COVID-19 Scare - Tamilnadu announce complete lock down in 4 districts from June 19 to 30th June 2020

Tamilnadu state has reported nearly 45,000 Covid-19 positive cases and 435 deaths so far.  Out of the total cases in the state, there are nearly 19,600 active cases while 24,500 people have been cured of the illness.  Due to the increase in the number of Corona cases in Tamilnadu, the Tamilnadu Governement has announced complete lock down in the four worst affected districts of the state from 19th June to 30th June, 2020.

Key highlights of the lockdown in Tamilnadu:

• Tamilnadu announces complete lcokdown in 4 districts including Chennai from June 19 to 30th June, 2020
• The state has registered close to 45,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and 435 deaths so far
• DMK's Dayanidhi Maran slams Palaniswamy Government over its Covid-19 handling and it lacks clarity in dealing the issue.

The lockdown has been announced in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Chengalpet districts of Tamilnadu.  The decision was taken during cabinet meeting.  The ruling AIADMK had said that the health experts committee which held discussions with Chief Minister has recommended tightening the relaxations given for lockdown in Chennai to contain the spread of coronavirus infection.

For more details, please read the complete article about lock down in Tamilnadu

Glenmark launches new Corona Virus Medicine at Rs. 103 per tablet- Fevipiravir

Glenmark - a Mumbai based pharmaceutical company has received approvals to manufacture and market Favipiravir in India for mild to moderate COVID-19 cases.  It is a prescription based medicine.

The company has received the approval from Drugs Controller General of India.  So the Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has launched the antiviral drug Fevipiravir under the brand name called FabiFlu.  This medicine is launched for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.  The tablet is priced at Rs. 103 and is prescription based.  The drug is available as a 200 mg tablet at an MRP of Rs. 3,500 for a strip of 34 tablets.

Some information about the new COVID-19 Drug :

• The recommended dose of Favipiravir is 1,800 mg twice a day on first day followed by 800 mg twice daily upto day 14.  The drug is available only on prescription.
• The drug is available both through hospitals and the retail channel
• Dr. Rommel Tickoo, Associate Director, Internal medicine, Max Healthcare, said that the drug would be a potential game changer.  Clear information about the efficacy of the drug will be available in next two months. The preliminary report is promising. 
• Glenmark is producing the active pharmaceutical ingredients ( API ) for the drug at their Ankaleswar plant while the formulation is being manufactured at its Baddi plant.
•  The drug can be used for Corona Virus patients with co-morbid conditions such as diabetes and heart disease with mild to moderate COVID_19 symptoms. 

For more details about the COVID-19 medicine from Glenmark please click here.