In response from RTI, NCDC says the WHO official sent an “alert mail” to the Union Minister of Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) informed India as early as January 11 that the reported dates of appearance of the new coronavirus circulating in Wuhan in China ranged from “December 12 to December 29, 2019,” according to the information. which is accessed through the Right to Information (RTI).
RTI’s response shows that WHO also “advised against any trade or travel restrictions in China based on the information currently available on this event.”
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In RTI’s response, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said that Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, New Delhi, sent an “alert mail” to the Minister of Health of the Union, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, on January 11. , 2020, regarding the “new corona virus circulating in Wuhan”.
The RTI was presented by Jammu resident Rohit Chaudhary, seeking to know “the date the Indian government first received information on the Covid19 / Coronavirus / Wuhan Virus / China virus.”
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Dr. Singh’s email to the Minister of Health read: “I am writing to alert Your Excellency about the new corona virus circulating in Wuhan, China. As you know, this causes severe pneumonia. So far, fifty-nine (59) cases in total have been detected in Wuhan City as of January 5 through case finding and retrospective investigations. Today one death has been reported, six of these cases are in serious condition, the remaining 52 cases are stable. Reported start dates range from December 12-29, 2019. “
First known case found in India on January 30
After the first known case was detected in India on January 30, more than 77 lakh of COVID-19 cases and around 1.17 lakh of deaths have been reported in the country so far.
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India first imposed a 21-day blockade across the country on March 23 in the wake of the pandemic and closed all international travel by land, air and sea routes on March 22. Since January 18, all passengers from China and Hong Kong have been tested for fever. at three international airports, the Interior Ministry (MHA) said in an affidavit in the Supreme Court on March 31.
The status report filed in court said that after China announced on January 7 about “a new type of coronavirus as the causative agent of the disease,” India’s joint monitoring mission under the command of the Director General of Services of Salud met on January 8 to monitor and analyze the situation. without losing time.
RTI’s response stated that “to study the possibility of declaring the corona virus a health emergency, meetings of the Joint Monitoring Groups were held on January 15, January 30, February 6 and February 10, 2020 to review the status of the Covid-19 outbreak and related preparedness and response activities … “
The email from the WHO Regional Director further indicated that the preliminary investigation found no “evidence” of sustained person-to-person transmission and no infections were reported among health workers and based on the still limited amount of information available, the situation can evolve rapidly.
Dr Singh also wrote that “the current WHO advisory does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers.”
He also said in his mail: “In general, the entrance assessment is seen as offering few benefits, while requiring considerable resources. In the event of symptoms suggesting a respiratory illness before, during, or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share travel history with their healthcare provider. The WHO advises against the application of trade or travel restrictions in China based on the information currently available on this event.
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