Coronavirus: All 77 in Maha's isolation wards test negative

All 77 people kept in isolation wards in Maharashtra for suspected exposure to vel coronavirus since January 18 this year have tested negative, and 73 of m have been discharged, a state Health department official said on Friday.

Naidu Hospital in Pune and Mumbai's Kasturba Hospital have two people each in isolation as on Friday, he ded.

"Till Friday, all 77 samples sent by state have tested negative as per reports of Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV)," health department official said.

Since outbreak of virus in China and its spre across globe through travellers, Maharashtra government, acting on guidelines issued by Centre, has been placing people in isolation wards and screening those arriving at Mumbai international airport from places affected by outbreak.

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As per health department data, 44,517 people have been screened at airport till Friday.

He said a 14-day follow-up of 279 people who arrived in state from covid-19 affected areas was underway, ding that all arrivals from China's Wuhan, epicentre of outbreak, are being quarantined and tested even if y are t showing any symptoms.

"As on Friday, of 279, 14-day follow-up period of 170 has been completed," he informed. Maharashtra has 39 isolation wards comprising 361 beds to tackle virus outbreak presently.

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