With three cases of coronavirus being announced last week, the Kerala government had announced a ‘state calamity’, but on Feb 7, it was lifted after a meeting of top health authorities found that everything is under control and no fresh cases had turned positive, IANS News agency reported.
Meanwhile, State Health Minister K.K.Shailaja stated that of the 72 people who returned from Wuhan, 67 of the results have come out negative. After February 3, there has been no fresh positive cases and the three patients who tested positive are on the road to recovery.
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Moreover, all those who has came in close contact with the three positive patients, who are under close observation, are fine. Hence it has been decided to lift it, she added. On Feb 7, there are 3,014 people who are under observation, out of which 2,953 are quarantined in their homes and 61 in hospitals due to minor symptoms of the virus.
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Of the total 285 samples sent for testing, 261 were negative and the results of the rest are awaited. “Although, the caution will continue and all those under observation will continue to be observed till they complete 28 days. All the control rooms that have been opened across the state will continue their work,” added Health Minister K.K.Shailaja.
In other words, The (28-days) quarantine period will continue. Those who come from the affected areas will yet have to report to health officials. “We have received the result of the repeat sample of the positive patient in Alappuzha, which was sent for retesting at the National Institute of Virology in Pune. It came out negative”, She added.
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Considering all these circumstances, the government has decided to lifts the ‘state calamity’ alert. But that does not mean that we are lowering our guard”, She asserted. Thus, The Kerala government on Feb 7 withdrew the ‘state calamity’ warning issued in the wake of the novel coronavirus scare as no new positive cases of infection were detected over the last few days.
Despite this, Air India conducted two special flights to Wuhan, the epicentre of novel coronavirus outbreak in China, to evacuate total 647 Indians and seven Maldivians. The first flight had returned to Delhi airport on February 1 with 324 Indians onboard.
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(Author: Trilok Singh is with CEO here).
(With the inputs of recent reports).
