New Delhi: Three more cases have been found positive taking the total number of Coronavirus cases in India to 34. Two cases are from Ladakh with travel history from Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history from Oman. All the patients are stable, said Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (Health), Union Health Ministry.
Two more people who returned from Italy are suspected to have the COVID-19 infection in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, a news agency reported quoting doctors at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. “Their final report is yet to come from the National Institute of Virology, Pune,” a doctor said.
At least 150 people came in contact with a US tourist who left for Bhutan from Assam and tested positive for the virus are under surveillance. Assam Health Minister Pijush Hazarika said they have identified a resort in Jorhat where the US tourist stayed. “We have isolated the resort workers and staff… The floor of a hotel in Guwahati where he stayed has also been sanitised and isolated,” the minister said.
At a meeting with all ministries and departments concerned, PM Modi said that people should be advised to avoid mass gatherings as much as possible and made aware of the do’s and don’ts. While complimenting all departments for the work done so far, the Prime Minister stressed that as the coronavirus scenario evolves, India has to be prepared in its response.
All departments should work in convergence and action should be initiated for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying in an official statement.
According to the statement, government officials were instructed to plan for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran where, according to reports, 145 people have died so far due to COVID-19. On Saturday, a flight from Tehran brought to Delhi swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having the coronavirus infection. The flight, operated by Mahan Air, then returned with many Iranian nationals.
Of the 34 people infected with the coronavirus in India, 16 are Italian tourists. Three of the first cases reported from Kerala in January were discharged last month. An Indian national is among 15 new cases of coronavirus in the UAE, the country’s health officials have said. (Agencies)
