Press Releases on COVID-19 issued by the Government of India
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The WHO's India Updates on COVID-19-February [PDF 1.64 MB] Source: World Health Organization - India
February 29, 2020
50. Health Secretary reviews action taken and preparedness with the States/UTs concerned on COVID-19 through video conference - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare States/UTs advised to provide requisite manpower to strengthen APHOs at the airports and check-posts, and ensure all necessary personal protection equipment in adequate supply and isolation wards in readiness. 5.33 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604746]. Click here for PDF .
PIB Press Releases – COVID-19NOVEMBEROCTOBERSEPTEMBERAUGUSTJULYJUNEMAYAPRILMARCHJANUARY Source: Press Information Bureau, New Delhi
February 27, 2020
49. Update on COVID-19: Through dedicated and collaborative efforts, we have evacuated 124 persons from Japan and 112 persons from Wuhan: Dr Harsh Vardhan - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare The evacuees from Japan will be quarantined at the army facility in Manesar while those from Wuhan will be housed at the ITBP facility in Chhawla. 1.02 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604508 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 26, 2020
48. Update on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19): New Travel Advisory - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Indians advised to refrain from non-essential travel to Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy; People coming from these countries or having travel history since February 10, 2020 will be quarantined for 14 days on arrival to India. 12.47 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604382 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 24, 2020
47. Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews actions taken and further preparedness on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Screening of passengers being done in all 21 airports, 12 major seaports and 65 minor seaports and border crossings; 2,707 samples tested so far of which only three had tested positive in Kerala; Screening strengthened across the border for pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib; Joint Secretaries and senior officials from the Health Ministry may be deputed to visit states/UTs to ensure strengthening of the surveillance machinery and address concerns. 7.07 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604232 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 22, 2020
46. Cabinet Secretary chairs high level review meeting on COVID19 - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Citizens are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore; 21,805 passengers brought under community surveillance so far. 2.43 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604029 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 21, 2020
45. Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews actions taken and preparedness with senior officials on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare States/UTs advised to regularly update requisite information pertaining to screening and surveillance accurately and timely on the web poral; screening of passengers done in all 21 airports, 12 major seaports, and 65 minor seaports and border crossings. 5.19 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1603957]. Click here for PDF .
February 14, 2020
44. Health Secretary reviews action taken and preparedness with the Ministries/Depts and States/UTs concerned on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) through video conference - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said containment and prevention activities shall be taken up on utmost priority; she informed that one patient, a student from Wuhan University, who tested positive for COVID 19 thereby becoming the country’s second such case, was on Thursday discharged from isolation ward of Alappuzha Medical College Hospital, Kerala. 4.30 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1603209 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 13, 2020
43. Dr. Harsh Vardhan briefs the media on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Advisories/guidelines have been issued to states/UTs on surveillance, sample collection, packaging, and transportation, infection prevention and control, and clinical management; Surveillance started at all 21 airports, 12 major ports and 65 minor ports and six land crossings; ICMR is providing laboratory support with NIV, Pune as the nodal lab and 14 other network laboratories; this can be expanded to 50 labs if the situation demands; Rapid response teams trained by the Health Ministry in all states for managing emergencies. 4.24 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1603070]. Click here for PDF .
42. High level Group of Ministers reviews current status, and actions for prevention and management of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Two quarantine centres managed by the army and ITBP running now having 645 persons evacuated from Wuhan; all have tested negative for COVID 19. 2.14 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1603053 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 11, 2020
41. Health Secretary reviews actions and preparedness on Novel Coronavirus - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Screening of passengers at all 21 airports, 12 major sea ports and border crossings going on; 2,148 flights and 2,32,613 passengers screened so far. 6.43 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602846 ]. Click here for PDF .
