India reports 3rd case of coronavirus in Kerala

India today reported its third case of the novel coronavirus in Kerala, just a day after the southern state reported the country's second case of the infectious disease that originated in China.

"The third positive case of the novel coronavirus patient has been reported in Kerala. The patient has a travel history from Wuhan in China," our New Delhi correspondent reports, quoting a statement of the Indian Health Ministry.

It said the third patient has tested positive for coronavirus and has been kept in an isolation ward in a hospital.

The patient is stable and is being closely monitored, the statement added in an update a short while ago.

Kerala had reported India's first case of coronavirus on Thursday last -- a female medical student studying in China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the outbreak. She was quarantined in a hospital in Thrissur after she "self-reported" throat infection, the government said.

Over 800 people are under watch at their homes in Kerala for possible exposure to the virus.

Meanwhile, India today said it has asked its nationals to refrain from travelling to China and that anyone with travel history in China from January 15 this year could be quarantined.

In a separate statement earlier this morning, the Health Ministry said the e-visa service for Chinese passport holders has been temporarily suspended and e-visa already issued to Chinese nationals is not valid temporarily.

The facility to submit the application online for the physical visa from China has also been suspended, the statement added.

As of today, 58,658 passengers from 445 flights have been medically screened and 142-symptomatic travellers referred to the isolation facilities.