Kozhikode/Thiruvananthapuram: The two evacuees from China who were under quarantine are now in Saudi Arabia, officials said. They flew abroad disregarding government directives.

They were among the sixty who returned from Wuhan to Kozhikode and were under observation for a 28-day period as per government directives. But they left for Saudi without informing Health department officials.

They were staying outside the city premises and authorities were in touch with them on a regular basis.

But municipal authorities were told by family members that they left for Saudi, the District Medical Officer informed.

Efforts are on to trace and bring them back and keep them under medical surveillance. The remaining 58 who came from Wuhan are under observation and complying with the government directives.

A team comprising Kozhikode Municipal Corporation councillors is monitoring those undergoing medical surveillance in their own homes.

Three cases of Coronavirus have been reported from the state so far. All three patients were students from virus-hit Wuhan province in China. The condition of all the patients are stable.

No new cases

There were no new cases reported positive for novel Coronavirus (nCoV) on Tuesday. As many as 50 samples were sent for testing on Friday, taking the total number to 190. Of this, 100 have tested negative; 54 of the negative results came on Tuesday.

Kerala reported all three confirmed Coronavirus cases in India so far.

The first nCov positive case was confirmed in a patient who was in isolation in Thrissur General Hospital on January 30. Three days later, on February 2, the second case was found positive in a patient already in isolation at a government hospital in Alappuzha. The third patient who tested positive has been moved to an isolation ward in Kanhangad District Hospital in Kerala's Kasaragod district. All three patients were medical students of Wuhan University.

"The health condition of all the three students who had tested postive for nCoV remain satisfactory," the Health Department bulletin said on Tuesday. The status of all those under observation, too, has been described as "stable".

As it stands, 2,421 persons have been identified and placed under surveillance. Of this, 2,321 are under home isolation and 100 are kept in specially created isolation facilities in government and private hospitals across the state.

A 24x7 control room has been set up in the State and all District Head Quarters. A minimum of two hospitals with isolation facilities have been identified in each district. Sample testing for nCoV at NIV, Alappuzha Unit is functional, and samples are being tested now.

The Health Department also announced that counsellors have been deployed across the state to provide psychosocial support to families of suspected persons. On Tuesday, 1043 tele-counselling services were provided.

Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja on Tuesday said that there were chances of more people contracting the virus. The minister also said that the condition of all the patients are stable.

State seeks more funds to mitigate 'state calamity'

The Health Ministry on Monday declared the epidemic as a 'state calamity' and sought the Centre's help in releasing sufficient funds to help mitigate the threat.

"The Central government should release sufficient funds to help the state meet this health emergency," K K Shailaja said.

She also urged those who had been in close contact with those evacuated from Wuhan to seek prior permission from the government before travelling.

"People should adhere to the health guidelines issued by the government without fail. Those under observation should not leave their homes without notifying the health ministry," the minister said.

Cases have also been registered against seven for spreading misinformation about the virus through social media.

The increase in the number of individuals who had returned from China's Wuhan also prompted the minister to issue strict guidelines to the district authorities.

Leaves of employees working in the Health department has been put on hold. If necessary, employees on leave in other departments too will be recalled to work, officials informed.

The government also decided not to send the district collectors for their yearly training in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. Study tours of educational institutions too have been put on hold till February 14.

The state government is also conducting a training exercise for doctors and paramedics across Kerala. The health minister has urged everyone to remain vigilant while dismissing any need to be afraid.

Kerala, being a densely populated state, is observing an isolation period of 28 days as opposed to the WHO's recommendation of 14 days.

Coronavirus

Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. It originated in Hubei province of China and has since spread to several countries, including three positive cases in India, all in the southern state of Kerala.

More than 20 countries have confirmed cases of the virus, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency, several governments to institute travel restrictions, and airlines to suspend flights to and from China.

The death toll from a coronavirus outbreak in China passed 490 on Wednesday. Across mainland China, there were 3,887 new confirmed infections, bringing the total accumulated number to 24,324. Nearly 230 cases have been reported in 27 other countries and regions outside mainland China, according to a Reuters tally based on official statements from the authorities involved.

