Coronavirus: Statue of Unity closed for tourists till March 25

Gujarat government on Tuesday banned entry of tourists at Statue of Unity in Narmada district till March 25 and also directed hotels and restaurants to avoid hosting large functions in view of coronavirus threat. Statue of Unity at Kevadia, a towering memorial dedicated to Sardar Patel, has emerged as a major tourist attraction ever since it was inaugurated on October 31, 2018.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said efforts of his government and cooperation from people have helped in keeping deadly infection away from Gujarat so far. Gujarat has t reported a single positive case of vel coronavirus (COVID-19) so far.

"Due to state government's efforts and people's cooperation, case of coronavirus has been recorded in Gujarat. disease has spread rapidly across world and is found in small numbers in India too," he said in a video mess released on social media.

Chief Minister urged citizens to be vigilant so that disease does t spread in Gujarat. People of Gujarat have migrated to many countries and regularly travel across world for business, he said, adding guidelines issued by Central government and World Health Organisation in regard to coronavirus should be strictly followed.

Rupani said government has taken a slew of steps to prevent spread of deadly disease in Gujarat. se measures include screening travellers coming from abroad at airports, closing schools, colleges, cinema halls, public places and tourist spots, he said. Rupani advised people above 60 years of and those who suffer from medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or any or ailment, to practice self-quarantine.

" fatality rate of this disease in around 2 per cent and state is prepared to treat patients so body should panic," he said. Meanwhile, addressing media on Tuesday, principal secretary (health and family welfare) Jayanti Ravi said district administration of Narmada has decided t to allow tourists at Statue of Unity till March 25 as part of steps to avoid crowding.

Over 29 lakh tourists visited Statue of Unity, located near Sardar Sarovar Dam, since it was inaugurated and this generated a revenue of Rs 82.51 crore, government had told Assembly in December last year. tourist figure was from vember 1, 2018, to vember 16, 2019. government has also asked private doctors and government medical colleges to intensify surveillance to track cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) as y could be patients of COVID-19, she said.

"We spoke to several top doctors, experts of Indian Medical Association as well as deans and superintendents of government medical colleges, and asked m to intensify surveillance of SARI cases because y might be cases of COVID-19," Ravi said. Hotels and restaurants have been asked t to host large functions, she said, adding a massive drive has been launched to clean and disinfect state transport buses.

Health secretaries of neighbouring and or states have been contacted and asked to prevent inter-state movement of people, senior bureaucrat said. Private organisations have been told to allow employees to work from home wherever possible, she said. " situation is reasonably under control. re is need for panic. We are fully prepared in event of positive cases coming up," she said.