No new coronavirus cases in Kerala, says Health Minister

In a message which was at once soothing and reassuring, Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shylaja said no one with coronavirus will be ‘sent to any forlorn place’ but will be nursed back to health.

Addressing mediapersons on Wednesday (February 5), she said the government had not imposed any ban on the free movement of people. “All quarantines were only with a curative intend. We are isolating people who have moved from other states and countries. We are in touch with them too and providing all support,” she said.

The Minister, who has been personally supervising the Health Department initiatives, said there were no positive cases after the first three reported earlier.

“Only three positive cases have been reported so far. We are sustaining our vigil. A total of 2,528 people are under observation in the state. Of this, 2,435 people are under observation at their homes and 93 are in hospitals,” she said.

About 223 samples and two revision samples had been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, sources said.

“Today, 153 new cases have been reported and 16 patients have been admitted,” she said.

Stating that Kerala has seen worst, she said, “We fought Nipah outbreak, we will also fight against this.”

Lauding the doctors and the health support staff for their work, she said all doctors and hospitals were functioning throughout to take in and treat whoever reported with symptoms.

The government had issued a directive to all district collectors to keep a round-the-clock check on all incubated patients.

“Once the incubation period of 28 days is over, we can assure you that, the state has gotten rid of the virus,” she said.

The Minister said the government had requested religious leaders to read out health guidelines in churches, mosques and temples. The message was already being read out at school assemblies and nearly 40 lakh students were aware of the symptoms and preventive measures.

A special operations team was monitoring the situation, activating smaller teams and action groups wherever necessary. “Officials, doctors and field staff were prepared to face the challenge,” she said.

Additional District Medical Officer, Ernakulam, S. Sreedevi, said, “If you are a person with a travel history to China and returned from that country after January 15, you will be put under the radar of the district surveillance team.”

According to her, those who returned from the coronavirus-hit regions had been asked over phone to remain in home quarantine for 28 days for the safety of his/her family members.

“Details of people who had travel history from China had been taken from airports. Information on those home-quarantined are updated to the district health officials by the field staff. If that person is found not following the guidelines for coronavirus, he will get a call from senior medical officers,” Dr. Sreedevi said.

She said people were mostly compliant of the instructions.

Responding to reports that the Chinese universities had called back students, the Minister said the matter would be taken up with the Centre. “It is unfair to call back the students during this situation in China. Let the virus subside. The varsities would have to manage a bit,” she said.

The Principal Secretary, Health, chairs a review meeting each day to assess the situation.