The Chinese Communist government's cruel Zero-COVID policy has turned into a nightmare for numerous citizens, who are forced to stay in a tiny metal box for at least 21 days.

People, including pregnant women, toddlers, and the elderly, are being forced to stay in these packed boxes with a wooden bed and a toilet for up to two weeks, even if only one person in their area tests positive.

Residents in many districts were advised shortly after midnight that they needed to leave their houses and head to quarantine centres, according to the report. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: 3 videos China doesn't want you to see

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On social media, a video showing individuals being forced to stay in these packed boxes with a wooden bed has gone viral.&nbsp;

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<h5>Before the Lunar New Year and the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month, China hopes to eradicate the Covid-19 outbreak. Approximately 20 million individuals have been detained in 'quarantine centres' across the country. However, the reality inside these centres is captured in social media videos.</h5>
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China has come up with a "dynamic zero" policy for curbing outbreaks: strict lockdowns and immediate mass testing.

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People in China, unlike in other countries, might be barred from leaving their buildings or compelled to stay in hotel rooms if they are considered high-risk contacts, according to AFP.

Close contacts are frequently recognised and quarantined quickly because of mandatory track-and-trace software.

After Xian and Tianjin, Anyang became the third city to be placed under lockdown on Wednesday, confining almost 20 million people to their homes in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Since the coronavirus initially appeared in Wuhan in late 2019, China has reported 4,636 deaths as a result of it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Chinese Communist government's cruel Zero-COVID policy has turned into a nightmare for numerous citizens, who are forced to stay in a tiny metal box for at least 21 days.

The Chinese Communist government's cruel Zero-COVID policy has turned into a nightmare for numerous citizens, who are forced to stay in a tiny metal box for at least 21 days. People, including pregnant women, toddlers, and the elderly, are being forced to stay in these packed boxes with a wooden bed and a toilet for up to two weeks, even if only one person in their area tests positive. Residents in many districts were advised shortly after midnight that they needed to leave their houses and head to quarantine centres, according to the report. Watch | Gravitas: 3 videos China doesn't want you to see On social media, a video showing individuals being forced to stay in these packed boxes with a wooden bed has gone viral. Before the Lunar New Year and the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month, China hopes to eradicate the Covid-19 outbreak. Approximately 20 million individuals have been detained in 'quarantine centres' across the country. However, the reality inside these centres is captured in social media videos. × China has come up with a "dynamic zero" policy for curbing outbreaks: strict lockdowns and immediate mass testing. Millions of chinese people are living in covid quarantine camps now! 2022/1/9 pic.twitter.com/wO1cekQhps — Songpinganq (@songpinganq) January 9, 2022 × People in China, unlike in other countries, might be barred from leaving their buildings or compelled to stay in hotel rooms if they are considered high-risk contacts, according to AFP. Close contacts are frequently recognised and quarantined quickly because of mandatory track-and-trace software. After Xian and Tianjin, Anyang became the third city to be placed under lockdown on Wednesday, confining almost 20 million people to their homes in order to prevent the spread of the disease. Since the coronavirus initially appeared in Wuhan in late 2019, China has reported 4,636 deaths as a result of it. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Chinese COVID-19 patients forced to live in metal boxes

A team of researchers from India and the US has identified that the drug Rapamycin, which is generally used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, by suppressing the body’s immune system, can be repurposed to treat Covid-19 patients.

The researchers say that repurposing of Rapamycin is similar to that of using the drug Remdesivir (originally developed to treat Hepatitis C) in the battle against Covid-19. The research was conducted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal and the University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Nebraska

According to a peer-reviewed research paper in the reputed International Elsevier journal, Chemico Biological Interactions, the researchers showed that the biochemical working of Rapamycin drug molecule points to its promise in treating Covid-19.&nbsp;

It states that since the repurposed drug (Rapamycin) has undergone a clinical development process for the treatment of other diseases, toxicity test, many steps in pre-clinical and early clinical development can be avoided. Thus, they said the drug can be directly tested on COVID-19 subjects in phase-II trials.

