The Asian Age

Metro, buses, hospitals to be sanitised regularly: Kejriwal

168 isolation beds in 25 city hospitals

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

The Delhi government will request the Centre to impose a ban on travel to countries that have recorded a large number of coronaviru­s cases, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Kejriwal appealed to the people of Delhi not to panic and maintain calm amid a scare over the spread of the contagious viral infection.

He also said he will meet Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday to request a ban on travel to countries where a significan­t number of COVID-19 cases have been reported.

Mr Kejriwal said even though there is a ban on people travelling back from these countries, there is still no ban on people travelling to these countries.

The CM further said that the Delhi government has ordered DTC, cluster buses, Metro, and hospitals to be disinfecte­d on a regular basis as a precaution­ary measure to deal with the novel coronaviru­s.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Kejriwal said that three cases of coronaviru­s have been reported in Delhi so far and one case is still under investigat­ion. The chief minister said that 168 isolation beds have been set up at 25 hospitals for coronaviru­s patients.

The chief minister, who chaired a state task force on Sunday, said the government was fully prepared to deal with the novel coronaviru­s, adding that people do not need to panic.

After examining the

The Delhi government will request the Centre to impose a ban on travel to countries that have recorded a large number of coronaviru­s cases, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday

three cases, it was learnt that the first infected person came in contact with 105 people, second came in contact with 168 in the last 14 days, while the third person came in contact with 64 people.

“All those who came in contact with them are being isolated and their samples are being collected and checked for symptoms,” he said.

“Healthy people need not wear mask and there is no need to stock up masks at your homes either,” he added. He also urged people to wash their hands frequently with soap and water.

All passengers at the airport are being screened. Forty doctors of Delhi government hospitals are deployed at the airports for the purpose.

All those passengers who undergo thermal screenings at the airport once they go home, especially those from Delhi, are being kept under watch for 14 days to check for symptoms.

“So far, 1,40,603 passengers have been screened at the airports and have been put on surveillan­ce,” he said.

Mr Kejriwal also appealed to employers to give paid leave to those quarantine­d so that their livelihood is not affected. The chief minister said that now 25 hospitals have the facilities where one can submit the samples. Out of the 25 hospitals, six are private hospitals while others are those of the Delhi government.

“We are making separate facilities for collection of samples and treatment in these hospitals so that if any patient arrives there, they don’t come in contact with others,” he said. Conveying his greetings for Holi, Mr Kejriwal urged the people of Delhi to avoid going to crowded areas and save themselves from coronaviru­s.

 ?? — PRITAM BANDYOPADH­YAY ?? Masks being distribute­d for free at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi on Sunday.
— PRITAM BANDYOPADH­YAY Masks being distribute­d for free at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi on Sunday.

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