AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria News

The AIIMS director believes that the impact of the next wave can be diminished with COVID-appropriate behaviour. "If the third wave comes, then also it will be mild only if people follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour," said Dr Guleria.

The Delta Plus variant is a mutated form of the Delta variant of coronavirus, which caused the disastrous second wave in India. "If we follow COVID appropriate behaviour, we'll be safe against any of emerging variants," Guleria assured. Guleria said that more data is required on mixing doses of two different vaccines before it can be recommended.

The AIIMS director revealed that the delta plus variant is not yet a concern, adding that “our main aim is to prevent deaths and serious illness". "Currently, the delta plus is a variant of interest. There is not much data to show that this is becoming dominant or this more infectious or causing more mortalities," said AIIMS director.

Dr Randeep Guleria further said that several blood tests for biomarkers are also not needed in mild illness

The AIIMS chief also explained when a coronavirus infected patient can end home isolation. Guleria remarked that the second wave of COVID-19 has hit tier two and three cities more rapidly. Guleria also underlined against misuse of tocilizumab drug.

Guleria said, "Important aspect which has emerged both because of the pandemic, lockdown, and the whole issue of physical distancing and communicating through technology" "The mental health issues have also become something which has affected not only those who have had Covid-19 but even sometimes the normal individuals who are sort of at home" He said that students, old people, have now been confined to a small space and are communicating only through technology rather than physically

The technologies include an AI video-oriented, voice-operated autonomous personal AI assistant robot, an app that can be installed on any mobile phone of the COVID-19 staff Innovative products designed to give clinicians constant contact-free access to patient`s vitals like heart rate and the respiratory rate which improves patient safety It also includes a 12-hour disinfection product called CPD that stays active to protect the surface against new attacks of contamination

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that no clear mortality benefit of convalescent plasma therapy was seen during a trial conducted among 30 COVID-19 patients This is just an interim analysis and we need to do a more detailed evaluation to see if any sub-group may benefit from plasma therapy, Dr Guleria said He also underlined that plasma has to be tested for its safety and should have sufficient antibody to be useful to COVID-19 patients

Dr Guleria said that coronavirus cases have increased in the hotspot and the need of the hour is to confine it to these places only and efforts should be taken contain the deadly virus from growing in other parts of the country.