States asked to monitor airport management for ensuring effective screening of passengers in wake of Coronavirus

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has asked the States to monitor the airport management in coordination with the concerned Airport Public Health Officers and Airport Managers to ensure effective screening of passengers. 

The Minister yesterday reviewed the actions and preparedness for the management of novel coronavirus at a meeting through video conferencing with Chief Secretaries and  Health Ministers of all States and representatives from the related organizations.

During the meeting, the revised travel advisory, as well as an advisory about mass gatherings, were reviewed and shared with the States. He also reviewed the status of preparedness in terms of availability of beds, isolation wards, laboratory readiness for high test volumes.

The Minister also added that a workshop cum training session was held yesterday for health care workers on precautionary measures and self-protection. States and Union Territories were also advised to conduct training workshops.

No new case of coronavirus has been detected and the number of confirmed cases in the country remained at 31. Special Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sanjeeva Kumar said this while briefing media this evening in New Delhi.

Mr. Kumar informed that the Cabinet Secretary also reviewed the present status and preparedness from various Ministries on Covid-19 yesterday. A decision on suspension of biometric attendance till 31st of this month was taken during the review meeting. He also said, all central ministries and departments with hospital facilities have been asked to identify isolation beds and quarantine facilities to



be put to use as and when required.

Talking about airport screening, Mr. Kumar said, seven lakh 22 thousand seven hundred seventy-five international passengers from 7081 flights have been screened at the 30 airports so far. He said, a general advisory from the Health Ministry has been shared with all the States and Union Territories, suggesting that mass gathering must be avoided or possibly postponed in view of Covid-19.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri yesterday said that the government is in the process to rescue Indian nationals from Iran like Wuhan. Briefing reporters in New Delhi,Mr Puri said, advanced testing facilities for the virus being set up in Iran to screen Indians before bringing them to India. He said, Air India has waived the cancellation charges of passengers due to Coronavirus Outbreak.

Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Poultry, Fish and Meat are totally safe for consumption as Corona Virus does not affect them. He said that the World Animal Health Organization in its report has stated that the virus is transmitted predominantly through human to human interaction.

Meanwhile, Reserve Bank Governor, Shaktikanta Das, yesterday, assured that the central bank will take every measure needed to secure the economy against the challenges arising from the coronavirus epidemic.  

The 21st edition of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards scheduled to be held from March 27 to 29 at Indore and Bhopal has been postponed in light of the coronavirus scare.