With COVID-19, ICMR has bitten more than it can chew
India went into a surprise lockdown on the 22nd of March 2020, after the Prime Minister called for a voluntary lockdown or “ Janata Curfew ” on a Sunday, in the wake of the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) caused by a novel Coronavirus strain, now known as COVID-19. As of that date, India had 360 positive cases of the virus and 7 deaths. Ever since, officials from ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) started providing daily updates on the turn of events and the efforts being taken by the institute to determine the extent of spread of COVID-19 in the country. By its own admission , ICMR is the apex body for formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research in the country. Established in British era as Indian Fund Research Association (IFRA), the organisation got its current name in 1949 and was later included into the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1976. The primary aim of the institute is to promote biomedical research to reduce the burd