Coronavirus: 7 more under observation

| | New Delhi
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Coronavirus: 7 more under observation

Sunday, 26 January 2020 | PNS | New Delhi

Coronavirus:  7 more under  observation

Seven more people who returned from China have been kept under observation following screening for possible exposure to novel coronavirus. The Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday reviewed India’s preparedness to deal with the deadly syndrome and mounting global concern over growing number of cases in the neighbouring countries.

At a meeting chaired by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM, Health Ministry officials presented and updated about response measures being undertaken.

The meeting was held on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary, Health Secretary, Civil Aviation Secretary and several other top officials attended the meeting. They said health Ministry officials briefed Mishra on the preparedness of hospitals laboratories as well as measures being taken for the capacity building of rapid response teams to deal with possible case of coronavirus.

Principal secretary to the PM also reviewed the various preventive measures taken by other Ministries like the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The officials assured Mishra that the situation is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health and Family affairs in coordination with various other Union Ministries as well as State Governments and Union Territories. The sources said the National Institute of virology labs are fully equipped to test the virus and that all State and district health authorities have been alerted.

So far 20,000 people from 115 flights at seven international airports in the country have been screened.

Much to the relief to the authorities, in Mumbai, two persons, who were admitted to a civic hospital for possible exposure to coronavirus, have tested negative for the infection, while the blood sample of another person will be sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Saturday, officials said.

To review the situation at the State level , Union Health Minister Harshvardhan has directed for multi-disciplinary Central teams to be sent to the seven States where thermal screening is being done at the seven designated airports --- New Delhi Bangaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Cochin.

Vardhan, who held a review meeting to analyse the preparedness for prevention and management of noble coronavirus in India also spoke to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand on screening at the border with Nepal where one confirmed case has been reported.

The Punjab Government has asked all district hospitals to put in place necessary arrangements to tackle any emergent situation in view of the outbreak of coronavirus in China, and said a team of doctors will be stationed at the Amritsar international airport starting Monday for screening passengers.

Nine people --- 7 in Kerala and one each in Bengaluru and Hyderabad who are among hundreds of passengers who returned from China in the recent days --- are under observation in hospital to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus.

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