Kerala discharges second coronavirus patient

Kochi: In a relief to the south-Indian state, the second student from Kasargod district, Kerala was discharged on February 16, after the two consecutive test results came negative when tested for novel coronavirus.

The second patient was quarantined 18 days prior as she was tested positive for the virus after returning from China. However he will be kept in isolation for 10 more days said Kasaragod district medical officers.

Earlier the first patient in Alappuzha was discharged after two test results by National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune turned negative. The first coronavirus patient, a medico patient from Thrissur is waiting for her test results from NIV, Pune. Last week the patient’s blood samples were sent to Alappuzha which returned negative.

Kerela Health Minister KK Sahilaja had said that around 2447 people are being monitored for coronavirus across state. For testing 415 samples have been sent to Pune and a total of 396 samples turned to be negative, while the results for remaining are awaited. She also asserted that by early march the state hopes to be coronavirus free.

The first three positive cases of coronavirus in India were reported from the state, after the outbreak in China. The virus which is being officially called as COVID-19 has claimed around 1,770 lives in China till now, said reports. The virus originated from the city of Wuhan.

Meanwhile, over 200 Indians are struck in a quarantined Japan cruise ship and five of them have been tested positive for the virus. The Indian Embassy in Tokyo asserted that Health conditions of these patients are stable and improving.