Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded warmly to President Donald Trump’s thank you note for India’s easing of restrictions on hydroxychloroquine and agreed with him that hard times bring friends together. “Fully agree with you President @realDonaldTrump. 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. We shall win this together,” Mr Modi tweeted.Mr Trump heaped praises on Mr Modi during an interview with Fox News on April 8, and later on the same evening, he again thanked him in a tweet message for relaxing the restrictions that will allow the US entities to import the anti-malaria drug from India. Trump dubbed the medicine as a game-changer in the fight against coronavirus for its therapeutic effect in some patients.
“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!” Trump said in his tweet.According to news reports, over 14,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the US, while the number of confirmed cases rose to over 430,000. In India, the total number of detected cases rose to more than 5,600 with nearly 200 fatalities.
India produces nearly 70 per cent of the world’s hydroxychloroquine supply. The demand for the drug has increased after some clinical trials in China showed signs of relief in patients. Mr Trump has asked the health services to stock up the drug, hoping it would work even in US conditions.India had banned the exports of the drug on March 25 in view of the COVID-19 situation at home.
