AP Government is fully alert; no need to panic: Health Minister Alla Nani

• So far only 3 positive cases reported in State

• The condition of patient in Ongole is stable

• 711 people kept in home isolation

• 36 in hospital isolation

•259 persons already completed 28 days of quarantine

• Govt distributing medicines and other materials to all districts as per the instructions given by the World Health Organisation (WHO)

Ongole: There is no need for people to panic and the government is making all efforts to fight against the coronavirus, announced Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas here on Saturday.

He sought the cooperation and partnership of the people in implementing the preventive measures to control the spread of the virus. Health Minister Alla Nani, Minister for Energy, Science and Technology Balineni Srinivasa Reddy and Minister for Education Dr. Adimulapu Suresh conducted a review meeting with Collector Dr Pola Bhaskar, SP Siddharth Kaushal, DMHO Dr K Padmavathi and other officials in the wake of a coronavirus positive case reported in Ongole and on the precautionary measures being taken.

Addressing a press conference here, Minister Alla Nani announced that the condition of the coronavirus positive patient was stable and doctors were constantly monitoring his health condition.

He said that the government had successfully tracked the co-passengers of the victim from Hyderabad to Ongole and they were put in isolation and tests were being conducted on them. He said that they had taken all steps as per the disinfection protocol in and around the house of the victim.

The Minister said that 1,006 people were put in observation in the State and 259 people have already completed 28 days of quarantine. He said that 711 cases were in home isolation while 36 cases in hospital isolation in the State. He said that they sent 135 samples of suspect cases of coronavirus and received results of 108 cases as negative but only 3 of them were found positive.

He said that they were waiting for the result in 24 cases. He said that 18 persons were kept in observation in the Prakasam district and 10 persons already completed the isolation period. He said that 90 per cent of the people who returned to the State from foreign countries were put in isolation and quarantine wards.

The Minister said that mass public gathering places like religious places, malls and gyms, etc were not allowing any public as per the orders of the government. He said that the exams were going on as per schedule but special arrangements were made for the control of the spread of the virus.

Nani pointed out that the Prime Minister had assured cooperation to all States in fighting the coronavirus and requested the people to cooperate by participating in the Janata Curfew on Sunday.

He said that they were distributing medicines and other materials to all districts as per the instructions given by the World Health Organisation. He advised that it is enough to use the masks at the designated places and asked the authorities to dispose of the used masks carefully.

The Health Minister appreciated the Collector, SP, nodal officer and district administration for implementing the preventive measures as per the instructions given by the Chief Minister.

He said that if the people cooperate with the government and follow the instructions completely, the State government would easily win the fight against the coronavirus.