At least 259 people have died in China with 2,102 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus recorded as of February 1st, 2020.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus as a public health emergency of international concern. There is no specific cure or vaccine.

The transmission ability of the virus is getting stronger and infections could continue to rise. China has banned wildlife trade nationwide in markets, supermarkets, restaurants, and e-commerce platforms from January 26th, 2020.

Lockdown measures and restricts of travel continue in China to curb its spread. Travel restrictions have been tightened across the country and wearing masks in public is now been made mandatory in some cities. Total lockdown have been imposed in Wuhan, and the Hubei province it is located in.

On the other hand, a special Air India plane carrying 324 Indian nationals from the Wuhan landed in Delhi on the morning of February 1st, 2020. Another flight left for Wuhan in the afternoon hours today.

It may be mentioned that the Health Ministry informed that people evacuated from the Hubei province will be monitored for signs of any infection for two weeks by qualified medical professionals. The first coronavirus positive case in India has been reported in Kerala. The patient is in isolation in a hospital, stable and being closely monitored.

Meanwhile, India has stepped up vigil in districts bordering Nepal in view of a confirmed case of novel coronavirus detected in the neighbouring country. A medical team has been deployed at the busy Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati to keep a tab on the inbound and outbound passengers.

In wake of the never-seen-before outbreak of the virus, the Manipur government and the Myanmar government have also stepped up the screening of visitors at airports and check posts.

Photo credit: @VikramMisri