Coronavirus cases confirmed; Karnataka, Telangana on high alert

A day after Bengaluru-based techie was tested positive for coronavirus in Hyderabad, Karnataka and Telangana governments have put their health administration on high alert.

A 24-hour call centre is being set up in Hyderabad to enable people to approach the authorities for any assistance.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu called an emergency meeting in Bengaluru to discuss the preparedness of health officials at the district level.

The health department officials late on Monday (March 2) night identified the residence of the 24-year-old software engineer, who has been admitted to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, and is monitoring those living in the vicinity who had come in contact with the affected person.

Related news: One case of coronavirus confirmed in Delhi and Telangana each

Sriramulu said the situation was under control, without divulging the details of the company in which the affected person worked. All necessary measures have been taken to quarantine those who might have come in close contact with the patient, he said.

To date, 468 travellers from COVID-19 affected countries have been identified and 284 are kept under home isolation, the minister said.

“Since last month, we have already asked a few private and government hospitals to reserve some isolation wards specifically for coronavirus cases,” he said.

Passengers arriving from 12 countries, including Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, and Korea, are undergoing screening at the Bengaluru International Airport. Starting January 20 till March 2, a total of 39,391 passengers have undergone thermal screening for coronavirus at Bangalore airport.

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The Minister has also put five districts in Karnataka — Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Udupi, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru — bordering Kerala, under surveillance. This comes after three cases were identified and contained last month in Kerala.

The global death toll of the deadly virus has touched 3,100.

According to the Telangana health minister Etela Rajender, the patient had travelled to Dubai from Bengaluru on February 17 and returned to Bengaluru on February 20. While he worked for two days in Bengaluru, he left for Hyderabad on February 22 after which he complained of having a fever.

After initial treatment at Apollo Hospital as an outpatient, he underwent screening for coronavirus and tested positive. The patient is now undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of the state-run hospital and his condition is stated to be stable.

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Meanwhile, a coordination meeting of the ministers of health, municipal administration and Panchayat Raj was held in Hyderabad on Tuesday (March 3) to discuss measures to be taken following the detection of the positive case in the city.

The Telangana government has decided to intensify its campaign to create awareness among people about the precautions to be taken to avoid contracting the disease.

Sunitha tests negative

What comes a relief to the state capital is that social activist Sunitha Krishnan, who was admitted to the hospital for suspected coronavirus, has been tested negative.

Sunitha, the founder of Prajwala, an NGO which works in the area for helping the victims of human trafficking, had self-reported to health officials after developing a mild cough following an official visit to Bangkok.

Related news: Activist Sunitha Krishnan under observation for suspected coronavirus

She was kept in isolation ward and test samples were collected. Along with her, five more persons were admitted to the Gandhi Hospital on Monday with similar symptoms and all of them have tested negative for the virus.

She took to twitter and said, “The test results for coronavirus has just come in, it is NEGATIVE, what a relief!!! Many thanks to all my friends & well wishes for your prayers and wishes.”