New Delhi, March 6 Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of the global coronavirus outbreak in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Gandhi asked about the number of persons under surveillance or observation for COVID-19 till date in India as well as the total number of Ind evacuated from Wuhan and other affected areas. He also demanded to know how many Ind are yet to be evacuated.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told the house that as of Thursday, a total of 29,607 persons are reportedly under observation of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network for COVID-19. He also informed the house that a total of 654 passengers were brought from China's Wuhan province and were kept for 14 days' quarantine in an army camp at Manesar and ITBP camp at Chhawla.
The minister added, "On February 27, 112 persons (76 Ind and 36 foreign nationals) have been evacuated from Wuhan, China and kept for mandatory 14 days' quarantine at the army camp, Manesar. 124 (119 Ind and five foreign nationals) have been evacuated from Japan and kept for mandatory 14 days' quarantine at ITBP camp, Chhawla (Delhi). All these 236 passengers have been tested and reported negative for COVID-19."
Among other questions, Gandhi asked about whether any specific programme or assistance is being provided to Kerala, the state where from he was elected an MP.
The government listed nine-point efforts by the Centre that are afoot to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in not just Kerala but all states and Union Territories that include guidelines on clinical management, infection prevention control, surveillance and sampling.
The Health Minister further informed the house that "the government of India has also initiated a series of actions to prevent entry of the disease and to contain it. A Group of Ministers (GoM) consisting of Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Civil Aviation, Minister of State of Home Affairs, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare, Minister of State of Shipping under the chairmanship of Union Health Minister has been constituted."
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus affected people in India jumped to 31 on Friday.
The first coronavirus case in Delhi was detected on Monday. Six suspected cases were also detected in Agra, after these persons came in contact with the person from Delhi found to be infected.
( With inputs from IANS )