Coronavirus

out in China in 2002-2003, resulting in the death of nearly 800 people in global pandemic.

Face masks sold out and temperature checks at airports and train stations became the new norm as China strove to control a virus that has reached four other countries and territories and threatens to spread further during the Lunar New Year travel rush.

With a majority of cases starting out in the city, Wuhan has been at the centre of the outbreak.

Speaking to HT on condition of anonymity, an Indian student from Wuhan said the local authorities sent out the advisory as soon as the case was confirmed at Zhongnan hospital — students were advised to keep to their hostels and take adequate precautions.

Only a handful of Indian students remain in the city of around 11 million and thousands of foreign students.

Of the 600-700 Indian students in Wuhan, a majority has either gone home or abroad for the winter-cum-chinese New Year (CNY) vacations; more are planning to return home this week.

A large number of Indian students at the Wuhan university medical college — where around 500 Indian students study — are from south India, while students from Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh form a sizeable chunk as well.

Scientists do not ye know whether any of the Indian students were infected before leaving Wuhan for India or any other destination.

India had on Friday issued a travel advisory asking passengers to maintain personal hygiene such as hand washing, and follow respiratory etiquettes such as covering mouth when coughing or sneezing.

“…one should avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw and undercooked meats. Also, as far as possible avoid travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered,” Indian authorities advised passengers travelling from the region.

According to the health ministry official quoted above, hospitals attached to the seven airports that have incoming flights from Chinese c i t i e s have been reviewed for provisions of isolation and critical care facilities. “Immigration officers manning the counters have been sensitised at these airports,” the official said.

The Indian student in Wuhan quoted earlier said the student community have known about the outbreak of the disease since earlier this month but the situation become serious when the number diagnosed with it went up sharply last week.

Soon, social media groups – especially the Indian community and student groups on Wechat, the Chinese mobile app – started buzzing with updates about the disease, its symptoms and the precautions needed to be taken to avoid catching it.

“We began distributing masks among students, not only Indians but among all foreign students,” he said.

There are a large number of Pakistani and Bangladeshi students studying at the universities in and around Wuhan as well.

A note on the disease was prepared and shared among all international students through Wechat over the last weekend.

“All international students follow the recommendations of WHO to reduce your risk of Coronavirus infection and try to go out less (especially crowded places), open your room door and windows to keep the air fresh. If you or your family members don’t feel well, go to the hospital in time,” one point in the note said.

Keeping in mind the large number of students from the country, Indian embassy officials from Beijing has been in contact with Indian student groups in Wuhan for updates. the ₹17 crore subsidy, only ₹24 lakh was spent on account of the MPS. The rest was accounted for by visitors, security personnel, government officials, and journalists covering Parliament. During a session, an average of 4,500 people eat daily at Parliament.

In 2015, the then Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan approved a proposal to abolish subsidy on parliament food and run the canteens on a no-profitno-loss basis. The decision came after years of public criticism that the canteen used to serve a plate of chicken curry for ₹29 or dal for just ₹2.

Those prices have since been increased. Now, a fruit salad is sold for ₹10 while chicken curry costs ₹50. A masala dosa is priced at ₹20.