40. Measures to Control Spread of Novel Coronavirus - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Screening of passengers initiated at all 21 airports and at all major and minor seaports; existing visas for any foreigner travelling from China to India no longer valid; Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme geared up to track and follow up passengers coming from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore; National Institute of Virology, Pune is the nodal laboratory for testing high risk pathogens. 3.06 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602762 ]. Click here for PDF .
39. Effect of Coronavirus outbreak and precautions taken - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 645 persons evacuated from Hubei province and kept in two quarantine centres in Manesar and Chhawla; Samples collected from all evacuees tested negative; Screening of passengers initiated at all 21 airports, major and minor seaports, border crossings and integrated check posts; Mandatory universal screening for all flights from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand; a Group of Ministers constituted to monitor the situation. 2.57 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602756]. Click here for PDF .
February 10, 2020
38. Health Secretary reviews actions and preparedness of States with Ministries/Depts concerned on Novel Coronavirus through video conference - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare States and UTs need to stay alert and vigilant though situation is under control; states and UTs advised to enhance awareness activities regarding updated advisories; Screening of passengers initiated at all 21 airports, 12 major seaports and border crossings. 6.41 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602684]. Click here for PDF .
37. Suo-Moto statement by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, on February 10, 2020 in the Lok Sabha regarding outbreak of Novel Corona Virus Disease in China and some other countries and the steps taken by the Government of India - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Three positive cases reported so far in Kerala; all have travel history from Wuhan; Existing visas for any foreign national travelling from China not valid; Universal thermal screening mandatory for all flights from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and China; Screening of passengers at all 21 airports, 12 major seaports and all minor ports; 647 Indians and seven Maldivians were evacuated from Wuhan on January 31, 2020 and February 1, 2020 and have been quarantined in Manesar and Chhawla facilities; Surveillance initiated for all cases having travel history from China; National Institute of Virology, Pune is the nodal laboratory. 1.12 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602593]. Click here for PDF .
February 9, 2020
36. Update on Novel Coronavirus - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Universal screening for all flights from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China already ongoing; 9,452 persons presently under community surveillance in 32 states/UTs. 3.14 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602564]. Click here for PDF .
February 8, 2020
35. Health Secretary reviewed the Novel Coronavirus disease situation - Union Ministry of Health and Famuly Welfare Universal screening for all flights from Singapore and Thailand, besides Hong Kong and China, already ongoing at earmarked aero-bridges; Adequate IEC activities like hoardings at state borders, pamphlets distribution, and announcements being undertaken to spread awareness about symptoms and precautions; 7,994 persons presently under community surveillance in 32 states/UTs. 5.40 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602534 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 7, 2020
34. Ministry of Shipping issues directives to Major Ports as a preventive measure against Corona Virus - Ministry of Shipping Directions issued to Major Ports, which include a Standard Operating Procedure for disease surveillance/vessel and crew/passenger movement; daily reporting being done to Cabinet Secretary. 6.15 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602480]. Click here for PDF .
33. Suo-Moto statement by Dr. Harsh Vardhan , Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare Minister for Health & Family Welfare on 07th February, 2020 in Rajya Sabha Regarding Outbreak of Novel Corona Virus Disease in China and Some other Countries and the Steps Taken by the Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 6.01 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602473]. Click here for PDF .
32. National Policy on Rare Diseases – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare The draft policy released which provides for “lowering the incidence of rare diseases based on an integrated preventive strategy encompassing awareness generation and screening programmes and, within the constraints on resources and competing health care priorities, enable access to affordable health care to patients of rare diseases which are amenable to one-time treatment.” 12.52 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . ( Read more... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602358]. Click here for PDF .
31. Health Secretary reviews preparedness of Ministries/Depts and States on Novel Coronavirus through video conference - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Union Health Secretary, on the outbreak of novel Corona Virus Disease in China & some other countries and the actions taken by the Government of India. 4.27 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602389]. Click here for PDF .
February 6. 2020
30. All 645 evacuees from Wuhan test NEGATIVE for nCoV - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare No new case of nCoV has been reported. 6.07 PM IST, PIB Delhi. Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=199070]. Click here for PDF .
