Coronavirus Testing Facility Likely At Mumbai Hospital
There has been no confirmation of the deadly virus, which has killed 425 people in China so far, yet to be detected in Maharashtra
Mumbai: An official said the Maharashtra government is considering setting up a coronavirus testing facility at Kasturba Hospital here to reduce the burden on the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, which is currently handling such samples from across the country.
The senior state health officials said that an additional testing facility at the civil hospital here would help in getting results faster.
“The plan is being discussed to share some of the load of NIV. The institute is receiving samples of swabs across the country to test for novel coronavirus infections. If a similar testing facility is set up in Mumbai, it will minimise the waiting period,” he said.
The official said that as more and more samples are being obtained for testing at NIV, it is better to set up an additional examination facility in Mumbai at the earliest.
He said, “Health officials have conveyed their views to higher authorities about setting up a coronavirus testing facility in Mumbai. We will know about it in the coming days.”
So far, six patients have been kept in observation wards in various hospitals of the state. Four of them are in Pune, and one each in Mumbai and Sangli districts, another official said on Monday.
Since January 18, state health officials have screened 8,878 passengers for coronavirus infection at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Since January 18, state health officials have screened 8,878 passengers for coronavirus infection at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
There has been no confirmation of the deadly virus, which has killed 425 people in China so far, yet to be detected in Maharashtra.
Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause diseases ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndrome, but the virus that kills people in China is a novel strain and has not been seen before.
According to the World Health Organization, common symptoms of novel coronaviruses include cough, problems with breathing and fever.
The WHO has declared the coronavirus epidemic a global health emergency.
The virus – which first emerged in the city of Wuhan in central Hubei province of China – has spread to 25 countries including India, (three confirmed cases have been reported from Kerala), the US and the UK.
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