NEW DELHI, April 9, 2020 (BSS) – In a response to a tweet of US President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his country would do everything possible to help mankind’s fight against Covid-19, hoping that “We shall win this together”.
“Times like these bring friends closer. The India-US partnership is stronger than ever. India shall do everything possible to help humanity’s fight against COVID-19,” he said on the twitter tagging Trump’s tweet.
The Indian Prime Minister expressed the hope to win the situation following combined efforts.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lauded Modi and the Indian people on Twitter following India’s decision to ease restrictions on export of anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine that he has said would be a game-changer in the battle against Covid-19 pandemic.
“Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!” the US President tweeted.
Trump on Saturday called Modi requesting him to lift the ban on export of the anti-malarial drug, of which India is the major producer. After that, India lifted the ban on Tuesday.
India is the world’s largest manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine, producing nearly 70 per cent of the world’s supply.
The demand for the drug, which is also used by patients of rheumatoid arthritis, was boosted after a small placebo-controlled clinical trial in China demonstrated that the anti-malarial drug shortened the duration and reduced the severity of cough, fever and pneumonia in patients with mild and moderate disease.
India banned the export of Hydroxychloroquine and any formulation containing it on March 25. Last week the ban was expanded to cover exports from special economic zones, blocking pending orders, including from the US.
By Wednesday night, more than 14,600 Americans had lost their lives due to coronavirus and over 4.3 lakh have tested positive for the dreaded disease.
In India, the death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 166 and the number of cases to 5,734
today, according to Indian Union Health Ministry.
While the number of active COVID-19 cases is 5,095 and as many as 472 people were cured as well as
discharged and one had migrated, it said.