Doctors to visit coronavirus-hit Italy, will collect swab samples of stranded Indians

Indian health ministry officials have stated that a team of doctors will be sent to Italy on Thursday to collect swab samples of Indian students stuck in country before bringing m back to India.

team of four doctors consisting of two microbiologists and two public health specialists from Ram Mahar Lohia Hospital and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will depart for Rome on Thursday night.

 Indian Embassy in Italy has contacted Indian students in country and asked m to gar at a designated venue for sampling collecting exercise. Over 300 Indian students are stuck, an official said.

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70 Indians stranded in Italy over 'COVID-19-free Certificate'

Over 70 Indians, including students, have been stranded in Italy as y do t have COVID-19 negative certificates. y appealed government to withdraw mandatory order.

When asked about response from Indian Embassy, stranded Indians stated that Embassy was discussing matter with government, but so far re was word from m. y also informed that Air India staff was unwilling to let students board flight. 

deadly coronavirus outbreak has already killed 631 people in Italy. According to reports, Italy has become epicentre of viral outbreak in Europe and country has recently anunced a nationwide lockdown to help control spread.

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So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19-affected countries. Out of se, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to countries like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru, it said.

government on Wednesday asserted that it was focusing on bringing Indians stuck in Italy and Iran facing "extreme situation".

As of Wednesday, number of confirmed cases of vel coronavirus in India has risen to 60 after 10 new positive cases were reported from Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala being,  ministry said. 

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