New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reviewed the country’s preparedness regarding the deadly Coronavirus COVID-19 and urged people to not panic while assuring that all requisite steps to contain the virus are being taken. Taking to the micro-blogging site twitter, the Prime Minister wrote,
There is no need to panic. We need to work together, take small yet important measures to ensure self-protection.
There is no need to panic. We need to work together, take small yet important measures to ensure self-protection. pic.twitter.com/sRRPQlMdtr
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2020
In another tweet, the PM said that he conducted an extensive review regarding preparedness on the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. He added,
Different ministries and states are working together, from screening people arriving in India to providing prompt medical attention.
Had an extensive review regarding preparedness on the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Different ministries & states are working together, from screening people arriving in India to providing prompt medical attention.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2020
Prime Minister Modi‘s remarks come after two new cases of COVID-19 were reported from India on Monday, one each from Delhi and Telangana. Both the patients are stable and being closely monitored, the ministry of health and family welfare said.
Global deaths due to coronavirus outbreak on Monday rose above 3,000 with the new count in China mainland rising to 2,912. The deadly virus that originated in China late last year continues to spread around the world and has infected more than 80,000 (80,174) people.
Also Read: COVID-19: All About The New Coronavirus Virus And Step Being Taken To Contain The Outbreak
Coronavirus Outbreak: How Prepared Is India?
While talking to NDTV about the preparedness of India to fight coronavirus, Dr. Nivedita Gupta from Indian Council of Medical Research said that as of now the country has dedicated 14 laboratories for testing coronavirus and the National Institute of Virology, Pune has been appointed as the nodal lab for coronavirus testing. She said,
These labs are situated in cities that have international airports so that passengers arriving from China and other foreign countries can be tested for coronavirus.
She further informed that these labs are well equipped with the necessary equipment and expertise as these have earlier dealt with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003 and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) in 2014. She added,
Apart from these specialised labs, we have 106 labs across the country that are well-equipped in detecting influenza. Thus is if required, we can easily increase our specialised capacity from the current 14 labs to 50 labs by using facilities from the network of these 106 labs.
ICMR has also prepared a treatment plan with supervision from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to give a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir drugs that are approved for AIDS treatment, in case coronavirus infection becomes a public health emergency in the country.
Also Read: Coronavirus: No Need To Panic, Says Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan After COVID-19 Cases
India currently has two quarantine centre for keeping the people with symptoms or potential threats of having the virus in isolation to avoid the spread of the virus- Army Camp in Manesar, Gurugram and ITBP (Indo-Tibetian Border Police) Chawla camp, Delhi with 406 and 248 individuals quarantined respectively. According to Ms Gupta, quarantine or isolation period in case of coronavirus can range from 5 days to 17- 20 days but the country is currently putting people on 14 days isolation. However, medical researchers are still figuring out the ideal number of days.
Dr. Suryakant Tripathi of King George’s Medical University said,
India has taken some really timely steps like bringing back the students from Wuhan and running awareness campaigns on the importance of handwashing and using masks.
He further said that government hospitals in almost every district of the country are keeping 10 beds reserved for coronavirus patients. He also added that the public health system will have to go the extra mile to check the potential spread of the virus.
Also Read: Coronavirus: ‘Flu Corners’ To Be Set Up In Hospitals In Punjab
