After the third confirmed infected case of the coronavirus in the state, the Kerala Government has declared the outbreak as a ‘state disaster’. The fatal disease that originated in Wuhan, China has now spread to 25 countries and has claimed 361 lives. China only has reported more than 17,000 cases so far.
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The three patients were students studying in China who had travelled together. They have been kept in isolation and are being monitored by the health officials. Till now, 140 samples have been sent for testing. This prompted the government to declare the outbreak, a state disaster.
The Health Minister of Kerala, KK Shailaja, reiterated that the Kerala government was taking ‘proactive steps’ in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Minister assured that the announcement was not meant to scare people.
The first case of coronavirus in India was reported from Thrissur, Kerala on January 30. The second case was reported from Alappuzha in Southern Kerala. The third patient is now undergoing treatment in Kanjangad District Hospital at Kasaragod in northern Kerala. Roughly, 70 people are kept in isolation words in Kerala while 2000 suspected people are kept under surveillance at their homes in different parts of Kerala.
Besides intensifying surveillance at airports, the Central Government had earlier temporarily suspended e-visa facilities for Chinese residents travelling to India. In the face of the epidemic, the Union Government had earlier airlifted 9 Maldivian nationals and 300 Indian citizens from Wuhan, China.