Eight more cases have been found positive for Coronavirus. These include five from Kerala, two from Ladakh with travel history to Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history to Oman. With these new cases, total number of cases are now 39 in the country. 36 cases are being treated in hospitals and are stable. Whereas the earlier three from Kerala have been discharged.

In addition, 108 samples have been received from Iran today morning. These samples are being tested at the laboratory in AIIMS. Also, six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents, worth approximately Rs.10 crores have been dispatched to enable them to setup a lab there.

Rigorous screening is being done at the airports.

As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country for testing COVID-19 virus. An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with Viral Transport Media and swabs for sample collection.

In order to spread awareness, special COVID-19 mobile phone caller tune was launched by all telecom operators with basic infection prevention messages played when a caller dials-out. Over 117.2 crore subscribers of BSNL, MTNL Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone-Idea are being progressively reached out to through SMSs and Call Backs.

