Coronavirus Scare: Kerala Steps Up Screening Measures

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has put in place a series of preventive measures to help medical professionals battle the novel Coronavirus epidemic. Doctors, nurses and para-medics have been given the necessary training in hospitals across the state and more than a thousand suspected cases placed in isolation.

Hospital staff have also been supplied with the required sanitary gear, gloves and masks to carry out the screening. Kerala has reported three cases of Coronavirus, all of whom were returning from Wuhan in China. Government officials are reportedly placing suspected cases in quarantine.

International passengers are being screened at airports. Passengers need to fill out a form and specify details including flight and seat. They also need to mention if they have visited China.

Trivandrum airport has earmarked an isolation area in one section of the terminal where suspected patients will be kept away from the more crowded parts of the building.

Media reports said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is holding a conference on fighting the virus, described the novel Coronavirus as "a very grave threat for the rest of the world." The WHO stated that viruses could potentially have "more powerful consequences than any terrorist action."

As the Coronavirus continues to spread, deaths in mainland China have climbed up to 1,113 with close to 45,000 confirmed cases, as per official count. About 175 people, including a quarantine officer, have now been reportedly infected on the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess off the Japanese city of Yokohama.