Five fresh cases of coronavirus reported in India

Five fresh cases of novel coronavirus- COVID 19 have been reported in the country. These cases are from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

With this, the total number of COVID 19 cases has gone up to  81 in the country. Briefing media in New Delhi, Lav, Joint Secretary in  Health Ministry Lav  Agarwal said, out of the total positive cases, 64 patients are Indian, 16 Italians and 1 Canadian national. He also informed that all the infected patients are stable now and there is no cause of worry.

Mr Agarwal said that Government has brought 42,296 passengers under community surveillance, out of which 2,559 were symptomatic and 522 hospitalized including 17 foreign nationals. He said, so far  Government has evacuated 1031 persons including 48 nationals from countries such as Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and



Peru.

He said, till date, 890 evacuees from COVID-19 affected countries, have been discharged after 14 days isolation and having tested negative as per protocols.

In reply to a question on the invocation of the Epidemic Act by the Centre, Mr Agarwal said that it is important to understand that it is not a health emergency. He said, the government is trying to support the initiative taken by the state in terms of managing the situation.

Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry Anil Malik said that  International traffic is allowed only from 19 out of the 37 check posts. He said, the Centre has also decided to allow the State governments to use the State Disaster Response Fund. He also said that, bus and train services from Bangladesh will remain suspended till 15th April. He said, along Indo-Nepal border four check posts will remain operational.