Coronavirus: 11 Indians Under Watch In Hospitals, More Than 80 Being Medically Observed

More than 80 Indians, who have returned from China in the recent days, are being kept under observation to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus. 11 people - seven in Kerala, three in Mumbai and one in Hyderabad are under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure. In Kerala, another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes.

As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings for coronavirus infection at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin. Meanwhile, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of the respiratory infection. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital.

However, no positive case has been detected in the country so far. According to officials, a total of 20,844 passengers who travelled in 96 flights from China have been screened at the airports till January 24.

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According to Kerala state health ministry officials in Thiruvananthapuram, seven people who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in state-run hospitals in different districts in the state. Two of them are in the state capital while one each is in observation in Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta. The state government has advised those under home surveillance to remain at home for 28 days from the date of their departure from China.

What Is Coronavirus

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and was not seen before. It has killed 26 people so far, and has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

Common symptoms of the infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the World Health Organisation.