Coronavirus Scare: Coronavirus patients in India at 84, no fresh cases in J&K

Coronavirus Scare: Coronavirus patients in India at 84, no fresh cases in J&K

New Delhi: The number of coronavirus positive cases in the country has risen to 84, which includes the two deaths in Delhi and Karnataka, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.
Seven persons who tested positive, including five from Uttar Pradesh and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi, have been discharged after treatment, a senior health ministry official said.
The total number of 84 confirmed cases includes 17 foreigners — 16 Italian tourists and a Canadian, the ministry said.
The J&K Government’s daily Media Bulletin informed that 164 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period and, so far, only two cases have been tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir.
It said that 1,878 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance while 1,567 persons are under home quarantine.
Persons who are in hospital quarantine stand at 24 while 123 persons are under home surveillance.
Further, the Bulletin said that 89 samples have been sent for testing, of which 78 tested as negative and only two cases have tested positive, while reports of nine cases are awaited.
It said that the public is requested to lend its support by making self-declaration about their foreign travel history to health authorities. Moreover all social, religious and political organisations are urged to avoid large gatherings, it said.
Reiterating that there is no need to panic, the media bulletin advised public to maintain social distancing, avoid unnecessary travel and use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings, taking basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap and water; and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes. “If anyone has fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical care at the earliest,” the bulletin reads.
People have been urged to rely only on the information released by the government in this regard through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
The Union Ministry informed that a Mahan Air flight bringing back Indian passengers from Iran will land in Mumbai on Saturday midnight. A special Air India flight is also being sent to Milan in Italy on Saturday to bring back Indian students, he added.
The government on Friday declared masks, including N95, and hand sanitisers as ‘essential commodities’ under Essential Commodities Act in the wake of the coronavirus scare leading to shortages and black marketing of these items.
These items will remain under essential commodities segment till June-end, a move aimed at ensuring availability at reasonable prices and cracking down on hoarders and black marketeers.
Even as the World Health Organisation declared novel coronavirus a pandemic, the health ministry officials on Friday asked people not to panic, saying no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there have only been a few cases of local transmission so far.
The centre as part of its measures to contain the spread of the disease on Friday announced that people will be allowed to travel through 19 of 37 land border checkposts from Saturday midnight and services of Indo-Bangladesh cross border passenger trains and buses will continue to remain suspended till April 15.
Only four Indo-Nepal border checkposts will remain operational, and for citizens of Bhutan and Nepal visa-free entry to the country will continue, Home Ministry Additional Secretary Anil Malik had said.
He said the decision on closing the Kartarpur corridor is under consideration
The government on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment. It also asked Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.
All incoming international passengers returning to India should self-monitor their health and follow the required do’s and dont’s as detailed by the government.
PTI

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