Medics and other staff outside a coronavirus ward at a Hyderabad hospital (PTI photo)

India has reported 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far, Union Minister for Health Dr Harsh Vardhan said Wednesday. The total number of cases as of Tuesday was six. The 28 confirmed cases include three patients from Kerala who have already been discharged after their subsequent tests cleared them of the deadly Covid-19 disease that has claimed more than 3,000 lives and infected more than 90,000 people globally.

In India, there have now been 28 people infected with coronavirus. These include the three Kerala patients who were discharged after recovery last month. All the remaining 25 cases were reported this week. These include:

- A 45-year-old man in Delhi who had returned from Europe

- A 24-year-old techie in Hyderabad who travelled to the city from Bengaluru after landing from Dubai

- Six people from Agra who got infected after coming in contact with the Delhi patient

- A group of 16 Italian tourists who travelled to Rajasthan and later Agra in Uttar Pradesh

- One Indian driver who accompanied the Italian tourists

All the patients who have tested positive for coronavirus are under isolation at various hospitals and facilities across the country. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday, Dr Harsh Vardhan said the government is working to trace people who may have come in contact with those infected by coronavirus.

ALL INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS TO BE SCREENED

Speaking at the press conference, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that from now on, all passengers -- Indian or foreign -- arriving on international flights will have to undergo medical screening while entering India. This is a significant departure from the screening process as of Tuesday when only passengers arriving from 12 select countries were being screended at airport.

Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that so far, 5,89,000 people have been screened at airports, over 10 lakh screened at borders with Nepal and around 27,000 were currently under community surveillance.

Asking people not to panic, the minister said that everybody must follow basic hygiene and that those with flu-like symptoms should visit a doctor and follow his/her advice.

(With inputs from Pooja Shali in New Delhi and PTI)