Image Source: TRIBUNE

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said the government was on high alert and there was the highest political commitment on containing the novel coronavirus infection, which has caused 1,367 deaths and 48,206 cases in China so far.

In his first briefing since the outbreak in China on December 31, 2019, Vardhan said India had only three positive cases and these patients were under isolation and stable.

On two Indian crew members who tested positive for the virus on the Japanese ship Diamond Princess and currently quarantined there, Vardhan said it was not currently possible to get Japan to relieve two Indians from among the patients of many countries quarantined there but the government was watching the situation.

“The Japanese ship quarantine will end on February 19. The two Indian crew members are currently hospitalised in Japan,” Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said.