WEB DESK

World Health Organisation has said that over 6,000 coronavirus cases have been registered outside China.It said, more than 1,300 new cases have been confirmed outside China during the past 24 hours. It said, there have been a total of 86 deaths from the coronavirus disease outside of China, 19 of them occurred in the past 24 hours.

Mexico and San Marino reported their first coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. A total of 53 countries, apart from China, have been affected. According to WHO, over 85,400 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed globally.

In India Health Secretary Preeti Sudan reviewed preparedness with the concerned states and union territories on COVID-19 through video conference yesterday. She said various precautionary measures have been taken in close coordination with the concerned ministries at the central and the state level.

Health Secretary, however, said that with the evolving global scenario, especially in countries such as Iran, Italy and South Korea, there is a need for states to maintain high vigil and be with respect to the protocols for community surveillance, and screening at the airports and check-posts.

She underscored the importance of sturdy and effective community surveillance measures. She also advised the states and union territories to ensure that necessary protocols for collection and testing of blood samples are followed.

States have been again advised to provide the requisite manpower to strengthen the Airport Public Health Officers, APHOs at the airports and at the check-posts.

They were also urged to ensure that all necessary Personal Protective equipment like masks are inadequate to supply, and adequate isolation wards are kept in readiness. A specific review of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was taken with respect to returnees from Iran.