Italy returnee tests positive for coronavirus in Hyderabad: KCR

A day after the lone coronavirus patient has been discharged from the hospital, another man who returned from Italy tested positive for the virus and has been shifted to Gandhi Hospital, said the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the assembly session.

Rao said that the samples of two other coronavirus suspected cases were collected and were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. "It is the responsibility of the government to take precautionary measures to tackle the spreading of the virus. Neighbouring state, Karnataka has closed the schools and theatres and the same is being followed by Maharashtra and Odisha," he said.

"Hyderabad is one of the six metro cities in the country which witnesses large footfall at the airport. Growth in international relations and increase of cargo planes is one of the reasons. Even the Hyderabad metro rail has high patronage, around 4 lakh people travelling in the metro every day. So it is necessary to take precautionary measures and a high-level committee will be appointed to monitor the situation," the chief minister said.

A cabinet meeting has been scheduled at 6 pm today to discuss the measures to take up to prevent the virus. "The meeting will have a review on the measures took up by the neighbouring states and what our government need to be implemented if the COVID-19 cases rise in the state," added Rao.