'Give us kits to detect corono virus': Telangana government to centre

Hyderabad: The Telangana government, on Wednesday, urged the Centre to provide requisite medical kits for conducting tests for coronavirus in Hyderabad. The medical experts have asked for kits to curb any possibility of the spread of virus.

"We have asked the Centre for kits, in case the severity increases and if there is a possibility of it spreading in our region as well. Tests are being conducted in Hyderabad (for determination of virus) and samples are being sent to Pune. Incase the kits are available here (in Hyderabad ) samples need not be sent to Pune’, said Health Minister E Rajender said on Wednesday.

According to official sources, two samples have tested negative so far, while results are awaited for three samples. Reportedly three people, who had travelled to China but did not have nCov symptoms, were under medical authorities' observation. The three had approached authorities in view of spread of the virus in China and were admitted to the state-run Institute of Tropical Diseases (Fever hospital). However, two of them have been discharged after being advised to stay put at home. ‘There has been no positive case of nCov so far in the country, the minister confirmed.

According to the minister, Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) and two government hospitals Hyderabad are equipped with latest lab facilities which can also conduct tests for nCov determination, if kits are provided.

Precautionary measures

Passengers are being screened at the Rajiv Gandhi international airport. Isolated special wards have been set up in three government hospitals in the city. Besides this, 100 beds have been readied in the three hospitals and the number of beds can be increased further.

Also, government is also looking at ways to help students from the state, who are said to be pursuing medicine in China, in coordination with the Centre, he said.