Death toll due to coronavirus in China rises to 56
India on Sunday said it is examining “all options” in consultations with the Chinese Government to address the concerns of over 250 stranded Indians, including students, in Wuhan, the epicentre of the fast spreading coronavirus. India has also stepped up vigil in districts bordering Nepal where a person has been found to be affected with the virus.
The death toll due to new coronavirus in China rose to 56 on Sunday with confirmed cases of viral affliction reaching 2,008, including 23 from abroad. The Indian Embassy in Beijing said India has opened a third hotline in view of “large number” of phone calls from the Indians who are mostly students.
“In view of the large number of calls received in the two hotline numbers set up by @EOIBeijing in connection with the outbreak of coronavirus infection, @EOIBeijing has decided to open a third hotline number +8618610952903,” the Embassy said in a tweet.
The other two hotline numbers are 8618612083629 +8618612083617, the Embassy said. The Embassy has also said it is “examining all options” and holding consultations with the Chinese to provide relief to the Indians holed up in Wuhan.
“Over the last two days our hotlines have fielded nearly 600 calls to respond to concerns regarding this difficult situation. GoI and @EOIBeijing are also examining all options, including through consultations with the Chinese authorities, to provide relief to our affected citizens,” another tweet by the Embassy said.
The reference to “all options” was seen as a pointer to explore the option to evacuate the stranded Indians. About 700 Indian students are believed to have been enrolled into several universities in the city and surrounding areas.
Wuhan along 12 other cities have been completely sealed by the Chinese authorities to stop the virus from spreading.
While the majority of the Indian students, mostly medical students reported to have left a few weeks ago to avail the Chinese New Year holidays, over 250 to 300 are still reportedly stayed put in the city causing concerns to them and their parents back home about their safety.
A number of Indian PHD students also studied in different universities in Wuhan and the surrounding areas.
Some students managed to leave before the city just before it was sealed off on January 23.
The Indian Embassy on Sunday also cancelled the Republic Day ceremony, owing to the rising concern of the virus which has spread to all provinces except Tibet.
Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry issued a statement here saying that health teams have been deployed at border areas of Nepal at Jhulaghat and Jauljibi, district Pithoragarh.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which on Saturday reviewed India’s preparedness to deal with any situation arising out of the outbreak, is keeping a close watch in the matter.
India has already issued travel advisories for Indians travelling to China as the fast-spreading coronavirus became a major cause of worry. The virus, which originated in Wuhan city of China in December, has spread in various cities around the world including United States, Australia and France. Around 2,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the east Asian country.
The outbreak also has struck at possibly the worst time for China, when hundreds of millions of people are travelling across the country or overseas to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, China’s most important festival.
In India, 11 people in four cities have been kept under observation after they returned from China and showed mild symptoms of viral infection. But none has found to be tested positive so far.