Dr Amjad Husain, Principal Scientist &amp; CEO IICE, IISER Bhopal said that drug repurposing was an attractive solution, given how developing a new drug would be time-consuming, considering the raging pandemic.&nbsp;

It is added that one of the main challenges in developing antiviral drugs against COVID-19 has been the extensive mutations that the virus undergoes, thus deeming drugs ineffective. However, it says that treatment with drugs such as Rapamycin will not face that problem because it acts on host proteins and not on the virus. Rapamycin inhibits protein synthesis and can also arrest virus replication, irrespective of the type of mutant.&nbsp;

The study says, apart from inhibiting protein synthesis, Rapamycin has been known to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are immune system proteins. A high level of cytokines in the blood indicates a medical phenomenon called ‘cytokine storm’, where the body starts to attack its own cells and tissues rather than just fighting off the virus. The inhibitory action of Rapamycin towards cytokines also makes it a promising treatment for COVID-19, adds the research.

Rapamycin is also known to reduce obesity through various pathways and this can help in mitigating the severity of COVID-19 effects in obese people. Furthermore, the drug is known to induce autophagy, a cellular recycling process that helps in eliminating the damaged proteins and delaying ageing. &nbsp;Given higher fatalities among the aged persons, the anti-ageing properties of Rapamycin can have protective effects against COVID-10-induced morbidities, the study claims.&nbsp;

Recently another study got published in the prestigious journal The Lancet-Healthy Longevity that proposed the potential of Rapamycin analogues (rapalogs) to enhance resilience against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduce the severity of COVID-19.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Although with a successful vaccination drive, the infection may be brought under control, it would likely not disappear. &nbsp;Currently, there are no universally approved drugs, for the treatment of COVID-19.

A team of researchers from India and the US has identified that the drug Rapamycin, which is generally used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, by suppressing the body’s immune system, can be repurposed to treat Covid-19 patients.

A team of researchers from India and the US has identified that the drug Rapamycin, which is generally used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, by suppressing the body’s immune system, can be repurposed to treat Covid-19 patients. The researchers say that repurposing of Rapamycin is similar to that of using the drug Remdesivir (originally developed to treat Hepatitis C) in the battle against Covid-19. The research was conducted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal and the University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Nebraska According to a peer-reviewed research paper in the reputed International Elsevier journal, Chemico Biological Interactions, the researchers showed that the biochemical working of Rapamycin drug molecule points to its promise in treating Covid-19. It states that since the repurposed drug (Rapamycin) has undergone a clinical development process for the treatment of other diseases, toxicity test, many steps in pre-clinical and early clinical development can be avoided. Thus, they said the drug can be directly tested on COVID-19 subjects in phase-II trials. Dr Amjad Husain, Principal Scientist & CEO IICE, IISER Bhopal said that drug repurposing was an attractive solution, given how developing a new drug would be time-consuming, considering the raging pandemic. It is added that one of the main challenges in developing antiviral drugs against COVID-19 has been the extensive mutations that the virus undergoes, thus deeming drugs ineffective. However, it says that treatment with drugs such as Rapamycin will not face that problem because it acts on host proteins and not on the virus. Rapamycin inhibits protein synthesis and can also arrest virus replication, irrespective of the type of mutant. The study says, apart from inhibiting protein synthesis, Rapamycin has been known to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are immune system proteins. A high level of cytokines in the blood indicates a medical phenomenon called ‘cytokine storm’, where the body starts to attack its own cells and tissues rather than just fighting off the virus. The inhibitory action of Rapamycin towards cytokines also makes it a promising treatment for COVID-19, adds the research. Rapamycin is also known to reduce obesity through various pathways and this can help in mitigating the severity of COVID-19 effects in obese people. Furthermore, the drug is known to induce autophagy, a cellular recycling process that helps in eliminating the damaged proteins and delaying ageing. Given higher fatalities among the aged persons, the anti-ageing properties of Rapamycin can have protective effects against COVID-10-induced morbidities, the study claims. Recently another study got published in the prestigious journal The Lancet-Healthy Longevity that proposed the potential of Rapamycin analogues (rapalogs) to enhance resilience against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduce the severity of COVID-19. Although with a successful vaccination drive, the infection may be brought under control, it would likely not disappear. Currently, there are no universally approved drugs, for the treatment of COVID-19.

