TNI Bureau: Hyderabad-based Hetero Healthcare Ltd’s ‘Covifor’, the generic version of COVID-19 drug Remdesivir has arrived in Odisha.

In addition, Glenmark’s ‘FabiFlu’ – generic version of anti-viral drug Favipiravir, will also reach the state today.

Talking about the COVID-19 drug, Odisha Health secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra on Monday informed that the Remdesivir drug will be used to treat critically ill Covid patients.

Serological survey for coronavirus will begin in Ganjam, Gajapati, Bhubaneswar & parts of Cuttack (Baramba-Narasinghpur) from July 1.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has included Gilead’s remdesivir in its clinical protocol to treat Covid-19 patients.

GoI has also advised the use of dexamethasone as an alternative to another steroid being used for managing moderate to severe cases.

Remdesivir, made available by Cipla and Hetero, can be used on moderate patients on oxygen support.

However, people with renal impairment, pregnant or lactating women, and children under 12 years of age won’t be administered with the drug.