Novel coronavirus outbreak: Death toll in China rises to 170, Centre reviews preparedness

The death toll in China from novel coronavirus has risen to 170 with over 7,700 cases of infection in the country. Hubei province has been worst affected with nearly 37 fatalities.

Besides China, 15 other countries have reported confirmed cases of infection. Although no confirmed case has been reported from India, several suspected cases have created a scare in the country.

The Ministry of Health on Wednesday held a review meeting with various departments and states to asses the preparedness for the deadly virus. 

Special Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar chaired a video conference (VC) with Health Secretaries of states with 21 identified airports along with the Airport Health Organization Officers (APHOs), Health Secretaries of the states bordering Nepal (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim) and other states/UTs to review their preparedness for prevention and management of coronavirus. 

Dr Rajiv Garg, DGHS and senior officials from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and NCDC were also present during the Video Conference.

Various advisories and guidelines have already been issued by the Health Ministry to all the states and Union territories and regular monitoring on the status of preparedness is being taken place at the highest level. 

He was informed the thermal and symptomatic screening has been initiated at all identified Airports. 

Thermal screening sensors are operational and few more such equipment is being procured, he was told. Besides, the immigration and other staff members at the Airports have been sensitized and dedicated ambulances are placed at the Airports. 

Deployment of medical & para-medical staff is also being done for round-the-clock service. Self-declaration forms are available and signages are being placed at prominent places at all Airports. Seven central teams have visited the respective states and helped to strengthen the preparedness too, he was told by officials. 

Isolation wards have been made identified and readied to face any contingency in the states. Personal Protection Equipment and masks are available in adequate quantity in all the States/UTs, the state governments told the top health ministry official. 

States need to regularly assess the requirement of personal protection equipment, masks etc and undertake necessary procurement to ensure sufficient supply. Tertiary hospitals are also identified for these airports and the protocols for contact tracing are followed and timely collection and transportation of samples from suspected cases to NIV, Pune is being done, Kumar was told. 

States bordering Nepal reported that adequate steps have been taken at the land check posts, and people contacts &meetings have been organised at villages in the bordering areas. Awareness is being enhanced through signages in local language, miking and other media channels. Grampanchayats are being organised to make people more aware regarding the symptoms, precautions and measures taken by the state governments regarding prevention and management for Novel Coronavirus.

Two neighbouring countries of India - Nepal and Sri Lanka - have reported confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Assuring all support from the Centre, including orientation of medical personnel/staff and other agencies through regular video conferencing, Kumar said the states need to take pro-active preventive measures by creating awareness among the people through local media. 

Adequate in-flight announcements need to be undertaken to make passengers aware about the symptoms and equipping them to “Help you to help us”. Call Centre/helpline number need to get popularized through TV, Radio, press releases, social media and other channels, he added.

Many suspected cases have been reported from Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi but none of the samples sent for testing has been reported positive. National Institute of Virology in Pune is the nodal centre for testing of the samples.