Researchers explore the potential of Rapamycin drug in treating aged, obese Covid-19 patients

South Korean researchers say they have designed an inexpensive, inflatable negative pressure ward for isolating and treating patients with infectious diseases like COVID-19, after the pandemic exposed shortages of beds around the world.

S.Korea unveils inflatable isolation ward for COVID-19 patients

Irma Arancibia decided she would give birth to her seventh child at home, part of a trend in the Andean country where soon-to-be-mothers are avoiding hospitals filled beyond capacity with COVID-19 patients.

With Bolivian hospitals filled with COVID cases, Mums choose home birthing

A combination of antiviral drugs usually used to treat HIV has no beneficial effect in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, a peer-reviewed study said on Monday, confirming the initial results of a large-scale randomised trial of the drug.

British scientists running the RECOVERY trial at the University of Oxford in June said interim results had convincingly ruled out any meaningful benefit of lopinavir-ritonavir in lowering mortality among hospitalised patients.

Publishing the full findings of the study in The Lancet medical journal, the scientists said that 23% of those given the drugs died within 28 days of treatment beginning, compared to 22% of those given usual care.

The treatment also did not reduce the length of a patient's hospital stay or the chances they would be put on a ventilator.

"Results from this trial show that it is not an effective treatment for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19," said Professor Martin Landray from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, who co-leads the RECOVERY trial.

AbbVie Inc's Kaletra is a combination of the drugs lopinavir and ritonavir, used together to fight HIV. The company had increased its supplies while it was determining whether it can be used to treat COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in July discontinued its trial of lopinavir-ritonavir after it failed to reduce mortality.

The lopinavir-ritonavir arm of the RECOVERY trial involved 1,616 patients receiving the drugs, and 3,424 receiving usual care alone.

The Oxford-based RECOVERY trial has been examining the effectiveness of a range of possible COVID-19 treatments, enrolling 13,000 patients in all.

The arm of the trial studying dexamethasone, a steroid, found it reduced the death rate of patients that required oxygen. Another arm found the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, touted by U.S. President Donald Trump, had no benefit as a treatment.

A combination of antiviral drugs usually used to treat HIV has no beneficial effect in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, a peer-reviewed study said on Monday, confirming the initial results of a large-scale randomised trial of the drug.

A combination of antiviral drugs usually used to treat HIV has no beneficial effect in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, a peer-reviewed study said on Monday, confirming the initial results of a large-scale randomised trial of the drug. British scientists running the RECOVERY trial at the University of Oxford in June said interim results had convincingly ruled out any meaningful benefit of lopinavir-ritonavir in lowering mortality among hospitalised patients. Publishing the full findings of the study in The Lancet medical journal, the scientists said that 23% of those given the drugs died within 28 days of treatment beginning, compared to 22% of those given usual care. The treatment also did not reduce the length of a patient's hospital stay or the chances they would be put on a ventilator. "Results from this trial show that it is not an effective treatment for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19," said Professor Martin Landray from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, who co-leads the RECOVERY trial. AbbVie Inc's Kaletra is a combination of the drugs lopinavir and ritonavir, used together to fight HIV. The company had increased its supplies while it was determining whether it can be used to treat COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) in July discontinued its trial of lopinavir-ritonavir after it failed to reduce mortality. The lopinavir-ritonavir arm of the RECOVERY trial involved 1,616 patients receiving the drugs, and 3,424 receiving usual care alone. The Oxford-based RECOVERY trial has been examining the effectiveness of a range of possible COVID-19 treatments, enrolling 13,000 patients in all. The arm of the trial studying dexamethasone, a steroid, found it reduced the death rate of patients that required oxygen. Another arm found the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, touted by U.S. President Donald Trump, had no benefit as a treatment.

