The writer, a paediatrician-cum-virologist, has been president of Indian Academy of Pediatrics and retired from the Christian Medical College, Vellore. He investigated the Muzaffarpur disease in 2012, 2013 and 2014
Hydroxychloroquine is obviously not a panacea for severe cases of Covid-19. Given early, it helps reduce mortality by about half, compared to those not given the drug.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Remember, the elderly and the vulnerable (due to chronic diseases) have a risk of about 10%-15% fatal outcome if infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The COVID-19 pandemic has repercussions beyond the biomedical sector — it impinges on industry, transport, finance, banking and education sectors. All of them must act in unison.
