While the coronavirus cases are wreaking havoc around the world, India’s shield was pretty tough for the corona to break, it seems. But now, the situation has changed. Two schools in Noida has been shut down after a parent was detected positive for CoVid-19. The health ministry has reported two new cases of coronavirus in Delhi and Telangana yesterday. Also, Six suspected coronavirus cases have been reported in Agra.
It was found that the child of the Delhi man who tested positive for coronavirus yesterday studied in a Noida school, which made the school authorities postpone its annual exam today and to remain shut for a day or two. Media reports have also claimed that another school has also been closed until 9th March 2020 following the Coronavirus scare following the closure of the first school. According to the reports, several students of the school have attended a birthday party on February 28 in the house of the Delhi man who was later found to be infected with the coronavirus. District authorities said samples of two school children had been sent for investigation and a total of 40 people have been tested in the city.
Meanwhile, noting that the person from New Delhi had recently travelled from Italy and the person from Telangana had recently travelled via Dubai, officials will begin to contact tracing of those who were on the same flights. This indeed points out to the increased the chances of community transmission of the virus in India. The health minister told the media that they are currently in the process of informing the family and coworkers of the two patients. “We advise Indians to avoid non-essential travel to China, Iran, Korea, Singapore, and Italy. Screening of passengers being conducted at 21 airports, 12 major seaports, and 65 minor seaports. 5,57,431 passengers have been screened so far at airports and 12,431 passengers have been screened on minor and major seaports,” he added.
The health ministry’s surveillance team is now visiting and calling up everyone the man travelled with or came in contact with since his return on February 26. According to the Health Ministry, those without symptoms will be quarantined at home and asked to call if they develop symptoms, while those with symptoms will be isolated and tested. But it is near impossible to track all the strangers the man may have come in contact with over the past week.
3,245 samples have been tested at the Indian Council of Medical Research till Monday. According to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan,
India can make another 19 labs functional within 2-3 days, and even take the number to 50 labs. The Centre Issued a Travel Advisory on COVID-19 saying that all regular Visas/e-Visa granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan issued on or before 3 March and who have not yet entered India, stand suspended with immediate effect.
“…It is more effective to give prevention tips to travellers and to collect health declarations at arrival, including the travellers’ contact details, for risk assessment and possible contact tracing if someone falls ill,” said Dr Dileep Mavalankar, Director, Indian Institute of Public Health.
According to the experts, India must work in an emergency mode to stop infection by training hospital staff on quarantine protocols, ensuring adequate stock of protective gear and supporting drugs, scaling up testing, and be equipped to set up isolation wards, especially in underserved states.
Source: M3, Hindustan Times, Financial Express, Livemint, Jagranjosh