HIV treatment has no benefit for hospitalised Covid-19 patients: Study

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday urged private hospitals providing COVID-19 treatment to ensure that patients, afflicted with the viral disease, are not denied beds and they get prompt care.

The ministry, in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and AIIMS, New Delhi, at a virtual conclave with private hospitals providing COVID-19 treatment emphasised the collective goal must be to have a health system that is available, affordable and accessible to all.

During the meeting, the importance of timely treatment of comorbid patients to reduce fatality was stressed upon. Hospitals were encouraged to protect healthcare workers by adopting all practices on infection prevention and control and keep the staff motivated, the health ministry said.

Hospitals were also asked to ensure seamless admission of patients. The importance of evidence-based treatment protocols and reducing heterogeneity in treatment of COVID-19 patients was also underscored, it said.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan inaugurated the virtual conference.

"He reiterated the government's resolve to ensure that COVID-19 patients must not be denied beds and must be provided prompt treatment," the health ministry said.

"The collective goal must be to have a health system that is available, affordable and accessible to all. He highlighted that the aim of the Centre along with the states and Union Territories is to achieve a mortality rate of less than one per cent," the ministry said.

The conclave was organised to provide a platform for discussion on clinical protocols and best practices in COVID-19 management towards reducing avoidable deaths.

According to the ministry, while COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to the country's healthcare systems, there have been proactive responses from the government as well as the private industry.

"The conclave was organised to share the best practices and effective treatment modules being implemented by the public and private sector hospitals in the country."

The health ministry also encouraged the hospital representatives to share their key concerns and challenges being faced while managing COVID-19 in their facilities.

The best practices included discussion of the teleconsultation sessions conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, through the e-ICU, Centers of Excellence (CoE) and clinical grand rounds to enhance the clinical management capacities of the ICU doctors in various states and union territories, the ministry said.

This, supplemented by various other focussed strategies of containment, prevention, early identification, has resulted in higher recoveries and steadily declining mortality.

At the meeting, senior doctors from private hospitals also shared their experiences and challenges about their battle against COVID-19.

Concerns about the delayed referral of patients from smaller facilities and financial stress owing to the lack of health insurance were also discussed. The conclave was attended by more than 150 hospital representatives, senior doctors and clinicians from across the country, the ministry said.

ICMR Director General Prof Balram Bhargava, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, FICCI President and Apollo Hospitals Enterprises JMD Dr Sangita Reddy, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals Dr Alok Roy were also present at the meeting.

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday urged private hospitals providing COVID-19 treatment to ensure that patients, afflicted with the viral disease, are not denied beds and they get prompt care.

