No coronavirus cases in India so far: Health ministry

No case of novel coronavirus (nCoV) has been detected in India till yesterday, claimed the county's health ministry.

Three persons, however, were put under observation, said a statement issued from the ministry last night. Of the three cases, two are from Mumbai while one is from Hyderabad, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting the statement.

The statement also said that 4,082 passengers were screened in 19 flights yesterday.

With those, Indian health authorities have screened a total of 20,844 passengers from 96 flights for possible nCoV symptoms so far and a travel advisory about medical check has been extended to 12 more airports in addition to the current seven.

However, regional state officials said 11 persons, 7 in Kerala, 3 in Mumbai and 1 in Hyderabad have been kept under observation for possible exposure to novel coronavirus infection, our correspondent reports.

Three Mumbai residents - who hail from the suburban areas of Virar and Vasai - have been admitted to Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli. Two patients went to China on January 16 and returned on January 22 while the third came back from Hong Kong on January 9. All three of them complained of cough, cold, fever and difficulty in breathing on their return and were thereby put under observation.

According to Kerala state health ministry officials in Thiruvananthapuram, seven people who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in state-run hospitals in different districts in the state.

Officials in Kerala said another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes in the state.

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Indian health authorities have screened a total of 20,844 passengers from 96 flights for possible novel coronavirus symptoms and a travel advisory about medical check has been extended to 12 more airports in addition to the current seven.

The Health Ministry said in a statement here on Friday night that 4,082 passengers were screened in 19 flights yesterday.

The statement said no case of novel coronavirus (nCoV) has been detected in the country so far. Three persons, however, have been put under observation, it added. The ministry said of the three cases, two are from Mumbai while one is from Hyderabad.

However, regional state officials said 11 persons, 7 in Kerala, 3 in Mumbai and 1 in Hyderabad have been kept under observation for possible exposure to novel coronavirus infection.

Three Mumbai residents - who hail from the suburban areas of Virar and Vasai - have been admitted to Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli. Two patients went to China on January 16 and returned on January 22 while the third came back from Hong Kong on January 9. All three of them complained of cough, cold, fever and difficulty in breathing on their return and were thereby put under observation.

According to Kerala state health ministry officials in Thiruvananthapuram, seven people who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in state-run hospitals in different districts in the state.

Officials in Kerala said another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes in the state.