Delhi Rushes To Meet China Virus Threat

City readies for virus scare

- Ajay Kumar and Shashank Shekhar

The rising Novel Coronavirus toll has forced China to confine its millions in a massive multi-city lockdown.

And the threat is spreading fast. By late Friday evening, it reached Nepal where the first confirmed case was reported, sending authorities in India into a tizzy. Eleven people have been put under observation in Mumbai, Kerala, and Hyderabad. While no flyer in Delhi has tested positive, all top hospitals here braced to meet the Chinese virus threat.

DELHI HOSPITALS

Doctors admitted there is no treatment or vaccine available yet, but were optimistic that authorities will be able to contain the spread of the virus in the country.

“The Indian government is keeping a close watch on the situation, like it was done in cases of Zika and Ebola viruses. We were able to control them in the past so we have the potential to manage the situation now,” said Dr Jugal Kishore, Head of Department, Community Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital.

He added that there is no need to panic as mortality rate so far in Coronavirus cases is less than that in other deadly viruses. “However, precaution should be taken to check the spread. As it’s a new virus, we don’t know how this is going to behave in a country like India,” he said.

RML Hospital has been made the nodal centre for treating any Coronavirus patient. An isolation ward has been created there.

“Our team of doctors and nurses has been instructed to monitor patients. Also, the Centre is taking all preventive measures,” said Dr Minakshi Bhardwaj, Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has also set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for treatment to any suspected case. The hospital management claimed that it has enough infrastructure and expertise to contain the spread of the disease.