Kerala on alert after its third coronavirus case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEWDELHI: A medical student who returned from China in January was tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) in Kerala’s Kasaragod district on Monday, the government said, announcing the state’s and the country’s third case of the infection that has killed 362 people and sparked panic across the world.

Authorities in Kerala got into a huddle and announced a “state calamity”, a move that they hope will create more awareness and help contain the virus effectively. Health minister KK Shailaja asked residents not to panic.

All three cases involve medical students who are studying in Wuhan, the Chinese city considered the epicentre of the outbreak. A group of seven, including the three infected persons, travelled back to Kerala on January 24, according to health officials. The other four are under watch in isolation wards of different hospitals.

“The condition of all three affected is stable. The mortality rate of 2019-ncov is very low, but it can spread quickly and it can be transmitted even before it is diagnosed. Taking this into consideration, there are chances of more samplestestingpositive,”shailaja said in the state assembly.

Around 2,239 people are under surveillance at their homes across the state and some 84 have been admitted to hospitals, according to the government.

“Surveillance is the key. We have taken all steps to contain it. People are alerted across the state and they are following the guidelines issued by the health ministry. We have to be more alert,” she added.

After the government declared a “state calamity”, Shailaja said:

“There is no need to trigger panic. We have to be more careful. We have reports that some people who returned from China are dodging medical officials. If they continue to do so, we will consider it as a crime.”

On Thursday, Kerala reported India’s first coronavirus case in Thrissur.