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As India's Coronavirus Cases Spike, Worries Rise

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - For weeks India, the world's second most populous country,
   stayed alert but hopeful that it was escaping the worst of the
   coronavirus outbreak -- only three cases had been detected in a
   southern state among students who returned from China.

   That optimism was shattered when the number of cases jumped this week
   to 29 including 16 Italian tourists.

   The spurt in cases has prompted authorities to announce extra
   precautions.

   Primary schools in the capital New Delhi have been shut till the end of
   the month.

   Screening will be stepped up at airports to cover all passengers
   arriving in the country instead of those from 12 countries listed
   earlier. "

   The government has initiated measures to contain the virus," Health
   Minister Harsh Vardhan told parliament on Thursday saying that there is
   no need to panic.

   The potential for rapid spread of the virus in India given the
   country's dense population has been a focus of serious concern for
   health experts.

   Intensive efforts are on to identify and isolate the hundreds of people
   who came in touch with those who are infected with the virus including
   the Italian tourists who travelled widely in the northern state of
   Rajasthan.

   "With the increasing global spread of the disease, we are confronted
   with new challenges. The contact tracing of positive cases requires the
   tracing of hundreds of contacts in multiple locations and monitoring
   their health," Vardhan told reporters earlier.

   Agra, home to the famous Taj Mahal, was among the places put on alert
   after six cases were identified from the city.

   A summit of India and the European Union scheduled to be held on March
   20 in Brussels has also been postponed in view of the coronavirus
   outbreak. "Health authorities of both the countries suggested that
   travelling must not take place at present," Foreign Ministry spokesman
   Raveesh Kumar said.

   India, a key supplier of generic drugs to the world, this week also
   announced restrictions on export of some common medicines raising fears
   of creating shortages in other countries. They include the widely-used
   pain reliever paracetamol, certain antibiotics and vitamins.

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