With eight more persons testing positive for COVID-19 , the number of confirmed cases in India climbed to 47 on Monday. Punjab, Jammu and Karnataka reported their first cases, while fresh cases have been confirmed in Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The country now has over 40 active cases.
While the Union Health Ministry confirmed 44 cases, the Karnataka government announced its first case in the evening and two cases in Maharashtra as per the State Health officials.
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Pune couple tests positive for COVID-19
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) made its way to Maharashtra with two Pune residents with travel history to Dubai testing positive on Monday. Maharshtra State health officials said that the husband and wife had returned to India on March 1 but reported to the hospital on Monday after developing mild symptoms. Read more
First case in Karnataka
“Karnataka confirmed its first positive case after a 40-year-old software professional, who returned from the U.S. on March 1, tested positive. The condition of the patient, who has been admitted to the State-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) is stable,” a State government release said. Read more
In Punjab, a man who returned from Italy was confirmed as positive — the first case in the State, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said.
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“The patient is admitted at Government Medical College and Hospital in Amritsar and his condition is stable,” he added.
“The patient has been kept in isolation after he was found to be symptomatic on his arrival at the International Airport in Amritsar,” said Mr. Sidhu.
Five persons including a three-year-old child, suspected to have symptoms of COVID-19, were shifted to the isolation ward of the Government Medical College in Kollam. All of them fall into high-risk category as they belong to the house and neighbourhood of the family in Punalur visited by the COVID-19 positive persons from Pathanamthitta.
Jammu pilgrim
The J&K administration also confirmed the first positive case in the Union Territory. Officials said a 50-year-old woman, a resident of Kargil, had travelled to Iran on a pilgrimage. “She remains in an isolation ward in the Government Medical College, Jammu. Another patient’s sample has been sent for re-test,” said an official. The condition of the patient has been termed “stable”.
J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal said, “The situation is under constant watch. Around 400 persons are under surveillance in Satawari and Sarwal areas of Jammu (where the woman was staying). Several Anganwadi centers in these areas have been closed till March 3.”
“Of the over 3,003 samples, 44 have tested positive out for COVID-19; 2,694 samples returned negative results,” Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said after a meeting of stakeholders, including Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
He added that the country could not afford to be complacent. “We have to prepare now to ensure that we are able to take care of patient load,’’ he said.
Dr. Vardhan stressed the need for coordinated action for contact tracing, community surveillance, hospital management, identification of isolation wards, ensuring adequate personal protection equipment and masks and risk communication .
