Lok Sabha Question No. 2556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Sample Testing of Coronavirus
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Santokh Singh Chaudhary, Prasun Banerjee, Sanjay Seth, D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2556 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH MARCH, 2020

## SAMPLE TESTING OF CO RONAVIRUS

## 2556. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY:

SHRI PRASUN BANERJEE:

SHRI SANJAY SETH:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the Coronav irus spread in China is likely to affect India;
- (b) whether the Government has started a pilot project to detect the mysterious Coronavi has made preparation for testing of the samples of the virus in the various laboratories National Institute of Virology and ICMR, if so, the details t hereof;
- (c) whether the detected Coronavirus is negligible as per the tests carried out;
- (d) the number of persons isolated/quarantined across India; and
- (e) whether the Government has ascertained the origin of the said virus, if so, the detail eof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (d ): Government has taken note of the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) in China and has initiated steps to monitor the situation in India, as follows:
1. Screening of passengers was initiated in the country since 18th January 2020. In airports  at  Delhi,  Mumbai,  Chennai,  Kolkata,  Bengaluru,  Hyderabad  and  Kochi  were covered  and  subsequently  expanded  in  a  total  of  21  airports.  As  per  the  evol situat ion, initially Universal Screening was taken up for all passengers coming via flights  from  China,  South  Korea,  Japan,  Iran,  Italy,  Hong  Kong,  Vietnam,  Malays Indonesia,  Nepal,  Thailand  and  Singapore.  Now,  directions  have  also  been  issued Universal Screening for all international passengers coming in the country. Signages

been displayed at prominent places in airports         and ports, In - flight announcements are being made and self - declaration forms are being filled up by all passengers . As on 4th  March,  a  total  of  6,241  flights  have  been  screened  covering  a  total  of  6, passengers. Teams of Specialist doctors were sent to all the airports to ensure e screening and arrangement for isolation in the attached hospitals. Besides this, screening has  been  initiated  in  border  crossings.  Arrangements  have  been  made  for  in - flight announcements  in  incoming  flights,  filling  of  self - declaration  forms  by  incoming passengers. Signages have been displayed at prominent locations at ports and airports for guidance and convenience of passengers.

2. Guidelines  on  Clinical  Management  of  severe  respiratory  illness  (SARI)  in  suspe confirmed COVID- 19 cases, Surveillance for human infection with COVID - 19, Infection Prevention and Control in healthc are facilities, etc. have been placed in public domain o the website of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare at web - link https://mohfw.gov.in/node/4904 .
3. Government is issuing Press Releases on regular basi s. Information about travel advisory and other pertinent issues is also being shared on social media.
4. On  1 st and  2 nd February,  2020,  a  total  of  654  passengers  were  brought  from  Wuhan, China and kept for 14 days' quarantine in Army Camp, Manesar and Indo - Tibetan Border Police  Camp  (ITBP)  at  Chhawla  (Delhi).  These  evacuees  were  tested  twice,  report negative for COVID - 19 and were discharged on 17 th and 18 th February, 2020.
5. On 27 th February, 2020, 112 persons (76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals ) have been evacuated  from  Wuhan,  China  and  kept  for  mandatory  14  days'  quarantine  at  Army Camp, Manesar. 124 (119 Indians and 5 foreign nationals) have been evacuated fro Japan and kept for mandatory 14 days' quarantine at ITBP Camp, Chhawla (Delhi).  Al l these 236 passengers have been tested and reported negative for COVID - 19.
6. As on 04.03.2020, a total of 6,11,167 incoming passengers of 6,241 flights have screened.  Cumulatively,  a  total  of  28,529  passengers  were  placed  under  communit surveillance i n the Country through Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network. So far, 1,364 passengers were found to be symptomatic and referred to ID surveillance  network.  Till  04.03.2020,  29  confirmed  cases  of COVID - 19 disease  have been reported in t he Country, out of which three patients have recovered and discharge from the hospital.

Government is monitoring the situation closely.

(e):    As  per  information  available  on  World  Health  Organisation  (WHO)  website,  WHO  i gathering  the  latest  scientific findings  and  knowledge  on  coronavirus  disease  (COVID - 19). WHO has also hosted the following information on its website:

- I. A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019.
- II. WHO  is working  24/7  to  analyse  data,  provide  advice,  coordinate  with  partners, countries prepare, increase supplies and manage expert networks.
- III. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 3 January 2020.
- IV. On  11  February  2 020,  WHO  announced  a  name  for  the  new  coronavirus  disease: COVID - 19.