Amid COVID Surge, Kerala Sends 20,000 Litres Of Oxygen To Goa: How States Are Helping Residents

Even as the state grapples with COVID surge, Kerala sent 20,000 litres of liquid oxygen to Goa amid the widespread shortage due to rapid rise in the number of COVID patients across the country.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday said the Kerala government has facilitated the transport of 20,000 litres of liquid oxygen for COVID-19 patients.

Thanking Kerala minister KK Shailaja, Rane tweeted, "I extend my gratitude to Smt @shailajateacher Madam, Hon Health Minister of Kerala, for helping us with movement of 20,000 litres of liquid oxygen for COVID patients in the state of Goa. The people of Goa are really grateful for your contribution to our fight against #COVID19."

Jharkhand wants to import Remdesivir from Bangladesh

With the increasing demand of Remdesivir for critical patients, Jharkhand sought permission from the Centre to import 50,000 vials of the COVID-19 drug from a Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals company.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday wrote a letter to Union Cabinet Minister DV Sadanand Gowda asking for permission to import the supply as soon as possible.

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"We had anticipated the second wave to be less virulent due to vaccination and herd immunity. But, on the contrary, a large proportion of patients are showing major symptoms and require hospitalisation and other such treatment protocols...Remdesivir is a vital medicine in the treatment protocol of a COVID-19 case. Unfortunately, there is an acute scarcity of the medicine in Jharkhand," read the letter.

The letter further said that the supply from Indian manufacturers fell short of the growing demand for the drug which led it to explore the international market for the medicine.

"Since we could not get the Remdesivir as per our requirement from Indian manufacturers, we started exploring the international market for procuring Remdesivir. We have been able to get a quotation from Bangladesh's Beximo pharmaceuticals for 50,000 vials of the drug which the Jharkhand government is willing to procure at the earliest in light of the pressing needs of the medicine," the letter added.

"In view of the above, I would request you to allow us to import and use the medicine from the said company," the letter concluded.

Ambani's Reliance diverts oxygen to Maharashtra for COVID fight

Industrialist Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd is diverting oxygen produced at its refineries to supplement availability in worst-hit COVID states like Maharashtra and the trucks carrying supplies are in transit.

BCCL

Reliance's twin oil refineries in Jamnagar have through minor process modification converted industrial oxygen into medical-use oxygen that can be administered to COVID-19 patients low on oxygen, people aware of the development said.

In all, 100 tonnes of oxygen will be supplied from the Jamnagar refineries, said a PTI report.