Govt declares Covid-19 spread ‘disaster’; 2 more test positive

INFECTION Notification frees up resources and funds to fight the disease, cases in country touch 84

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday declared the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak a disaster, freeing up resources and funds to battle the spread of the infection that has sparked the shutdown of travel, schools and offices across the country, even as two fresh cases took the total number of infections to 84 at a time when questions remain over the efficacy of containment efforts in the country.

Though the spread in India has not been rapid so far, the disease has typically spiked in other countries about three weeks after the first clusters of infections were detected. With the first surge in India reported in early March, the country enters what could be its most vulnerable phase over the course of the next week.

About a dozen states are in virtual lockdowns, with experts saying that if similar efforts are not enforced across the country, the public health system could crumble under the load of an exponential spike in the number of patients needing intensive care.

The Union health ministry said on Saturday that 84 positive cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) have been confirmed so far. Two infections – one each in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir – were the fresh cases confirmed by NIV-PUNE.

“Out of 84 positive cases in the country, 10 people have fully recovered and have been discharged. Contract tracing of these cases has led to the identification of over 4,000 contacts, who have been put under surveillance,” said Sanjeeva Kumar, special secretary at the health ministry.

The central government has decided to treat coronavirus as a “notified disaster” for the purpose of providing assistance under t h e S t a t e Di s a s t e r Response Fund (SDRF).

The disaster management division of the Union home ministry has issued a letter to the chief secretaries of all the states. “The Central government, keep