95 per cent corona affected can be cured: Health Minister Eatala Rajender

Hyderabad: Minister for Health, Eatala Rajender on Sunday made it clear that 95 per cent of the people who are infected with coronavirus could be treated and contracting the disease will not lead to death. Speaking in Assembly on the discussion about the demands of his department, he said that so far no one in Telangana had come in contact with the virus.

People coming from Italy, Saudi and Dubai have been found infected with the virus.

He explained that 85 per cent of the people who have come in contact with the virus, did not know that they were infected. The virus would die in the body without affecting it.

About 14 per cent of the patients could be treated by general physicians. So, 95 per cent of those infected with virus would be out of danger and there was no need to panic, the Minister added. He also informed that all those who have been taken to Vikarabad for testing are not infected but suspected patients. Those who have been found positive would be shifted to Gandhi or King Koti Hospital for treatment.

The Health Minister said people need not panic about getting masks. A handkerchief or a shawl would work as masks. People who have opened the doors in unknown places should wash their hands thoroughly. The disease was not air-borne and it would come in contact only because of 'the touch'.

It was not right to demand for shifting the isolation wards from Gandhi Hospital to other places by doctors and people living around it, he added.

The disease entered the State due to arrival of people from other countries. The State government is mulling on the option to seek Centre to stop the flights from other countries to Hyderabad, informed the Health Minister.

Coronavirus is not new and is like Sars, for which there was an absence of vaccine and treatment medication. People need not panic specially with the measures being taken by China to control the virus.

He stated that the Chief Minister did not want to create panic in the State, he announced special measures to avoid the virus being spread. The Health Minister said out of the two patients who have been suspected with virus, one was found to be positive.

He has been kept in an isolation ward and is being treated. Suspected have been kept in observation for 14 days, as the virus dies within that time, he said.