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Every adult in Goa, irrespective of Covid-19 status, to be given Ivermectin drug

Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane says the Ivermectin drug cannot prevent Covid-19 infection but has the potential to bring down the severity. Expert panels from the UK, Italy, Spain, and Japan have found statistically significant results in patients treated with this medicine, he said.

Published on: May 11, 2021 8:04 AM IST
PTI
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All people above 18 years in Goa will be given Ivermectin drug irrespective of their coronavirus disease (Covid-19) status to bring down mortality, state health minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday.

A box of Ivermectine, made by Biogaran, at a counter of a pharmacy. (File Photo / Reuters)
A box of Ivermectine, made by Biogaran, at a counter of a pharmacy. (File Photo / Reuters)

He said patients will be given Ivermectin 12mg for a period of five days as expert panels from the UK, Italy, Spain, and Japan have found a statistically significant reduction in mortality, time to recovery, and viral clearance in Covid-19 patients treated with this medicine.

"I have given instructions for immediate implementation of prophylaxis (action taken to prevent disease) treatment," Rane said.

The minister said this treatment would not prevent Covid-19 infection but it can help reduce the severity.

"The Ivermectin 12 mg tablet will be made available in all the district, sub-district, PHCs, CHCs, sub-health centers, rural dispensaries for people to collect and start treatment immediately, irrespective of any symptoms or anything," Rane said.

Goa on Monday recorded 2,804 new cases of coronavirus, taking its tally to 1,21,650, while 50 more fatalities pushed the toll to 1,729, a health official said.