Visakhapatnam: City of Destiny gears up to tackle coronavirus threat

• District Medical and Health Officer S Tirupathi Rao says thermal scanner has been set up to screen the passengers for any sign of deadlyvirus at the airport itself

• Sets up isolated special ward with four beds at King George Hospital and 10 more beds available at Chest Hospital

• If anyone faces difficulty in breathing or short of breath or cough or fever or cold persists, they can approach the doctor

Visakhapatnam: As the deadly novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) claimed more than 210 lives in China and one patient in Kerala already tested positive, the medical and health department in the city is fully geared up to tackle any emergency situation.

With the isolated special ward at King George Hospital housing four beds and 10 more available at Infectious Diseases Hospital (Chest Hospital), the officials concerned say that awareness is the key and those in rural areas are also being sensitised about the deadly virus at primary health centres through ANMs and Asha workers.

At Visakhapatnam Airport, the 24X7 helpdesk dedicated to check the outbreak, aids in screening the passengers for any sign of the nCoV.

In view of the outbreak, close to 315 Indians, who have been evacuated from China landed in New Delhi and later shifted to Indian Army, Manesar, located over 15 kms from Gurugram, to monitor signs of the nCoV quarantined for two weeks.

Of them, 56 are from different parts of Andhra Pradesh recruited for Panel Opto-display Technology Private Limited. Along with them, about 35 from Visakhapatnam and neighbouring districts flew back in the same flight from Wuhan. "Of the 56 persons from AP, two remained at Wuhan itself as they were reportedly suffering from fever. The rest of the trainees are undergoing special medical check-up at the army camp. They will reach their hometown soon after the completion of two-week-long monitoring. We are glad that they are in India," says A V L Narasimha Rao, a parent, heaving a sigh of relief.

He along with other parents expressed their gratitude towards MP M V V Satyanarayana for making earnest efforts to bring their wards back to their hometown from Wuhan, negotiating with the External Affairs Ministry.

When asked about the preparedness to combat the situation, District Medical and Health Officer S Tirupathi Rao told The Hans India that thermal scanner has been set up to screen the passengers for any sign of deadly virus at the airport itself. "Passengers showing any symptoms of virus will be sent to KGH isolated special ward. Fortunately, we have not got any positive case so far. However, in case of any emergency, we can make arrangements for more beds apart from the existing 14," the DM&HO assures.

Elaborating about safe practices, KGH Superintendent G Arjuna says, "Including vitamin-C, B-Complex and avoiding non-vegetarian food, raw and undercooked animal products in particular, are some of the safe food practices. If any breathing difficulty or short of breath or cough or fever or cold persists, approach the doctor to rule out any possibility of the virus."

Pic caption: Trainees from different parts of Andhra Pradesh who have reached India from Wuhan.