Covid warriors efforts flattened disease curve in K'taka: Minister

Karnataka health and family welfare minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday asserted that the steady dip in Covid positive cases was a direct result of the health workers and Covid warriors efforts rather than any individual taking credit for it.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with AstraZeneca officials here, Sudhakar said that it was not appropriate to link the success with anyone taking over charge or being relieved from a charge. "This is a result of cumulative efforts by one and all especially Covid warriors and health workers, that too under the guidance of Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa," he said.

In response to a question, Sudhakar maintained that when such a pandemic occurs and is controlled, ideally credit should go to the entire team and if at all we are talking about the captain, then it is none other than Chief Minister Yediyurappa who should be credited for encouraging his team to the hilt in such a crisis.

The minister questioned why the state government would hide anything from anyone?

"There is nothing to hide here or provide any wrong information about Covid data. The World Health Organisation (WHO) itself has appreciated the state government's transparency in providing Covid statistics," he said.

Responding to queries about a Covid vaccine, the minister hoped that the vaccine might be available in the early months of 2021 itself.

Sudhakar said that the vaccine was still undergoing trials hence pricing could not be discussed. "AstraZeneca has said that they are not producing it for profit. AstraZeneca in collaboration with the Serum Institute Pune has been conducting vaccine trials across the country," the minister added.

He informed that a technical committee will be formed in collaboration with the Union Health Ministry and the distribution of vaccines will be discussed in the committee. "Health workers and  persons with comorbidity will be vaccinated at the first level," he declared.

"We have asked the company to conduct trials on more number of persons. The company projects to supply vaccines for 100 crore people in a phased manner," the minister said.

AstraZeneca is among the companies involved in research and trial of Covid vaccines. The company is also conducting trials in collaboration with Oxford University at a global level.