India has confirmed two new cases of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 on Monday. This brings the total number of cases in the country to five.
The two new cases – one in Delhi and one in Telangana – are stable and being monitored closely, as per a Union Health Ministry press release.
The patient from Delhi had a travel history to Italy, which is grappling with a COVID-19 outbreak with over 1600 confirmed cases and 34 deaths as of Sunday. The patient from Telangana had a travel history to Dubai, according to the Health Ministry.
The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan also chaired an inter-ministerial meeting involving the Aviation, Shipping and Home Ministries to review preparedness for a COVID-19 outbreak on Monday.
India has also announced that it will now screen passengers coming from 12 countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Iran and Italy with screenings taking place in 21 airports, 12 major seaports and 65 minor ports.
The three patients in India, all three students from Kerala, who earlier tested positive for the virus have recovered and been discharged.