43 samples found negative so far, nine results awaited, says official
CHANDIGARH: As many as 26 of 31 people with a travel history to countries affected by coronavirus (Covid-19) have been discharged from the hospital after their sample results were found to be negative, while five persons are still under surveillance, an official spokesperson said on Saturday.
As per health department officials, as many as 2,450 persons had been kept under observation so far, of whom 2,419 persons with a travel history to affected countries remain asymptomatic. Also, samples of 52 persons had been sent to a laboratory, of which 43 have been found negative. Nine results are still awaited - seven from Gurugram and one each from Charkhi Dadri and Panchkula.
The officials said of the five persons admitted to hospitals, three were from Gurugram and one each from Charkhi Dadri and Panchkula.
BUREAUCRAT UNDER OBSERVATION
Stating that elaborate arrangements were in place to deal with the virus, health minister Anil Vij said urban local bodies department director Amit Kumar Agrawal, who returned from Singapore on Saturday, had also been kept under surveillance at home as a precautionary measure.
COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH OF ALL: KHATTAR
Meanwhile, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar (CM) on Saturday urged the people of the state to not panic about the spread of coronavirus.
He asked them to take precautionary measures such as ensuring cleanliness, coughing with a handkerchief covering their mouth and nose, washing hands frequently with soap and avoiding going to crowded places, and if unavoidable, wearing a mask.
He said so far no patients had been affected by the contagion. However, some people, who had returned from abroad, were being kept under surveillance.
“I want to assure people that elaborate arrangements have been made to deal with the virus and we are committed to safeguarding the health of all,” the CM said.
MEETINGS, EVENTS CANCELLED IN HISAR, FATEHABAD
The administration on Saturday cancelled all government meetings and programmes scheduled for the coming week till further notice in Hisar and Fatehabad districts as a precautionary measure against novel coronavirus.
A public relations officer in Fatehabad said, “Deputy commissioner Ravi Prakash Gupta has cancelled the grievance redress committee meeting that was scheduled for March 17. The national cattle fair that takes place every Sunday has also been suspended till further orders.”
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJU&ST) vice-chancellor (V-C) Tankeshwar Kumar said, “We have asked all students to leave campus.
However, students from distant places can stay in hostels. Mess and medical facilities will be available to them.”
“The international Kabaddi tournament has also been cancelled,” Kumar said.
COACHING CENTRES, CINEMA HALLS CLOSED IN ROHTAK
Two days after the state government declared coronavirus an epidemic, the Rohtak administration on Saturday ordered closure of all coaching centres and cinema halls in the district till March 31.
Deputy commissioner RS Verma also made it compulsory to disinfect all public places, including government and private offices and shopping malls everyday.