Former Head Scientist of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar, on Sunday said that there is no evidence to indicate if COVID-19 was zoonotic infection or it was artificially created.
"We must remember that if you look at the global data every year, close to about hundred accidents occur even in BSL-4 laboratories which are expected to hold these high risk pathogens and ensure that they are properly maintained in their cultures," he said in an interview with ANI.
"We still don’t have evidence if it's (COVID19) artificially created nor there's proof that it has come as a zoonotic infection. Need to wait for evidence to say anything conclusively," Dr Gangakhedkar said.
While speaking on the availability of vaccines, Dr Gangakhedkar said that India has opened up to purchasing from foreign manufactures and has invested in increasing indigenous manufacturing.
"Now that vaccine doses are not available, we have opened up the purchases from other foreign manufacturers for approved vaccines. We are open to buying these vaccines from other countries as well and we have also invested in increasing the capacity of the vaccines of indigenous vaccines manufacturers," Dr Gangakhedkar said.
He also said that it would be 'prudent' to focus on vaccinating people in the 45+ age group, given that it will take a while to get adequate doses.
Meanwhile, India reported the lowest daily new coronavirus infections in 50 days with 1,52,734 cases, taking the tally to 2,80,47,534 on Monday, while the active caseload declined to 20,26,092.
The toll climbed to 3,29,100 with 3,128 more fatalities, according to the Health Ministry data. The daily test positivity rate was recorded at 9.07 per cent, less than 10 per cent for the seventh consecutive day. Weekly positivity rate has declined to 9.04 per cent, the ministry said.
(With inputs from ANI)
