Coronavirus Outbreak: Govt Says 645 Indians Evacuated From China's Wuhan; Strict Vigil On Airports

Speaking to media during a press conference, Vardhan said that the Central government has stocked up medical supplies, equipment and other required materials if any untoward incident like China occurs in India.

Harsh Vardhan addresses a press conference at his office in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said that the Prime Minister Office (PMO) and the Health Ministry are collectively working on measures to prevent the spread of novel Coronavirus in India. Speaking to media during a press conference, Vardhan said that the Central government has stocked up medical supplies, equipment and other required materials if any untoward incident like China occurs in India. "In the morning, Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya has briefed me that his ministry has already stocked medicines &other necessary requirements if any untoward incident like China occurs here," he told reporters. The minister said India had evacuated 645 people and seven Maldivians from China's Wuhan city and quarantined them in two special camps. They will be kept under observation for a period of two weeks and discharged after they test negative for the virus.

.@drharshvardhan on #COVID2019 : We are sending some medicines and supplies to #China as a goodwill gesture in its efforts against #nCoV19. https://t.co/R8G5qdfSJP

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 13, 2020

The minister also said that all border areas of the country are being constantly monitored and screening facilities are setup on all airports in order to deal with if new cases of Coronavirus arises.  "All flights arriving from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong will be screened for new cases," he said. Varshan also informed that as off now 2,51,447 airport passengers have been screened and screening is being done at 12 major and 65 minor ports. The health minister also said with the help of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India is doing its best to help the stranded Indian sailors and tourists aboard Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined near Yokohama port in Japan.

.@drharshvardhan : sturdy advisories for screening travellers across the Nepal border have been shared with the States bordering it.#covid2019 https://t.co/3ofaA6EXUo

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 13, 2020

Reports also state that two Indians are confirmed to have been infected with the deadly Coronavirus aboard the quarantined ship. The British cruise ship with 3,711 people on board arrived at the Japanese coast early last week and was quarantined after a passenger who de-boarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the virus on the ship. A total of 138 Indians, including passengers and crew, were on board the ship. Japanese government on Thursday said that the total number of Coronavirus cases on the ship has increased to 218, after the emergence of over 44 fresh cases.

.@drharshvardhan : Thermal screening was started at four int'l airports right after the travel advisory on 17th Jan. This is now extended to 21airports. https://t.co/3ofaA6EXUo

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 13, 2020

"With the help of the Ministry of External Affairs we are also sending some medical supplies, equipments and other materials to China as a goodwill measure," the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said. "We are monitoring the 3 cases in India very minutely. We have traced their contact history. We are really grateful that everybody is contributing. We are doing everything, so do not panic," Vardhan said adding that 15,991 people across the country have been kept on community surveillance. The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose to 1,310 China on Thursday while the number of those affected by the deadly virus has spiralled to 48,206.