Coronavirus death toll rises to 56 as Shanghai reports first death; epidemic spreads to Europe
The number of people who have lost their lives to Coronavirus has now reached 55 in China. As the country struggles to keep a grip on the spread of the virus, first death has been reported from financial capital Shanghai. To add to outbreak inside China, the Coronavirus has now spread overseas with cases reported in Europe, US and Australia.
Earlier, first case of Coronavirus in Indian subcontinent was reported as a Nepali student who recently travelled back from China was found infected with Coronavirus.
Hong Kong has also declared emergency and shut down all schools amid the threat of Coronavirus in the region. Carrie Lam, a senior HK leader, on Saturday, said that the government has raised its response level to the highest -- emergency -- and closing schools for two weeks.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed India's preparedness to deal with the deadly virus.
At a meeting chaired by P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the prime minister, health ministry officials presented an update about the response measures being undertaken in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak in China, official sources said.
The meeting was held on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The cabinet secretary, home secretary, foreign secretary, defence secretary, health secretary, civil aviation secretary and several other top officials attended the meeting.
An official statement later said health ministry officials briefed Mishra on the preparedness of hospitals, laboratories as well as on measures being taken for the capacity building of rapid response teams to deal with possible cases of coronavirus.
The principal secretary to the prime minister also reviewed the various preventive measures taken by other ministries, including the civil aviation ministry.
The officials assured Mishra that the situation is being closely monitored by the health and family welfare ministry, in coordination with various other Union ministries as well as state governments and union territories.
So far, 20,000 people from 115 flights at seven international airports in the country have been screened, the statement said.
The National Institute of Virology labs are fully equipped to test the virus.
All state and district health authorities have been alerted and are in a state of preparedness for prevention and possible management, if required, it said.