February 5, 2020
29. Cabinet Secretary holds high level meeting to review actions and preparedness on Novel Coronavirus - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New Visa advisory for travellers from China issued after Cabinet Secretary holds "a high level meeting to review the actions taken for management of Novel Coronavirus and preparedness of States for the same with Secretaries of Health and Family Welfare, External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Pharma, Dept of Health Research, Member Secretary (NDMA), and other officials from Home Ministry, Commerce, Army and Defence." 2.49 PM IST, PIB Delhi . Read More... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602002]. Click here for PDF .
February 4, 2020
28. Health Secretary reviews preparedness of States with concerned Ministries/Depts on Novel Coronavirus through video conference - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Union Health Secretary asks Stats to be "vigilant". District Collectors included in review and monitoring of the situation. Community engagement through focussed awareness is a key component. "All the states need to strengthen their rapid response teams to counter any eventuality. Also there needs to be role clarity and robust administrative structures in place at all Districts." 3.47 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read More... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601857]. Click here for PDF .
27. Clarification on Precautionary measures advised by Ministry of AYUSH in the context of Corona Virus - Ministry of AYUSH Issues clarification that the earlier advisories made claim to "neither claimed effective treatment for Corona virus nor suggested any specific drug to combat corona virus." The press release issued an advice that "the use of these preparations should be done in consultation with registered practitioners from respective system of medicine” and "There is no cure possible as of now. In this situation, any little help from any corner shall be welcomed. The effort of AYUSH Advisory may be seen from this right perspective." 11.29 p.m. IST, PIB Delhi . Read More... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601815]. Click here for PDF .
February 3, 2020
26. High level Group of Ministers constituted on directions of PM, to review management of Novel Coronavirus; First meeting held today - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare The Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan chaired first meeting of the GoM to review the preparedness and steps taken by the Ministries of Health, Shipping, External Affairs, Civil Aviation and Home Affairs. Principal Secretary to PM also reviews situation and arrangements for approximately 600 evacuees, 6.18 PM IST , PIB Delhi . Read More... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601773]. Click here for PDF .
25. Update on Novel Coronavirus: third positive case reported in Kerala - Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare [Full text] “Third positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient, has been reported in Kerala. The patient has a travel history from Wuhan in China. The patient has tested positive for Novel Coronavirus and is in isolation in the hospital. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored. 12..13 PM IST, PIB Delhi . Read the Press Release [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601681]. Click here for PDF .
24. Update on Coronavirus – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Revised travel advisories issued 10.24 AM IST , PIB Delhi. Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601674]. Click here for PDF.
23. Cabinet Secretary holds review meeting on Novel Coronavirus – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New travel advisory issued: Travellers to refrain from travel to China; on return travellers could be quarantined. 4.27 AM IST, PIB Delhi. Read More... [ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601671]. Click here for PDF .
February 2, 2020
22. Update on Novel Coronavirus: one positive case reported in Kerala – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Full text: "Second positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient, has been reported in Kerala. The patient has a travel history from China. The patient has tested positive for Novel Coronavirus and is in isolation in the hospital. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored." 10.39 AM IST , PIB Delhi. Read more... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601625 ]. Click here for PDF .
February 1, 2020
21. Health Minister and Cabinet Secretary hold review meetings on Novel Coronavirus – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, chairs review meeting with Ministry officials. “Cabinet Secretary also held a high level review meeting on the preparedness for Novel Coronavirus with Secretaries of Health, Civil Aviation, Textiles, Pharmaceutical, DHR, and Dte. General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Cabinet Secretary has held five review meetings so far.” Flight Passengers from Thailand and Singapore to be universally screened in addition to those from China and Hong Kong. 7:33PM, IST, PIB Delhi. Read More... [https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601589]. Click here for PDF . Return to PIB Releases – COVID 19