A three-year old child at Kochi in Kerala has been tested positive for Coronavirus infection, taking the total number of infected persons in Kerala at present to six.
According to a statement from the Kerala heath department on Monday, the child, along with his parents, reached the Kochi international airport from from Italy, via Dubai, on March 7.
During the medical screening at the airport the child was found to be having fever and hence all three were shifted to hospital isolation ward. While test result of the child confirmed Coronavirus infection, test results of the parents were still awaited. Details of all passengers who reached Kochi by the flight was being collected for tests and isolation.
Meanwhile, health department was tracking all persons who came in contact with the three member family in Pathanamthitta who were found infected by the virus. Already about 30 persons were tracked in Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta districts and kept under quarantine following some suspicions while around 300 were under surveillance. Those under surveillance include the aged parents of one of the infected.
A scare was prevailing in Pathanamthitta district, especially Ranni where the three member family lived. The town was wearing a deserted look and buses to Ranni were almost empty. There was also acute shortage of masks at medical shops and there were even allegations of black-marketing of masks for exorbitant prices.
A holiday was announced for educational institutions in the district for three days, which may be extended further. However, tenth and plus-two public examinations would be conducted under tight vigil. The district administration also advised to put off marriages or reduce participation in marriage ceremonies.
The Kerala Police warned of stringent action against those spreading misleading messages pertaining to COVID-19.
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