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday urged private hospitals providing COVID-19 treatment to ensure that patients, afflicted with the viral disease, are not denied beds and they get prompt care. The ministry, in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and AIIMS, New Delhi, at a virtual conclave with private hospitals providing COVID-19 treatment emphasised the collective goal must be to have a health system that is available, affordable and accessible to all. During the meeting, the importance of timely treatment of comorbid patients to reduce fatality was stressed upon. Hospitals were encouraged to protect healthcare workers by adopting all practices on infection prevention and control and keep the staff motivated, the health ministry said. Hospitals were also asked to ensure seamless admission of patients. The importance of evidence-based treatment protocols and reducing heterogeneity in treatment of COVID-19 patients was also underscored, it said. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan inaugurated the virtual conference. "He reiterated the government's resolve to ensure that COVID-19 patients must not be denied beds and must be provided prompt treatment," the health ministry said. "The collective goal must be to have a health system that is available, affordable and accessible to all. He highlighted that the aim of the Centre along with the states and Union Territories is to achieve a mortality rate of less than one per cent," the ministry said. The conclave was organised to provide a platform for discussion on clinical protocols and best practices in COVID-19 management towards reducing avoidable deaths. According to the ministry, while COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to the country's healthcare systems, there have been proactive responses from the government as well as the private industry. "The conclave was organised to share the best practices and effective treatment modules being implemented by the public and private sector hospitals in the country." The health ministry also encouraged the hospital representatives to share their key concerns and challenges being faced while managing COVID-19 in their facilities. The best practices included discussion of the teleconsultation sessions conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, through the e-ICU, Centers of Excellence (CoE) and clinical grand rounds to enhance the clinical management capacities of the ICU doctors in various states and union territories, the ministry said. This, supplemented by various other focussed strategies of containment, prevention, early identification, has resulted in higher recoveries and steadily declining mortality. At the meeting, senior doctors from private hospitals also shared their experiences and challenges about their battle against COVID-19. Concerns about the delayed referral of patients from smaller facilities and financial stress owing to the lack of health insurance were also discussed. The conclave was attended by more than 150 hospital representatives, senior doctors and clinicians from across the country, the ministry said. ICMR Director General Prof Balram Bhargava, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal, FICCI President and Apollo Hospitals Enterprises JMD Dr Sangita Reddy, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals Dr Alok Roy were also present at the meeting.

Ensure COVID-19 patients not denied beds, get prompt treatment: Health ministry to pvt hospitals

When people are sickened with a disease, such as Covid-19, their immune systems generate antibodies to fight back

W.H.O cautious about endorsing plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday said that the recovery rate in India stood at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients with the total number of recovered cases nearing 11 lakh.

''The total number of recovered cases is nearly 11 lakh. With 36,569 patients discharged in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries have jumped to 10,94,374,'' the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

The recovery rate stands at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients, it added.&nbsp;

The COVID-19 fatality rate stands at 2.15%, and it is the lowest since the first lockdown announced on March 24, the ministry said.&nbsp;

The fatality rate has been continuously reducing from around 3.33% in mid-June, the health ministry added.&nbsp;

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday said that the recovery rate in India stood at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients with the total number of recovered cases nearing 11 lakh.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday said that the recovery rate in India stood at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients with the total number of recovered cases nearing 11 lakh. ''The total number of recovered cases is nearly 11 lakh. With 36,569 patients discharged in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries have jumped to 10,94,374,'' the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The recovery rate stands at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients, it added. The COVID-19 fatality rate stands at 2.15%, and it is the lowest since the first lockdown announced on March 24, the ministry said. The fatality rate has been continuously reducing from around 3.33% in mid-June, the health ministry added.

Recovery rate in India stands at 64.53% amongst COVID-19 patients: Health ministry

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has started providing free testing and treatment to patients in its COVID-19 Health Centre (CHC), announced the Shripad Yesso Naik, Union AYUSH Minister.

Naik visited the CHC on July 28 to review the arrangements at the centre for treatment of COVID-19 patients. During the visit, the minister announced that CHC will provide free of cost testing and treatment facilities to all the patients.

He also inaugurated the Intensive Care Unit of CHC, which has been equipped with ventilator facility and all other standard provisions of ICU.

The AIIA has also been designated as COVID-19 testing centre (RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing) by the Delhi government. A COVID Call Centre has been established at AIIA for handling queries related to COVID-19 being raised by the general public telephonically, an official statement by the AYUSH Ministry said.

The minister praised prophylactic program 'AYURAKSHA' going on for 80,000 Delhi Police personnel under the directions of the ministry.

"Delhi Police, being the frontline warriors of COVID-19, are being given AYURAKSHA kit for boosting the immunity and increasing quality of life against COVID-19. The AYURAKSHA kit contains Sanshamani Vati (prepared from Giloy), AYUSH Kadha and Anu Taila for nasal application," the official release said.

