Lok Sabha Question No. 3422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Cases of Swine Flu and Coronavirus
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH MARCH, 2020

## CASES OF SWINE FLU A ND CORONAVIRUS

## 3422. KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

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

- (a) the number of cases of Swine Flu and Coronavirus reported in the country and the Indians infected in other countries and deported to India in last three years and current year;
- (b) t he number of deaths reported due to Swine Flu and Coronavirus during the current year so far;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to control the diseases, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has sent any expert team to assess the situation in areas which are affected by these diseases, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (e)  the  details  of  financial  and  technical  assistance including  drugs  provided  to  affected States/UTs for prevention, diagnosis and treatment o f these diseases; and
- (f)  the  further  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government for  proper  management  and  creation  of health infrastructure for early detection and treatment of these diseases?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b): The number of cases and deaths during the last 3 years and current year due to Swine Flu are as under:

| Year                    | Cases   | Deaths   |
|-------------------------|---------|----------|
| 2017                    | 38,811  | 2,270    |
| 2018                    | 15,266  | 1,128    |
| 2019                    | 28,798  | 1,218    |
| 2020 (till 01.03 .2020) | 1,469   | 28       |

As on 12.03.2020, a total of 73 positive cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) have been reported in India . Out of this, 3 cases of Indian nationals were reported in Kerala, who since recovered and discharged from the hospital.

As on 12 .03.2020, Government of India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID - 19 affected  countries  including  China  and  Japan.  Out  of  these,  900  are  Indian  citizens belonging  to  different  nationalities  including  Maldives,  Myanmar,  Bangladesh,  China,  U Ma dagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru .

(c) to (f) As per the Constitutional provisions, health is a State subject and primary respon of health matters rest with States / Union Territories (UTs). H owever, the Central Government closely monitors the Seasonal Influenza situation ,have been in regular touch with the States /UTs on the issue s and have takennumerous measures to contain and manage the Seasonal Influenza (H1N1). Details are given in Annexure I.

Government has taken note of th e outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) in China and  has  initiated  steps  to  monitor  the  situation  in  all  States  /  Union  Territories  (U countr y. Details are given in Annexure II.

## Annexure I

- During such outbreaks, the situation is regularly reviewed and closely monitored on highest levels in the Ministry of Health and F amily Welfare including through video - conferencing with senior State Government functionaries.
- The situation of the Seasonal Influenza is also regularly reviewed by the Joint M onitoring Group under the chairmanship of Director General of Health Service (DGHS). Last meeti JMG was held on 08.01.2020.
- Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  provided  guidelines  on  categorization patients, treatme nt protocol  and guidelines on ventilatory management to the States/UTs which are also available on the website of the Ministry ( www.mohfw.nic.in ) and National Centre  for  Disease  Control  (NCDC)  (ncdc.gov.in).  State  Governments  have  also  bee advi sed for vaccination of health care workers dealing with H1N1 cases.
- All  the  States  have  been  advised  to  complete  the  procurement  of  required  logistic managing seasonal influenza A (H1N1) from State budget. However, during crisis in Sta Govt. of In dia is supplying logistics (drugs, PPE kits, N - 95 face masks). In 2019, Govt. of India supplied logistics to Bihar, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
- Public Health Team s we redeputed in 2019 to Rajasthan, Gujarat , Punjab, and Uttarakhand to assess the situation and assist the States in strengthening response to the increas
- Advisory for preparedness to seasonal influenza A (H1N1) was issued time to time . Last advis ory was issued on 06.11 .2019 to major affected States.
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and its State units have enhanced surveillance for Influenza like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections
- Information, Educati on and Communication (IEC) material i.e. info graphics on seasonal flu for general public was shared with all theStates. The other IEC materials including audio spot is available on M inistry of Health and Family Welfare website since 2015.

Further, IDSP assisted lab network of 12 Laboratories are providing laboratory support in t of  testing,  quality  assurance,  guidance,  providing  viral  transport  mediums  and  diag reagents.  The  diagnostic  capacity  has  also  been  strengthened  by  Indian  Council  of  Me ical Research (ICMR) through more than 41 Virus Research Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) to tes clinical samples including 6 labs common to IDSP and ICMR .

