COVID-19 virus mutated 223 times, will continue to remain like influenza: Health Minister – The Hindu

The COVID-19 virus mutated 223 times across the world, but its harmful effects have come down substantially over time, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in the Lok Sabha on February 9.

The Minister added that COVID-19 will continue to remain like influenza and its present variants are not deadly.

When a virus mutates more than 100 times, its harmful effects are reduced.So far, the Covid virus has mutated 223 times and like influenza, which hits people once or twice every year Covid is with us and it will remain, the Minister added.

Stating that India has a robust medicine production infrastructure, and the world has recognised this during COVID, the Minister said that health is such an issue where all stakeholders and countries should come together and work.

While India is now the producer of 70% of HIV/AIDS medicines of the world, we have also seen the positive results during the pandemic when we all worked together, he said.

The Minister also said that due to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, under which free medical treatment up to 5 lakh is provided to the poor, 13 crore people got benefited as they have gone above the poverty level since they did not have to spend money for treatment.

During the tenure of the previous government, 5.5 crore people came under the poverty line as they had to spend a large amount of money for medical care, he said. The Minister said the Modi government is now spending 1.35% of the GDP in comparison to 1.13% spent by the earlier government.

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COVID-19 virus mutated 223 times, will continue to remain like influenza: Health Minister - The Hindu