The total number of coronavirus cases in India has surged to 873 (28th March 2020 1.30 PM). As many as 14 patients were diagnosed positive with COVID-19 infection on Friday. This was the highest number of coronavirus COVID-19 cases the country has recorded so far in a single day.

Out of the total patients, 826 are Indians while 47 are foreign nationals. There are 775 active coronavirus patients in the country, reported Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Till now, 79 people have been cured or discharged. The death toll in India has surged to 19. Deaths have been recorded from the various parts of the country. Five deaths were reported from Maharashtra, three from Gujarat, two each from Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and one each from Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

India is now facing its greatest crisis since its independence. There is a 21-day lockdown to enforce self-distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and flatten its growth curve. It is natural that in the process, the economy is on complete bed rest.

More than half a million people in the world were infected with deadly coronavirus, said the head of the World Health Organization (WHO). The deadly virus killed more than 20,000 globally. Italy remains the worst-hit country in the world with more than 7,500 casualties.

India informed about the first confirmed case of the coronavirus infection on 30 January 2020 in the state of Kerala. The infected person had a travel history from Wuhan, China.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has maintained that there is no evidence of community spread in the country yet.

Coronavirus disease in India: Approved treatments
The Drug Controller General of India has granted permission to the Indian Council of Medical Research to use a combination of Lopinavir and Ritonavir in the result of the coronavirus disease in India turns into a public health emergency, reported the Economic Times.

Lopinavir and Ritonavir have already been approved for the treatment of HIV.

Measures India has taken to regulate the Wuhan coronavirus spread
The Indian government has declared a number of preventive measures to minimise the entry and spread of coronavirus. India’s prime-minister Narendra Modi is reviewing the country’s vigilance in combating COVID-19 coronavirus in India, if it spreads further in India, and has appealed to Indians to avoid mass gatherings.

A control room operational open on all hours to address queries has been launched.

Evacuation measures
The Indian government arranged for the evacuation of 324 Indian citizens from Wuhan in a special Air India flight on 31 January 2020. The passengers were placed under quarantine for a period of 14 days.

The second batch of 330 passengers, including seven Maldivian citizens evacuated by the government, arrived from Wuhan on 01 February 2020. The repatriated passengers are currently being monitored. India evacuated 654 people comprising of 647 Indians citizens by 11 February.

The health condition of all of them was monitored on a daily basis. They were tested twice for COVID-19 infection and found to be negative. All the evacuees were discharged on 18 February.

A total of 76 Indian nationals and 36 foreign nationals were evacuated in a special flight from Wuhan on 26 February. They are placed under quarantine in Manesar and have tested negative in the first test.

India has commenced evacuation of hundreds of Indians stranded in Iran. The first flight carrying 58 Indian nationals landed in Ghaziabad on 10 March.

Visas cancelled for foreign nationals travelling from affected countries
India announced the cancellation of existing e-visas issued to all foreign nationals of China, on 05 February and advised Indians to avoid travelling to China.

Further, India announced that people travelling to China will be quarantined upon return. India temporarily suspended visa on arrival for Japanese and South Korean nationals on 27 February.

On 03 March, India announced the suspension of all visas issued to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan who have not yet entered the country. Visas issued to foreign nationals who travelled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan who have not yet entered the country have also been cancelled.

The cancellation is not applicable to diplomats, officials of the international bodies, OCI cardholders and aircrew although medical screening is mandatory for all. Medical screening and submission of self-declaration form including travel history for all passengers arriving from the restricted countries are also mandatory.

Ensuring availability of coronavirus drugs in India
The Department of Pharmaceuticals is assessing the availability of drugs in the country due to the increase in cases of coronavirus infection. A report submitted by a committee formed by the department revealed that the existing stock of APIs will be sufficient to manufacture drugs for two to three months.

Various government organisations including the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority and Drugs Controller General of India have been instructed to ensure an adequate supply of APIs and check black-marketing or illegal hoarding. The organisations have also been asked to monitor the availability of APIs and drugs.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DFGT) has been instructed to restrict the export of 13 APIs and formulations, the majority of which are made in Hubei, China. According to the latest reports, many Chinese pharmaceutical companies have partially resumed production and expected to resume full production