Covid-19 Outbreak: How Battle-Ready Is India

New Delhi: After three cases reported positive in 24 hours—one in Delhi, a techie in Secunderabad and a 69 year-old Italian tourist in Jaipur, it became clear that the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) had reached India. How well-equipped is India to deal with one of the fastest-spreading diseases?

The density of population puts tremendous pressure on an overcrowded healthcare system, compounded by a lack of awareness and proper understanding regarding transmission of Covid-19. However, Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan sought to assure the people of the country that there is no cause for panic and that the India had put the necessary steps in place.

These include:

• Screening at 21 airports in the country for passengers. More than 5,00,000 passengers have undergone screening at these points in airports.

• 27,000 individuals put under community surveillance and more 10 lakh persons screened on the India-Nepal border.

• 15 additional labs set up for testing.

• Integrated disease surveillance system has helped controlling the spread of COVID-19

• Regular and e visas have already been suspended for Iran, Korea, Italy and China.

• Army has been asked to build more quarantine facilities.

• Isolation wards being set up in hospitals across the country.

• Awareness programmes being stepped by Central and state governments.

• In the case of those who have tested positive all those who have come in contact with such patients have been traced 81 (in case of the Kerala patient), 88 (in case of the Secunderabad patient) and 46 (in the Jaipur case).

• The parent of a child studying at one of the two schools in NOIDA, tested positive for Covid-19. He had hosted a birthday party at a five-star hotel in the national capital. 25 people, including children are reported to have attended the party and have been quarantined at home. Others, who have come in contact with the patient, have been traced.

• Two NOIDA schools were shut down and completely disinfected.

• In the case of the who patient returned from Italy who tested positive, the entire family has been advised to stay indoors and take necessary precautions.

• The Centre is also going through the travel history of people who returned from Iran, China Korea and Italy.

• The Union government has put a check on the export of 25 drugs including paracetamol.

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