Lok Sabha Question No. 2649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Rapid Spread of Contagious Disease
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Shankar Lalwani

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2649 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH MARCH, 2020

## RAPID SPREAD OF CONT AGIOUS DISEASE

## 2649. DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

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

- (a) whether the world is facing rapidly spreading Coronavirus outbreak and is simultaneously also  facing the  challenge  of  infectious  diseases,  malnutrition  and non-comm unicable  disease epidemic;
- (b) the plan of action with the Government to deal with the situation in India; and
- (c) the details of steps taken/proposed to be taken to bridge the broad gap between rural and urbanpopulation with regard to availability of healthcare facilities/system?

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

- (a) : Yes. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) situation report dated 04.03.2020, total of 80,422 confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) and 2,984 deaths have been reported in China. A total of 12,668 confirmed cases and 214 deaths have been reported outside China from 76 countries. Cases of other infectious diseases like seasonal influenza A ( and other non -communicable diseases are also reported by various states.
- (b) & (c) : 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:
- I. Screening of passengers was initiated in the country since 18th January 2020. In airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi were cover and  subsequently  expanded  in  a  total  of  21  airports.  As  per  the  evolving  situat ion,  initially Universal Screening was taken up for all passengers coming via direct flights from China, Korea,  Japan,  Iran,  Italy,  Hong  Kong,  Vietnam,  Malaysia,  Indonesia,  Nepal,  Thailand Singapore. Now, directions have also been issued for Univ ersal Screening for all international passengers coming in the country. Signages have been displayed at prominent places in ai

and ports, In -flight announcements are being made and self - eclaration forms are being filled up by all passengers. As on 4th March, a total of 6,241 flights have been screened covering a to of  6,11,167  passengers.  Teams  of  Specialist  doctors  were  sent  to  all  the  airports  to effective  screening  and  arrangement  for  isolation  in  the  attached  hospitals.  Besid 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  airport s  for  guidance  and convenience  of  passengers.  First  Travel  advisory  was  issued  on  17 th January  2020  and  as situation  is  evolving,  the  travel  advisories  are  accordingly  getting  revised.  Extant provide that:

- (i) All Regular / eVisas issued to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan issued on before  March  03,  2020  and  who  have  not  yet  entered  India,  stand  suspended  wit immediate effect.
- (ii) Regular  /  eVisa  issued  to  nationals  of  Peoples  Republic  of  China  issued  on  or  b February 05, 2020 were suspended earlier, which shall remain in force.
- (iii) Those requiring to travel to India due to compelling reasons, may seek fresh visa fr nearest Indian Embassy / Consulate.
- (iv) Regular  /  eVisas  issued  to  all  other  foreign  nationals  w ho  have  travelled  to  Peoples Republic of China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan, on or after February 01, 202 who have not yet entered India, stand suspended with immediate effect.
- (v) All foreign and Indian nationals entering into India from any port , are required to furnish duly  filled  self - declaration  form  including  personal  particulars  and  travel  history Health officials and Immigration officials at all ports.
- (vi) Passengers (foreign and Indian) arriving directly or indirectly from China, South ea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singa must undergo medical screening at port of entry.

II. The  government  has  conducted  training  for  the  officers  of  ports,  airports  and  b crossing points and has se nsitized them on management of high risk pathogens such as Ebola and Coronavirus. They have been equipped with personal protective equipment. Additional doct nurses  and  paramedic  staff  have  been  deployed  at  the  airports  for  smooth,  effectiv convenient screening of passengers.

III. Guidelines  on  clinical  management,  infection  prevention  control,  surveillance sampling etc. have been disseminated to the States and also made available on the website Union  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfa re.  The  risk  is  communicated  through  media including social media.

IV. Government of India has also initiated a series of action to prevent entry of the and  to  contain  it. A  Group  of  Ministers  (GoM)  consisting  of  Minister  of  External  Affairs Min ister of Civil Aviation, Minister of State of Home Affairs, Minister of State of He Family Welfare, Minister of State of Shipping under the chairmanship of Union Health Mini has been constituted. Meetings of GoM have been held on 03.02.2020, 13 .02.2020, 02.03.2020

and  04.03.2020.  Cabinet  Secretary  has  taken  series  of  meetings  with  all  related  Minis Departments  such  as  Health,  Defence,  External  Affairs,  Civil  Aviation,  Home,  Texti Pharmaceuticals, Commerce.

V. Central Government has e ngaged all the State Governments, on a continuous basis, in effor for  management  of  COVID - 19.  Cabinet  Secretary  has  also  taken  meetings  with  State  Chief Secretaries.  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  is  constantly  reviewing  the  evo scenario.  Ser ies  of  Video  Conferences  have  been  held  with  Chief  Secretaries  and  also  wi Secretaries, Health of the States / (Union Territories (UTs).

VI. Integrated  Disease  Surveillance  Programme  (IDSP)  has  been  geared  up  to  track  an follow  up  passengers  coming  from the  affected  countries  particularly  China,  Hong  Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Government have made arrangements for testing of samples at the National Institute of Vir (NIV), Puneand 14 other Viral Research & Diagnostics Laboratories (VRDLs) of the India Council  of  Medical  Research  (ICMR)  in  different  parts  of  the  Country.  Adequate  labora reagents are available to test samples. Sufficient stock of Personal Protective Equipmen s (PPE) is maintained. A 24x7 Control Room has been activated. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of th States /UTs have already been trained in management of MERS - CoV outbreak and Ebola Virus Disease.

VII. The Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) under the Chairmanshi p of DGHS has held series of meetings to assess the risk and review the preparedness and response mechanisms to manage case that might get imported to India. WHO, being represented in the JMG is providing Min with regular updates and technical inf ormation.

VIII.  Senior  officers  of  the  Ministry  of  Health  &  family  Welfare  have  been  deputed  to States / UTs to review the management of COVID - 19 in each State / UT.

IX.     Press releases are being issued on regular basis. Information about travel advisory and other pertinent issues is also being shared on social media.

Government is monitoring the situation closely.

Further,  Government  of  India  has  launched  POSHAN  (Prime  Minister  Overarching Scheme  for  Holistic  Nourishment)  Abhiyaan ,  to  address  malnutrition  in  India  through convergence,  behaviour  change,  Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  advocacy, training and capacity building, innovations and demand generation. POSHAN Abhiyaan focuse on educating families on the need for nutrition and motivating them on adopting these into thei behaviour. The promotion of locally available nutritious food through various community b events  (CBEs),  exhibitions,  rallies,  workshops  and  meetings  is  one  of  the  strategy  un POSHAN Abhiyaan.  Anaemia  Mukt  Bharat  (AMB)  strategy,  Defeat  Diarrhea  (D - 2)  initiative and  Home  Based  Care  of  Young  Children  (HBYC)  are  the  important  components  of  the POSHAN Abhiyaan implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.