Minister M Srinivasa Rao calls for collective efforts to combat Covid-19 at Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao on Thursday met various sections of people in the wake of novel coronavirus scare. Calling for collective effort to fight against Covid-19, the Minister said though the port city recorded its first case of corona on Thursday, there was nothing to panic as the district administration and the Health Department were fully geared up for the contingency.

Referring to the resident of Allipuram who was tested positive in the city, the Minister said he started showing signs of improvement at Government Hospital for Chest and Communicable Diseases.

The Minister advised people to stay cautious and not panic. The virus will not spread through air but by touch and through sneezing and coughing. He urged people not to venture outside unless there is an emergency till this month-end.

On Sunday, Srinivasa Rao appealed to people to cooperate for the 'Janata curfew' as per the call given by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stay indoors. "It is better for people to postpone weddings, travel and avoid social gatherings until the situation is brought under control. Educational institutions and temples have already been closed," he said, asking the schools to adhere to the instructions without any deviation. The Minister appealed to the people not to get carried away by the news getting circulated by the social media as rumours are being spread through the forum.

The meeting was attended by District Medical and Health Officer S Tirupati Rao, CMR Group CMD Mavuri Venkata Ramana, chairman and managing director of Kankatala Kankatala Mallik and Pydah Group Chairman Pydah Krishna Prasad, along with others.