A Health Ministry official said that to check the further spread of the disease from infected individuals, contact tracing is being pursued and placed under surveillance.
The Union Ministry of Health on Friday briefed the media in the national capital on the situation regarding the coronavirus pandemic in the country and the government's preparedness in handling the outbreak. The ministry officially stated that till now, there are 81 positive cases of COVID-19 infection in the country. Citizens were also advised to maintain healthy hygiene and social distancing.
Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry told reporters at a press briefing, “Till now, there are 81 confirmed cases in India, out of which 64 are Indians, 16 Italians and 1 Canadian national. All passengers returning to India should report their travel itinerary to the authorities and everyone should remember to wear a mask before stepping out to see a doctor.”
Agarwal said that to check the further spread of the disease from infected individuals, contact tracing is being pursued and placed under surveillance.
"Contact tracing of these cases is being actively pursued. So far, this has led to the identification of more than 4,000 contacts, who have been put under surveillance," he added.
The government has brought 42,296 passengers under community surveillance, out of which 2,559 were symptomatic and 522 hospitalised including 17 foreign nationals.
"So far the Government of India has evacuated 1,031 persons including 48 nationals from countries such as Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, United States, America, Madagascar, Srilanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru," said Agarwal.
A Health Ministry official also said that India will restrict international traffic through land immigration check-posts.
"We have 37 such check-posts, and we have allowed traffic through 19 of them to India. Cross-border buses and trains from Bangladesh will remain suspended until further notice. However, Bhutanese and Nepalese citizens will have visa-free entries to India,” a health ministry official said.
In India, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the country is 81, with just one death in Karnataka's Kalaburgi till now.
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the central government has launched a helpline number: +91-11-23978046 for coronavirus-related inquiry and support. There are also separate helpline numbers for the different states and union territories.
The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has crossed 5,043, with more than 125,000 people in 118 countries infected around the world. In China, the epicenter of the outbreak, the situation is the worst. With 80,981 confirmed (26 new) cases and 3,173 (11 new) deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already placed the country at a 'Very High' risk assessment level.
Outside of China, more than 44,000 cases (6,703 new), and 1,440 deaths (310 new) have been confirmed, with countries like Italy (15,000+ cases), Iran (10,000+ cases), and South Korea (7,800+ cases) facing the worst situations of the lot.
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