The number of confirmed deaths from China’s coronavirus outbreak has risen to 425 with 64 new fatalities reported, authorities said on Tuesday.
The coronavirus was first detected in China’s Wuhan in late December and has now spread across the globe.
Dr P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the situation relating to the Corona Virus in India and the arrangements for the approximately 600 evacuees.
On the directions of Prime Minister, a high level Group of Ministers is constituted comprising of Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan, , Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep S. Puri, , External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State, Health & Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, and Minister of State (I/c) Shipping Mansukh Lal Mandaviya to review monitor and evaluate the preparedness regarding management of Novel Coronavirus in the country, the statement said.
The first meeting of GoM was held yesterday at Nirman Bhawan to review the preparedness and steps taken by the Ministries of Health, Shipping, External Affairs, Civil Aviation and Home Affairs. It was chaired by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan, it said.
A presentation of the status of the NCOV-2019 was made to the GOM. The members were also apprised of the three cases reported from Kerala. The preventive steps and measures taken for management of Novel Coronavirus disease in India were presented.
Travel Advisory has been revised informing the public to refrain from travel to China and that anyone with travel history in China since January 15, 2020 and from now on could be quarantined. Further, e-Visa facility for Chinese passport holders has been temporarily suspended, e-Visa already issued to Chinese nationals is also not valid temporarily and the facility for submitting the application online for the physical visa from China is suspended. It has been advised that people having compelling reasons to visit India should contact the Indian embassy in Beijing or consulate in Shanghai or Guangzhou. Instructions to comply with above travel advisory have also been issued to all national and international airlines operating from China by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the statement said.
