Three persons who tested positive for novel coronavirus in Kerala are now stable, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday. In addition, 645 Indians evacuated from coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan have tested negative for the virus and discharge guidelines are being issued, the minister informed. "All 402 people kept in ITBP quarantine facility have tested negative and their condition is stable," he added.
The minister's statement comes as two new cases were confirmed in Kolkata and one has been quarantined in Delhi on Thursday. Regarding the two Indian crew members tested positive on board Japan's Diamond Princess ship, Harshvardhan said the external affairs ministry was keeping a close watch on it. "Till date, 2,51,447 airport passengers have been screened. Screening also being done at 12 major and 65 minor ports. People at 21 airports are being being screened for coronavirus. All the states have been informed about the guidelines and precautionary measures to be taken," he told mediapersons in Delhi.
He informed that, as a goodwill measure, the Centre would be sending medical supplies, equipment and other materials to China.
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On Thursday, two passengers, who arrived at Kolkata international airport from Bangkok, have been placed in isolation for suspected novel coronavirus. A passenger named Himadri Barman was quarantined on Tuesday, and Nagendra Singh on Wednesday, government officials said in New Delhi.
Both passengers were sent to Beliaghata ID Hospital, a Kolkata airport official said.
Earlier, a passenger named Anita Oraon had also showed signs of fever during thermal scanning, Kolkata airport director Kaushik Bhattacharjee said.
Passengers of flights coming to Kolkata from Kunming and Guangzhou in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok were being screened since January 17. At present, passengers arriving from Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok are being screened as no flights are operating to and from China.
(With PTI inputs)