Coronavirus: Over 1.97 lakh travellers from 1,818 flights screened so far

Over 1.97 lakh passengers travelling in 1,818 flights have been screened for vel coronavirus, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday as he outlined steps taken by government to deal with virus since its outbreak last month.

Issuing a suo motu statement in Lok Sabha, Vardhan also said that screening of passengers has been initiated at 12 major seaports and all mir ports in country to identify passengers and crew members coming from China and to isolate m in case y are found symptomatic.

"As of today, a total of 1,818 flights have been screened covering a total of 1,97,192 passengers. Teams of specialist doctors were sent to all airports to ensure effective screening and arrangement for isolation in attached hospitals," Vardhan said.

In view of a confirmed case in Nepal, government has initiated screening at all integrated check posts from Nepal in collaboration with Uttar Presh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Land Port Authorities, health minister said.

China reported outbreak of vel coronavirus on December 31, 2019. As of February 9, a total of 37,198 confirmed cases and 811 deaths have been reported in China. A total of 354 confirmed cases have been reported outside China from 27 countries (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).

"In our country, three positive cases have been reported so far from Kerala. All se cases have a travel history from Wuhan, China. y have been isolated and are reported to be clinically stable," Vardhan said. government has alrey constituted a GoM heed by Health Minister to monitor coronavirus. Besides, gram sabhas are being organised in vills joining borders with Nepal to create awareness amongst people.

So far, 1,510 samples have been tested of which 1,507 were found negative. Three samples have tested positive and 27 samples are under process. Vardhan said two Special Air India flights were operated between Delhi and Wuhan on January 31 and February 1 that brought back a total of 654 passengers -- 647 Indian citizens (including two Indian Embassy officials who were on ground in Wuhan to coordinate evacuation operation) and seven Maldivian nationals.

"I take this opportunity to thank Air India, its crew and our team of doctors and paramedical staff who executed this challenging operation and place on record appreciation on behalf of this august house for ir contribution," he said.

After evacuation, people are presently undergoing quarantine at special facilities created by Indian Army in Manesar and by Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Chawla Camp. 10 of evacuees who were symptomatic have been shifted to isolation. All of m have tested negative for this disease and are stable. All or evacuees are being medically examined on a daily basis and are healthy, Vardhan ded.

minister said India has provided support to or countries in tackling challenge posed by disease. ICMR has offered to do testing of samples for or South-East Asian Region countries.

"Testing of samples from Maldives has alrey been undertaken. Request from Afghanistan for samples testing has been agreed to. We have agreed to provide technical assistance to Bhutan in managing this infectious disease and screening of passengers also.

Using integrated disease surveillance network, all persons are tracked and government is following 9,452 passengers across 29 states/UTs. state surveillance officers, district surveillance officers and rapid response teams of health professionals under leership of state Health Secretaries are monitoring all such people on a daily basis, he said.

Sufficient isolation beds have been me available in tertiary facilities across country to man any outbreak. 369 symptomatic travellers have been referred to isolation facility and are being monitored, Vardhan informed House.