<p>The Union Health Ministry on Saturday recommended the use of remdesivir under emergency use authorisation to treat COVID-19 patients on oxygen support while fatalities rose by 386, the biggest single-day increase, to settle at 8,884.</p>.<p>The recommendation from the ministry came under the revised ‘Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19’ that also added “loss of smell and taste” to the list of symptoms for the disease.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>The death count in India has nearly doubled over the past fortnight and Maharashtra (3,717) and Gujarat (1,415) together account for nearly 58% of the fatalities.</p>.<p>According to an analysis done by economist Shamika Ravi, Delhi accounts for the highest death rate in the country – 64.88 deaths per million people, which is almost 10 times the all-India death rate.</p>.<p>Delhi has reported 1,214 deaths so far and the pressure was visible at various crematoria, which are witnessing a heavy load of bodies for last rites.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-now-stands-in-the-6th-position-globally-as-tally-spikes-over-257-lakh-toll-crosses-7100-846670.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>The document also recommended drugs such as remdesivir and tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma under investigational therapies for a defined sub-group of patients making it clear that it was based on limited evidence.</p>.<p>The guidelines make it clear that remdesivir is not recommended for patients with severe renal impairment, children below 12 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.</p>.<p>The guidelines come as Maharashtra has announced multi-centre clinical trials for remdesivir imported from Bangladesh as the Indian drug controller was yet to grant permission for manufacturing the drug in India.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://bit.ly/2XXecim" target="_blank">Health Ministry okays HCQ for early course of COVID-19, remdesivir under emergency use authorization</a></strong></p>.<p>India on Saturday witnessed its sharpest spike with 11,458 new cases, taking the total confirmed cases past the three-lakh mark to 3,08,993.</p>.<p>With the addition of loss of smell and taste, the clinical symptoms for COVID-19 have now risen to 15. </p>
<p>The Union Health Ministry on Saturday recommended the use of remdesivir under emergency use authorisation to treat COVID-19 patients on oxygen support while fatalities rose by 386, the biggest single-day increase, to settle at 8,884.</p>.<p>The recommendation from the ministry came under the revised ‘Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19’ that also added “loss of smell and taste” to the list of symptoms for the disease.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>The death count in India has nearly doubled over the past fortnight and Maharashtra (3,717) and Gujarat (1,415) together account for nearly 58% of the fatalities.</p>.<p>According to an analysis done by economist Shamika Ravi, Delhi accounts for the highest death rate in the country – 64.88 deaths per million people, which is almost 10 times the all-India death rate.</p>.<p>Delhi has reported 1,214 deaths so far and the pressure was visible at various crematoria, which are witnessing a heavy load of bodies for last rites.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-now-stands-in-the-6th-position-globally-as-tally-spikes-over-257-lakh-toll-crosses-7100-846670.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>The document also recommended drugs such as remdesivir and tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma under investigational therapies for a defined sub-group of patients making it clear that it was based on limited evidence.</p>.<p>The guidelines make it clear that remdesivir is not recommended for patients with severe renal impairment, children below 12 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.</p>.<p>The guidelines come as Maharashtra has announced multi-centre clinical trials for remdesivir imported from Bangladesh as the Indian drug controller was yet to grant permission for manufacturing the drug in India.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://bit.ly/2XXecim" target="_blank">Health Ministry okays HCQ for early course of COVID-19, remdesivir under emergency use authorization</a></strong></p>.<p>India on Saturday witnessed its sharpest spike with 11,458 new cases, taking the total confirmed cases past the three-lakh mark to 3,08,993.</p>.<p>With the addition of loss of smell and taste, the clinical symptoms for COVID-19 have now risen to 15. </p>
