New Delhi (NVI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today chaired a high-level review meeting to analyse the current situation, preparedness and steps being taken for prevention and management of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) in the country.
The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Health Ministry, ICMR and NCDC.
“The situation is being closely monitored at the highest level for adequate preparedness. All the officials of the Ministry, concerned departments and States/UTs have been put on high alert for Novel Coronavirus. We are taking all required possible precautions to manage all possible scenarios,” Harsh Vardhan stated.
The review meeting was held with the senior officers of the Health Ministry, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
The Union Minister is in regular contact with Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO SEARO for technical support and guidance in the matter.
Harsh Vardhan has spoken to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and assured all support for screening at the border with Nepal, where a confirmed coronavirus case has been reported.
He is also writing to the CMs of all the states requesting for their personal intervention to review the preparedness for control and management of the virus.
The Union Health Minister has directed for multidisciplinary central teams to be formed and sent to the seven states where thermal screening is being done at the seven designated airports (New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi).
Under directions by the Union Minister, a 24×7 NCDC Call Centre (+91-11-23978046) has been made operational.
No novel coronavirus case has been detected in the country so far. However, eleven persons have been put under observation; out of samples taken from these 11 individuals, samples of four passengers have been confirmed to be negative for nCoV by the ICMR-NIV Pune lab.
Harsh Vardhan said, “Various steps have been taken up and continual efforts are being made in close coordination with Ministry of Civil Aviation, MEA, State Governments and WHO. Close monitoring is being undertaken for all the passengers who are arriving from China and Hong Kong across 7 International Airports in India. All the passengers are undergoing thermal screening. Travel advisory/signages has been extended to 12 more airports in addition to the current seven.”
Meanwhile, the Chinese city of Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, has begun the task of building a 1,000-bed hospital in just 10 days to treat victims of the epidemic.
