The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday gave a green signal for the distribution of covid 'medicine' made by Bonigi Anandaiah, the much-in-the-news Ayurvedic practitioner from Krishnagiri village in Nellore district.

The Chief Minister's Office today said that his Ayurvedic concoctions can be sold with the exception of eye drops.

It has to be noted that the approval has been given based on a report by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). The 'medicine' is merely a supplement for coronavirus treatment. This could mean that patients have to take other approved courses, which come in the form of Allopathic medicine.

The decision comes after much hue and cry by rationalists and commentators such as Jayaprakash Narayan of the Loksatta. A lot of media reports have said that several people who have taken the 'medicine' made by Anandaiah have shown no signs of improvement.

Meanwhile, the Jaganmohan Reddy government has extended the partial lockdown till June 10. From 6 am to 12 noon, relaxations remain with Section 144 in force.