The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)in a 1st of its study in collaboration with a team of scientists from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have found the presence of different kind of ‘Bat coronavirus’ (BtCoV) from 25 bats in 2 Indian bat species namely,Pteropus (Indian Flying Fox) and Rousettus (old world fruit bats).
ICMR allows state governments to set up sample collection sites
The Indian Council of Medical Research has allowed thestate governments to set up sample collection sites for the testing of COVID-19 samples. However, the body said that the states should follow its guidelines and the collection should be done using the recommended Personal Protective Equipment. The research body also suggested that the sites should be disinfected regularly as per the recommended procedures by implementing all biosafety and biosecurity precautions.
Coronavirus Lockdown
The State has ordered private hospitals with 100 or more beds to reserve 25 per cent for COVID-19 isolation facility.A Health Department official said, “A communication has been sent to all private hospitals with 100 beds and above to keep the beds ready. From the government’s side, we are shifting other patients from Government IRT Perundurai Hospital, Erode, to different hospitals. The Indian Council for Medical Research has approved two private testing centres in Tamil Nadu. Department of Clinical Virology, CMC Vellore and Department of Laboratory Services Apollo Hospitals Enterprises LTD, Chennai are the two centres approved. The State already has eight government testing centres.
