PANAJI: The Goa government has decided to form a special task force to monitor cases, if any, of coronavirus in the tourist State. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, "I have given instructions to form a task force with immediate effect to monitor any cases of Coronavirus in the State of Goa. All the activities will be closely monitored and reported to the Chief Secretary. The task force will work on the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India." He said that people arriving in Goa from the virus-affected regions outside India would be closely monitored.
GMC issues call for vigilance regarding Coronavirus The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus in China is a novel strain and not seen before. It has so far killed 56 people and affected 1975 in China, and has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Coronavirus emerged from a seafood and animal market in China's Wuhan and is suspected to have spread to as far as the United States. No positive case has been detected in India so far even as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has appealed to passengers who had travelled to China to come forward for screening. These passengers should go for screening if they have fever, cough, respiratory distress etc.