Coronavirus testing facility likely at Mumbai hospital

Maharashtra government is mulling to set up a coronavirus testing facility at Kasturba Hospital to reduce burden on Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) which is currently handling such samples from across country, an official said on Tuesday. An ditional testing facility at civic-run hospital here will help in getting faster results, senior state health official said.

" plan is being discussed to share some lo of NIV. institute is getting swab samples from across country for testing of vel coronavirus infection. If a similar testing facility is set up in Mumbai, it will minimise waiting period," she said.

More and more samples are being received for testing at NIV, hence it is better to set up an ditional examination facility in Mumbai at earliest, official said.

"Health officials have communicated ir views to higher authorities about setting up a coronavirus testing facility in Mumbai. We will come to kw about it in coming days," she ded.

As of w, six patients have been kept in observation wards at various hospitals in state. Of se, four are in Pune, and one each in Mumbai and Sangli district, ar official said on Monday. Since January 18, state health officials have screened 8,878 passengers at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for coronavirus infection, he said.

confirmed case of dely virus, which has killed 425 people in China till w, has been detected yet in Maharashtra. coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but virus that has killed people in China is a vel strain and t seen before.

Common symptoms of vel coronavirus strain include respiratory problems like cough, shortness of breath and fever, according to World Health Organisation. WHO has declared coronavirus epidemic as a global health emergency. virus - which first emerged in Wuhan city in China's central Hubei province - has spre to 25 countries, including India (three confirmed cases have been reported from Kerala), US and UK.