A total of 28 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in India till date including 16 Italian nationals. – 1 in Delhi, 6 in Agra, 16 Italians and Indian driver, 1 in Telangana and 3 in Kerala. Previously, 3 cases of the deadly virus were reported in Kerala. However, they were discharged after undergoing treatment.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has directed all hospitals in Delhi to keep good quality isolation wards. He said, “We have requested all hospitals in Delhi to develop good quality isolation wards, in order to stay prepared if more cases of coronavirus are suspected in the national capital.”
He also told that all international passengers will now be screened as he has now removed the limit of screening to just 12 countries.
A meeting of the Group of Ministers will take place today at 3 pm to take stock of the situation.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “There is no room for panic. All the arrangement that could have possibly been made, have been made against coronavirus. Prime Minister has said and the Health Minister has said that we are fully prepared for handling this situation.”
Many Delhi schools have issued advisories to parents, requesting them to keep their wards at home if they show respiratory symptoms such as cold and cough. Two schools have been shut in Noida over fears of a coronavirus outbreak.
The fear of coronavirus has led to a shortage of masks and hand sanitizers in medical stores in Delhi. With supplies from China affected by the coronavirus outbreak, pharmacies said they are left with locally manufactured products.