Total 43 COVID-19 cases in India so far, govt agencies on high alert

New Delhi: While the latest update by the union health ministry had mentioned three more cases having been found positive for COVID-19, the Kerala government has stated that five more cases have been reported in the state on 8th March. The ones mentioned by Health Ministry of India include two from Ladakh with travel history to Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history to Oman. With these new cases, the total number of cases now stands at 43 in the country. While 40 cases are being treated in hospitals, the earlier three from Kerala have been discharged.

So far as the American national found positive in Bhutan is concerned, more than 150 contacts have been put under IDSP surveillance.

In addition, 108 samples have been received from Iran today morning. These samples are being tested at the laboratory in AIIMS. Also, six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents, worth approximately Rs.10 crores have been dispatched to enable them to setup a lab there.

Total of 7,26,122 from 7,108 flights have been screened at airports. Between yesterday morning and today, total of 73,766 passengers from 573 flights have undergone screening at airports.

As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country for testing the COVID-19 virus. An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with Viral Transport Media and swabs for sample collection.

In order to spread awareness, a special COVID-19 mobile phone caller tune was launched by all telecom operators with basic infection prevention messages played when a caller dials-out. Over 117.2 crore subscribers of BSNL, MTNL Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone-Idea are being progressively reached out to through SMSs and Call Backs.