50k PPE kits needed for doctors treating Coronavirus patients, have 20k in hand: Centre

With three confirmed positive cases of vel coronavirus in India and hundreds of or suspects under isolation, Central government has stated that country would require over 50,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits in stock for doctors and medical staff in charge of treating patients.  PPE consists of a mask, eye shield, shoe cover, gown, and gloves that are worn by medical staff.

Union Health Ministry officials spoke about stock of logistics including PPE. "As of w, equate stocks of logistics including PPE is available. State governments have also been vised on necessary precaution to be taken up on issue. Presently re is such crisis--like short of PPE. But, as a part of preventive measures storing an equate quantity of PPE in vance is always a better way to deal with crisis, if need arises. We have estimated requirement of about 50,000 PPE kit for doctors," official said.

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ding furr, official informed that India has very few companies that manufacture kits. "We are in talks with three companies who import and manufacture PPE from abro. As of w, y have approximately 20,000 PPE kits in hand and y are rey m to give us. One company has given 11,500 PPE kits while ors have given 7500 and 300 PPE kits respectively," he informed.

"Similarly, we are in touch with three companies who manufacture se PPE in country itself. But se companies give supplies to Army. So, we have sent ir samples for quality tests, which technical wing of ministry of textiles is dealing with. Once, it gets approved, we will give orders for manufacturing of PPE in bulk," official ded.

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Death toll increases in coronavirus related cases

As per latest updates, vel Coronavirus has killed 811 people in China after severely affected Hubei province reported 81 new fatalities on February 9. re are w more than 36,690 confirmed cases across China.

Amid dely outbreak, he of an international team led by World Health Organization (WHO) which is studying vel Coronavirus outbreak will be leaving for China on February 10 or 11, WHO chief Tedros ham Ghebreyesus said.

Tedros hopes that team would include experts from US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Top emergency expert of WHO, Dr. Mike Ryan, said  number of new cases reported from Hubei province, epicentre of virus, has been stey over past four days.

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(With inputs from ANI)