## Annexure II

I. Screening of passengers was initiated in the country since 18 th January 2020. Initially 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  situation, Universal Screening was taken up for all passeng ers coming via direct flights from China, South Korea,  Japan,  Iran,  Italy,  Hong  Kong,  Vietnam,  Malaysia,  Indonesia,  Nepal,  Thailand Singapore. Now, directions have also been issued for Universal Screening for all intern passengers coming in the country. Signages have been displayed at prominent places in airpor and ports, In -flight announcements are being made and self - eclaration forms are being filled up by all passengers. Teams of Specialist doctors were sent to all the airports to ensure ffective screening  and  arrangement  for  isolation  in  the  attached  hospitals.  Besides  this,  scree been initiated in border crossings. Arrangements have been made for in - flight announcements in incoming flights, filling of self - declaration forms by in coming passengers. Signages have been displayed  at  prominent  locations  at  ports  and  airports  for  guidance  and  convenien passengers. First Travel advisory was issued on 17 th January 2020 and as situation is evolving, the travel advisories are according ly getting revised. Extant advisories provide that:

- (i) All existing visas (except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizat employment,  project  visas)  stand  suspended  till  15th  April  2020.  This  will  come effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.
- (ii) Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till 1 2020.  This  will  come  into  effect  from  1200  GMT  on  13thMarch  2020  at  the  port  o departure.
- (iii) OCI card holders already in India can stay i n India as long as they want.
- (iv) Visas  of  all  foreigners  already  in  India  remain  valid  and  they  may  contact  the  n FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion etc. of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they choose to do so.
- (v) Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contac nearest Indian Mission.
- (vi) In addition to Visa restrictions already in place, passengers traveling from /havin Italy or Republic of Korea and desirous of entering I ndia will need certificate of having tested negative for COVID - 19 from the designated laboratories authorized by the health authorities of these countries. This is in enforcement since 0000 hrs. of 10th Marc and is a temporary measure till cases of COVID - 19 subside.
- (vii) All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visite Italy,  Iran,  Republic  of  Korea,  France,  Spain  and  Germany  after  15th  February,  2 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This wil l come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.
- (viii) Incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non - essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on arrival in India.
- (ix) Indian  nationals  are  further  strongly  advised  to  refrain  from  travelling  to  Chin Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany.
- (x) All incoming international passengers returning to India should self -monitor their health and follow r equired do's and don'ts as detailed by the Government.
- (xi) All  international Passengers entering into India are required to furnish duly fil -declaration form in duplicate (including personal particulars i.e. phone no. and ad India)  to  Health  Of ficials  and  Immigration  officials  and  undergo  Universal  Health Screening at the designated health counters at all Points of Entry.

II. The  government  has  conducted  training  for  the  officers  of  ports,  airports  and  b crossing points and has sensitized t hem 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 scree ning 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  Welfare.  The  ris k  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 Minister of Civ il Aviation, Minister of State of Home Affairs, Minister of State of Healt Family Welfare, Minister of State of Shipping under the chairmanship of Union Health Mini has been constituted. Meetings of GoM are conducted on regular basis. Cabinet Secr etary has taken  series  of  meetings  with  all  related  Ministries  /  Departments  such  as  Health,  D External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Home, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Commerce.

V. Central Government has engaged all the State Governments, on a continuous basis, in efforts 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.  Series  of  Video  Conferences  have  been  held  with  Chie f  Secretaries  and  also  with 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), Pune and 14 other Viral Research & Diagnostics Laborat ories (VRDLs) of the Indian

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 is maintained. A 24x7 Control Room has be en activated. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of the States /UTs have already been trained in management of MERS - CoV outbreak and Ebola Virus Disease.

VII. The Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) under the Chairmanship of DGHS has held series of meetings to assess t he risk and review the preparedness and response mechanisms to manage any case that might get imported to India. World Health Organisation (WHO), being represente the JMG is providing Ministry with regular updates and technical information.

VIII.  Senio r  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 adv other pe rtinent issues is also being shared on social media.

Government is monitoring the situation closely.