Centre revised Covid management protocol | Economic Times

The Centre has revised Covid-19 clinical management protocol to underline that the Sars-Cov-2 virus spreads largely through air. It has also included controversial Ivermectin for treatment and emphasised on the judicious use of corticosteroids and other drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab. The health ministry changes, almost a year after the first clinical management protocol in June 2020, follows research and virus mutations that have altered the symptoms and treatment of Covid-19. The changes are broadly in disease epidemiology, incubation period of the virus, inclusion of symptoms of moderate and severe disease in children and drugs used for treatment. India has included World Health Organisation’s latest findings that the Sars-Cov-2 virus is air-borne. In the new protocols the health ministry has stated, “a majority of the transmission occurs through the airborne route.” In the first wave, health authorities across the world had maintained that infection spreads through droplet transmission. However, the protocol has been revised to ensure that people understand that it is not only droplet but largely through air.This has again been a controversial issue. But we know that the virus could be air borne especially in closed surroundings. This is why there is an emphasis on ventilation of rooms by the government,” said Fortis Memorial Research Institute director Manoj Goel.India has included anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin in treatment of mild cases. WHO had recommended that this be used only in clinical trials. “There is no scientific evidence that Ivermectin is effective in treatment of Covid-19. It is being used in India and Bangladesh and in some other countries,” Goel said. The ministry has also underlined the need for judicious use of Remdesivir, Tocilizumab and corticosteroid, ensuring that there is no abuse leading to post-recovery complications.The changes in the protocol areflects an ‘age shift’ in the disease. Even though the government has maintained that elderly population remains more susceptible, doctors feel that the second wave has affected children and younger population too. For the first time, the protocol lays out in detail symptoms and management of moderate and severe disease in children. Indicating high infectivity of virus variants, the government has also changed the incubation period to 1-14 days from 2-14 days. Clinical symptoms now also include headache and altered mental status, which is an alarming sign in elderly patients.