First coronavirus cases detected in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, two people from Pune, who had returned from Dubai recently and are related to each other, became the first cases from the state to test positive for novel coronavirus infection.

This was stated by the Chief Health Officer of Pune Municipal Corporation Dr. Ramchandra Hankare. He said samples of a man and a woman having a history of travelling to Dubai tested positive yesterday evening.

Both of them are currently admitted at the civic-run Naidu Hospital. District collector Naval Kishore Ram said the duo had returned to Pune from Dubai on March 1 and went to their home.

They did not have any problems till March 6 but approached the health officials on March 8 after experiencing mild symptoms.

Their samples were sent for testing which returned positive yesterday. Meanwhile, officials of the PMC's health department



said, one of the two patients displayed mild symptoms another does not have any symptoms and their condition is stable.

Health Minister of the state Rajesh Tope has also confirmed the cases and said that people should not panic and remain in the backdrop of the cases.

Meanwhile, in Assam, surveillance and screenings of passengers are being done at airports as well as land and river ports to prevent COVID 19.

Mission Director of National Health Mission Dr.S. Lakshmanan said that around 700 passengers have been screened so far at the airports. He said that out of them, 120 people are advised to go for home quarantine.  

Dr. Lakshmanan said that medical teams are deployed at land customs and river ports also to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus from the neighboring countries.