Novel Coronavirus: Centre deploys health team on Nepal border

NEW DELHI: In the wake of a confirmed case of a novel coronavirus in Nepal, the Union Health Ministry has subsequently strengthened its vigil in the areas bordering Nepal.

The recent deployment of the health team has taken place at Panitanki in West Bengal, the entry point from Nepal, said the Health Ministry on Monday.

“Update on ncov2020 — Subsequent to confirmed coronavirus case in Nepal, vigil strengthened at Panitanki (West Bengal) entry point from Nepal,” the Ministry tweeted.

Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry had informed that in response to a confirmed case of the new virus in the neighborhood country Nepal, India stepped up vigil in districts bordering Nepal. The Health Ministry said that teams of medical experts were also deployed at border outpost with Nepal at Jhulaghat and Jauljibi in Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand.

In continuation of its efforts to stop the virus from entering India and making the passengers aware, the Ministry has also displayed signage advising the passengers for self-reporting and other precautions, disseminated through advisories, at the Mumbai airport. According to the Health Ministry, a total of 29,707 passengers from 137 flights have been screened. Fortunately, no case of coronavirus has been found to date.

The Chinese Health authorities announced on Monday of 2,744 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including 461 in critical condition and a total of 5,794 suspected cases have also been reported. The killer virus has caused 80 deaths in China, as per Chinese authorities.

Although more than 500 Indian students are studying in colleges and universities in Wuhan, official sources said that most of them had left the city before the outbreak for the Chinese New Year holidays. The sources said that the Embassy in Beijing has been in touch with 45 Indian students stuck in Wuhan, but wasn’t able to determine the overall figure of Indians living in the city.

“It is difficult to ascertain because usually, not all Indians there would register with the Consulate. Nor would they keep the Consulate informed if they were moving out,” said an official in the Ministry of External Affairs.

All transport services were suspended in Wuhan and its 11 million inhabitants have been prohibited from venturing out of their homes. Chinese Health authorities on Monday confirmed 2,744 cases, which included 461 in critical condition.

In the last 24 hours, 25 deaths in Hubei and around 800 new cases were confirmed, the National High Commission said. Sunday saw 769 new confirmed cases, 3,806 new suspected cases and 24 deaths (all in Hubei province), the Commission revealed. At least 32,799 close contacts have been traced, the Commission said, adding that of them, 30,453 were under medical observation while 583 were discharged on Sunday.

The figures also showed that 17 confirmed cases had been reported in Hong Kong (eight), Macao (five) and Taiwan (four).

Outside of China, there are currently eight confirmed cases in Thailand (five of which have been discharged from the hospital); five in the US; four each in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, France, South Korea and Japan (one cured); two in Vietnam; and one each in Nepal and Canada. (IANS)

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