PM himself monitoring situation, says Harsh Vardhan on coronavirus
| Date :03-Feb-2020 |
NEW DELHI :
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the situation in the wake of emergent and imminent threat from the novel coronavirus, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan here on Sunday. “Prime Minister is personally monitoring it. I am also in touch with the Kerala health minister on a regular basis,” said Vardhan while talking to media persons here. “For those returning from China, Thailand, and Singapore, we have ensured screening of the best possible nature.
Even if you are put in the suspected category, put yourself in quarantine at home and isolate yourself in your home for two weeks,” he said. A second case of novel coronavirus in India was reported again on Sunday morning from Kerala, the State Health Minister K K Shailaja said on Sunday adding that the patient was being monitored in an isolation ward at the Alappuzha medical college. The first case too had arisen from Kerala, three days ago. The virus originated in Wuhan in December and has since then spread to various cities around the world. The confirmed cases of coronavirus in China have now surged past 14,000. China has imposed quarantine and travel restrictions, affecting the movement of 56 million people in more than a dozen cities, amid fears that the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year.
Health authorities around the world are taking action to prevent a global pandemic as the virus continues to spread, with cases reported in Australia, France, the United States and seven Asian countries besides China. Several countries including India have sped up the evacuation process after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global health crisis. Surveillance system in place along B’desh Border in West Bengal:THE West Bengal health department, in the wake of the growing coronavirus threat, has put in place a surveillance mechanism in Hili, Petrapole and Gede areas along the India-Bangladesh border, a senior official said.
People entering the country from Bangladesh would be screened at these important checkpoints, as some among them might have visited China in the recent past, he said. “We need to keep an eye on those entering India through these borders. Among them, there could be some who have recently travelled to China. We must conduct a medical test on them, before allowing them entry,” the official said. Ajay Chakraborty, the director of health services, had a few days ago visited the bordering areas to oversee the medical facilities available there.
The State health department had last month initiated similar measures in Mirik, Pashupati market and Panitanki village along India-Nepal border. Nepal confirmed its first case of coronavirus a week ago. On Friday, surveillance was also heightened in the Tangra area - the city’s China Town. “People in Tangra have relatives in China. If someone happened to have visited China recently, authorities at the city airport must have screened them. We are, however, conducting another survey to be absolutely sure,” another senior official at the state health department said.
The State Government has also decided to set up isolation wards at seven medical establishments, besides the Beliaghata ID hospital, where precautionary measures are already in place. “These medical establishments have been directed to appoint one nodal officer to look after the preparations, and take a quick decision in case a coronavirus case is reported,” he said, adding that all hospitals have been asked to keep adequate number of gloves and face masks in store. The West Bengal Government has also launched two helpline numbers - (033) 23412600 and 1800313444222 - for people seeking help and information on the respiratory illness. “The call centre numbers would be active 24x7. Doctors will be available to advice callers on the steps that should be taken and the tests that need to be conducted if someone complains of coronavirus symptoms,” the official added.
3 persons with symptoms admitted to hospital in Jaipur
JAIPUR :
THREE persons suspected to have symptoms of coronavirus were admitted to SMS Government Hospital here, an official said on Sunday. “They were admitted to the hospital on Saturday. Their blood samples have been collected and the report is expected to come by Sunday evening,” Dr D S Meena, Superintendent of SMS hospital said. He added that the patients have been kept in isolation. Meanwhile, arrangements have been made in ESIC Medical College of Alwar for keeping nearly 300 Indians airlifted from Wuhan city of China where the international virus outbreak began.