NEW DELHI – There are at least 25 positive cases of COVID-19 in India at present, the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed on Wednesday during a press conference here.
“There are at least 28 confirmed cases of the coronavirus that have been reported so far in India. Out of which three patients, who were earlier infected in Kerala, have been cured from the disease,” said the minister.
According to the Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, at present at least 9 Indian nationals and 16 foreign nationals are infected with the disease.
“There is one patient in Delhi, one in Telangana and six in Agra who have tested positive for COVID-19. The driver of the group of Italian nationals, who were touring in Jaipur, has also tested positive. Apart from these, 16 Italian nationals have tested positive for the disease,” said Harsh Vardhan during the presser.
Talking about the potential of the spread of the disease, the minister said that One person in Delhi infected six of his his own family members in Agra. In Italian national’s case the tourist infected his wife also and thus other group members.
According to the health minister, the government of Italy has asked the Italian nationals to stay in India only for the time being therefore all of them have been currently quaranitined at ITBP isolation facility in Chhawla.
“We had to trace at least 66 people’s contact in view of one positive case. In Telangana, at least 88 contacts were traced,” the minister told media here, adding “people should avoid public gathering during this time. Even the Prime Minister has cancelled his Holi Milan programmes in view of coronavirus.
In a statement released earlier by the health ministry, it said: “24 persons, including 21 Italian tourists and three Indians (bus driver, conductor and tourist guide) have been shifted to the ITBP facility for testing. Depending on the result, future course of action will be taken.”
COVID-19: Mask, Sanitiser Sales Shoot Up
With five schools downing shutters as a precautionary measure against coronavirus, the demand for masks and sanitisers has seen a significant rise in the Delhi-NCR region. So pronounced has been the impact that in many places, rumours of chemist shops running out of masks and sanitisers are doing the rounds.
The Retailer, Distributors, Chemists Alliance (RDCA), a union of chemists in the NCR though claimed that there is no shortage of masks and sanitisers. RDCA however clarified that demand had spiralled owing to panic around COVID-19, after a person from Delhi tested positive for the deadly virus.
“No there is no shortage, but yes, ever since the news of schools shutting down spread, we have seen huge sales of masks and sanitisers,” Rampat, Vice-President of RDCA, told IANS.
Rampat said that various schools in south Delhi and neighbouring areas have also advised their students to take precautions and carry a sanitiser with them along with masks. Parents also have started to tell their wards to use masks every time they get out of the house.
“Parents have been making a beeline for shops since Tuesday as they want their children to always have a sanitiser with them. Many corporates have also started to reach out to us to supply masks for their employees,” Rampat added.
Meanwhile in some areas like Lajpat Nagar phase-4, some people began spreading rumours that masks and sanitisers were sold out at chemist shops. Many also started to shop online to get their supply for masks and sanitisers.
However medical shops in Lajpat also claimed that there is no shortage of masks and sanitisers. In view of the rumours, some chemists are displaying sanitisers and masks on their counters so that they are visible to shoppers from a distance.
Till now globally, a total of 90,893 cases of COVID-19 infections and 3,110 deaths, mostly in China, have been reported.
In India, at least 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India till Wednesday.
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