One case of coronavirus confirmed in Delhi and Telangana each

The Ministry of Health said on Monday (March 2) that one person each in Delhi and Telangana has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The person who tested positive in Delhi had travelled to Italy earlier and is being diagnosed at RML hospital, according to the health ministry. The person from Telangana had travelled to Dubai earlier.

“Both the patients are stable and being closely monitored,” the ministry said in its statement.

Update on #COVID19:

Two positive cases of #nCoV19 detected. More details in the Press Release.#coronoavirusoutbreak #CoronaVirusUpdate pic.twitter.com/kf83odGo8f

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 2, 2020

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, while addressing the media, said, “Screening of passengers is being conducted at 21 airports, 12 major seaports, and 65 minor seaports. 5,57,431 passengers have been screened so far at airports and 12,431 passengers have been screened at minor and major seaports.”

He also said existing visas for China and Iran will remain suspended, and that they might extend these restrictions to other countries too. “As the situation develops, the travel restrictions may be further extended to other countries also,” he said.

“We advise Indians to avoid non-essential travel to China, Iran, Korea, Singapore, and Italy,” he added.

Telangana Health Minister Etala Rajendra said in a press conference on Monday that the person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the state was a 24-yr-old software employee from Hyderabad working in Bangalore.

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“He visited Dubai for a work-related assignment and officials assume he may have contracted the virus from Hong Kong citizens,” the minister said.

Rajendra added that the patient first landed in Bangalore before taking a bus to Hyderabad. He then went to Apollo Hospital in Secunderabad since he showed symptoms of fever. He has now been shifted to Gandhi Hospital.

The minister further said that around 80 people are being tracked down to test for the virus. This includes those who came in close contact with the patient – his family, passengers on the bus, and medical staff from Apollo Hospital.

While he did not reveal the company’s details, the minister asserted that they have informed health officials in Bengaluru and the company he worked for.

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Speaking to The Federal, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (city corporation) health officer in Bangalore denied having any information related to the case.

Earlier, three cases were confirmed in India. All three of them were from Kerala.

The three persons, which include two medical students of a university at Wuhan, who had earlier tested positive for COVID-19 in Thrissur, Alappuzuha and Kasaragod districts in Kerala were discharged following recovery.

Meanwhile, China reported 42 new deaths on Monday, taking the death toll in the country to 2,912. More than 80,000 people have tested positive for the virus, and more than 3,000 people have died outside China.