Coronavirus Outbreak | Over 1,500 People Under Observation For Coming In Contact With 73 Positive Case: Government

The Health Ministry on Thursday informed that over 1,500 people are under observation for coming in contact with the 73 positive cases of coronavirus. While addressing the media Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry said that the government is taking all the necessary steps to control the spread of COVID-19. "We already have around 1 lakh testing kits available, additional testing kits have already been ordered and they are also in procurement. Right now, luckily for India we do not have any community transmission. We have only a few cases that have come from outside and they have primarily affected their close family members," he said.

Listing the measures taken by the government to bring situation under control, the ministry said that the authorities have scanned over 10.5 people so far at 30 designated airports in India. "So far, the Government of India has evacuated 900 Indian citizens along with 48 belonging to other nations like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru," Lav Aggarwal said.

"Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) cardholders are kept in abeyance till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure," he added.

Urging the people not to panic, the health ministry said that mask is not always necessary, if a person maintains effective social distance, mask is not needed. There is no need to panic.