Coronavirus Pandemic: 40 out of 49 cases in Maharashtra are positive due to travel history

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope, in a press conference conducted on March 19, 2020, said that the number of positive cases in Maharashtra has increased over the last few days. Data points out that seven new cases have tested positive in Maharashtra over the last 12 hours.

The current count has reached 49 cases, where one more positive was registered in Mumbai and another in Ahmednagar. The cases were of one female, who flew from London and one male who flew in from Dubai. Both the passengers had a travel history and were infected. 

Keeping the same in mind, he said that the patients who are travelling from infected countries will have to undergo strict surveillance and testing procedures. 

As of now, around 40 out of 49 cases in Maharashtra are positive due to travel history and the challenging aspect is to control this situation. He further pressed on the issue stating that we all need to ensure this does not spread and the Maharashtra cabinet is trying to make stringent rules for the same. As a state, we all should focus on combating and control this medical condition while the respective departments enforce the necessary procedures across the state.

As per records, there are six testing labs in the city where the samples are screened and the team hopes to increase more in the next few days. Officials have spoken to the ministers at the centre and an official from ICMR  has given the team in Maharashtra the necessary permissions, to go ahead with the same. Besides, the medical centres and hospitals will also be functional soon and the team is working hard to increase the capacity of testing across the state. 

Trained doctors and medical staff, along with the necessary equipment are arranged. Hospitals, beds and other locations have been kept ready where 600-700 ventilators have been arranged for emergency cases. Moreover, if necessary, private hospitals may be used for isolation as per The Epidemic Act, 1987, and some hospitals have voluntarily stepped forward to support the government.

Concluding the press conference today, he stated that the team is optimistic about handling the situation and hopes that we do not enter Phase-III. The efforts being put by the government should be able to bring this to an end in the current phase.