Close Contacts Of 3 Coronavirus Confirmed Cases In Kerala Are Kept In Home Quarantine
As many as 91 people who are close contacts of three confirmed case of Coronavirus Pneumonia (nCoV) are in home quarantine and being regularly followed-up in Kerala, stated the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its report.
On 3 February 2020, Kerala reported the third confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in Kasaragod (the first and second case was in Thrissur and Alapuzha, respectively).
“91 contacts of these three laboratory confirmed cases are in home quarantine and being regularly followed-up,” it said.
WHO also mentioned that the Kerala government’s Disaster Management Committee had convened for a meeting and declared this outbreak as a “state calamity”.
“The situation is being closely monitored by the Kerala Health Minister and Principal Health Secretary. Further, to ensure concerted and coordinated efforts to tackle the emerging situation, Kerala Chief Secretary had also convened for an intersectoral meeting of Secretaries from all government departments,” said WHO.
Read more: Coronavirus India: What India Has Done So Far To Combat Coronavirus
So far, about 2 528 passengers returning from China have been identified out of which 2435 have been placed under home quarantine and 93 have been admitted to different health facilities, where they are under medical observation.
Till date, 223 samples of suspected cases have been sent to ICMR NIV, of which 193 samples have been tested negative, 3 as positive and results for 27 are pending.
ICMR (NIV) Alappuzha has become functional and has received 88 samples for testing so far. The state and district control rooms in Kerala have been activated and daily meetings are being held.
Additionally, the medical officers and junior nursing staff have been trained in surveillance and contact tracing. For all 14 districts a Medical Board has been constituted with specialty experts to provide effective care for the patients, informed WHO.
There is ongoing work to strengthen professional bodies like Indian Medical Association, Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Private Hospitals Association on surveillance, infection prevention and control, and case management.
Ambulances have been identified in each district. They are prepared to be available on call. Risk Communications have been strengthened to address rumor, fake news and miscommunications.