"Till date 158,454 Ayuraksha kits have been distributed in two phases with an overall compliance of more than 90 per cent. Feedback of the Delhi police personnel is being analysed with the help of Public Health Foundation of India," it added.&nbsp;

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has started providing free testing and treatment to patients in its COVID-19 Health Centre (CHC), announced the Shripad Yesso Naik, Union AYUSH Minister.

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has started providing free testing and treatment to patients in its COVID-19 Health Centre (CHC), announced the Shripad Yesso Naik, Union AYUSH Minister. Naik visited the CHC on July 28 to review the arrangements at the centre for treatment of COVID-19 patients. During the visit, the minister announced that CHC will provide free of cost testing and treatment facilities to all the patients. He also inaugurated the Intensive Care Unit of CHC, which has been equipped with ventilator facility and all other standard provisions of ICU. The AIIA has also been designated as COVID-19 testing centre (RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing) by the Delhi government. A COVID Call Centre has been established at AIIA for handling queries related to COVID-19 being raised by the general public telephonically, an official statement by the AYUSH Ministry said. The minister praised prophylactic program 'AYURAKSHA' going on for 80,000 Delhi Police personnel under the directions of the ministry. "Delhi Police, being the frontline warriors of COVID-19, are being given AYURAKSHA kit for boosting the immunity and increasing quality of life against COVID-19. The AYURAKSHA kit contains Sanshamani Vati (prepared from Giloy), AYUSH Kadha and Anu Taila for nasal application," the official release said. "Till date 158,454 Ayuraksha kits have been distributed in two phases with an overall compliance of more than 90 per cent. Feedback of the Delhi police personnel is being analysed with the help of Public Health Foundation of India," it added.

All India Institute of Ayurveda starts providing free testing, treatment to COVID-19 patients

India on Wednesday came down hard on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom for its criticism of the country based on a "misguided" report that COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Ahmedabad were segregated on the basis of their religious identities.

The US Commission expressed concerns over the way India is fighting the coronavirus pandemic following a media report that a government-run hospital in Ahmedabad segregated the infected patients on the basis of their religions.

"As if its peremptory commentary on religious freedom in India is not enough, the USCIRF is now spreading misguided reports on the professional medical protocols followed to deal with the spread of COVID-19 in India," MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

He said no segregation of patients is being done in the civil hospital on the basis of religion as clarified by the Gujarat government.

Mr Srivastava said the USCIRF "must stop adding religious colour to our national goal of fighting the pandemic and distract from larger efforts".

Earlier in a tweet, the Commission said it was concerned over the reports of Hindu and Muslim patients being separated in the hospital. 
"Such actions only help to further increase ongoing stigmatization of Muslims in #India and exacerbate false rumours of Muslims spreading #COVID19," it said.

The USCIRF had earlier criticised India on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

India on Wednesday came down hard on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom for its criticism of the country based on a "misguided" report that COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Ahmedabad were segregated on the basis of their religious identities.

India on Wednesday came down hard on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom for its criticism of the country based on a "misguided" report that COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Ahmedabad were segregated on the basis of their religious identities. The US Commission expressed concerns over the way India is fighting the coronavirus pandemic following a media report that a government-run hospital in Ahmedabad segregated the infected patients on the basis of their religions. "As if its peremptory commentary on religious freedom in India is not enough, the USCIRF is now spreading misguided reports on the professional medical protocols followed to deal with the spread of COVID-19 in India," MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. He said no segregation of patients is being done in the civil hospital on the basis of religion as clarified by the Gujarat government. Mr Srivastava said the USCIRF "must stop adding religious colour to our national goal of fighting the pandemic and distract from larger efforts". Earlier in a tweet, the Commission said it was concerned over the reports of Hindu and Muslim patients being separated in the hospital. "Such actions only help to further increase ongoing stigmatization of Muslims in #India and exacerbate false rumours of Muslims spreading #COVID19," it said. The USCIRF had earlier criticised India on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

India blasts US religious freedom body for 'spreading misguided reports