Coronavirus: 62 positive cases in India, China confirms 22 new deaths

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 11, 2020: Another positive case was confirmed in Rajasthan Wednesday, taking the total number of infections reported in the country to 62. The Union Health Ministry, however, puts the figure at 50. The number of cases in the country jumped after positive cases were reported from Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra. As the global death toll from coronavirus topped 4,000 and infected over 1.15 people globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the threat of a pandemic was “very real”, Yahoo reported.

 

One patient, who had returned from Dubai on February 28, has tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan’s Jaipur. An Italian couple, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, is also admitted in the same hospital. The health authorities have got the details of his flight and have begun contact tracing. A total of 235 people who came in contact with the octogenarian and his family have already been traced and are being monitored.

Eight new cases were reported in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of infected people to 17. Barring Rajasthan, where the Italian tourists were infected, Kerala has the highest number of patients in the country as well as the youngest patient — a three-year-old was tested positive.

Amid the rise, the Pinarayi Vijayan government has announced the closure of all educational institutions and cinema halls till March 31. The chief minister has also advised the citizens to avoid mass gatherings and to not go to the Sabarimala temple which is set to re-open on March 13. All government-related functions have been postponed.

Women devotees wearing masks as a precaution against a new coronavirus head to their homes after making their offerings during the annual Pongala festival at the Attukal temple in Thiruvananthapuram. (AP Photo/File)

Of the eight new cases, six are primary contacts of the Italy-returned couple and their son who were not screened at the Kochi airport. The government is making efforts to trace their primary and secondary contacts. Health Minister K K Shaylaja also said that "hiding travel history will be treated as a crime and proper action will be taken".

In another development, a Kerala doctor alleged that she was sacked by the management of the private clinic she was working with for informing authorities about an NRI patient who reportedly declined to undergo the mandatory check for coronavirus.

After 5 coronavirus patients in Pune, schools shut; Mumbai on alert

At least two schools in Pune’s Dhayari Phata announced a shutdown till Saturday, as a few members of a housing society in the area were taken for coronavirus screening. Other schools in the city are also contemplating closing down briefly. Maharashtra education commissioner Vishal Solanki confirmed that he has spoken to state education minister Varsha Gaikwad and recommended strong preventive measures to help curb the spread amongst school children including recommending shutting down schools for a while.

A portion of Tower 7 in Magarpatta’s IT park was also evacuated today after an employee working there exhibited symptoms of coronavirus COVID -19 infection.
Schools in Pune announce shutdown amid COVID scare.

Mumbai has also been kept on alert and at least 537 people who have returned from abroad have been tested for the coronavirus in the city.

According to Pune divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar, five squads have been constituted – comprising officers and employees from the revenue, health and police departments – to trace those who came in contact with the Pune couple who had returned from Dubai and tested positive for coronavirus. Their daughter, ola cab driver who drove them and a person who travelled with them on the taxi were also tested positive. The Pune Municipal Corporation is also set to undertake a door-to-door survey in the adjoining areas to ascertain the health of all residents.

A security officer wears a mask outside a special ward set aside for possible COVID-19 patients, in Mumbai (AP)

There is no specific treatment. Patients are mostly given medicines for symptomatic relief — for example, paracetamol to bring down fever, sometimes medicines for relief from pain. Care is also taken to ensure they stay hydrated. The mortality of the virus is a little over 3%, and for most patients the body’s own immune system succeeds in fighting the virus.
Coronavirus in Karnataka: Four positive cases

The wife and daughter of the techie infected with novel COVID-19 are among the latest tested positive for the virus in the state. Another 50-year-old man who travelled to the US via London is another positive case. The state health department is now tracking 2,666 persons who came in contact with the first Covid-19 patient. Health department officials were set to fumigate the school of the daughter as well as the apartment and office complexes where the techie had spent time.

In Bengaluru, City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao has requested citizens to avoid protests and gathering in large numbers, in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading among masses. He also clarified that precautions will be taken while undertaking breath analysers for drink-and-drive checks. "Special instructions have been given to all traffic police personnel to replace straws after each use and to clean devices regularly. They have also been told to avoid taking direct breath tests by going close to the motorists to check if they smell of alcohol," Rao said.

Passengers undergo temperature check as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai (AP)

The Karnataka government has also sought advice from the central government seeking advice on whether the IPL matches should be given a go-ahead