Health minister says timely measures prevents spread of COVID-19 in India

India's Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday that timely preventive measures helped in containing the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

"We took preventive measures on time, which is why the disease is under control here," Vardhan said while addressing a press briefing in New Delhi. "But that should not make us complacent, instead we have to remain vigilant and monitor the situation on a regular basis."

The minister chaired a meeting Monday with Delhi government officials, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and other top officials were present.

"The way disease is spreading in other countries, we have to make adequate preparations even for the time that if the outbreak of the disease transmits in the community at a large scale," he said. "Be it the availability of isolation wards, quarantine facilities or availability of doctors, we have to remain prepared."

On Monday, the Health Ministry said COVID-19 cases in the country have risen to 43. While three patients have been discharged from the hospital in Kerala after showing improvement, the remaining 40 have been kept in isolation.

"Well-coordinated actions between concerned departments, states and central ministries, corporation and agencies for contact tracing, community surveillance, hospital management, developing and managing isolation wards, awareness campaign are the key focus areas which need attention at this hour. We have to work together to fight the threat posed by COVID-19," Vardhan said.

The Health Ministry has asked the states to remain alert.

Vardhan said there was a need to focus on the inter-sectoral coordination with the federal ministries and departments.

"The states and union territories need to strengthen their preparedness and review actions on a daily basis. States and union territories need to be more responsive and have to put in their best efforts by taking appropriate actions and preparedness for COVID-19," the minister said.

"The need of this hour is to adopt a more strategic approach like cluster containment strategy, making the district collectors more accountable, contact tracing and strengthening state and district surveillance teams to avoid widespread community transmission and also breaking the transmission if found."

According to the ministry officials, the increase in cases was recorded after the detection of new positive cases.

"As of today, there are 43 total cases, out of which 40 are active cases of COVID-19 in the country," the health ministry spokesman said. "Four new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since yesterday's update - one from Ernakulum, Kerala, one from Delhi, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Jammu (Indian-controlled Kashmir)."

According to the ministry officials, the latest cases include a woman in Indian-controlled Kashmir with a recent travel history to Iran and a three-year-old child in Kerala with travel history to Italy.

Of the 43 cases in India, 16 are foreign nationals.

The Health Ministry said 43 samples have tested positive out of the 3,003 samples sent for testing.

The government has urged people to reveal clearly about their travel history and fill the details in self-declaration forms properly.

According to officials, so far no death related to COVID-19 has been reported in India.

"Special secretary health also clarified that the patient from Murshidabad, West Bengal was tested negative for COVID-19 and hence, so far no death has been reported due to COVID-19 in the country," the ministry said.

At least 400 people were put under surveillance Monday in Indian-controlled Kashmir after the detection of COVID-19 case. The 400 people were put under surveillance in Jammu, the winter capital city of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Also, 400 people have been quarantined in India's northeastern state of Assam after they came in contact with an American tourist who tested positive in neighbouring Bhutan for the virus.

Authorities in various states have closed primary schools until March 31 in the wake of COVID-19 infections and urged people to avoid mass gatherings.

The Health Ministry has launched a 24x7 helpline number to provide support to people regarding queries on COVID-19. The ministry is also circulating the precautionary measures recommended by the WHO for the prevention of the epidemic in India.

(by Peerzada Arshad Hamid)