J&K: 2 suspected of coronavirus infection isolated in Jammu
As the number of cases of a deadly coronavirus disease, COVID-19, continue to be on the rise, Jammu and Kashmir administration identified two persons suspected to be infected. The two suspected patients are undergoing treatment after they were detected as "high viral-load cases," J&K administration said on Saturday. Meanwhile, across India, 31 confirmed cases of the disease have emerged.
Both patients have 'high probability of testing positive'
The official Twitter handle of J&K's Department of Information and Public Relations tweeted on Saturday that the two suspected cases have a "high probability of testing positive." The department said that both patients have been isolated at GMC Jammu and "all protocols are being followed." The two had earlier left the hospital against medical advice, the department said, urging people to cooperate with quarantines.
Primary schools shut in Jammu, Samba districts till March 31
Principal Secretary of Planning in the Union Territory of J&K, Rohit Kansal, tweeted, "All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31." In another tweet, he said all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts will remain shut till March 31.
31 confirmed cases in India; 2 more suspected in Amristar
At least 31 people in India have been infected with the virus. Reports on Saturday said that two suspected cases have also emerged from Amritsar, Punjab, in preliminary testing. The 31 cases include 16 tourists from Italy, where the virus has infected over 4,600 people. On Friday, Delhi reported its second confirmed case—a man from Uttam Nagar with travel history to Thailand and Malaysia.
Assam: 127 people came in contact with infected US tourist
Separately, Junior Health Minister of Assam Pijush Hazarika on Saturday said that 127 people came in contact with a United States tourist, who later tested positive for coronavirus in Bhutan. All 127 have been isolated and the hotel where the tourist stayed has been sanitized. Hazarika said 585 people have been screened at airports, adding that the state has no confirmed cases thus far.
Modi to hold meeting with Health Minister today
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who returned from Italy on February 29, was screened for coronavirus infection at the Delhi airport, the party said on Friday. All 280 people who came into contact with the Italian tourists in Rajasthan tested negative for coronavirus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan over coronavirus on Saturday.
What is the coronavirus outbreak?
The current outbreak involves a new strain of coronavirus, and is called SARS-CoV-2. The disease caused by the virus, COVID-19, is noted to cause respiratory problems. Symptoms include breathing difficulties, coughing, pneumonia, etc. The virus, which emerged in China's Wuhan city, has infected over 1 lakh people across the globe and caused almost 3,500 deaths. China remains the worst affected in the outbreak.
