As many as 1,457 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total recovery rate in the country to 28.72 per cent, the health ministry said on Wednesday. So far, a total of 14,183 people have been cured.
Meanwhile, 2,958 more people tested positive for the coronavirus since Tuesday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 49,391, the ministry added.
Earlier the health ministry wrote to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), saying its member should ensure availability of critical drugs for management of COVID-19 and other essential drugs during these "challenging times".
The ministry has forwarded a list of 55 drugs for ICU management of novel coronavirus patients and a list of another 96 drugs for general availability and treatment of various co-morbid conditions. The list was prepared following a detailed exercise undertaken by the Director General Health Services.
The letter stated that in accordance with the Clinical Management Guidelines for COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine has been recommended as prophylaxis for certain categories like healthcare workers and household contacts of positive cases.
A combination of hydorxychloroquine and azithromycin has been prescribed for severe patients requiring ICU management. Some other drugs are also presently under various stages of trials, but have so far not been recommended for use in India, the letter stated.
