ramping up testing" and starting of antigen testing
- she says that bunch of advisories uploaded on ICMR website ((we know))
- "test track & treat...."
++
- ICMR official telling us news already reported days ago in media, on "ramping up testing" and starting of antigen testing
- she says that bunch of advisories uploaded on ICMR website ((we know))
- "test track & treat...."
++
- ICMR official says NABL accreditation was earlier required by testing labs but theyre drawing this down, to speed up process ((good or bad?))
- 1132 labs operational, inc cbnat and trunat.
- 2.6lak samples tested per day and "we expect to see rise with antigen testing"
- 1132 labs operational, inc cbnat and trunat.
- 2.6lak samples tested per day and "we expect to see rise with antigen testing"
MHA rep speaking.
- about fixing Delhi's COVID crisis (( :-s ))
- parrotting news already known on antigen testing
- "saying all this about Delhi to reassure residents that..."
((when did MHA become the nodal agency for Delhi & why? when did MHA stop caring about rest of India))
- about fixing Delhi's COVID crisis (( :-s ))
- parrotting news already known on antigen testing
- "saying all this about Delhi to reassure residents that..."
((when did MHA become the nodal agency for Delhi & why? when did MHA stop caring about rest of India))
Q and A:
Q: Has benefit of plasma therapy been investigated?
MOHFW OSD (not a doctor afaik, only a beaureucrat): ....
((why no scientist or doctor @ today's press con? why is a non clinician explaining plasma therapy?))
Q: Has benefit of plasma therapy been investigated?
MOHFW OSD (not a doctor afaik, only a beaureucrat): ....
((why no scientist or doctor @ today's press con? why is a non clinician explaining plasma therapy?))
Q on community transmission:
MOHFW: Today also at meeting w/ group of ministers, we concluded that THERE IS NO COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION IN INDIA.
There are LOCALISED OUTBREAKS IN SOME AREAS.
49 districts account for 80% COVID cases.
Not justified to think/ say there is CT in India.
MOHFW: Today also at meeting w/ group of ministers, we concluded that THERE IS NO COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION IN INDIA.
There are LOCALISED OUTBREAKS IN SOME AREAS.
49 districts account for 80% COVID cases.
Not justified to think/ say there is CT in India.
Q on COVID vaccine controversy:
Many vaccine candidates. In India, there is BharatBiotech & ZydusCadilla. Animal toxicity studies concluded. Toxicity data on both been shared with DCGI. DCGI has allowed for ph1 and ph2 clinical trials. Sites being finalised. ++
Many vaccine candidates. In India, there is BharatBiotech & ZydusCadilla. Animal toxicity studies concluded. Toxicity data on both been shared with DCGI. DCGI has allowed for ph1 and ph2 clinical trials. Sites being finalised. ++
++ We hope... after all this... vaccine will be ready & we will bring info to you.
ICMR: Record time, indigneous manufacturers brought you these vaccine candidates. We hope this will happen asap. DG ICMR letter intent was to say that be as fast as poss, so we "dont miss bus."++
ICMR: Record time, indigneous manufacturers brought you these vaccine candidates. We hope this will happen asap. DG ICMR letter intent was to say that be as fast as poss, so we "dont miss bus."++
ICMR: Vaccine coming some years later... whats the point. This was intent behind that letter.
Sounds like Sunil Prabhu has shouted out a bunch of Qs. He always asks solid Qs and manages to shout it out, unlike anyone else!
MOHFW: Dont read too much into DG ICMR letter...
Sounds like Sunil Prabhu has shouted out a bunch of Qs. He always asks solid Qs and manages to shout it out, unlike anyone else!
MOHFW: Dont read too much into DG ICMR letter...
MOHFW: Reg #blackmarketing, it has come to our notice that certain drugs not available freely in market. 6 & 7 July, DCGI wrote letters to cos making these drugs. We made 2 specific suggestions:
- put in place 24*7 helpline for stockouts/ high price
- details of supply on website
- put in place 24*7 helpline for stockouts/ high price
- details of supply on website
- State drug inspectors told to go around market to see that there's no hoarding/ blackmarketing of drugs
My report on blackmarketing of tocilizumab here:
indiaspend.com/life-saving-co…
My report on blackmarketing of tocilizumab here:
indiaspend.com/life-saving-co…
MOHFW answering something on community transmission and WHO... very briefly.
4:30pm:
Q on how gov is counting details of those "recovered" at home
MOHFW: guidelines that those with mild symptoms, do home isolation. Phone calls, pulse oximeters...
Reg discharge, we have a policy for those in hosp & home.
"Recovery figures" indicate both these.
Q on how gov is counting details of those "recovered" at home
MOHFW: guidelines that those with mild symptoms, do home isolation. Phone calls, pulse oximeters...
Reg discharge, we have a policy for those in hosp & home.
"Recovery figures" indicate both these.
Q: "What is MOHFW view on COVID being airborne" (( =/ ))
Q on why patients not getting life saving drugs like Rem
MOHFW: Since you took name of Rem.. let me say, on Rem, Tocil, plasma therapy... GOI clinical protocol calls them "investigational therapies." Theyre not mainline++
Q on why patients not getting life saving drugs like Rem
MOHFW: Since you took name of Rem.. let me say, on Rem, Tocil, plasma therapy... GOI clinical protocol calls them "investigational therapies." Theyre not mainline++
Q on whether Rem will be dropped, given impact on liver. Also on HCQ.
MOHFW: .... there is a group looking into emerging data, we will update guidelines when needed.
MOHFW: .... there is a group looking into emerging data, we will update guidelines when needed.
Q on sero survey by ICMR. When is study out, any insights on containment zones, immunity?
ICMR: another sero survey is planned. You'll see lots of results coming up soon.
PIB tried to stop this answer.
MOHFW intervenes, says he will supplement the answer: ((pls listen to audio))
ICMR: another sero survey is planned. You'll see lots of results coming up soon.
PIB tried to stop this answer.
MOHFW intervenes, says he will supplement the answer: ((pls listen to audio))
Q on new lockdowns in some areas.
Q on MIT study projection for India.
Q: Guleria said peak will be in July. Can we say this is the peak?
Q on airborne transmission. Do any guidelines need to be revised?
Q for feedback from teams who went to Telangana etc?
Q on MIT study projection for India.
Q: Guleria said peak will be in July. Can we say this is the peak?
Q on airborne transmission. Do any guidelines need to be revised?
Q for feedback from teams who went to Telangana etc?
MOHFW: On testing avg and relation to positivity avg: "With ramped up testing, positivity comes down."
Q, inaudible.
MOHFW: RTPCR is gold std. ICMR working to ramp up. But it has its limits. Hence, looking to antigen testing. ....
PIB has ended the press con.
4.49pm.
Q, inaudible.
MOHFW: RTPCR is gold std. ICMR working to ramp up. But it has its limits. Hence, looking to antigen testing. ....
PIB has ended the press con.
4.49pm.
