With 3 confirmed cases of coronavirus, Kerala declares ‘state calamity’

The state government in Kerala on Monday (February 3) declared the novel coronavirus epidemic as a “state calamity” after a third student tested positive for the infection in the state. The decision was taken at the apex committee of the State Disaster Management Authority chaired by Chief Secretary Tom Jose.

State Health Minister KK Shailaja told reporters the government has declared the epidemic as a “state calamity” to take all necessary steps to ensure the outbreak is effectively controlled. Meanwhile, 406 people, who were evacuated to Delhi from coronavirus epicentre Wuhan, have so far tested negative for the deadly epidemic, said a senior ITBP official.

The evacuees were put up at an ITBP facility in Chhawla area of national capital after they were airlifted in two batches on board separate Air India flights. Seven Maldivian nationals are also part of this group. Apart from this facility, the rest have been kept at another quarantine facility prepared by the Army in Manesar, Gurgaon.

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“Periodical medical checks are being done and all the tests conducted on the inmates for possible coronavirus exposure have been negative till now. Four isolation beds have been kept prepared and doctors from AIIMS and Safdarjung are visiting regularly to assist the medical team of the force that is posted here round-the-clock,” an ITBP spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a Group of Ministers (GoM), which was formed to review, monitor and evaluate the preparedness to contain the deadly coronavirus infection in the country, held its first meeting on Monday. They were apprised of the three confirmed cases reported from Kerala and the preventive measures taken to contain coronavirus, the Ministry of Health said.

Suspected cases were also reported from Uttarakhand and Maharashtra on Monday. In Uttarakhand, a China-returned student was on Monday admitted to AIIMS, Rishikesh for showing symptoms of coronavirus infection. This is the second suspected case of coronavirus reported from the state.

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A health department official in Maharashtra said an air passenger arriving from China was isolated and kept under observation for the new coronavirus in civil hospital of Miraj town in Sangli district of Maharashtra. This takes the number of such people to six in the state, the official on added.

As per Chinese government officials, the death toll in coronavirus epidemic has risen to 361 in that country while the number of confirmed cases has climbed to 17, 238.

(With inputs from agencies)