India Coronavirus Dispatch: When is Remdesivir useful?

Mumbai's curve showing signs of flattening, cash back in favour with public amid fear of lockdowns, and more-news relevant to India's fight against Covid-19

Daily cases dip marginally to 323,000

India reported 323,144 fresh coronavirus infections on Tuesday, taking the cumulative caseload to 17.6 million, according to central health ministry data. This is also the smallest one-day rise of more than 300,000 infections after the first on April 22. The country saw 2,771 deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 197,894. The active caseload is at 2.8 million, while the total recoveries have surged to 14.5 million. As many as 145 million shots have been administered since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Of these, 3.3 million were given on Monday. Read more here

EXPLAINED: When is Remdesivir useful?

The drug Remdesivir can diminish the progression of disease and the amount of time spent in hospital, but only under limited conditions, an explainer in ThePrint said. Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug or agent (BSAA). BSAAs hinder the replication of a broad range of viruses by targeting viral proteins used for the replication process. The drug is useful in a low flow oxygen state, when a patient has pneumonia and requires oxygen but not a ventilator. Remdesivir is ineffective after a patient is put on a ventilator. The drug is also ineffective for asymptomatic, mild, or moderate cases, the explainer said. Read more here

Mumbai: Covid curve showing signs of flattening, but it's only thanks to lockdown, experts say

Mumbai, one of the worst-hit cities in the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, is showing some signs of the curve flattening. However, civic officials and health experts say it is too early to celebrate and declare that the city has turned a corner, a report in ThePrint said. Om Srivastava, a city-based infectious disease expert, told the news website, “it might be a bit premature to call this a decline. The lockdown is the biggest reason for this dip. We will have to wait and see how the situation is for the next two-three weeks at least.” Read more here  

Cash back in favour with public amid fear of lockdowns

As cases surged in the second wave, the use of cash has spiked, a report in The Indian Express said. RBI data shows currency with the public rose by Rs 30,191 crore to hit a new high of Rs 27,87,941 crore during the fortnight ended April 9. Cash with the public rose by Rs 52,928 crore in the six-week period between February 27 and April 9. The jump in the use of cash is due to the fear of lockdowns, experts said. Read more here

OPINION: The rich must open their coffers

India's wealthy must aid the fight against Covid by making financial contributions, an opinion column in The Indian Express said. Large corporates, religious and quasi-religious organisations must tap into their reserves and put cash in the hands of the needy through salary advances, interest-free loans and donations. Furthermore, every privileged individual can assist those less privileged by paying for their dosages, thus relieving pressure on the state resources. Read more here