Coronavirus outbreak: Andhra Pradesh government to implement Epidemic Diseases Act

  Andhra Pradesh government on Friday decided to implement Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, as a precautionary measure to curb possible spread of vel coronavirus.

decision follows a directive from Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to all states to invoke provisions of Act. State Special Chief Secretary (Health) K S Jawahar Reddy told a press conference here that action would be taken as per Section 2 of Act against those who did t follow safety precautions suggested by government to contain coronavirus.

Only one positive case of Covid-19 was reported in state so far while test results of ar seven suspected cases were awaited, Special Chief Secretary said. "We have issued a set of guidelines for home isolation to be followed by those returning from foreign countries. y should confine mselves to home for 14 days and t meet anyone, including close family members," Jawahar Reddy said.

"Also, precautions should be taken by all, particularly in crowded places like cinema halls and malls. If anyone is found violating guidelines, we will initiate action as per EDA, he said.

state government has identified two quarantine facilities in Tirupati (500 capacity) and Visakhapatnam (200 capacity). Two laboratories for testing Covid-19 cases were established in Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, and ar in Vijayawada, he said.