THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : As Kerala reports its first case of Coronavirus, the Health Minister KK Shailaja urges people not to panic assuring that, the virus has showed up in a student already placed under close observation. The girl who tested positive had returned from Wuhan, the minister told in a press conference.
Among fluid samples from 20 people sent to the Virology Institute, only one showed presence of the virus. 10 were cleared negative while results of another 6 were withheld by the lab. Of the four students isolated for possible exposure to the virus, only one has tested positive, the minister said. The virus was detected in the first round of tests, she added.
The infected student is being treated the isolation ward of a hospital in Thrissur. There is no reason to worry, the minister assured adding that the girl’s health condition was satisfactory.
Wuhan, from where the affected girl returned, is epicenter of China’s coronavirus. At least 806 people are under observation in Kerala up to now. Of them, only 10 are admitted into hospitals, the minister said.
A meeting has been called in Thrissur, to decide on future course of action. The Health Minister and Principal Secretary shall leave shortly to be there. A separate ward shall be set up at Medical College for actively checking potential patients. Those treating people with fever and cough should exercise caution, the minister said.
