CM rushes officials to Maha, Hyd to secure Remdesivir

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday told officials to visit Maharashtra and Hyderabad to coordinate with companies producing Remdesivir injection for the battle against Covid-19.

Remdesivir was the first drug approved by the USA’s Food & Drug Administration to treat the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is to treat Covid-19 in hospitalized adults and children aged 12 years and above who weigh at least 40 kg.

The Chief Minister while reviewing Covid situation in Chhattisgarh asked the Chief Secretary to send officials to Hyderabad and Maharashtra for coordinating with drug companies producing Remdesivir, a press release said. Through video conferencing, Baghel also interacted with hospital directors, members of the Indian Medical Association and experts and inquired about the shortage of oxygen and other drugs, an official communication said.

“The increasing numbers of Covid cases in Chhattisgarh is alarming. If we deal with it in a planned way, definitely we will succeed,” he said, adding that strict surveillance was necessary at the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border.

He stressed the need for Covid testing at airports and railway stations.

Baghel said this time the pandemic has spread to villages. To halt its spread, it was necessary to do Covid test of people coming from outside Chhattisgarh. He asked private hospitals to do better treatment of Covid patients and assured them all possible support from the government.